Player Outlook
There are two legit reasons to begin the year with the Packers DST: Their talented defense, and their schedule. Pass rusher Rashan Gary leads a pretty deep group up front to get after the quarterback while shutdown corner Jaire Alexander headlines a better-than-solid secondary. This squad had 17 interceptions, which was great, but only 34 sacks in large part because Gary missed eight games. Additionally, almost none of the passers the Packers will see in the first half of the season will scare anyone (unless you're scared of Justin Fields, Russell Wilson or Kirk Cousins). It's the kind of combination that makes this DST worth taking with your last pick.

Fantasy News

  • Packers' Preston Smith: Without a sack through four games

    Smith had five tackles (four solo) and one quarterback hit in Thursday's 34-20 loss to the Lions. Smith's slow start continues. He has yet to record a sack in 2023 after notching at least 8.5 sacks in each of the previous two seasons. Perhaps age is starting to catch up to Smith, who will turn 31 in November.
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  • Packers' Quay Walker: Racks up 19 tackles in loss

    Walker recorded 19 tackles (10 solo), including one tackle for loss, in Thursday's 34-20 loss to the Lions. Walker was busy in a game that saw the Lions dominate time of possession by running the ball 43 times. His 19 tackles came five short of the single-game NFL record of 24, shared by David Harris (2007) and Luke Kuechly (2013). Walker leads the league with 47 tackles in 2023, albeit in one more game, with the Packers and Lions having been the only teams to play in Week 4.
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  • Packers' Carrington Valentine: Playing Thursday

    Valentine (biceps) is active for Thursday night's game against the Lions. The rookie seventh-round pick should again get the start in place of the injured Jaire Alexander (back). Valentine started in Alexander's right cornerback spot in Week 3 against the Saints but left the game with a biceps injury.
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  • Packers' Jaire Alexander: Not playing Thursday

    Alexander (back) is out for Thursday night's game against the Lions. The cornerback missed the Packers' Week 3 win over the Saints with the same injury and then was a limited participant in practice Tuesday and Wednesday. The two-time All-Pro started Green Bay's first two games and recorded eight tackles and two defensed passes.
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  • Packers' Zayne Anderson: Not playing Thursday

    The Packers have ruled out Anderson (hamstring) for Thursday's game against the Lions, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports. Anderson will now be sidelined for the second straight week with a hamstring injury. The 26-year-old will now have to wait at least one more week to make his season debut.
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  • Packers' Rashan Gary: Expected to play Thursday

    Gary (knee) is expected to play against the Lions on Thursday, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports. Gary will not carry an injury designation into Thursday's matchup. He had been recovering from a torn ACL that has limited his snap count so far this season. The 25-year-old will look to see increased playing time and build off of last week's three-sack performance against the Saints.
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  • Packers' De'Vondre Campbell: Ruled out for Week 4

    Campbell (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest with the Lions, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports. Campbell suffered an ankle injury versus New Orleans in Week 3 and failed to practice at all this week, so his absence comes as no surprise. Isaiah McDuffie will likely see an increased workload in Week 4 versus Detroit.
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  • Packers' Jaire Alexander: Questionable for Thursday night

    Alexander (back) is listed questionable for Thursday's game versus the Lions, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports. Alexander missed the team's 18-17 win over the Saints in Week 3 with a back injury. The star cornerback was listed as a limited participant on the Packers' practice reports for Tuesday and Wednesday, but his status for Thursday's contest won't be known until Green Bay releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to the game's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
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  • Packers' Jaire Alexander: Gets back on field

    Alexander (back) was listed as a limited participant during practice on the team's injury report Tuesday. Alexander missed the team's win over the Saints on Sunday and was listed as a DNP on Monday in the Packers' estimated injury report. Although the team only held a walkthrough, it's still positive progress for the star corner, who only has until Thursday to be ready for the team's Week 4 divisional clash against the Lions.
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  • Packers' De'Vondre Campbell: Logs another DNP

