Detroit Lions

Jared Goff→ his ranking

Goff's best football with the Rams came between 2017 and 2020, when he went 42-20 and led the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance in 2018. He also led the entire league in pass attempts in 2019 with 626.

His first season in Detroit was a rough one (a 3-10-1 record), with three missed games due to oblique and knee injuries, and his yards per attempt (6.6) marked his third straight year of decline in that category. There were some encouraging signs, namely a 67.2% completion rate and a pace that suggested 4,000 combined yards and 23 touchdowns over a full season, but the production was inconsistent. He topped 300 passing yards just once all year (338 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1) and failed to reach 225 yards in eight of his final twelve starts.

Goff finished with a rebound in 2022 (4,511 combined yards, 29 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions), coming close to preseason expectations. His completion rate dipped slightly to 65.1%, but his big-play output jumped, highlighted by 57 completions of 20-plus yards and 12 going for 40 or more. He averaged 34.5 attempts per game, operating efficiently as a modified game manager. He was particularly sharp down the stretch, throwing 15 touchdowns without an interception over his final nine starts, and topped 300 passing yards five times. The home/road split was glaring. Goff threw for 2,472 yards and 23 touchdowns in Detroit compared to 1,966 yards and six scores on the road.

2023 brought new personal records for Goff, setting career highs in completions (407) and completion rate (67.3%). He hit 30 touchdown passes for the first time since 2018, finishing with 36 on the season, including the playoffs, and his yards per attempt held steady at 7.6. His three best fantasy performances in touchdowns all came at home (323/3, 236/3, and 278/5), as did 24 of his 36 passing scores. He also topped 300 passing yards four more times and finished sixth among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring at 351.55 points in four-point passing touchdown formats.

Detroit played a number of games early in 2024 that didn't require Goff to throw much. He averaged just 27 attempts over the first 10 weeks. Even so, the Lions’ passer had four strong outings in that stretch (290/2, 320/5, 276/2, and 433/4). The Lions opened things up considerably over the final eight games, during which Goff averaged 38.6 attempts and put up 309 yards and three touchdowns per game. He closed the year with career bests in touchdown passes (37) and completion rate (72.4%), finishing sixth at quarterback in fantasy scoring with 383.95 points. His home dominance remained a defining trait, with three monster fantasy performances of 30.30, 38.70, and 46.00 points. He also showed a reliable scoring floor, reaching at least two touchdown passes in 13 of his 18 appearances.

Last year, Goff continued to produce top-10 quarterback stats (356.40 fantasy points – 8th). He had his second-best year in passing touchdowns (34) while maintaining a high floor in passing yards (4,564). His home edge (2,235/18 over eight games) remained prominent, but Goff had more success on the road (2,329/16) while playing one more game. He delivered two impact games in fantasy points (37.30 and 30.20) while in Detroit. Goff passed for over 300 yards in six matchups (334/5, 320/3, 309/1, 338/3, 364/3, and 331/1).

Jahmyr Gibbs→ his ranking

Gibbs hit the ground running as a rookie, producing 1,261 combined yards, 11 touchdowns, and 52 catches on 234 touches across 15 games, roughly 15.6 touches per week. His fantasy value took a hit early when he managed just 39 carries for 179 yards and 14 catches for 70 yards over his first four games (9.73 fantasy points per game), then missed two weeks with a hamstring injury. But when David Montgomery went down, Gibbs seized the moment with back-to-back explosive outings (37 carries for 220 yards, two touchdowns, and 14 catches for 95 yards across those two games), totaling 57.50 fantasy points in PPR formats.

He carried that momentum through the rest of the year, scoring 12 times and generating 935 combined yards with 35 catches over his final 12 appearances, including the postseason. Gibbs topped 20.00 fantasy points five times in that stretch and finished as the tenth-ranked running back in PPR scoring with 243.70 points. The one blemish was a modest 6.1 yards per catch, and he never broke a run of 40-plus yards, both areas with room to grow.

Gibbs picked up in 2024 right where he left off, averaging 16.64 fantasy points per game through his first five weeks (66/348/3 with 14 catches for 104 yards and one score). He followed up with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games (15/116/2 and 11/127/1) and remained productive through most of the next seven contests, adding 131.70 fantasy points over that stretch.

