By Nick Brinkerhoff
As the Green Bay Packers get set to begin a new journey, a new era, in 2022, it begs the question.
What do you think of the new Journey? After the departure of legendary lead singer Steve Perry in 1998, the band has carried on with a new voice since 2007.
They have been noticeably relevant in recent years, seemingly on every possible cable news celebration special you can think of.
Maybe this year they can join in on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade festivities.
The thing about Journey is that they are a perfect case study for the 2022 Packers. Journey went almost a decade without finding a new lead singer, many thought the show was over.
Eventually Arnel Pineda walked through the door, restoring some semblance of normalcy in the music industry.
But that didn’t happen overnight and whether it will for the Packers remains to be seen. The team enters a new season having gone their “Separate Ways” with superstar receiver Davante Adams.
The Packers appeared to be willing to pay anything to roll the dice, just one more time. Adams had other ideas.
With a void in not only the offense but the soul of the team, there is only one man we can turn to, to save the Green Bay Packers. Allen Lazard, a player that has become extremely underrated this offseason.
Can Allen Lazard help carry the Packer offense?
Losing Adams is a big deal, sure. But you know what’s crazy about all of this hysteria? The Packers under head coach Matt LaFleur have been statistically better without Adams. They still have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, plus two very good running backs, and a tight end coming off a breakout year in 2020 before falling victim to injury in 2021.
LaFleur’s Packers have a 7-0 record without Adams, scoring at least 30 points in five of those games. Was it a bitter breakup? Sure. But as the movies typically indicate, there will always be someone else.
Lazard has hovered around the 500 yard receiving mark in each of the last three seasons, hauling in at least 33 receptions a year, while never officially starting more than 13 games in any season.
Adams, on the other hand, was targeted 169 times alone in 2021, finishing with 123 receptions and 1,553 receiving yards. That’s an extreme level of opportunity that Lazard will receive, as the clear number one receiver on the tean.
Especially once you consider his 513 receiving yards were second on the team, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s 430 yards was third. Valdes-Scantling has since left to join the Kansas City Chiefs, only adding to the new weight on Lazard’s shoulders.
Expectations for 2022
No one will be able to replace Davante Adams. That is unrealistic. The Packers will need to take a by-committee approach to the offense this season, which may not be a bad thing. Over the years, the Packers have fallen victim to having too much of a good thing.
It’s like finding your favorite new restaurant and constantly ordering from there. After a while, the “great new thing” has lost its luster. That’s predictable and boring.
While Rodgers dazzled every week with insane throws and highlight reel plays, the Packers offense became predictable and boring. In reality, Joe Buck leaving FOX for ESPN may have had something to do with that. There’s only so much, “Pass is caught by Adams,” one can take before they go insane.
The new Packers can be exciting, different, and unpredictable. They can spread the ball around and give us some new names to learn, while still remaining relevant in the process. Does the team take a step back this season? I wouldn’t be so sure of that.
I am a believer in Lazard. He should be on your fantasy radar. He should be considered for weekly player prop bets. Call me crazy, but a 90 catch, 1,000 receiving yard season with 10 touchdowns not only feels realistic, but should be the pathway for the team’s success.
Bet on Lazard to have a breakout season
In fact, here are some worthy bets to look at courtesy of DraftKings. I already told you about the void to fill in the Packers offense. Will Lazard become the next Adams? Almost certainly not, but hey, a +10000 bet isn’t supposed to be easy.
That’s the price DraftKings is offering for Lazard to finish with the most receiving yards in the league this season, meaning a $100 bet can add another $10,000 to your bank account.
Lazard also finished with eight touchdowns last season. Double that total this season and he ties Cooper Kupp from last year with most receiving touchdowns. DraftKings’ generosity is giving us a solid +5000 price on that bet.
In the spirit of continuing to make money, some smaller future’s bets to look at include him to record at least 751 receiving yards for a -115 price, meaning a $100 bet will net you another $86.95. They also list him at an over/under of 5.5 touchdowns and 56.5 receptions.
Bottom line, let’s just say I’m all in on Allen Lazard in 2022. Potentially the league’s best kept secret can make us all very rich individuals. Responsible rich individuals.
Maybe I’m wrong and the Packers really fall off this season. Maybe Lazard disappoints. But as the legendary Journey says, Don’t Stop Believin’.