Lions WR Jameson Williams is one of five players to be suspended for violating the NFL's gambling policy. Williams, along with Lions WR Stanley Berryhill, have been suspended six games. Lions WR Quintez Cephus, Lions S C.J. Moore, and Commanders DE Shaka Toney are suspended indefinitely. We'll see if Williams appeals this ruling, but fantasy drafters should work under the assumption that he'll miss the first six games of the 2023 season. Williams, of course, appeared in just six games as a rookie last year after tearing an ACL in January of 2022. This suspension will make him tough to roster in standard redraft fantasy leagues and just a late-round option in best ball. Williams' absence leaves Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones, Josh Reynolds, and Kalif Raymond as Detroit's top 4 WRs. Jones and Reynolds pick up a bit more fantasy appeal with this news.
Update: The Lions released WR Quintez Cephus and S C.J. Moore.
Lions rookie WR Jameson Williams scored his 1st NFL TD from 41 yards out in Sunday's win over the Vikings. It was his only catch among 2 targets, so we wouldn't go adding Williams to fantasy football rosters off this performance. WR Josh Reynolds and WR D.J. Chark claimed the team's other 2 TD receptions. Reynolds totaled 5 catches for 51 yards among 6 targets.
Lions WR Jameson Williams (knee) is active for today’s game vs. the Jaguars. The rookie is expected to play limited snaps in his NFL debut, leaving him as an option only as a DFS tournament flier. But Williams does add some upside to QB Jared Goff’s fantasy profile.
Lions WR Jameson Williams will be on a "very limited snap count" in his NFL debut against the Jaguars today, according to NFL Network. That's not a surprise considering Detroit has been cautious with Williams' return from a torn ACL all along. The rookie is capable of taking any touch to the house, but he can't be trusted in Week 13 fantasy lineups.
Lions WR Jameson Williams (knee) has been activated from the Reserve/NFI list, putting him on track to make his NFL debut vs. the Jaguars on Sunday. Williams is nearly 11 months removed from tearing his ACL in last year's National Championship. The Lions have seemingly played it safe with Williams' return, so he should be close to 100%. A healthy Williams will add rare, field-tilting speed to Detroit's offense. We're expecting him to be on some type of snap count in his debut, so he'd be a flier in fantasy lineups this week. But Williams certainly has a chance to be a fantasy factor down the stretch.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that "there is a good chance" the Lions will activate WR Jameson Williams for Week 13 if he makes it through that practice week "unscathed." The rookie reportedly didn't take on "full-speed" practices this week but will next and has been at "top speed" in his drills for rehab. Williams is OK to stash, but he's not going to be startable in Week 13 fantasy football lineups. We'll see how quickly he can ramp up playing time and target share beyond that.
The Lions announced Monday morning that rookie WR Jameson Williams will practice this week. It'll mark his 1st practices with the team, coming off the ACL tear that closed out his college career. HC Dan Campbell said in October that he believed Williams would get on the field before the season ended. We'll see how soon the 1st-round NFL Draft pick is ready for game action.
Lions HC Dan Campbell said Wednesday that there's still "hope" that rookie WR Jameson Williams plays at some point this season. "I do feel like we're gonna get him before it's all said and done," Campbell said, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard. But Campbell also said it will probably be "at least another month" before Williams is ready. That would mean a Week 12 target at the earliest, and we obviously couldn't use Williams in fantasy football lineups right away. We love the long-term talent and would happily stash the rookie in dynasty leagues. But this doesn't seem like a player worth spending a roster spot on in redraft -- unless you have a free IR slot or an especially deep bench.
Lions WR Jameson Williams (knee) posted video of himself running and changing direction at about three-quarters speed on Sunday. The rookie has already been placed on the Reserve Non-Football Injury list, which knocks him out for at least the first 4 games of the season. He doesn't seem particularly close to being full-go, so we're not expecting to see him even when first eligible in Week 5. But at least he's making tangible progress. Williams is just a bench stash in dynasty leagues and deep redraft leagues.