When Montgomery exited Week 15 after just four plays with a knee injury, Gibbs inherited a full-featured role down the stretch. He made the most of it, averaging 24.3 touches per game over the final four weeks and topping 100 rushing yards in each outing (23/109/1, 18/117/1, 23/139/3, and 14/105/2) while remaining a consistent receiving option (4/45, 4/46, 5/31/1, and 6/70).

Gibbs found his explosive gear last season, highlighted by seven of his plays gaining 40 yards or more, across his career-high 320 touches. Despite his progression, he finished with a step back in yards per rush (5.0 – 5.6 in 2024) and yards per catch (8.0 – 9.9 in 2024). Gibbs dominated Tampa in Week 7 (17/136/2 with three catches for 82 yards), followed by elite success in PPR fantasy points in Week 10 (38.20), Week 12 (55.40), and Week 14 (37.00). He finished third in PPR running back scoring (367.90), with 167.40 fantasy points (45.5%) coming in four matchups. He scored under 10.00 fantasy points in four other matchups.

Isiah Pacheco→ his ranking

Pacheco saw limited action during the first half of 2022, managing 210 combined yards, one touchdown, and 13 catches on 47 touches. His best single-game output came in Week 1 (12/62/1). Kansas City leaned on him more heavily as an early-down runner over the final 12 games, where he carried 163 times for 830 yards and five touchdowns while adding 16 catches for 182 yards. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 12.27 fantasy points per game in PPR formats over that stretch, but Pacheco never topped 16.50 points in any individual outing.

He added more receiving value in 2023, catching 56 passes for 304 yards and two scores, but his yards per reception (5.4) graded poorly. Across 18 games, including the playoffs, Pacheco averaged 19.0 touches and 15.73 fantasy points per game in PPR formats. He cracked 20.00 points four times (24.80, 25.90, 21.30, and 29.50) and missed three games with shoulder, quad, and concussion injuries. The postseason was his best stretch. Kansas City fed him 23.3 touches per game, resulting in 373 combined yards, 12 catches, and three touchdowns.

His 2024 season began promisingly (189 combined yards, a touchdown, and seven catches on 41 touches through two games), good for 31.90 PPR fantasy points. A broken leg in Week 2 then cost Pacheco nine games, and he never fully regained his form upon returning. Over his final eight appearances, the Chiefs gave him 62 carries, resulting in 212 rushing yards (3.4 yards per carry), and added only eight catches for 42 yards, leading Kansas City to scale back his role as the season wound down.

Last year, Pacheco gained 563 combined yards with two touchdowns and 19 catches on 137 touches. He never scored over 13.50 fantasy points in any game. A right knee injury cost him four games, and Kansas City rested him in Week 18. He gained only 3.9 yards per carry and 5.3 yards per catch.

Amon-Ra St. Brown→ his ranking

St. Brown picked up in 2022 right where he left off in his rookie season (90/973/6), opening the season with winning targets (12, 12, and 9), leading to 23 catches for 253 yards and three scores. An ankle injury wiped out Week 4 and dulled his production over the following three contests (1/4, 7/69, and 4/55), but he was dominant the rest of the way, catching 67 of 87 targets for 762 yards and three touchdowns over his final nine games.

St. Brown had a floor of six catches in eight of those nine outings and delivered three standout performances (10/119, 9/122/1, and 11/114/2). He closed the season with career highs across the board (106 catches, 1,161 yards, six touchdowns, and 146 targets). Detroit also used him sparingly as a runner (9/95).

The goal for St. Brown entering 2023 was to stretch the field more consistently, and he delivered — his receptions of 20 or more yards doubled from 11 to 24, pushing his yards per catch to a career-best 12.7. St. Brown broke every personal record he had set the year before, finishing with 119 catches, 1,515 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 163 targets. He topped 100 receiving yards in nine games and scored fewer than 15.00 fantasy points just twice all season, while missing only one game with an abdominal injury in Week 5. Detroit rewarded him with a four-year, $120 million extension after the season.

