A.J. Terrell Going on IR Makes Green Bay's Week 3 Passing Matchup Even Better

Green Bay's Week 3 matchup was already interesting.

Atlanta just made it better.

The Falcons placed top cornerback A.J. Terrell on injured reserve Tuesday, guaranteeing that he will miss Thursday night's game in Green Bay and at least the next four games.

For fantasy managers making start/sit decisions on Jordan Love and the Packers' receivers, that is meaningful.

Atlanta loses its best corner on a short week

Terrell is the player Atlanta would prefer to use against an opponent's most dangerous outside receiver.

Without him, veteran C.J. Henderson is expected to move into the starting lineup opposite Mike Hughes.

That doesn't mean Green Bay automatically throws for 400 yards. The Packers' offense was inconsistent in Week 2, and their offensive line has injuries worth monitoring.

But removing Atlanta's best corner makes an already playable matchup easier to attack.

Christian Watson has the volume

Watson saw a team-high 11 targets in Week 2 and caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown.

The catch rate wasn't impressive. The opportunity was.

Watson played almost every snap and has established himself as one of Jordan Love's primary downfield and scoring-area options.

Against an Atlanta secondary missing Terrell, that role carries obvious ceiling.

Watson belongs in Week 3 lineups unless your roster is unusually deep.

Matthew Golden is the more interesting decision

Golden caught four of six official targets for 58 yards in Week 2 and was also on the field for the large majority of Green Bay's offensive snaps.

Jayden Reed's injury has concentrated the Packers' receiver rotation, giving Golden a clearer path to routes.

That makes him an appealing flex option Thursday.

The key is understanding the difference between Watson and Golden. Watson has already shown stronger touchdown production. Golden's fantasy case is more about playing time, targets and the possibility that the matchup creates an explosive play.

Jordan Love gets a ceiling boost

Love threw for only 145 yards in Week 2 but still produced two passing touchdowns.

That is exactly why fantasy managers shouldn't evaluate the quarterback solely through last week's yardage total.

The Packers have multiple receivers capable of creating big plays, and Atlanta now enters Lambeau without its top cornerback.

Love should be treated as a strong Week 3 starter rather than someone to bench because of the Week 2 passing total.

Thursday-night decision

Because this game is Thursday, fantasy managers don't get the luxury of waiting for the rest of the week's injury information.

The Terrell news makes the decision easier.

Start Love.

Start Watson.

Golden is a legitimate flex, particularly for managers dealing with the wave of receiver injuries around the league.

Fantasy takeaway: Atlanta losing Terrell removes one of the biggest obstacles in Green Bay's Thursday-night matchup. Love and Watson are strong starts, and Golden's expanding role makes him a much more comfortable Week 3 flex.