Each week, a different Green Bay Packers player has led the team in yards from scrimmage on offense. Week one saw Jayden Reed put up an explosive day with more than 150 yards, while Josh Jacobs hit that mark as well last week (albeit with all of his yardage coming on the ground).
In the Packers' week three game against the Tennessee Titans, it was a surprising name who ended up leading the way. Backup running back Emanuel Wilson ended up being the team's biggest yardage-creator, totaling 85 yards -- 50 yards rushing on 12 carries and another 35 receiving yards on two receptions.
One of those catches went for a 30-yard touchdown that gave the Packers a comfortable 20-point lead midway through the third quarter. The game was never in doubt from there, as the Green Bay defense began to tee off on Will Levis. Wilson had not cracked the 50-yard mark previously in his career, but he is carving out an important role as a viable, productive number two back behind Jacobs.
Let's look at how the two backs' playing time compared, with the Packers totaling 63 snaps as a team on offense.
Willis posted a second straight game with a passer rating over 120, and this week he was asked to do much more than he was in Indianapolis a week ago. Yes, the Packers still had designed runs called on more than half of their offensive snaps, but Willis had a heavier lift as both a passer and a runner this week.
He stepped up and answered the call, not only going 13-of-19 for 202 yards and a score, but also adding six carries for 73 yards and a touchdown with his legs. He has done more than enough for Packers fans to feel good about him as Jordan Love's backup for the rest of this season and perhaps next year as well, since his rookie contract runs through 2025.
The aforementioned Wilson played a bigger role this week, as he was on the field for about 40 percent of the team's offensive snaps. Jacobs had tougher sledding this week against the Titans' stout front than he did in Indy, but that was to be expected; still, he had just 43 yards on 14 carries for a 3.1-yard average.
Wilson, on the other hand, averaged just over 4 YPC, adding that explosive touchdown
Green Bay got the passing game going on the opening drive, with Willis connecting for 30-yard gains to both Reed and Watson. The jump ball to Watson was one of two big catches on the day for him, as he would haul in a 37-yarder for the Packers' biggest play of the day late in the first half to set up a field goal. His 67 yards led the receivers, with Reed getting a total of 50 yards on four receptions. Doubs caught one of just two targets for 18 yards, while Wicks did not bring in either of his two targeted passes.
Kraft and Musgrave saw a bit more of an even split on Sunday as the team used more 12 personnel groupings again. Kraft continues to be a dynamic run blocker as well as a YAC machine, as he had a 21-yard reception.
The Packers were fortunate to have their full line together in this game, though there was no rotation at right guard because Jordan Morgan was inactive due to injury. Walker continued his penalty woes, however, with a pair of 10-yard flags in the second quarter (a hold and a hands to the face) that the Packers managed to erase thanks to completions by Willis on 3rd-and-long. All told, Willis was sacked three times, two more than he was last week in Indy.