Detroit Lions DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will serve as the backup QB for Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. The Lions have opted to have an experienced quarterback behind Jared Goff which leaves Hendon Hooker as the emergency option. Bridgewater retired from the league after the 2023 season to coach his alma mater high school team. He came out of retirement in late December and served as the emergency third string quarterback to end the season. He's unlikely to see the field with Goff healthy, but having Bridgewater's experience on the sideline is never a bad thing.

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has never appeared in an NFL playoff game before, but he already ranks as the No. 1 overall kicker in RotoBaller's Divisional Round fantasy rankings. His highly anticipated performance against the Washington Commanders on Saturday is the result of an impressive regular season in which he scored the seventh-most fantasy points among kickers. He missed just three field-goal attempts, and the Lions' incredibly potent offense put him in position to make a whopping 64 extra points. Also working in his favor is a somewhat favorable matchup against the Commanders, who surrendered two field goals to Chase McLaughlin last week, including one from 50 yards out. All in all, Bates is this week's top fantasy kicker thanks to his accuracy, power, and role on a dominant Lions team.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick delivered a solid four-game stretch where he looked like one of the best No. 3 receivers in the NFL, but a subpar finish to the regular season has stripped him of some fantasy appeal as the Divisional Round gets underway. This week, Patrick gets ready for a matchup with the Washington Commanders, who have ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. They've also fared equally well against both slot and perimeter weapons, so Patrick's tendency to operate out wide doesn't give him much of an advantage. The veteran receiver caught two passes on three targets over his final three games during the regular season, consistently playing between 55 and 65 percent of the offensive snaps. His experience and veteran status do give him a slight boost in the playoffs, but he's still tough to trust given his reduced volume to end the regular season. Look for him to rank as a fringe top-24 fantasy receiver this week.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is a big-play threat who remains a solid fantasy option for Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. Williams spent this season occupying the No. 2 receiver slot on the depth chart behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, but that didn't stop him from breaking out for 58 catches, 1,001 yards, and seven touchdowns through 15 games. He was the overall WR19 in half-PPR leagues during the 2024 season, though his low floor and high ceiling often meant that he was finishing inside the top 10 receivers or outside the top 25. This weekend, he'll get a chance to make his playoff presence felt against a Commanders defense that ranks near the middle of the league in terms of production allowed to opposing receivers. They've fared equally well against slot and perimeter receivers, so the fact that Williams is capable of playing both roles doesn't give him much of an edge this weekend. Instead, he'll simply have to use his game-changing speed and athleticism to dismantle a solid Washington secondary. He has shown that he can be matchup-proof at times in the past, so managers shouldn't be surprised if he finishes the Divisional Round as a top-six fantasy receiver. His upside makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers and bettors.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta remains a top option for fantasy managers and bettors ahead of Saturday's playoff game against the Washington Commanders. The second-year tight end exploded down the stretch, finishing as the overall TE3 in half-PPR leagues. He had two touchdowns over his final three games, and he amassed 24 catches for 281 yards over his last four contests. The Commanders have performed in a peculiar fashion against tight ends this year, surrendering the third-fewest catches and fifth-fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends in 2024. Most important, however, is that Washington surrendered the fifth-most touchdowns to the position. LaPorta has a very strong chance to feast, especially as he continues to carve out an even larger role near the end zone.