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Not much changed for the Packers during the offseason, but once the preseason got cooking the team got hit with change in a pretty bad way. Receiver Jordy Nelson tore his ACL and was lost for the year following a non-contact injury during the team's late August preseason game at Pittsburgh. He had posted at least 1,250 yards and eight touchdowns in three of the last four seasons including a career-high 98 grabs and 1,519 yards in 2014 with 13 scores. To say his loss hurts the Packers offense is an understatement.
There are two issues in play with the Packers now that Nelson is out. How do they replace a trusted weapon in the offense? And do they change offensive philosophies knowing they're down an important playmaker? Replacing Nelson with other receivers is pretty easy -- it's the effectiveness of those receivers that matter.
As for playing without Nelson, history suggests the Packers will be just fine. In three games without him in 2012 the Packers remained vigilant through the air, tossing six touchdowns while also running for six touchdowns (including four in one game). And that was with a bad rushing group.
Truth is, so long as Aaron Rodgers is on the field, the Packers offense should be at the very least balanced. Last year, with Nelson playing 16 games, they threw it 56.5 percent of the time, so it wouldn't hurt things much if they dialed it back a tad. Expect the Packers to stay the course even though they've changed coordinators, giving associate head coach (offense) Tom Clements the power.
Breakout candidate: Davante Adams
There's no way you can call Adams a sleeper since he's expected to get much of Nelson's work this year. Adams, a No. 1 receiver with back-to-back 1,300-plus-yard seasons at Fresno State, didn't get a ton of opportunities last year and was thus inconsistent. But he did make some plays in the playoffs and was the star of offseason workouts and training camp. He was a major target of Aaron Rodgers' in the first preseason game. While there are timing and rhythm issues to work out with Rodgers, the door is open for Adams to have a monster season as an outside receiver in Green Bay. Consider this: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb each had their first 1,000-yard seasons with Rodgers, but none of them did it in their first season playing full-time in Green Bay. If you keep expectations in check you should be able to draft Adams as a low-end No. 2 receiver with a pick in Round 5 or 6.
Sleeper candidate: Jeff Janis
You'd say that being big and fast is a good combination for an NFL receiver, right? Well, that's Janis, a second-year receiver who has waited for his chance. The 6-foot-3, over 220 pound receiver should begin the year as a third wideout following the injury to Nelson, though rookie Ty Montgomery could challenge him for the spot. Janis hasn't made the connection in practice that the team was hoping for but having accelerated first-team reps could change things. His size also gives the Packers something they had with Nelson. He's absolutely worth a late-round pick.
Late-round gem: Richard Rodgers
Not everyone can get Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham, and not everyone will want to take a tight end in Rounds 5 through 7. For those who like to wait, Rodgers stands as a no-risk, medium-reward Fantasy tight end in the final rounds. The Packers have to like Rodgers after dumping Brandon Bostick and getting very little from Andrew Quarless. The second-year player only scored twice last year on 20 catches but showed a lot of promise as a big, burly pass catcher. In the playoffs he scored the game-winning touchdown against the Cowboys and the following week caught four of five targets against the Seahawks. Rodgers may only need time to acclimate to the Packers offense before putting up numbers like Jermichael Finley once did. Best of all, you can take Rodgers with a pick in Round 12 or later. That way, if he flops then you just dump him for another tight end. Of course, if he turns out to be all right, you'll have pulled off a big steal.