Jameson Williams DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Detroit Lions exercised wide receiver Jameson Williams' fifth-year option for the 2026 season on Friday, a source tells ESPN's Field Yates. This was a no-brainer move for the Lions after Williams broke out with his first 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024. The 24-year-old former first-rounder out of Ohio State is projected to make $15.49 million in 2026 on his fifth-year option. Williams played in only 18 games (10 starts) in his first two years in the NFL due to recovery from a torn ACL in his final year in college and a suspension for gambling last year. In 15 games (11 starts) during the regular season a year ago, he caught 58 of 91 targets for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns. He also added 11 carries for 61 yards and a TD. Williams has big-play ability every time he touches the ball, but his lack of volume in a loaded Detroit offense is worrisome and makes him a boom-or-bust fantasy commodity.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the team never entertained a trade of wide receiver Jameson Williams during the first round of the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. Not only did Detroit not trade the 24-year-old Ohio State alum, but they stayed in the No. 28 overall spot in the first round on Thursday and took defensive tackle Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State. Williams is heading into the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, but the Lions are expected to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2026 season by the deadline on May 1. In his third year in the NFL, Williams broke out to the tune of a 58-1,001-7 line on 58 receptions in 15 regular-season games (11 starts). It could be tough for the former first-rounder to top that production in 2025 with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson gone, making Williams a boom/bust fantasy target as a home run threat whenever he touches the football.

According to Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, the team expects to exercise wide receiver Jameson Williams' fifth-year option. "We're, you know, most likely gonna be doing that," said the Lions' GM. Holmes also noted that the 24-year-old is "still scratching the surface" and "has more in him." Williams finally put it all together last season, notching 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns over 58 receptions, elevating his play to his first-round price. The Alabama product was a superb deep threat for the Lions last season, adding an extra element to its offense. If Holmes' shining endorsement is genuine, then it's possible that Williams has another gear and could level up again if he works on his craft. The speedster is currently RotoBaller's WR49 in ADP (114 overall) but finished last season as the PPR WR22.