In 2024, the Lions shifted his alignment closer to the line of scrimmage, which brought his yards per catch back down to 11.0 and produced 14 receptions of 20 yards or fewer. What didn't change was his volume and scoring — St. Brown set a new career high with 12 touchdown catches while posting 115 receptions for 1,263 yards. He topped 100 yards in five games (11/119, 8/112/1, 11/161/2, 14/193/1, and 8/137) and put up 20-plus fantasy points eight times, with two monster outings (11/157/2 and 14/193/1). His consistency was a defining trait, and St. Brown found the end zone in eight straight games from Week 3 through Week 11, scoring nine TDs over that span.

St. Brown delivered another high-floor season in catches (117), receiving yards (1,401), and touchdowns (11) last year while setting a new top in targets (172). He gained 12.0 yards per catch with 19 catches reaching the 20-yard mark. His best fantasy value came in Week 2 (9/122/3) and Week 15 (13/164/2), scoring over 20.00 PPR fantasy points in five other matchups (20.70, 26.00, 20.60, 29.90, and 24.90). St. Brown had double-digit targets in nine matchups. He was a losing start in three contests (4/45, 2/42, and 4/54).

Jameson Williams→ his ranking

Williams barely factored into Ohio State's passing game across his freshman and sophomore seasons, totaling just 15 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns before transferring to Alabama. The move paid off immediately — he erupted for 79 catches, 1,572 yards, and 15 touchdowns, including four explosive performances over a five-game stretch (10/160/1, 6/158/3, 8/190/3, and 7/184/2). From Weeks 10 through 13, he averaged a staggering 25.0 yards per catch, hauling in 23 receptions for 575 yards and eight scores. His momentum was then cut short by a torn ACL in his left knee in early January 2022.

The appeal of Williams as a big-play weapon is easy to see. He has the speed to blow past deep coverage and the ability to turn short throws into long touchdowns. His areas needing development were his release off the line and his effectiveness in the short and intermediate portions of the route tree. William came into the league with reliable hands but needed to add strength, and it's worth noting that two of the top five receivers in the 2022 draft ahead of him had played alongside him at Ohio State.

His rookie season amounted to no fantasy value. Detroit kept him on the field for just 78 snaps, and he caught one pass for 41 yards and a touchdown on nine targets.

A gambling-related suspension wiped out the first four games of 2023, and Williams never fully got rolling after returning. Across 12 games, he caught 24 of 42 targets for 354 yards and two receiving touchdowns, adding three carries for 29 yards and a rushing score. Detroit gave him only 28 touches over his first nine games back (218 combined yards with three touchdowns), followed by 17 catches for 286 combined yards with two touchdowns on 25 targets over his final six games.

2024 was the breakout his talent had long promised. Williams averaged 17.3 yards per catch, racking up 17 receptions of 20-plus yards — six of which went for 40 or more. He set career highs across the board with 58 catches, 1,001 yards, and eight touchdowns, though a PED suspension cost him two games. His four best fantasy outings (24.40, 22.60, 26.00, and 24.70 points) included three games topping 100 yards (5/134/1, 4/126/1, and 5/150/1), and after Week 10, Williams posted a floor of at least 9.40 fantasy points in each of his final nine appearances.

Williams was a frustrating fantasy ride over his first five games in 2025 due to only one outing (2/108/1) being fantasy-relevant. Over this span, he caught 11 of his 21 targets for 223 yards and one score. Other than two no-catch games in Week 7 and Week 12, the Lions got him rolling in his other 10 matchups (54/905/6 on 76 targets), leading to him averaging 18.05 PPR fantasy points. Williams jumped to 10th in PPR scoring (220.70) for the year, with three winning days (6/119/1, 7/144/1, and 7/134/1). Despite his success, he had five targets or fewer in eight starts, leading to him having another gear to his ceiling.

Isaac TeSlaa→ his ranking

TeSlaa put up modest numbers across his final two seasons at Arkansas (34 catches for 351 yards and two touchdowns on 67 targets in 2023), followed by 28 receptions for 545 yards and three scores on just 36 targets in 2024. At 6'4" and 216 pounds with a 4.43 40-yard dash, the physical tools are appealing. His developmental concerns lie in his route running, which still lags behind his athletic profile. TeSlaa has the ability to win quickly against tight press coverage off the line, an area that will need meaningful improvement before he can be trusted as a consistent contributor at the next level.