The Lions have moved WR Jameson Williams (knee) to the Reserve Non-Football-Injury list. That knocks the rookie out for at least the first 4 games of the season -- but it'll likely be longer than that before he makes his NFL debut. "The hope is he’ll be ready to play around midseason," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero tweeted. We currently project Williams to play 11 games this season.
Lions GM Brad Holmes says WR Jameson Williams will miss Week 1, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. He declined to give a public timetable beyond that, though. "We're going to be very smart with him," Holmes added. We don't know yet whether Williams will start the regular season on the PUP list, but Detroit has clearly indicated they'll be patient in activating him.
The Lions have declined to give a public timeline for WR Jameson Williams' return to the field, but it doesn't seem like it's coming soon. According to Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic: "That rehab schedule might stretch on for a while. Not just through training camp but, perhaps, into a chunk of the season." Williams looks like a strong candidate to open the regular season on the PUP list. Consider him no more than a late-round flyer for 2022 redraft leagues.
Lions WR Jameson Williams (knee) has been placed on the non-football injury list. He gets that designation, rather than PUP, because his injury happened before he was drafted. Recovering from a January ACL tear, Williams isn't expected to be ready for Week 1 and probably won't be a real factor before the 2nd half of the season.
Lions HC Dan Campbell doesn't expect 1st-round WR Jameson Williams to be on the field for the start of camp. "I don't see him being ready for training camp," Campbell told reporters this week. "We'll see then. I'm very hopeful, but I don't see it. We're going to do this thing the right way, and when he's ready, he'll be ready. I don't feel like you're going to see him out there Day 1." That makes sense and falls in line with recent word that Williams is no lock to begin the regular season on time. "He needs a lot of strength development in that body, his lower extremities, his legs, his knees, his everything," Campbell added. The Lions have reason to be cautious with Williams this season, and cautious definitely seems like the ideal way to approach to the rookie's fantasy outlook.
Lions OC Ben Johnson admits that it'll be a "challenge" to get WR Jameson Williams ready for the start of the season. The 1st-round rookie continues to rehab his January ACL tear and isn't participating in OTAs. "That’s a real struggle for us is to get him back, to get him healthy, and then (get him) as many reps as possible with the quarterbacks so that we know exactly where he’s going to be, we can anticipate the throw," Johnson said. Williams seems like a long shot to be active come Week 1 and might even open the season on the PUP list, which would cost him the first 6 games. Fantasy owners shouldn't be expecting him to contribute early, although he could be an asset over the 2nd half of the season.
Speaking at rookie minicamp, Lions WR Jameson Williams said he doesn’t have an update on when he’ll resume running routes. Williams tore his ACL on January 10 — 8 months prior to Week 1. “We’re taking it slow,” Williams said. “I’ve been out here getting some good rehab with the trainers two times a day. So everything’s been going good so far.” HC Dan Campbell passed on putting any sort of timetable on Williams’ return to the field, but it’s safe to call the ‘Bama stud questionable for Week 1. We’ll update his status throughout the summer.
The Lions traded up 20 spots to select Alabama WR Jameson Williams with the 12th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Detroit sent the 32nd, 34th, and 66th picks to Minnesota to make the big move. A torn left ACL suffered in January’s National Championship prevented Williams from working out in the pre-draft process. But the tape is clear: Williams has unnatural speed. He blows by defenders in his routes and destroys angles after the catch. He averaged a huge 19.9 yards per catch at Alabama last year, including 9.3 yards after the catch, and scored 4 TDs of 70+ yards. Williams led the Tide and ranked top 5 in the nation with 1,572 yards and 15 TDs. He also averaged 35.2 yards per kick return with 2 TDs, earning SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year honors. That, curiously, followed 2 mostly invisible seasons at Ohio State, where Williams totaled just 15 catches. It’s worth factoring into his NFL projection – but it’s tough to look at his 2021 production and tape and not come away excited. We’ll, of course, need to keep an eye on that left knee. Williams underwent surgery on January 13. University of Alabama team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain, who did the procedure, said in March that he expects Williams to be ready by training camp. When healthy, he’ll join D.J. Chark and Amon-Ra St. Brown as Detroit’s top 3 WRs.
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