    Campbell (ankle) was listed as a non-participant during the team's walkthrough on Tuesday's injury report. Campbell suffered the injury in Sunday's win over the Saints during the first half and was also listed as a DNP on Monday's practice estimate. With the Packers on a short week and hosting the Lions on Thursday, Campbell will likely need to get on the practice field Wednesday if he's going to suit up for the contest.
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  • Packers' Quay Walker: Ties team lead in tackles

    Walker recorded seven tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 18-17 win versus the Saints. Walker cooled down a bit after his 17-tackle performance in Week 2, but he still put up a more than respectable showing in his team's Week 3 victory. He'll be a plus IDP option again when Green Bay hosts Detroit on Thursday.
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  • Packers' Darnell Savage: Team tackle leader again

    Savage recorded seven tackles (six solo) in Sunday's 18-17 win versus New Orleans. Savage posted seven-plus tackles for the third game in a row in Week 3, tying for the team lead in a gutsy win. He's on pace for a career year and his first 100-tackle season heading into a Week 4 matchup versus Detroit.
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  • Packers' Rashan Gary: Estimated as limited participant

    Gary (knee) was listed as a limited participant on the Packers' estimated injury report Monday. Gary played in just 23 of 61 defensive snaps in Sunday's 18-17 win over the Saints as he ramps up from a torn ACL injury he sustained in Week 9 last year, but he was still able to register a career-high three sacks. Gary is expected to remain on a snap count in the first few weeks of the 2023 season and could continue to be limited with the Packers facing off against the Lions on Thursday night.
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  • Packers' Jaire Alexander: Listed as DNP on estimated report

    Alexander (back) was listed as a non-participant on the Packers' estimated injury report Monday. Alexander missed Sunday's contest against the Saints after showing up on the Packers' injury report Friday. He could be out for Green Bay's Week 4 matchup against Detroit since the game takes place Thursday. Keisean Nixon -- who had three tackles in Sunday's game -- could start once again if Alexander is ruled out for Week 4.
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  • Packers' De'Vondre Campbell: DNP on estimated report

    Campbell (ankle) was listed was listed as a non-participant on the Packers' estimated injury report Monday. Campbell left Sunday's 18-17 win over the Saints with an ankle injury he sustained in the first half and finished with one tackle before leaving. Given that the Packers play the Lions on Thursday in Week 4, Campbell's practice participation over the next two ways will be crucial in determining whether he will be able to suit up in the divisional matchup.
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  • Packers' Rashan Gary: Racks up career-high three sacks

    Gary recorded three sacks in Sunday's 18-17 victory over the Saints. With the Packers easing Gary into a bigger workload coming off a knee injury that cut short his 2022 campaign, he was on the field for only 23 of Green Bay's 61 defensive snaps in Week 3. However, he clearly made the most of his opportunities, getting to the opponent's quarterback a career-high three times. Gary made a big impact in Week 3, and assuming his snap count increases that could be a more frequent occurrence moving forward.
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  • Packers' Keisean Nixon: Sees action in all phases

    Nixon had one carry for 11 yards, made three solo tackles, deflected a pass and returned a kick for 24 yards in Sunday's 18-17 victory over the Saints. Nixon did not start on defense for the first time this season, but he did see action in all three phrases and recorded his first career touch on the offensive side of the ball. It's unlikely he gets more involved in that area -- particularly when the Packers are back at full strength -- but it is at least an option.
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  • Packers' Carrington Valentine: Out for game

    Valentine (biceps) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Saints. The cornerback exited after not recording a stat in the first half. Valentine started Sunday because Jaire Alexander was out with a back injury.
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  • Packers' Carrington Valentine: Questionable to return

    Valentine exited Sunday's game against the Saints with a biceps injury, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. The backup cornerback got the start Sunday with Jaire Alexander out with a back injury, per Demovsky. Valentine did not get on the stat sheet before exiting. The rookie was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft back in April.
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  • Packers' Lukas Van Ness: Suiting up Sunday

    Van Ness (elbow) is active for Sunday's Week 3 contest versus New Orleans, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports. Van Ness hurt his elbow last week against Atlanta but was able to log a trio of limited practice sessions this week. He entered Sunday with a questionable tag but has been cleared to play. Van Ness has tallied four tackles (three solo), including one sack, in a rotational role across his first two NFL games.
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