When news broke on Tuesday afternoon that the Packers placed wide receiver Randall Cobb on the injured reserve/designated to return list, fantasy owners across the country released a collective sigh of disappointment. The move means that Cobb will miss a minimum of eight weeks and effectively makes him droppable in many formats.
After busting out in a big way in 2012, Cobb was on pace for 1,612 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns coming into Week 6 and was especially valuable in PPR leagues. Still, when one door is closed another is opened and what Cobb’s absence does is open a door for tight end Jermichael Finley to come busting through.
According to the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel: “TE Jermichael Finley is going to have to play a lot of wide receiver with Cobb out for two months… Finley is able to play all of the wide receiver positions and probably will see a lot of work in the slot, which is where Cobb played mostly. At one time, Finley’s agent argued that he should be considered a wide receiver when he was franchised; now he might have an argument if the Packers franchise him after this season.”
What that means in terms of fantasy is that Finley owners could be sitting on a gold mine.
In addition to missing Cobb, the Packers might also be without James Jones (knee) and were so desperate that they wanted to sign Denver Broncos practice squad wide receiver Tavarres King. Finley is going to have to step in and do it quickly in order to help Green Bay’s season from slipping down the tubes.
Already a prime red-zone target because of his 6’5 frame, Finley could dominate as a slot receiver and rack up catches in bunches as Aaron Rodger’s most-trusted weapon besides outside receiver Jordy Nelson. He has been targeted at least six times in every game this season and, given the amount that Cobb was utilized (45 targets in five games), it isn’t ridiculous to anticipate Finley’s target number to double going forward. Finley had his highest yardage total of the season on Sunday (75 yards) and the touchdowns – of which he has two in four games this season – will start coming soon enough.
Another feather in the cap of Finley’s fantasy owners should be this phrase from the Sentinel’s blurb about tight end – “if the Packers franchise him.” Finley has every incentive to succeed on the field this season in order to maximize his value off the frozen tundra of Lambeau field and if that means lining up at slot receiver, so be it.
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
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