Detroit Lions - NFFC | High Stakes Fantasy Football

Detroit Lions

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Malik Taylor Malik Taylor Pops up in Detroit Mon, May 12, 2025, 7:58 PM Taylor signed with the Lions on Monday. Analysis: The wide receiver was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed issue by the Jets in August of last year and didn't appear in any 2024 regular-season games. His best season came in 2020 with the Packers, when he caught five passes for 66 yards and a score. Taylor faces an uphill climb for a roster spot behind established pros Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond and 2025 draft picks Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett.
Jameson Williams Jameson Williams Gets fifth-year option Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 9:11 AM The Lions picked up Williams' fifth-year option Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports. Analysis: As expected, Williams is now under contract through 2026, with a projected $15.49 million salary for the fifth and final season of his rookie deal. The Lions may be hesitant to discuss an extension after Williams' breakout third season in 2024, considering his first two NFL campaigns largely were defined by injuries and suspensions. He cleared 1,000 receiving yards on just 91 targets in 15 regular-season games last year, adding 11 carries for 61 yards and a TD, plus two touches for 80 yards and a score in one playoff game. Williams is safe in his starting job but may find it difficult to significantly improve on last year's 6.1 targets per game while sharing the field with WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, TE Sam LaPorta and RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery -- all of whom will be adjusting to new offensive coordinator John Morton, after Ben Johnson left for Chicago's HC job.
Jameson Williams Jameson Williams Should get fifth-year option Mon, Mar 31, 2025, 1:49 PM The Lions likely will exercise their fifth-year option on Williams this spring, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. Analysis: The Lions have until May 1 to exercise an option that would guarantee Williams a salary around $15.49 million for 2026. That's well below market rate for a quality No. 2 receiver -- something Williams became in 2024 with a 58-1,001-7 line on 91 targets in 15 regular-season games. While unlikely to average more than 6-to-7 targets per game in an offense loaded with other talented playmakers, Williams should have a similar role this upcoming season under new play caller John Morton, who previously worked for the Lions in 2022 and then served as Denver's pass-game coordinator the past two years. Lions GM Brad Holmes said he'll likely pick up Williams' fifth-year option, but Holmes didn't mention a contract extension the way he did when discussing fellow 2022 first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson.
Shane Zylstra Shane Zylstra Staying in Motor City Tue, Mar 18, 2025, 12:19 PM Detroit will re-sign Zylstra for the 2025 season, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports. Analysis: The Lions added Zylstra to the active roster from their practice squad in November of 2024, and over 13 games including the playoffs, he caught his only target for 22 yards. He also contributed on special teams, logging more snaps in that phase than on offense for the first time in his career. Barring injuries, his role on Detroit's offense is likely to be minor in 2025.
Kenny Yeboah Kenny Yeboah Moving to NFC Fri, Mar 14, 2025, 7:37 PM The Lions signed Yeboah to a one-year contract Friday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. Analysis: Yeboah played his first four NFL campaigns with the Jets, with most of his work during that span coming on special teams. He did log a career-high five catches and 47 receiving yards last season while nabbing his first NFL touchdown Week 11 against Indianapolis. The Lions have Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright leading their tight-end corps, so Yeboah's role will likely center around blocking and special teams.
Tim Patrick Tim Patrick Staying in Detroit Fri, Mar 14, 2025, 10:17 AM Patrick re-signed with Detroit on Friday. Analysis: The Lions signed Patrick to their practice squad in August, shortly after he was released by the Broncos. He ended up handling the No. 3 receiver role for most of the season, catching 33 of 44 targets for 394 yards and three TDs in 16 regular-season games. A return to mainstream fantasy relevance is highly unlikely for the 31-year-old, but he should at least compete for the third or fourth WR spot in Detroit again.
