WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers

HT: 5-10, WT: 191, Born: 8-20-1990, College: Kentucky, Drafted: Round 2

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 21st. [Full ADP list]

Overall: P Manning (35), R Bush (36), Randall Cobb (37), V Jackson (38), C Newton (39)
Position: A Johnson (31-WR9), L Fitzgerald (32-WR10), Randall Cobb (37 - WR11), V Jackson (38-WR12), M Crabtree (40-WR13)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 21st. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: D Sproles (31), L Fitzgerald (32), Randall Cobb (33), V Cruz (34), V Jackson (35)
Position: R White (27-WR9), L Fitzgerald (32-WR10), Randall Cobb (33 - WR11), V Cruz (34-WR12), V Jackson (35-WR13)
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Best Case

Having Randall Cobb on the field for every down gives Green Bay some scary options. With big-play threat Jordy Nelson drawing the defensive attention, and James Jones working on the other side of the field, Cobb is free to run wild against weaker defenders that he can easily outplay. With an improved running game keeping defenses from using nickle and dime packages, Cobb could post even better numbers than he did last year.

Worst Case

After last season, Cobb's talent is something that opposing defenses are going to have to address. Aaron Rodgers has already proven he doesn't force the ball into anyone, and if Cobb is covered, Rodgers will throw the ball to someone else. If Cobb can't adjust to his new role, or is not as effective with increased coverage against him, he'll finish somewhere in the middle of the pack for fantasy receivers.

Outlook

In only his second NFL season, as essentially the #4 wide receiver on the team, Randall Cobb had a breakout season, posting almost 1100 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. With Greg Jennings in Minnesota and Donald Driver retired, Cobb is will be on the field for almost every offensive play that Green Bay runs this season. Cobb is a dangerous guy with the ball in his hands, and he's a big play threat that the Packers love to use in different ways. If he can post WR17 fantasy stats as a #4, imagine how well he'll do as an every down player.

Latest News

Packers | QB high on Randall Cobb (Thu May 23, 03:46 PM) - Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said he believes WR Randall Cobb can be a receiver that catches at least 100 catches every season. Wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett said Cobb improved last season but still has things to work on to become more productive.

Our View: Cobb is an explosive playmaker who can score anytime he touches the ball. He can fly around the field and make big gains off of short passes. Cobb was the 17th best fantasy WR last year and could finish in the top 15 this year. His current ADP is WR9 and he's coming off the board at 3.09.
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2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Cobb was clearly the only beneficiary of the SF defense, as he was 2nd on the team in targets with nine (he caught all nine). The ineptness of Benson and the rushing attack was pivotal to Cobb’s emergence, as the game plan became more about getting Cobb in space out of the backfield on quick strikes (became the Packer “rushing” offense). It is fair to say Cobb directly had an impact on all three Packer TDs, gathering four catches on the first TD drive, returning a punt for the second and drawing coverage from the safety to open up the middle for Jones on the third. Expect the Packers to continue to develop the Cobb game plan, as there may be a chance these two teams meet again in the playoffs. With the seams and outside deep routes all locked up, Cobb thrived flashing out of the backfield. It is also important to note on Green Bay’s first drive of the 2nd half, on a 3rd down play, Cobb lined up in the backfield, but instead of going out on a route, he stayed in to help with protection. It is not known if the play called for that, but there may be more for Cobb in the terms of a Percy Harvin type role if it did. It is worth keeping an eye on.

Week 2 - Randall Cobb is quickly becoming that ‘get him the ball any way they can’ player that many teams are looking for, similar to Percy Harvin or Devin Hester. Cobb is Green Bay’s primary kick and punt returner, but the Packers also use him on passing downs and he’ll even have a carry or two from behind the line. His first offensive play was a seven yard carry where he had lined up in the backfield and taken a handoff from Rodgers. However, the play was called back for a holding penalty and he didn’t see any more offensive action until mid-way through the second quarter. On the drive that ended with a fake field goal, Cobb came up with a big 20 yard reception on 3rd and 7 to keep the drive alive. Cobb simply found a soft spot in the defense, made a nice catch and turned it into a big gain. Five plays later on 3rd and 3, Cobb again lined up in the backfield, taking a toss from Rodgers at the snap. However, this time, there was no holding penalty and Cobb broke a big gain down the field for 28 yards. After two sacks, facing 3rd and 26, Rodgers looked for Cobb on a check down, but the pass was thrown behind him and fell incomplete. The fake field goal was the next play, and it resulted in a TD. Cobb was targeted only once more just before the end of the first half, but the Bears were called for illegal contact and the play was removed. For the second half, Cobb was not targeted, but continued to return kicks and punts.

