Detroit Lions DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (hip) made his return to practice on Wednesday after missing the last three weeks of the regular season with a hip injury. Wright could earn a start in Sunday night's wild-card meeting with the Los Angeles Rams if rookie Sam LaPorta (knee) is held out. The 25-year-old doesn't have the same high-end catching ability as LaPorta, but he's a trusted veteran who earned most of the starts after T.J. Hockenson was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in the middle of last season. Wright had just 13 receptions on 14 targets for a career-low 91 yards and one touchdown in his third year for the Lions in 14 games during the regular season, but he could be worth a look as a low-cost sleeper at the tight end position in DFS lineups if LaPorta is inactive on Sunday evening. UPDATE: Wright practiced in full Wednesday.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) missed the team's practice on Wednesday after injuring his knee in the Week 18 regular season win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Head coach Dan Campbell is slightly behind rookie tight end Sam LaPorta (knee), indicating Raymond's chances of playing on Sunday evening against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card contest are more bleak but not necessarily zero percent. Detroit's offense is pretty beat up heading into the postseason. If Raymond and LaPorta aren't cleared to play, second-year receiver Jameson Williams (ankle, illness), who missed Week 18, should have a bigger role in the passing game next to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds. Raymond, who also serves as the team's punt returner, had 35 receptions for 489 yards and one touchdown on 44 targets in 2023.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle, illness) was back at practice on Wednesday after missing all of last week with an ankle injury and an illness. The Lions held him out of the Week 18 regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday, but he's expected to play this Sunday night in the wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams to help give the Lions some extra firepower on offense. The 22-year-old second-year wideout did very little to move the fantasy needle during the regular season, catching only 24 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns on 42 targets. However, Williams could have a bigger role on offense for Detroit on wild-card weekend if both tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) and receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) are not able to suit up. UPDATE: Williams practiced in full Wednesday.

Detroit Lions rookie Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta (knee) didn't take part in the team's practice on Wednesday, but he was in attendance. LaPorta hyperextended his knee in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings and suffered a bone bruise on Sunday. The Lions initially believed he would miss the wild-card game this Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams, but LaPorta has improved enough to take part in a walkthrough this week and has an "outside chance to play, according to head coach Dan Campbell. "He's improving. He was out there in walkthrough. I don't foresee us knowing anything or feeling like we have a real good picture until Friday afternoon. But he's improving," Campbell said. LaPorta was the No. 1 fantasy tight end in his first NFL season, but he'll carry extra risk in DFS lineups if he's active and playing at less than 100 percent.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) and tight end Brock Wright (hip) will return to practice this week and are expected to play against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card game on Sunday Night Football. Williams missed the Week 18 game against the Minnesota Vikings with an ankle injury and illness, while Wright was absent due to a hip ailment. With Sam LaPorta (knee) and Kalif Raymond (knee) getting banged up on Sunday, the return of Williams and Wright could be a significant development. Williams has boom-or-bust appeal in playoff leagues and DFS, but Wright has limited upside even if he's elevated to the No. 1 tight end role.