Robert Hanashiro – USA TODAY Sports
2012 was just another typical year for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers threw for 4,295 yards with 39 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions. His nearly 5-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio was tops in the league last year, and his 67.2 completion percentage was good for third in the NFL. He can also be a pest for defenses on the ground, as he averaged nearly five yards per rush last season and found the end zone twice.
Despite the solid stats, 2012 was a bit frustrating for Rodgers, as he took a pretty good beating over the length of the season. Rodgers was sacked a league-high 51 times last season, largely in part due to the absence of a running game (20th in rush offense). To make up for the lack of ground game, Rodgers had to throw the ball 552 times last year, the highest of his career.
To try and bring a spark to their running back corps and to keep pressure off Rodgers, Green Bay drafted backs Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Franklin. The hope is that this duo can provide a new look for 2013 of a speed (Lacy) and bruising (Franklin) combo that will finally give the Packers a respectable running game.
There will also be something else new for the 2013 Packers: no Greg Jennings. Jennings packed his bags and cashed in on his new $45 million contract to play for the Packers’ long time rival Minnesota Vikings. Despite this departure, the Packers receiving corps is still extremely talented. With the emergence of Randall Cobb, receiving touchdown leader James Jones and the already established Jordy Nelson, it seems as if the Packers’ offense won’t skip a beat for the upcoming season.
Look for Rodgers to have another monster season, as he should be the first QB taken in your fantasy draft.
Follow me on Twitter @Blockski12 and feel free to ask any questions you may have about fantasy.
Mike Block is a featured Fantasy Sports columnist for Rant Sports
