Jayden Reed — Week 1: Seven Targets, Twenty Yards
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 14
Reed was thrown to seven times, caught three for twenty yards, and converted a third and four in the third quarter; the seven targets were worth minus one point two expected points, and none of them gained more than seven yards. Matthew Golden had twelve targets and Christian Watson eight, in a 39–22 loss to the Vikings.
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The best of Jayden Reed's seven targets Sunday was a six-yard catch. Third and four at the Green Bay 42, eight oh three left in the third quarter, Packers up 19 to 10: Jordan Love short left, six yards to the 48, first down. It was worth +1.5 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and +1.6 points of win probability, the chance of winning after the play against before it. That was one of three third downs Green Bay converted in 12 tries all day, and it kept alive the possession that reached the Minnesota seven and ended in a field goal.
The line: seven targets, three catches, 20 yards, no touchdowns, one first down, −1.2 expected points on the targets, longest catch seven. The two first-half targets were both incomplete: deep left on second and eight from the Green Bay 46 with nine 18 left in the second quarter, up 12 to three, and short left on third and 25 from the 49 at five 31. The third-down target that did not convert came at the goal line: third and eight at the Minnesota eight, five 15 left in the third, up 19 to 10, short right, incomplete, −1.2, and Green Bay kicked. The other two catches were seven yards each, short middle on first and 10 from the Green Bay 25 with four 44 left in the fourth, the play before Love's interception, and short middle on second and 10 from the Minnesota 34 at two 35, down 39 to 22. Three of the seven targets were third downs; one converted.
Seven targets was third on the team, behind 12 to Matthew Golden and eight to Christian Watson, ahead of six to Tucker Kraft. The 20 yards were fifth, behind Watson's hundred 47, Golden's 95, Kraft's 65 and Jonnu Smith's 50. Two targets came before halftime, when Green Bay threw 19 pass plays; five came after, when it threw 27.
Back in June the preview called Reed a watchlist — the 40-second receiver at pick one oh two, two productive seasons as the slot before a broken collarbone, a three-year extension in April, and a defined three-man rotation with Watson and Golden, with his health first and then the target split as the September questions. Sunday put the health half in the plus column, seven targets across four quarters, and left the split at 12, eight, seven with Reed the seven. One game with 20 yards is not a role and not a verdict on one; it is the first line in a split the preview said would take the season to read. Green Bay is at the Jets on Sunday the twentieth.
_Data via nflverse._
When Jayden Reed's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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