TeSlaa was a late deep sleeper mover last draft season, but Detroit only had him on the field for 39.7% of their snaps. Half of his scouting report came true as Jared Goff was able to hook up with him for six touchdowns. His rookie season ended with 16 catches for 239 yards on 27 targets, and he scored on 37.5% of his receptions. From Week 1 to Week 12, TeSlaa only had four catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. He offered flex value in four (2/35/1, 2/20/1, 4/52/1, and 3/49/1) of his last six contests despite only seeing 18 targets.

Greg Dortch→ his ranking

Dortch was a productive college receiver across two seasons at Wake Forest, catching 142 of 204 targets for 1,829 yards and 17 touchdowns, with his best year coming in 2018 (89 catches, 1,098 yards, and eight scores). At 5'7" and 175 pounds, he's an undersized player for the position.

He carved out a useful role in Arizona in 2022, stepping in as an injury cover for Rondale Moore and delivering three solid outings to open the year (7/63, 4/55/1, and 9/80). The Cardinals largely ignored him over the following seven weeks, with just five catches for 23 yards and a score on six targets. Dortch resurfaced with two strong late-season performances (9/103 and 10/123). Arizona scaled his role back to WR4 usage in 2023, where he finished with 24 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns on 41 targets, but he offered starting flex value in four individual games (6/76, 3/27/1, 2/45/1, and 7/82).

His opportunity nudged up to a WR3 role in 2024 with 37 catches for 342 yards and three scores on 50 targets, but Dortch only cracked double-digit fantasy points twice all year (6/47 and 4/47/2). The Cardinals led the NFL in pass attempts (649) and completions (427) last year. Unfortunately, he only produced two winning games (6/66/1 and 6/53/1). Dortch only had 17 catches for 87 yards and one touchdown on 18 targets across his other 10 matchups. His season ended in Week 13 due to a chest injury.

Sam LaPorta→ his ranking

Coming out of Iowa, LaPorta was an active receiving option over his final two college seasons, but he rarely found the end zone. His blocking needed work, but his route running was already at a high baseline. He showed a natural feel for getting open and competed hard after the catch. Across four college seasons, LaPorta caught 153 passes for 1,786 yards and five touchdowns, with his two most productive years producing 53 catches for 670 yards and three scores, then 58 catches for 657 yards and one touchdown. He topped 100 yards twice over his final 13 games (7/122 and 9/101) and showed impressive catch volume in 2022, recording five or more receptions in seven of his twelve starts.

Detroit handed LaPorta a significant role from day one as a rookie, and he delivered. Over 20 games, including the playoffs, he caught 107 of 147 targets for 1,065 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 10 of those scores coming at home. His yards per catch were higher on the road (11.0 versus 8.9 in Detroit). His three best games came in Week 3 (8/84/1), Week 13 (9/140/1), and Week 15 (5/36/3), and LaPorta finished as the top-scoring tight end in PPR formats with 239.30 points, despite seeing six or fewer targets in nine of sixteen regular-season games.

LaPorta got off to a slow start over the Lions' first six games in 2024 (14 catches for 224 yards and one touchdown on just 17 targets), with his availability further limited by ankle and shoulder issues in Weeks 3 and 6. Detroit more than doubled his target share over the following seven weeks (34 targets across six games), and he responded with 22 catches for 221 yards and four touchdowns. LaPorta rounded out the year with an uptick in play, catching 30 passes for 332 yards and three scores over his final five outings while averaging 16.23 fantasy points per game in PPR formats.

Last season, LaPorta brought the value price tag to the fantasy draft table, and he was on pace for 76 catches for 924 yards and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, a back injured ended his season after Week 9. His best PPR fantasy value came in four games (6/79, 5/92/1, 5/55/1, and 6/97/1). LaPorta caught 81.6% of his 49 targets but averaged only 5.4 looks per game. The Lions gave him more than six targets in two matchups (9 and 8).

Update 6/17/2026: LaPorta is making progress in his recovery from his herniated disc surgery last November, but he still isn’t a full go in mid-June. The Lions are hoping LaPorta will be on the field for full practices in training camp.

Jake Bates

In his two seasons with the Lions, Bates finished seventh (170.10) and eighth (163.20) in kicker fantasy points. He made 53 of his 63 field goals (84.1%), while making 10 of 17 kicks from 50 yards or more. Detroit created 123 extra point tries, leading to Bates putting 118 of them through the uprights.