Fantasy Football Player Notes

Amon-Ra St. Brown had a standout season, finishing third among WRs with 247.5 fantasy points and averaging 16.5 points per game. He showcased his reliability with 112 receptions for 1,371 yards and 9 touchdowns, earning a 12.2 yards per reception average. St. Brown commanded a 30% target share and 34% air yards share. His impressive performance earned him a lucrative 4-year, $120 million contract extension, making him the highest paid WR in the NFL at the time.

Every nerd who said the Lions were foolish for selecting Gibbs in the first round has a tiny bit of egg on their face. Gibbs finished the season as the RB8 in fantasy points per game and fantasy points per opportunity. He was a tackle-breaking blur last season, ranking 18th in yards after contact per attempt and 11th in missed tackles forced per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). After David Montgomery returned from injury, Gibbs averaged 14.1 touches and 73.1 total yards per game. Montgomery isn't going anywhere, but that doesn't mean Gibbs can't be a top-shelf RB1 again in 2024.

Sammy Ballgame had a rookie season for the ages. Last year, he logged the most PPR points and PPR points per game, the third-most receiving yards, and the most receiving touchdowns (tied) for a rookie tight end since 1966. He finished as the TE3 in fantasy points per game while also ranking sixth in target share and YPRR, 10th in first read share, and third in FD/RR (per Fantasy Points Data). Ballgame is in play to finish as the TE1 in 2024 and is worth paying up for in drafts.

David Montgomery wrapped up his first season in Detroit as a resounding success in real-life football and fantasy. He was the RB15 in fantasy as he managed the second 1,000-yard rushing season of his NFL career. Montgomery did see his volume limited down the stretch some, as he averaged 15 touches and 75.7 total yards after his return in Week 10. He'll continue to share the backfield load with Jahmyr Gibbs weekly, but in one of the best offenses in the NFL, that shouldn't be a massive worry for his 2024 outlook. Montgomery will be the early down hammer (19th in missed tackles forced per attempt, per Fantasy Points Data) and be plenty involved in the red zone. Last season, he was 15th in carries and fifth in red zone touches as he scored 13 touchdowns (fourth-most).

Fantasy managers might not ever get excited about drafting Jared Goff, but after strong seasons with the Lions in 2022 and 2023, Goff should be regarded as no worse than a solid midrange QB2. Goff finished QB7 in fantasy scoring last season, although he was only QB13 in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks who made at least six starts. Over the last two years, he's averaged 265.1 passing yards and 1.7 TD passes a game. Goff adds very little value as a runner, but his solid passing production makes him a useful fantasy asset.

Jameson Williams has faced challenges in his first two years in the NFL, including a torn ACL in his rookie season and a slow start due to a suspension in his second year. While he has displayed flashes of big-play potential, injuries and inconsistencies have hampered his progress. Heading into his third year, Williams is expected to take on a larger role in the Lions' offense with the WR2 position likely up for grabs. However, his limited target share and inconsistent performance in 2023 raise questions about his potential breakout. Williams may be overrated based on his draft capital, and he faces competition for targets in a crowded receiving corps in Detroit. Still, it's noteworthy that his HC has already labeled Jamo as the team's most improved player this offseason. Year 3 seems like it will be a career-best for the former Alabama product.

Per the FantasyPros projections, the Lions DST leads all teams in projected interceptions.