Matthew Golden keeps showing up in one place fantasy managers rarely expect to find a first-round wide receiver. The Green Bay Packers receiver sits outside the top 100 picks in many 2026 Yahoo fantasy football drafts.
That low price has started to catch the attention of analysts across the fantasy industry. On July 29, 2026, Yahoo Fantasy’s Matt Harmon, Josh Norris and Hayden Winks discussed Golden on the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast podcast and made a strong case that he could become one of the biggest draft bargains of the season.
Packers’ New-Look Receiver Room Gives Matthew Golden a Real Chance to Break Out
Matthew Golden entered the NFL with elite speed and first-round expectations. His rookie year did not match the hype. Injuries interrupted his season, and he never found a consistent role in Green Bay’s offense.
Josh Norris said on the July 29 episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast podcast that the public may have judged Golden too quickly.
“If he just came down with one fingertip grab in those opening handful of games when he was healthy, we’d have a totally different opinion of him,” Norris said on Yahoo Fantasy’s podcast.
Hayden Winks pushed the argument even further during the same discussion. “This is just a screaming value,” Winks said on Yahoo Fantasy Forecast. “Former first-rounders on good offenses usually go much earlier.”
He further added, And he didn't, and then he got hurt and didn't play. And so we're just getting a major discount on a player with flaws, but someone, Matt, I think at this price, and Hayden, that I think could see massive improvements in year two.”
The price creates the opportunity. Fantasy managers do not need Golden to become a WR1. They only need him to outperform a late-round draft slot.
Green Bay’s offseason makes that outcome more realistic. The Packers let Romeo Doubs leave in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks, leaving Golden, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed as the clear top trio.
Golden also looks different in training camp. According to Packers.com, Golden has opened camp by catching virtually everything Jordan Love throws his way and winning consistently on quick outs and stop routes.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has noticed the small details, too. “What do you do when you don’t have the football? Early indications are promising,” LaFleur told reporters after the Packers’ July 30 training camp practice.
Golden spent the offseason adding strength to his 5-foot-11 frame after a frustrating rookie campaign. Minor injuries forced him to miss three games and limited him in several others. He finished the regular season with 29 catches for 361 yards. The encouraging part came before the injuries hit. From late September through mid-October 2025, Golden caught 19 passes for 233 yards over a four-game stretch.
Then came the flash that Packers fans still remember. In the Jan. 2026 playoff game against the Bears, Golden caught four passes for 84 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 23-yard catch-and-run.
Golden wants more than that one highlight. After practice on July 30, he told reporters that the touchdown represented only “a little bit of what I can do.”
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
That confidence, combined with a larger role and Jordan Love’s trust, explains why fantasy experts keep circling his name.
Matthew Golden remains a risky pick. But with a cheaper ADP, a clearer path to targets and growing momentum inside Green Bay’s offense, he may be one of the smartest late-round swings in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
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