Top 10 NFL breakout players to watch out for during the 2022 season
10 NFL Breakout Players to watch in 2022: Allen Lazard, WR, Packers
Allen Lazard. 1. player. 49. Packers. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. WR
There may not be a bigger NFL breakout player candidate in 2022 than Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard. Let’s examine this one a little closer, shall we?
In four NFL seasons, Lazard just crossed 500 yards receiving in 2021. He’s been a complementary target for Aaron Rodgers while Davante Adams received the lion’s share of targets. Lazard did quite a bit with the number of targets he was given, though. He scored eight touchdowns last season and he’s caught at least two-thirds or better of his targets since getting onto the field really for the first time in 2019.
Entering his fifth NFL season, Lazard is poised to become the Green Bay Packers’ WR1. Does he really have any other choice?
The Packers shipped off Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders to be paid one of the richest wide receiver contracts in NFL history. How did they replace him?
- Journeyman Sammy Watkins
- 2nd-round pick Christian Watson
- 4th-round pick Romeo Doubs
The pressure is very clearly on Lazard to show up and show out in a big way. Luckily for him, catching eight touchdown passes a season ago, Lazard has already proven he’s got the trust of Aaron Rodgers, especially in red zone work. Lazard had 14 targets in the red zone last season and five of them went for touchdowns. Those 14 targets were third on the team behind Adams and running back Aaron Jones, whose role in this offense will continue to increase as well.
Lazard’s previous career-high in total targets is 60. His previous career-high in receptions is 40 (both of those career bests came last season). There’s no doubt he’s going to blow those numbers out of the water in 2022 with the reigning back-to-back MVP throwing him the rock more than he’s seen it since he was at Iowa State.