Green Bay Packers: 5 Players who need to step up in 2020

3. Allen Lazard, WR

Back to the offense and the need at wide receiver, it’s still shocking that the Packers failed to fully address that glaring need this offseason. While Davante Adams led the team with 83 receptions for 997 yards while tying for the team lead with five touchdowns (in 12 games, no less), no other pass-catcher on the roster had more than 500 yards receiving for the season.

The closest to that mark, however, was up-and-comer Allen Lazard. Undrafted out of Iowa State in 2018, Lazard drew rave reviews prior to his rookie season but played in only one game with just one reception. Last season, however, he finished with 35 catches for 477 yards and a touchdown.

Perhaps most importantly for Lazard and the Packers passing offense, though, he came on the strongest at the end of the season. In the final five games, Lazard posted his two best games of the season with three catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 and then four catches for 69 yards and a score in Week 17.

With Green Bay’s decision to not add anyone of consequence other than Funchess this offseason, the pressure is on Lazard to emerge as a consistent, reliable target. While some believe that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is also in the same category, Lazard has flashed more recently to make it seem as if that’s in the cards for him.