Green Bay Packers: 5 Players Who Must Step Up For Jordy Nelson

Nov 30, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) after catching a pass in the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

WR Davante Adams

Since there’s really no way to ask Cobb to “step up” when his 2014 season was arguably even better than Nelson’s, our attention turns to this second-year pro when looking at the wide receiver with the highest standing on the depth chart who needs to “step up” the most.

All offseason long, we’ve heard Rodgers, beat writers, and others hype up the second-year Fresno State product’s ability, and he was tabbed as a breakout candidate even before training camp started. Adams had some hitches last season, but he’s such a fluid receiver and already has some of the best hands in the NFL. As we saw in college, Adams is a beast on back-shoulder plays, which could make him the “X” and a key red zone target if Janis doesn’t pan out.

After all, it was Adams who caught 38 passes as a rookie, and while he averaged just 6.8 yards per target, it’s important to remember that it’s not an easy transition from the MWC to the NFL. Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans helped spoil us when analyzing the difficult college-to-NFL transition at the wide receiver position, but both also had the advantage of playing in the SEC.

With another offseason under his belt, a bigger role, and more trust from his elite quarterback, Adams looks destined to shine in 2015. As we’ve seen with below-average receivers like Jarrett Boykin, Rodgers has an uncanny knack for accentuating even the most specific of strengths that a wide receiver has.

When it comes to strengths, nothing jumps out more than Adams’s 39.5-inch vertical. His athleticism and hands speak for themselves, and he showed way better “quicks” as a rookie than I anticipated (just check out his entire master-class of a performance against the Cowboys secondary in the playoffs).

Next: Another Receiver