Nearing deal with Raiders

The Raiders are closing in on a contract with Nelson, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Nelson has wasted no time in finding a new home, seemingly landing with the first organization that inquired about his services. In 2017, he looked like a shell of himself, but working with Brett Hundley instead of Aaron Rodgers for most of the season didn't help Nelson's cause. If the Raiders and Nelson reach an agreement, as expected, he'll get to work with one of the better young quarterbacks in the NFL in Derek Carr. It's been suggested Michael Crabtree would be the casualty of Nelson…read more

Visiting Raiders

Nelson is visiting the Raiders on Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Analysis: Nelson was released by the Packers on Tuesday after the team reached an agreement with Jimmy Graham. It's more than fair to wonder how Nelson will fare without Aaron Rodgers, as the aging wideout completely disappeared when Brett Hundley was under center last season, closing out the year with nine straight games under 40 yards. Nelson will turn 33 in May, but he's only two years removed from a 97-1,257-14 receiving line and four years removed from a 98-1,519-13 line (he missed the entire 2015…read more

Cut by Packers

The Packers released Nelson on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: At this point in his career, Nelson is Aaron Rodgers-dependent, posting no more than 35 yards in the eight games in which he played without the signal caller in 2017. While Rodgers will be back in the fold this season, Nelson's age (he'll be 33 in May) and cap figure ($12.5 million this season) likely swayed the decision-making process in Green Bay. The long-time Packer enters the open market with 69 touchdowns among his 550 receptions, but on the heels of a career-worst 9.1 YPC.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Mike McCarthy were adamant Wednesday that Nelson remains a key part of the team's nucleus, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Analysis: After returning for the 2016 season after missing the previous campaign while recovering from a torn ACL, Nelson wasn't the downfield threat he had been in his prime years, but was nonetheless supremely impressive in finishing with 97 receptions for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns. That showing was expected to make Nelson a safe early-round fantasy selection in 2017, but the wideout instead saw his numbers crash in dramatic fashion, averaging a career-worst 9.1 yards per reception while scoring…read more

Facing uncertain future

Nelson (shoulder) may be asked to take a pay cut or even be released in the offseason, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports.

Analysis: Nelson had six touchdowns in the five games he and Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) both started and finished this season, but the veteran wideout otherwise was held out of the end zone completely while failing to top 35 yards in a game after Week 6. Brett Hundley's poor play obviously gets some of the blame, but it's impossible to completely absolve Nelson when considering that Davante Adams (concussion) continued to produce at a high level. Friday's announcement of a long-term extension for Adams…read more

Will not play in Week 17

Nelson (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions.

Analysis: Nelson has not practiced this week after injuring his shoulder in Week 16, and it turns out the setback will cut his season short by one game. Outside of the 2015 season when he did not play due to a preseason knee injury, Nelson's 482 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2017 were both his lowest totals since 2010. Granted, his production slipped mightily when regular quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone, but he did not post more than 79 yards in a game even when…read more

Sitting out again Thursday

Nelson (shoulder) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: A mere spectator for the second day in a row, Nelson's lack of visible activity is balanced by his focus on rehabilitation of his left shoulder. No matter the progress made on that front, though, head coach Mike McCarthy noted Wednesday that "it'll be tough" for Nelson to get the all-clear for Sunday's game at Detroit. Assuming both Nelson and Davante Adams (concussion) sit out this weekend, the receiving corps will be a shell of itself, with Randall Cobb, Geronimo Allison (illness), Michael…read more

Missing practice Wednesday

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Nelson (shoulder) wouldn't practice Wednesday and "it'll be tough" for the wideout to receive clearance to play Sunday against the Lions.

Analysis: Nelson will be limited to rehab work in the Packers' first official practice of the week after suffering a left shoulder injury in the Week 16 loss to the Vikings. The 32-year-old's fantasy upside was already capped with Brett Hundley filling in at quarterback for Aaron Rodgers (collarbone), so the likelihood that Nelson will be less than fully healthy if he's able to defy the odds and suit up Week 17 probably makes it best to avoid him in both season-long and DFS settings.

Ruled out with shoulder injury

The Packers ruled Nelson out of Saturday's contest versus the Vikings with a shoulder injury.

Analysis: Since Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone Week 6, Nelson has been a shell of his usual self. The trend continued last Sunday with Rodgers back in action, when Nelson hauled in three of six passes for 28 yards. Prior to injuring his shoulder Saturday, Nelson had another three catches (on five targets) for a measly 11 yards. The Packers are already down No. 1 wideout Davante Adams due to a concussion, leaving Randall Cobb, Geronimo Allison, Trevor Davis, Michael Clark and Jeff Janis as the…read more

Suffers shoulder injury Saturday

Nelson is questionable to return to Saturday's contest against the Vikings due to a shoulder injury.

