Week 4 boom: Eric Stokes – MISS
Week 4 bust: Aaron Rodgers – HIT
Following a last second overtime victory, the 3-1 Green Bay Packers travel to London to play another 3-1 team in the New York Giants. Although surprising, the Giants have found ways to come away with victories, so the Packers cannot underestimate their talent. Green Bay has their eyes set on four consecutive victories, which will require contributions from top performers.
Boom: Aaron Jones
In the last three weeks, it has been evident that Aaron Jones is the focal point of the Packers’ offense. His insane 6.8 yards per carry seems unsustainable, but reflects how successful he has been with the ball in his hands through four games. Jones should continue to post outstanding numbers against the Giants who rank fifth worst in rush yards allowed and fourth worst in yards per carry allowed. After only five carries in Week 1, Jones has totalled 43 carries in the last three weeks, despite being in a shared backfield with A.J. Dillon. It is clear that the Packers’ coaching staff views Jones as their most influential offensive weapon this year. With the absence of a true No. 1 wide receiver, the Packers have relied on their run game instead of their future Hall of Fame quarterback. Expect for this strategy to continue as the season progresses and expect for Jones to create explosive plays time and time again.
Bust: De’Vondre Campbell
The key to the Giants’ 3-1 start is the resurgence of Saquon Barkley, who leads the NFL in rushing yards through four games. The Giants’ offense leads the league in rushing yards as well, averaging nearly 200 rush yards per game. In a matchup in which they are strong underdogs, the Giants will likely resort to what they do best, even if that means giving Barkley 30 carries in back-to-back weeks. The more often the Giants run the ball, the more often De’Vondre Campbell will be forced to make stops. The All-Pro linebacker has not flashed this year as he did in 2021, which could signal that he is more of the player in between the caliber of his earlier seasons and last season. While still above an average linebacker, Campbell may be challenged by Barkley’s running style, which has done so against other defenses. Barkley has frankly made some second level players look silly, utilizing his power, agility, and creativity to produce highlight plays regularly. Campbell may end up on these highlight reels unless other Packers can contain Barkley.