Kyle Allen Kyle Allen Joins Detroit's QB room Thu, Mar 13, 2025, 8:15 PM Allen signed a contract with the Lions on Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Analysis: Allen spent the 2024 season with Pittsburgh and operated as their emergency quarterback for most of the campaign. He'll now join the Lions' quarterback room as an experienced backup, and he will likely compete with Hendon Hooker for the No. 2 job to Jared Goff.
Craig Reynolds Craig Reynolds Returning to Detroit Wed, Mar 12, 2025, 6:45 PM The Lions re-signed Reynolds to a one-year contract Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Analysis: Reynolds wasn't tendered by the Lions as a restricted free agent, and he's instead returning to the team at a reduced rate. The 28-year-old appeared in all 17 regular-season games for Detroit last season, rushing 31 times for 139 scoreless yards (4.5 YPC), while adding three catches for 40 yards on five targets in the pass game. He played a career-high 272 special-teams snaps. Reynolds will continue to provide quality depth behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Shane Zylstra Shane Zylstra Quiet 2024 campaign Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 11:02 PM Zylstra finished the 2024 regular season having caught his only target for 22 yards over 10 games. Analysis: Zylstra was virtually non-existent on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, operating as the No. 3 tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. Zylstra's only catch came in Week 11 against the Jaguars when LaPorta didn't play due to a shoulder injury. Zylstra will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning the Lions will have the ability to match any offer put in front of him by another team.
Brock Wright Brock Wright Quiet year in No. 2 role Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 10:58 PM Wright finished the 2024 regular season having caught 13 of 16 targets for 100 yards and two touchdowns over 17 games. Analysis: Wright was once again the No. 2 option at tight end behind Sam LaPorta, operating as a top-tier blocking option at his position. Wright found his way into the end zone on a pair of occasions, including in Week 11 against the Jaguars when he drew the start at tight end in place of LaPorta, who was unavailable with a shoulder injury. Wright signed a three-year deal with Detroit in April and he'll likely enter the 2025 campaign in a very similar role as the top reserve option at tight end.
Allen Robinson Allen Robinson Marginal impact in 2024 Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 10:54 PM Robinson finished the 2024 regular season having caught three of seven targets for 30 yards over 12 games. Analysis: Robinson signed a one-year deal with Detroit in late September, and he operated as a depth option behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at wide receiver in 2024. The 31-year-old never saw more than two targets in a game, and the most offensive snaps he played on the year came in Week 8 against the Titans when he logged 21. The wide receiver will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and it's unclear how much interest he'll garner on the open market.
Craig Reynolds Craig Reynolds Limited action in 2024 Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 10:50 PM Reynolds finished the 2024 regular season with 31 carries for 139 yards while also catching three of five targets for 40 yards and logging 28 yards as a kick returner over 17 games. Analysis: Reynolds opened the season as the No. 3 option at running back behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, logging just 12 carries for 51 yards over the team's first 14 games. When Montgomery suffered a knee injury in Week 15 against the Bills, which ended his regular season, Reynolds was thrust into the No. 2 spot behind Gibbs. Over the final three regular-season contests, Reynolds had 19 carries for 88 yards while adding his three receptions for 40 yards. The running back will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning the Lions will have the ability to match any offer put in front of him by another team.
Hendon Hooker Hendon Hooker Used sparingly in 2024 Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 10:42 PM Hooker completed six of nine passes for 62 yards while adding five carries for two yards over three games in 2024. Analysis: Hooker operated as Jared Goff's primary backup option in 2024, ultimately seeing marginal action with Goff starting all 17 regular-season contests. Hooker was demoted to the No. 3 option at quarterback when Detroit signed Teddy Bridgewater in late December after Bridgewater had previously retired prior to the year. Nonetheless, with Bridgewater entering free agency, Hooker will presumably enter the 2025 campaign as Goff's top backup.
