Greg Jennings

Jennings suited up for 15 games with the Vikings while catching balls from the trio of Christian Ponder, Josh Freeman and Matt Cassel. Aaron Rodgers they were not. Nonetheless, Jennings managed 7.7. YPT and led the team in catches and yards. At 6-0, 195, he has only average size, and his 4.48 Combine speed and after-the-catch skills have declined a tick. He’s still quick, smart, has good hands and could be either Cassel or Teddy Bridgewater’s No, 1 target. But last year’s first-round pick, Cordarrelle Patterson, is bigger and faster than Jennings and should see an expanded role under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

Time will tell, but Jennings might have undergone the biggest quarterback downgrade in NFL history. While Jennings should be Christian Ponder's first look, as the other option is likely to be rookie Cordarrelle Patterson, the quality of targets should go way down, and the Vikings are still built around Adrian Peterson's running. Jennings' 2012 isn't instructive, given he missed most of it with an abdominal tear, but he had 900-plus yards in each of the five prior seasons and scored nine or more touchdowns in four. At 5-11, 197, Jennings has just average size, and he's no longer especially fast, instead thriving on quickness, intelligence and reliable hands. He'll also turn 30 in September, meaning his best days were probably behind him even had he stayed in Green Bay.

Unlike the Roddy Whites and Larry Fitzgeralds who dominate their teams’ targets, Jennings is one of many receivers who sees the ball in Green Bay. But that doesn’t make him any less consistent or productive. Jennings sprained his MCL in Week 14 against the Raiders and missed the last three games of the season, but up to that point he was having another strong season with 14.2 YPC, 9.4 YPT, 949 yards and nine scores. If you prorate Jennings’ numbers over a full season, he’d have had 1,168 yards and 11 touchdowns. At 5-11, 197, Jennings isn’t big, and he’s not one of the league’s elite burners, but he won’t turn 29 until September, still has arguably the league’s top quarterback throwing him the ball and is completely healthy heading into the summer. Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb are still in the mix, as is tight end Jermichael Finley, but there’s plenty to go around in the Green Bay passing game, and Jennings only needs his usual share to be a top-10 receiver.

There's not a whole lot to say about Jennings. He's not especially big, and while he's on the fast side, he's not one of the league's burners. But as Aaron Rodgers' clear No. 1 in a pass-friendly system, Jennings is one of the safest and most consistent receivers on the board. Jennings was the No. 4 overall receiver in fantasy points last year, thanks in large part to his 12 scores (2nd). Jennings saw an uptick in red-zone (19th) and inside-the-10 (8th) looks, probably due to Jermichael Finley's season-ending injury, so don't expect a repeat of the TDs if Finley can ever stay healthy. But Jennings still gets most of his value from his ability to stretch the field – six catches of 40-plus (tied for 5th), (10.2 yards per target, 1st among 100-target receivers and trailing only DeSean Jackson, Mike Wallace and Mario Manningham among those with 90-plus) and 16.6 yards per catch (3rd). Finley's possible return to health could cost Jennings looks from in close, but Jennings' rapport with Rodgers supplies a higher floor than just about anyone not named Andre Johnson or Roddy White.

The Packers’ offensive line woes contributed to Jennings’ slow start last year, but once Aaron Rodgers had time to find his primary deep threat, Jennings came around. Don’t be fooled by the pedestrian cosmetic numbers — Jennings was as efficient and explosive as ever, averaging 16.4 yards per catch (2nd among the league’s 28 100-target receivers), 9.2 yards per target (6th) and hauling in six passes of 40-yards or more (tied for 7th). The issue for fantasy owners is Jennings’ disappointing four touchdowns, largely a result of his scant red-zone work (just 11 targets there and only three inside the 10). Like other smallish speedsters (Steve Smith (CAR) and DeSean Jackson), the 5-11, 197-pound Jennings has to score from deep, and that’s always subject to more variance than getting the easy looks from in close. Nonetheless, Jennings returns as one of Rodgers’ top targets, his main competition, Donald Driver, is now 35 and the Packers’ offensive line should be better from the outset with first-round pick Bryan Bulaga in the fold.

For a receiver with average size and less than elite speed, Jennings sure can hurt defenses down the field. Jennings led the NFL with eight catches of 40 yards or more and tied for second with 21 plays for 20-plus. At 5-11, 197, Jennings isn’t consistently going to win jump balls like Randy Moss or Larry Fitzgerald, but his outstanding burst, quickness and ability to change directions on a dime allow him to get behind defenses and make him dangerous after the catch. Targeted 140 times (tied for 8th), Jennings made good use of those opportunities, averaging 9.2 yards per look, good for seventh among the league’s 35 100-target receivers, and barely less than Fitzgerald’s and Andre Johnson’s 9.3. Like Steve Smith, Jennings isn’t used often in the red zone – his 15 targets tied him for 24th – so he’ll have to continue doing most of his damage from long range. That shouldn’t be too much to ask, especially with strong-armed quarterback Aaron Rodgers proving to be NFL-ready in his first season as a starter. If Rodgers takes another step forward – as might be expected – Jennings could even build on last season’s numbers. Although both Jennings and Rodgers remained healthy in 2008, both have had some injries in previous seasons. Jennings in particular missed five games combined during his first two with ankle and hamstring problems.

Among receivers with 80 targets or more, only Santonio Holmes averaged more yards per target than Jennings’ 11. Moreover, Jennings finished third in the NFL with seven receptions of 40 yards or more despite missing three games with hamstring and ankle injuries. Jennings was also third among 80-plus target receivers with 17.4 yards per catch. At 5-11, 197, Jennings has just average size, and he's not a true burner. But his excellent quickness and ability to accelerate rapidly make him extremely dangerous after the catch in the open field. Jennings is also a solid route-runner, and he’s able to find space for himself in zone coverages. Even though Jennings lacks ideal redzone size and only saw 11 balls thrown his way from inside the 20, he converted a whopping six of those into scores, a big reason why he was able to notch 12 touchdowns in just 13 games. The big issue for Jennings heading into 2008 is Brett Favre's retirement. Because of Favre's durability (and Aaron Rodgers' lack of it), Rodgers hasn't seen much action the last few seasons, but he did look sharp filling in when Favre went down against Dallas in Week 13. Rodgers ability to stay healthy and perform at a serviceable level will go a long way toward determining Jennings' value this season.

Jennings came out of the gate quickly as a rookie, catching 20 balls for 354 yards and three touchdowns in his first five games as a Packer before a lingering ankle injury severely slowed him for much of remainder of the season. Jennings has decent speed, but excellent quickness that he uses to make defenders miss in the open field. He’s able to stop and start on a dime and changes directions fluidly and without slowing down. Jennings is also a good route-runner for a young receiver, and he’s able to find space in zone coverages. At 5-11, 196, he’s not slight, but he’s also unlikely to be a major red-zone target. Jennings heads into the season as the Packers’ No. 2 receiver and should see an increased workload. Don’t read too much into his poor second half numbers – he put those up while playing hurt.

Jennings was a second round pick in 2006 and could make an immediate impact this year. The Packers lack depth at wide receiver so Jennings will likely start the season as the fourth wideout and possibly as high as third on the depth chart. Check out how he does during the preseason games because he could be a nice sleeper pick later in your draft.