Starting of Day 8 of our 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW SERIES with another NFC North team, the Detroit Lions! First, we’re talking offense and later today we’ll be releasing our IDP outlook. So stay tuned!
There’s no question the Detroit Lions offense will look different this year. Out: Matt Stafford, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones. In: Jared Goff, Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman. How will this revamped passing attack fair against some formidable NFC North defenses? What about some other young Lions pass catchers lying in the wings? Will second-year running back D’Andre Swift break out or will the addition of the veteran Jamaal Williams cap his ceiling? Will tight end T.J. Hockenson improve from a solid 2020 season?
In the end, will any Lions player be worth the risk to draft this season?
Find out below in our 2021 Lions 4-EYED Offensive Team Preview!
Quarterback
Jared Goff
Having spent his entire career on the Rams, Goff heads up north in hopes or reigniting his career. In 2020, Goff finished as the QB18, amassing just under 4,000 yards and the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio (20 TDs, 13 INTs) since his rookie year. Those hoping for a bounceback may be left wishing and hoping. Goff will be learning a new offense under 1st-time head coach Dan Campbell. He’s also facing the 3rd hardest schedule for QBs according to Fantasy Pros. With an opening schedule against San Francisco, Green Bay, Baltimore, Chicago and Minnesota, Goff will likely remain on your waiver wire for a while. If you see signs of life in Detroit’s passing attack by then, maybe consider scooping him up as a streamer against the Bengals in Week 6.
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift
Finishing at the RB18 in half-PPR scoring in 2020, Swift showed some potential his rookie year. He caught 46 passes on 57 targets for 357 yards, a decent stat line for a running back. But his rushing attack left much to be desired: 521 rushing yards on 114 attempts. For comparison, that was just three more attempts than back-up RBs Joshua Kelly and Benny Snell and two fewer than Austin Ekeler, who played in three fewer games than Swift. Further, 22% of Swift’s rushing yards came in one game against Jacksonville. In five games against the tough NFC North defenses (injury kept him out against Bears in Week 13), he averaged 32.4 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards. Unless Swift sees a significant uptick in touchdowns (10 total in 2020) or touches (insert Jamaal Williams), he’s a very risky play despite his talent.
Jamaal Williams
Hello Jamaal Williams, otherwise know as the cap on Swift’s ceiling. In each of his four seasons in Green Bay, Williams saw 35-45 targets and rushed for over 450 yards, all while backing up and splitting time with Aaron Jones. As talented as Jones is, Williams always found a way onto the field with his pass blocking skills and reliability. Expect Williams to take on a similar role in Detroit, just just as a “break the glass” back-up veteran running back. Another reason to temper expectations for Swift. But with an average draft position of RB47 in half-PPR drafts, Williams is an enticing late-round depth piece.
Wide Receivers
Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman
Why am I grouping the Lions’ official WR1 and WR2 together? Because they fit the same mold. Both are veteran wideouts with mediocre NFL credentials on one-year deals to fill the gaping holes left by Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. Perriman has never topped 650 receiving yards in a season, and Williams has only achieved 1,000 receiving yards once. Yet both have wide open path to be Jared Goff’s #1 target and the bulk of opportunity to score fantasy points. With Perriman and Williams being drafted as the WR82 and WR105 respectively, they’re free to gamble on and drop after Week 1. But their upside seems limited when compared to younger Lions wideouts.
Quintez Cephus
Cepheus caught only 20 balls on 35 targets for 349 yards in 2020. But his average depth of target of 14.5 yards shows he can stretch the field. Could Cephus find his footing in year 2 with a new QB? Possibly, but another young wide receiver lurks in the wings.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
At. Brown is the most intriguing Lions wideout. The rookie wide receiver enters the league with a good, but not great, resume from USC. In our 4-EYED ROOKIE SNAPSHOT on St. Brown, my colleague Brian sums it up nicely: “St. Brown is good in the short and intermediate areas, and he could connect with Goff well.” St. Brown is currently being drafted as the WR74, ahead of both Williams and Perriman. If you’re feeling lucky, take the St. Brown lottery ticket towards at the end of your draft.
Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson
I’m the end, Goff may Iock on to Hockenson and never look back. Hockenson was one of only five tight ends to see 100+ targets in 2020, alongside Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Logan Thomas and Evan Engram. He also had the 3rd most receiving yards (723) among TEs in 2020. Sure, Dan Campbell’s new offense could take the focus off Hockenson. But the former New Orleans tight end coach is far more likely to lean on a top-tier tight end while rebuilding the Lions.
Darren Fells
Remember when Fells scored seven TDs with the Houston Texans in 2019? Me too. But Hockenson and Fells are unlikely to be the right-end Tantum that Goff had in LA. Fells has never hauled in more than 350 receiving yards in a season. Even in deep leagues or tight end premium leagues, Fells is off the radar.