Teddy Bridgewater Teddy Bridgewater No impact with Lions in 2024 Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 10:39 PM Bridgewater did not log any stats with the Lions during the 2024 regular season. Analysis: Bridgewater retired from football ahead of the 2024 campaign, only to return to Detroit on a one-year deal in late December to serve as a backup option to starter Jared Goff. Bridgewater did not appear in a regular-season contest before logging three snaps in the team's loss to the Commanders in the NFC divisional round. It's unclear where the quarterback's interests lie in terms of his playing career, but Bridgewater will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Ronnie Bell Ronnie Bell Headed to Detroit Tue, Jan 21, 2025, 6:51 PM The Lions signed Bell to a reserve/future contract Tuesday. Analysis: Bell played in nine of the 49ers' first 11 games of the 2024 regular season, logging two catches (on six targets) for 22 yards in the process. He was waived by San Francisco on Nov. 30, and while he was signed to the Niners' practice squad three days later, he was not elevated to the active roster for the rest of the campaign. The 2023 seventh-round pick will be on the Lions' 90-man roster at the start of the new league year, and he'll use the offseason to work with the coaching staff to give himself the best shot at earning a spot on Detroit's 53-man roster for the 2025 season.
Tom Kennedy Tom Kennedy Inks new deal with Detroit Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 3:48 PM The Lions signed Kennedy to a reserve/future contract Monday. Analysis: The Bryant product will remain in Detroit after spending his 2024 campaign between the Lions' practice squad and active roster. Kennedy appeared in four regular-season games for the Lions this season, failing to haul in his only target while also tallying 167 kick-return yards and nine punt-return yards. He's likely to compete for a reserve role in the Lions' wide receiver corps throughout the offseason.
Jake Fromm Jake Fromm Sticks around in Detroit Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 3:41 PM The Lions signed Fromm to a reserve/future contract Monday. Analysis: Fromm spent his 2024 campaign with the Lions' practice squad after failing to make the active roster in late August, and he's expected to remain in Detroit after inking a reserve/future deal with the team Monday. The Georgia product's most recent in-game NFL action came in 2021 with the Giants, throwing for 210 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions over three contests. He's expected to compete for a depth role in Detroit's QB room as the offseason progresses.
Sione Vaki Sione Vaki Sees limited use in rookie season Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 7:23 AM Vaki appeared in 16 of the Lions' 17 games during the regular season, finishing with six carries for 14 yards and three catches for 37 yards. He was also active for the Lions' 45-31 divisional-round loss to the Commanders on Saturday, playing all 24 of his snaps on special teams. Analysis: Though Vaki excelled at both safety and running during his time in college at Utah, the Lions drafted him in the fourth round of April's draft with the intention of making him a full-time running back. He saw limited action on offense as a rookie while Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery took on the bulk of the snaps out of the backfield, but Vaki's established himself as a core member of Detroit's special-teams units. In addition to returning two kickoffs for 55 yards, Vaki recorded eight tackles over his 310 special-teams snaps. With both Gibbs and Montgomery under contract for 2025, Vaki's role on offense may not expand dramatically in his second NFL season.
Tim Patrick Tim Patrick One catch in loss Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 11:41 AM Patrick caught one of four targets for 22 yards in Saturday's 45-31 NFC divisional-round playoff loss to the Commanders. Analysis: Patrick garnered his highest amount of targets since Week 15, but he failed to have much of an impact against Washington. The wide receiver signed with the Lions in late September, appearing in 16 regular-season contests as well as Saturday's playoff loss. Patrick will enter the offseason as a free agent and it's unclear if he'll be back in Detroit next season.
Kalif Raymond Kalif Raymond Three catches in playoff loss Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 11:36 AM Raymond caught all three of his targets for 37 yards while also adding a 21-yard kick return in Saturday's 45-31 NFC divisional-round playoff loss to the Commanders. Analysis: Raymond reeled in his most receptions since Week 7 on Saturday, finishing fourth on the team in catches behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. The wide receiver made his return to the field in Week 18 after missing five games with a foot injury. When healthy, Raymond provides the Lions with another field-stretcher at wide receiver and he'll enter 2025 on the final year of his contract with Detroit.