Week 3 - Randall Cobb had a very quiet game on Monday against the Seahawks and is very unlikely to produce in a game where Rodger’s struggles as much as he did. Cobb is still arguably the 5th or 6th option in this offense and frequently gets completely overshadowed by his teammates, especially when the team cannot get into a rhythm offensively. Cobb did had a nice run out of the backfield early in the game, breaking into the secondary and using his above average speed and quickness for a nifty 20 yard gain. Cobb then faded away and Rodgers was forced to look at his more proven teammates for a big play.

Week 4 - Despite his sporadic usage this season, it's clear Randall Cobb is a weapon for the Packers. He was utilized all over the field (as we saw in Week 1), including out of the shotgun as a halfback, as a returner, and more. Some might start comparing him to Darren Sproles in terms of versatility, and it's not a terrible comparison. He's fairly elusive, is quick, but won't be as much of a factor in the running game. He had a chunk play of about 15 yards go through his hands. He caught 6 of his 8 targets on the night, including a 3 catch drive to set up Jordy Nelson's touchdown. His last two games were pause for concern, but in games like this against softer defenses, I can completely get behind him as a WR3 in PPR formats, and especially as a solid piece in return yardage formats.

Week 5 - With Jermichael Finley hurt, Greg Jennings out and James Jones/Jordy Nelson not consistently catching balls (though Jones had a pair of touchdowns), Cobb emerged as the most dynamic playmaker in the offense. He made a tremendous catch for a touchdown late in the second quarter. On the play, he went into lotion to line up off the line, right next to James Jones. He took off at the snap and ran a short slant to the inside, gaining a step on the defender as he did so. Rodgers delivered a perfect pass right into Cobb’s hands and in stride, and the defender fell. Cobb turned upfield and just outran the deep safety who couldn’t make it over in time to make a tackle. Cobb is a player who is very dangerous with the ball in his hands and once he makes a move, is hard to stop or even slow down. While he wasn’t the target of a great many passes, he caught all that came his way and made the most of each of them. Cobb was definitely one of the players open underneath a few times when Rodgers chose to look deep instead and Rodgers has to watch for him to break out more often, as he is so dangerous once he makes a catch.

Week 6 - Randall Cobb was the main beneficiary of Greg Jennings missing a second straight game. Cobb saw many targets from early on, and racked up 56 yards on 4 catches in the first half. Cobb’s long play was an excellent catch and run. Cobb took a crossing route from Rodgers, broke the converging tackles of multiple defenders and got up field. Cobb is proving to be a viable option in Jennings’ absence.

Week 7 - 
The dynamic Cobb, who seems able to score from anywhere on the field, stuffed the stat sheet and hogged the highlight reel against the Rams. The second year receiver corralled all eight of his targets for eighty-nine yards and two touchdowns, adding one carry for nineteen yards in which he smoked the Rams’ front seven on the edge. Cobb led all players in touchdowns with two – one coming off a double move on Janoris Jenkins in the end zone for a five-yard score and another on a gorgeous downfield route that ended with a perfect strike from quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a thirty-nine yard score. As every Packers receiver continues to see more targets with Greg Jennings sidelined, it is evident that Cobb should touch the ball as often as possible. Not only can he shake defenders with ease, but he possesses a degree of game-changing speed that defenses simply cannot match. With Alex Green not doing much with twenty carries against the Rams, one has to wonder if Packers coach Mike McCarthy will install more plays that feature Cobb in the backfield. The Packers have an embarrassment of riches on offense, and Cobb is one jewel that Green Bay should always keep on display.


