Detroit Lions DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

After returning to a full practice on Tuesday, Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) said he's "ready to go" for the Divisional Round clash against the visiting Washington Commanders this Saturday. Montgomery sprained the MCL in his right knee in a Dec. 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and at the time, it was reported he would undergo season-ending surgery. However, Monty never had plans to go under the knife and was always targeting the Divisional Round for his return. The six-year veteran spent every day strengthening his knee, and he said it "feels better than it did before I got hurt." Still, given the long layoff, it's unclear how much he'll play this weekend. Montgomery was averaging around 28 snaps per game before the knee injury, gaining 775 yards with 12 touchdowns in 14 appearances. He's been Detroit's tone-setter on the ground, but he'll be much more of a risk in fantasy lineups this weekend.

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) was listed as a full participant in the team's first practice of the week on Tuesday. An MCL sprain to his right knee kept Montgomery out for the final three games of the regular season, and he had an extra week to heal up with the Lions on bye during the wild-card round of the playoffs last weekend. With the 27-year-old back to a full-go in practice, even though it was merely a walkthrough on Tuesday, he's on track to be available this Saturday in the Divisional Round against the visiting Washington Commanders. It's good news for the Lions offense for sure, but fantasy managers in playoff leagues should be hesitant to rely on Monty, who could have a reduced role alongside Jahmyr Gibbs in his first game back. In 14 games before his knee injury in 2024, Montgomery had 185 rushing attempts for 775 yards and 12 TDs and also caught 36 passes for 341 yards.

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) is expected to play in the NFC Divisional Round, according to head coach Dan Campbell. The 27-year-old suffered an MCL injury in the Week 15 game against the Buffalo Bills and has missed each of the last three contests. Early reports suggested Montgomery would need surgery and would miss the remainder of the season, but that is not the case. While it's an exciting development for Detroit, Montgomery could be limited by his lower-body ailment upon his return to action. Luckily, the Lions have a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, giving Montgomery extra time off to rehab and prepare.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick snagged both of his targets for 15 yards in his team's 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings on SNF. The veteran was again not deployed much as his team cruised to victory -- ranking fifth on the Lions with each of his statistical totals. Patrick was involved in the offense for a stretch, averaging 3.8 receptions and 40.4 yards per game from Weeks 11 to 15. However, he's totaled two catches and 15 yards on three targets in the three games since. The 31-year-old is a solid NFL wideout in his own right but a distant fourth target in the receiving room, and that doesn't account for the presence of pass-catching RB Jahmyr Gibbs. While he may still have his moments playing on an elite offense, the San Diego native is a better receiver on the field than he is for fantasy. Detroit will get a week off in anticipation of their matchup in the divisional round.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams caught six of his eight targets for 34 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The former Ohio State star saw his three-game touchdown streak come to an end in the season finale, but he still salvaged his showing with a half-dozen receptions and modest yardage. Williams wraps up his second pro season with 58 catches, 1,001 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Although the Lions' offense places a lot of emphasis on Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, fantasy managers should still view Williams as a flashy WR3/FLEX option. He will generate plenty of interest in the early to middle rounds of 2025 fantasy drafts. In the meantime, he'll carry his high ceiling into the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.