Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur revealed Monday that receiver Jake Kumerow, who caught a 49-yard pass to set up a touchdown against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, would be receiving a bigger opportunity moving forward.
The numbers suggest the opportunity is long overdue.
He’s only received 18 targets in 2019, but Kumerow leads the Packers in both yards per target at 11.8 and yards per catch at 19.3.
Eight of his 11 catches (72.7 percent) have gained first downs. Three of the 11 (27.3 percent) have gained 20 or more yards.
Aaron Rodgers is averaging 12.5 yards per attempt with a passer rating of 127.8 when targeting Kumerow. The sample size is small, but the efficiency is undeniable.
Compare all those numbers to Geronimo Allison, who has played roughly 50 percent of the offense’s snaps in 2019, and the need for more Kumerow becomes even more apparent.
Allison is averaging 5.5 yards per target and 8.7 yards per catch. Only 15 of his 31 catches have gained first downs (48.4 percent). Like Kumerow, he also has three catches of 20 or more yards, but only 9.7 percent of his total catches have produced 20 or more yards.
Rodgers is averaging 5.4 yards per attempt with a passer rating of just 91.3 when targeting Allison, who has been plagued by drops.
Of the 183 players with at least 30 targets this season, Allison ranks 157th in yards per target. Only nine wide receivers have been worse.
(Speaking of receivers that need more opportunities: Allen Lazard ranks ninth in the NFL in yards per target among the 183 players with at least 30 targets.)
Kumerow could also steal more of Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s dwindling snaps. The slumping sophomore receiver has two catches in the last six games, and he had a potential 70-yard touchdown go through his hands on the first play from scrimmage on Sunday against the Bears.
Kumerow, meanwhile, made the most of his lone opportunity, getting open along the sideline on third down and breaking several tackles downfield to set the Packers up at the 11-yard line. They scored two plays later, extending their lead to 21-3 in the third quarter.
The Packers need more from the receivers behind Davante Adams in the passing game. It’s been an issue all season. Overdue or not, it’s finally time for Kumerow’s opportunity.
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