Analysis: On a catch late in the second quarter, Nelson came to his feet and favored his left arm as he returned to the huddle, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Nelson remained on the field for one play before heading to the sideline, after which he underwent an evaluation during halftime. The nature of Nelson's injury is unknown at this time.

Nelson's involvement in the Packers' passing attack could remain limited with Brett Hundley set to start at quarterback in Green Bay's final two games following Aaron Rodgers' (collarbone) placement on injured reserve.

Analysis: When Rodgers was activated from IR and returned to the starting lineup in advance of the Packers' eventual Week 15 loss to the Panthers, there was some hope that Nelson's lagging production might be boosted by the return of a familiar face under center. That didn't materialize, however, as Nelson finished the outing with just three catches on six targets for 28 yards. Those numbers were roughly in line with what Nelson had posted during Hundley's seven-game run as starter while Rodgers was out,…read more

Nelson brought in three of six targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 31-24 loss to the Panthers.

Analysis: Nelson was the least productive of the Packers' top receiving trio in Aaron Rodgers' return to action from a broken collarbone. However, he could have had a more impressive stat line if the quarterback hadn't slightly underthrown him on a mid-third-quarter pass at the Panthers' 26-yard line that was picked off by Carolina's James Bradberry. Hopes were high for Nelson to resume his typical level of production as soon as Rodgers was back under center, but fantasy owners still alive in their…read more

Packers offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett doesn't expect the long layoff to impact Nelson's chemistry with Aaron Rodgers (collarbone), Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's official website reports.

Analysis: Nelson completely fell off the map during Rodgers' absence, failing to top 35 yards or score a single touchdown in seven Brett Hundley starts. The 32-year-old wideout undoubtedly is excited for Rodgers to return Sunday in Carolina, but it's fair to question whether Nelson may have permanently lost the No. 1 receiver title to Davante Adams, who overcame Hundley's shaky play to catch 41 passes for 489 yards and four touchdowns the past seven games. Given the extent of his slump, Nelson carries…read more

Nelson caught four of five targets for 33 yards in Sunday's 27-21 overtime win in Cleveland.

Analysis: This was actually Nelson's second-best yardage total in Brett Hundley's seven starts this season. It will be interesting to see how targets are divided if Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) returns from injured reserve for Week 15 in Carolina, as Davante Adams has looked far superior to Nelson this season. That being said, Nelson scored six touchdowns in the four games that both he and Aaron Rodgers started and finished earlier this season. It's possible Nelson's chemistry with the veteran quarterback…read more

Nelson brought in five of eight targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 26-20 overtime win against the Buccaneers.

Analysis: The glass-half-full perspective was that Nelson's reception and target totals were team highs, but the other side of the coin was a 3.4 YPC that was even worse than last week's 3.7 figure. Nelson has simply been unable to serve as a factor downfield with Brett Hundley under center, leading to six straight games with 35 or fewer receiving yards. The good news is that Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) may be primed for a Week 15 return according to latest reports, which looks to be the only path for…read more

Nelson caught three passes for 11 yards in Sunday's loss to the Steelers.

Analysis: The Packers' passing attack was as effective as it's been under Brett Hundley, but that did not do anything for Nelson's production; in fact, Nelson finished with his fewest yards in a game he finished since Week 7 of 2016. If he is ever going to get on track with Hundley at the helm he figures to do so next Sunday against a Buccaneers pass defense that has allowed over 300 yards to opposing wideouts in back-to-back weeks, but it will take a leap of faith to include Nelson in Week 13 lineups…read more

Nelson caught two of six targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 23-0 loss to the Ravens.

Analysis: Nelson tied for second on the team in targets, but his inability to get in sync with Brett Hundley reared its head again. He finished fourth among Green Bay pass catchers in yardage and has now totaled just 92 yards in four games with Hundley as the starter. Nelson's fantasy value seems to be at a season low at this point, and he seems unlikely to get back on track next week against a stingy Steelers defensive unit.

Nelson caught three passes for 20 yards in Sunday's victory over the Bears.

Analysis: Nelson was targeted nine times by quarterback Brett Hundley in Week 6 after he replaced an injured Aaron Rodgers, so early indications were Nelson would still see plenty of balls in his direction in Rodgers' absence. However, that has turned out not to be the case, as Nelson has seen just 15 targets in the three games since, leading to totals of just eight receptions, 68 yards and -- most importantly for fantasy players -- zero touchdowns. Rodgers has not been ruled out for the season and…read more