Week 8 - After three straight big games, Cobb was held relatively in check against Jacksonville. He caught 5-of-7 targets which is a low mark for Cobb in his young NFL career. He was targeted mainly on short routes emphasizing his after-the-catch abilities. His fantasy day was salvaged by his red zone touchdown. Rodgers scrambled around and found Cobb in the back of the end zone for the fingertip catch. The Jaguars tackled Cobb shortly after he got the ball in his hands all game and even stopped the dynamic playmaker short of a first down on second-and-one in the open field. In a game with just two offensive touchdowns and under 200 passing yards for the Packers, Cobb owners have to be pleased with the result. There will be much better days when the offense is clicking.

Week 9 - With the injuries to Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, as well as the ineffectiveness of Jermichael Finley, Randall Cobb’s emergence has been more out of necessity than anything. Even if his Packer teammates were healthy, Aaron Rodgers would still find a way to get him the ball. He has lined up all over the field; inside, outside, in the backfield and when Rodgers gets him the ball in space, watch out. His first touchdown was a wide receiver screen that Cobb took in from 13 yards out. He received good blocks from Driver and Finley, but after catching ball, he glided upfield and left Adrian Wilson in the dust with a spin move. His second touchdown was a perfect touch pass from Rodgers, but he left slot cornerback William Gay behind him on a go route to the back pylon. Although he only caught 3 balls, his influence was also felt in the running game, with tosses that get him in space, averaging nearly 10 YPC on three rushes. In the return game, he averaged 30 yards on three kick returns, as well as 15 yards on three punt returns. In all, he touched the ball 12 times, and put together 202 all purpose yards. It’s fair to say that Cobb has earned a significant role on offense even when Greg Jennings returns to the lineup.

Week 11 - Randall Cobb is Green Bay’s equivalent of Minnesota’s Percy Harvin. Cobb can do it all. The Packers use him to return punts and kicks. They use him out of the slot, as well as the primary receiver on either side of the field. They even line him up or motion him into the backfield, and hand the ball to him or shovel pass it to him to give him the most opportunity to make a play. It will be interesting to see how he does when Greg Jennings returns. Without a doubt, Cobb’s best play of the game came late in the 4th quarter. The Packers were down by six with two minutes to play, driving deep into Detroit territory. Cobb ran a route straight to the end zone and Rodgers through a perfect rainbow pass to him. Despite being double-covered, Cobb made a great catch and the pass was almost vertical when it hit his hands. It tied the game and put the Packers in a position to win with the extra point. Although Cobb was active in the office for the entire game, his biggest plays were in the third and 4th quarter. Aside from the TD catch, Cobb also had a 15 yard run near the end of the third quarter. On the play, Cobb lined up in the backfield and Rodgers tossed it to him on 3rd and 1. Cobb took it off tackle for a huge gain, following his blockers and breaking it for a long run. He also had a 10 yard curl route to open the quarter.

Week 12 - Randall Cobb had the most catches on Sunday but the Packers offense failed to impress much that night. Cobb looked very explosive on an end around rushing play as he used his speed to get to the outside, make one defender miss before turning it upfield for a big first down. Cobb was electric with the ball in his hands, frequently running around players and looking very difficult to tackle. Cobb caught mostly short routes as QB Rodgers was frequently under pressure from the Giants, which hurt his production as a WR as he has the speed for big plays down the field. The lack of pass protection and offensive balance ultimately was too much for GB to overcome, especially with the Giants offense clicking and picking up points as they did so fast. Cobb couldn’t overcome his teammate’s deficiencies and the Giants had two deep safeties on most plays, which hurt the Packers strength which is the explosive pass play.

Week 13 - Cobb was perfect in his efforts today, catching all six of his targets on the day and helping to ease the pain of losing Jordy Nelson to a hamstring injury early. The Packers continue to work hard to get the ball into the dynamic wide receiver’s hands every way possible, and Cobb saw a carry from the backfield as well as his normal receiving and return duties. They actually have begun to use Cobb less on ‘gadget’ plays then they did earlier in the season, as he has become a bigger part of the passing offense. That could change if both Nelson and Greg Jennings are healthy and he isn’t needed to carry as big a target load. Oddly enough, all but one of Cobb’s receptions came in the first half. The Vikings adjusted a little to the second year receiver, and Rodgers distributed the ball more to Jennings and tight end Jermichael Finley. Still, his single catch in the second half was actually his biggest play of the day. That would be his 33 yard catch in the fourth quarter. On the play, a critical third and twelve with the Packers up by just six points, Cobb lined up just to the left of the left tackle and ran a straight route to about the 35 yard line, then cutting across the field towards the opposite sideline. As he did so, Rodgers scrambled right, mirroring Cobb’s route. Cobb got a step on safety Mistral Raymond and Rodgers threw a bullet to him between Raymond and rookie Harrison Smith. It was a dangerous throw, but the type that typifies Rodgers’ career and the sort of play which Cobb makes possible with his speed and sharp route running. While the drive stalled out not long after, the play put them within field goal range which they made to go up two scores and seal the victory.

