The Lions are bringing LB Alex Anzalone back on a three-year, $18.75 million deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That's particularly noteworthy money for Anzalone, who played each of the past two seasons for Detroit on one-year pacts. He got just $1.75 million in 2021 and then $2.5 million last year. But Anzalone increased his playing time each season vs. what he got across four seasons in New Orleans. That included playing 95.1% of the snaps across 17 games last year. Anzalone also saw boosts in his Pro Football Focus grading across categories and cracked the top 30 LBs in fantasy points. Expect him to remain the Lions' best bet for full playing time at the position, heading into his age-29 season. There's still room for 2022 rookie Malcolm Rodriguez to grow his role, though, vs. where Rodriguez finished the season.
Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs measured in at 5’9, 199 pounds at the NFL Combine on Sunday. Though he’s slightly shorter than he was listed in college (5'11), the Crimson Tide product wowed in drills. Gibbs recorded the 2nd-fastest official 40-yard dash time (4.36) with a stellar 1.52-second 10-yard split. Sub-200-pound RBs may give fantasy managers some pause, but Gibbs’ speed and agility displayed in both running and pass-catching on Sunday shouldn’t impact his draft stock. We’re still looking at him as a top-2 back in this 2023 class.
Lions OC Ben Johnson is passing on HC opportunities elsewhere to stick with Detroit for 2023, according to multiple reports. Johnson elected to skip an in-person interview with the Panthers this week, after already talking with the franchise by teleconference. Johnson was viewed as the favorite for the Carolina job and has also interviewed with the Colts and Texans. He instead sticks with an offense that jumped from 25th in scoring and 22nd in yards in 2021 to 5th and 4th, respectively, this season. Detroit also leaped from 29th in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA to 5th. Johnson's continued presence is undoubtedly good news for QB Jared Goff and other key Lions offensive pieces.
According to Dave Burkett of the Detroit Free Press, Lions HC Dan Campbell "all but confirmed" Monday that QB Jared Goff will remain the starter in 2023. "He's really a perfect fit for what we do and what we ask," Campbell said. The Rams, of course, paid Detroit draft picks (including 2 first-rounders) to swap Matthew Stafford for Goff 2 offseasons ago. Goff didn't do anything impressive across 14 games in his 1st year with the Lions. But he finished this season throwing 324 consecutive passes without an INT. Goff also finished 15th among QBs in fantasy points per game (depending on your format). He has 2 more years on his contract, though each comes with salaries of more than $30 million vs. dead-cap totals of $10 million and then $5 million if he were to get cut, according to Spotrac. Detroit also holds the 6th overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, thanks to the Rams -- along with their own selection at #18. So although Goff looks most likely to open next season at the helm, it's worth noting that Campbell stopped short of actually confirming that the 2023 job belongs to Goff.
Lions QB Jared Goff threw 3 TD passes on 21-of-29 passing for 255 yards in Sunday's lopsided win over the Bears. Goff found TE Brock Wright for a pair of scores, hitting RB D'Andre Swift for the other. He spread targets around, with 10 different Lions catching a pass but none exceeding 5 targets. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown led the team with 5 looks, catching 4 for a team-high 62 yards. It was St. Brown's lowest catch total since Week 9 and fewest targets of any full game this season. Detroit closes the regular season against the Packers, a rematch of a game that finished just 15-9 (in Detroit's favor) in Week 9.
Bears RB David Montgomery carried just 6 times for 24 yards in Sunday's loss to the Lions. He added 2 catches for 12 targets, with Chicago completing only 7 passes all game. It was a particularly disappointing performance for the whole offense a week after Detroit allowed 527 total yards to the Panthers. RB Khalil Herbert also factored in for 5-31 rushing. Chicago faces Minnesota in Week 18, a matchup that afforded Montgomery just 12-20-1 rushing in Week 5, but also 4 catches for 62 yards.
Lions QB Jared Goff threw for 355 yards and 3 TDs in Saturday's loss to Carolina. He hit TE Shane Zylstra for all 3 scores. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, as usual, led the team with 13 targets and 7 catches, tallying 76 yards. WR D.J. Chark added 4 receptions for 108 on 5 targets. No other Lion caught more than 2 balls. Detroit gets a weak Chicago defense in Week 17, and won't have weather concerns back home in the dome.
Bears RB David Montgomery scored a TD rushing and another receiving in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. He took 12 carries for 53 yards (4.4 per rush) and caught all 3 of his targets for 38 yards. Montgomery next faces a Bills defense that got run over by Raheem Mostert on Saturday night. then comes a rematch with the Lions, who only allowed Montgomery 44 total yards on 9 carries and 1 catch in Week 10. The team expects Khalil Herbert to come off IR in Week 16, which will affect Montgomery's outlook.
Lions QB Jared Goff threw for 252 yards and a TD in Sunday's win over the Jets. It's not the kind of outing that's going to win fantasy football matchups, but it marked Goff's 6th straight game without a turnover -- despite a strong defense on the other side. That's enough to put Goff in fantasy consideration against a weaker Carolina defense in Week 16, and certainly for a home date with Chicago in Week 17.
Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (illness) is active for today's game against the Jets. Use him as planned in your IDP lineups.
Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (illness) is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Jets. He missed Thursday’s practice but returned for a limited Friday. We’d bet on Hutchinson playing but will obviously watch for confirmation
Lions QB Jared Goff delivered 330 yards and 3 TDs in Sunday's win over the Vikings. He found WRs D.J. Chark and Jameson Williams for long scores, each coming from more than 40 yards out. His remaining TD went to WR Josh Reynolds from 5 yards out. It was his 2nd straight 300-yard outing, 3rd straight with multiple TD passes and 5th game in a row with no INTs. A much tougher matchup with the Jets lies in Week 15.
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 Amon-Ra St. Brown racked up 114 yards and 2 TDs on 11 receptions in Sunday's beatdown of the Jaguars. That marked his 3rd game over 100 yards among the past 4 and his 4th straight appearance with 9+ receptions. WR D.J. Chark and RB D'Andre Swift tied for 2nd on the team with 6 targets apiece and were the only other Lions to catch more than 3 passes.
Lions QB Jared Goff threw for 340 yards and 2 TDs on 31-of-41 passing in Sunday's blowout win over the Jaguars. He hit WR Amon-Ra St. Brown for both scores and the largest share of his numbers. But 7 different Lions caught multiple passes. It was Goff's 2nd straight game with 2 TDs but just his 3rd 300-yard game of the year.
Bears RB David Montgomery ran for 61 yards and a TD on 14 carries in Sunday's loss to the Packers. Darrynton Evans handled the team's only 3 other RB carries. Montgomery drew all 5 backfield targets, catching 4 for 6 yards.
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.
Rams WR Allen Robinson will undergo season-ending foot surgery, HC Sean McVay said after Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that it's a stress fracture. So that ends a wildly disappointing 2022 season for Robinson that saw him average just 3.3 catches and 34 yards per game. Through Week 10, he ranked 79th among 85 qualifying WRs in yards per route run. We're not optimistic about Robinson's odds of bouncing back next season.
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