Randall Cobb: Why Receiver Is One of Packers Most Valuable Players

Where would Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense be without Randall Cobb?

Cobb is one of the team's most valuable players, and the offense wouldn't be nearly as effective without him in the lineup. 

When the running game isn't getting the job done, Rodgers finds Cobb on quick routes underneath, and the skilled receiver finds some way to get the yards the offense needs to keep moving down the field.

Big plays aren't available every time, and it's imperative for offenses to have a go-to guy when teams concentrate on shutting down Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Greg Jennings (when he returns). 

Cobb often substitutes for running backs when the team's running game goes awry, lining up alongside Rodgers in the shotgun and sometimes behind him in traditional sets. From there, he is capable of running the ball, running a route downfield or setting up for a screen pass. 

This is an amazingly effective strategy because more often than not, Cobb finds himself matched up with slower defenders. With his 4.46-second 40-yard dash speed, Cobb easily separates away from linebackers and many safeties, and when he has the ball in his hands, he's incredibly dangerous after the catch. 

Through seven games, Cobb has caught 37 passes on 43 targets for 435 yards and three touchdowns. Only Nelson has more receptions (40), but he's been targeted 57 times. Cobb is also second on the team with 21 first-down receptions. 

In addition to his value as a slot/out-of-the-backfield receiver, Cobb is a dangerous runner and highly skilled special teams player.

He has only run the ball three times this season, but he has gained 67 yards on those three carries and ran for a first down on all three. He also pitched in a touchdown on a punt return—his third special-teams touchdown in his young career. 

The best way to describe Cobb would be to say that he's like a Swiss Army knife. He has all the right tools to get any job done, and the Packers would be hard pressed to replace him.

Besides Rodgers, Cobb is the most valuable player on the Packers offense. He is absolutely vital to the team's continued success. Take him out of the lineup, and it wouldn't take long to see just how much the team depends on him. 

The best part? Cobb is just starting to tap into what he's capable of doing in the NFL—a happy thought for Packers fans. 

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