Week 14 - Cobb's first reception went for five yards as Rodgers threw a quick pass to him uncovered in the slot. His second reception went for a first down as Rodgers found him late by the sideline on a deep crossing route. Cobb caught a screen pass in the left slot, but the Lions' defense read the play immediately and held him to no gain. Rodgers went straight back to Cobb on third and 15 with his next pass, but Cobb couldn't turn a quick pass into the flat into a conversion despite breaking the initial tackle. Cobb dropped a deep ball from Rodgers when he had to adjust to come back to the football. It was a good throw from Rodgers and Cobb should have made the catch. Cobb caught his third screen pass of the day when he followed his receivers forward for six yards. After multiple one handed catches in various games on Sunday, Cobb offered up his best with a one handed grab at full stretch for a big gain down the right sideline. On third and 11, Rodgers had plenty of time to hang in the pocket against a three man rush. Cobb adjusted well against deep zone coverage to catch a deep curl route before breaking tackles and sprinting down the field for a big gain.

Week 15 - Cobb continues to amaze and astonish. It’s hard to pick out which of his six catches was his best but the one which stands out the most was a brilliant, leaping catch along the sideline. On this play, Rodgers was flushed out of the pocket to his right, with the Bears pass rush in hot pursuit. Cobbwas heading towards the sideline with a trio of defensive backs at his heels. Rodgers launched the ball on the run and hit Cobb with a throw which was a little high and forced Cobb to make an outstanding catch, extending his body up and grabbing the ball before being knocked out of bounds. The ball was where only Cobb could get it and illustrated the confidence Rodgers has in his young wide receiver. Cobb also excelled on numerous slant plays. The Packers seem to avoid those short passing routes, but when they use them, Cobb is often the target and his ability to make plays after the catch often turn those slants into big games.

Week 16 - Cobb did all of his damage in the first half against the Titans, catching three passes for sixty-two yards on five targets. The Packers used Cobb primarily out of the slot, running a variety of routes to maximize his usage. Cobb’s twenty-yard touchdown grab was highlight reel-worthy, as he physically bested a Tennessee defensive back to snag a bullet from a running Aaron Rodgers. Cobb jumped in front of the Tennessee defender draped over him and completed the catch to put the Packers up by fourteen in the first quarter. Cobb nearly found the end zone again in the first quarter on a home run pass attempt from Rodgers, but the two were unable to hook up for a completion. Cobb left the game in the third quarter, injuring his ankle on a punt return. 


Week 18 - Cobb's first reception was a bubble screen that went unopposed for seven yards. Cobb took a handoff after lining up in the backfield for four yards. Cobb took another carry off right tackle a few plays later for just two yards.

Week 19 - Reportedly struggling with the flu, Cobb wasn't involved on offense until the third quarter when he took a carry out of the backfield for a 15+ yard gain over right tackle. The Packers went straight back to him for a four yard gain on first down. On third and 11, Cobb caught a crossing route underneath with space infront to run into. He tried to break outside with three yards to go before the first down marker, but should have kept running up the middle. With more than two yards to go, Cobb stretched the ball out in veign and fumbled it. Fortunately for the Packers, the 49ers couldn't recover and they were still able to kick the field goal. Lined up in the backfield again, Cobb caught a quick pass in the flat but was quickly wrapped up by arriving defenders after just a two yard gain. Rodgers flipped it to him in the pocket to try and take advantage of an aggressive pass rush, but Cobb was wrapped up by a disciplined defensive line at the line of scrimmage. Cobb caught a quick out for four yards with the game already decided late in the fourth quarter. Cobb caught a quick out after a fake spike.