If you do not know who Marquez Valdes-Scantling is, you will soon. He is the new budding star of the Green Bay Packers.
Valdes-Scantling was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by Green Bay. He played his college ball at N.C. State and South Florida. In his rookie season, Valdes-Scantling finished with 38 catches for 581 yards and two touchdowns. In his sophomore campaign, Valdes-Scantling is off to a hot start.
The Packers are 3-0 despite being ranked 24th in the league scoring 19.4 points per game. The defense has been playing lights out over the first three games and Aaron Rodgers is not turning the ball over. In fact, Rodgers has found a new favorite target.
Coming into the season, critics were worried about the Packers' receiving corps. Davante Adams was already a superstar, but Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison were not viewed as capable receivers. One of them has changed the narrative.
Packers Wide Receiver Turning Heads Early-On
Valdes-Scantling got out of the gates quick. In a far from exciting game against the Chicago Bears on the NFL's opening Thursday night, he was the leading receiver for the Packers. Against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, vintage Rodgers came out when he made the defensive line jump offsides. He used the free play to hit Valdes-Scantling for a 40-yard touchdown.
The second year receiver finished with six catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. This was one of the better games in his young career. At 6-foot-4, Valdes-Scantling has all the tools needed to be a successful receiver in the league. He is a physical receiver who is making a name for himself early on. Valdes-Scantling is not a finished product just yet.
“I think he’ll look back and realize there were some opportunities,” Rodgers said following the win over the Broncos. “One I got a little pressure – I maybe should have stood in there and hit him on a post (and) he dropped a couple. We hold ourselves to a high standard, I’m going to hold him to a high standard.”
Rodgers is a perfectionist, but he has been far from perfect this season. Same with his young receiver. Valdes-Scantling is a capable route runner, but his hands could use some work. At 24 years old, the Packers hope to have this receiver for an extended period of time.
Despite the imperfections on offense for Green Bay, the team is off to a 3-0 start against three tough defenses. With No. 12 under center, it is easy to believe that the offense will be just fine as the season progresses.
Valdes-Scantling, on the other hand, is a lethal weapon and with more consistently could become a legitimate star wide receiver.
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