Team Profile
Detroit Lions
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3.8% 18thOff DVOA
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-8.5% 26thPassing DVOA
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29.2% 2ndRushing DVOA
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-5.1% 10thDef DVOA
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0.3% 14thDef Passing DVOA
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-15.5% 9thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For21.0 17th
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Points Against20.0 14th
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Yards Per Game413.0 1st
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Yards Allowed Per Game302.0 14th
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that wide receiver Jameson Williams is a "man on a mission" during offseason workouts this year. The head coach said Williams is the most improved player since the start of the spring. It's high praise for the 23-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2022 out of Ohio State. Williams was recovering from a torn ACL in his rookie campaign and played in just six games. He was suspended in 2023 and finished with 24 receptions, 354 yards and two touchdowns in 12 regular-season games (10 starts) in Year 2. Williams has lots of big-play ability and should have a bigger role in Detroit's offense in his third year in 2024, but there are a lot of mouths to feed and he should still be a distant No. 3 behind receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and stud tight end Sam LaPorta. He's worth a flier late in fantasy drafts as a potential breakout candidate.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) was photographed participating in OTAs on Wednesday, via the team website. There hasn't been much information available regarding Raymond's status until this latest development, which suggests that he has made progress in his recovery ever since missing the NFC Championship in January. Raymond managed to carve out a role on offense despite competing for targets with plenty of offensive playmakers. He finished 2023 with 35 catches, 489 yards, and one touchdown over 17 games (three starts), serving as a reliable option for Jared Goff. This year, Raymond will once again be in play for a non-zero target share given his familiarity with Detroit's offense. However, he remains off the fantasy radar in most formats as he operates behind the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said this week on The Rich Eisen Show that second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs could have an even bigger role in 2024. "I definitely would expect him to see more of a load, but David Montgomery will still be here too," Holmes said. "Dan and I love that 1-2 punch of him and David." The former first-round pick in 2023 was third among running backs with 5.2 yards per carry in his rookie campaign, so fantasy managers that were already fond of Gibbs' stock in a rising Lions offense will be pleased that he could be even more valuable as an RB1 in 2024. Not only should the 22-year-old former Alabama back see more carries, but he should also be more involved in the passing attack, where he can really excel with yards after the catch in open space. Only seven RBs saw more targets than Gibbs' 71 in 2023.
The Washington Commanders released quarterback Jake Fromm on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The former Georgia Bulldog was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and spent the last two seasons with Washington after a brief stint with the New York Giants. Despite being in the league for four seasons, he has thrown just 60 passes, completing 27 of them for 210 yards and one touchdown to go along with three interceptions. The Commanders signed Marcus Mariota this offseason and added rookies Jayden Daniels and Sam Hartman to their quarterback room, so Fromm became expendable. The 25-year-old is unlikely to earn playing time anytime soon barring a slew of injuries around the NFL.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff agreed to a four-year, $212 million contract extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides were working on an extension last week, and they evidently worked quickly and got the deal done. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams has been fantastic since being dealt to Detroit along with draft picks for Matthew Stafford. He led Detroit to a playoff win for the first time since 1991 last year, and he's posted 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. He's now under contract through the 2028 season and will remain a fringe QB1 option in fantasy football as long as his offensive weapons remain on the roster. Given his job security and upside in Detroit's offense, he should be viewed as a strong dynasty QB2 in superflex formats.