Detroit Lions Depth Chart
- NFC North
- Stadium
- Ford Field
- Head Coach
- Dan Campbell
- Offensive Coordinator
- Anthony Lynn
- Defensive Coordinator
- Aaron Glenn
- Special Teams Coach
- Dave Fipp
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Detroit Lions impending free-agent wide receiver Kenny Golladay is a prime candidate to be slapped with the franchise tag in the coming weeks if the two sides can't reach a long-term contract extension, along with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin. Golladay played in only five games due to injury in 2020, posting 338 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 20 receptions. But he had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in the two seasons prior, including an NFL-high 11 touchdowns in his Pro Bowl season in 2019. The 27-year-old has averaged 16.8 yards per catch in his four-year career in Detroit, which is the second-highest mark in the league since he entered the league in 2017. If healthy, Golladay has WR1 upside, but he'll be taking throws from Jared Goff instead of Matthew Stafford if he remains in Detroit in 2021 and beyond.
Detroit Lions impending free-agent wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. said that "nothing's off the table" as far as where he plays in 2021, but a chance to win a Super Bowl is high on his list of priorities. That makes a return to the rebuilding Lions unlikely. Jones had his only 1,000-yard receiving season in 2017 when he led the team with 1,101 yards and the NFL in yards per catch (18). He led the Lions with 76 catches, 978 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. Jones will turn 31 next month and is expected to be one of the top pass-catchers available in free agency when it begins on March 17. With Jones likely to leave and Danny Amendola and Kenny Golladay also free agents, Detroit has just one receiver under contract -- Quintez Cephus -- who caught a pass for them last year. However, Golladay is a prime candidate for the franchise tag.
Detroit Lions impending free-agent running back Adrian Peterson said that he wants to play until he's 40 years old and wants to break Emmitt Smith's all-time rushing record while also winning a Super Bowl ring. "I'm just going to keep playing, I'm going to keep playing, trying to chase a championship," Peterson said. "And God's willing, within the process of doing that I'm able to catch Emmitt and pass him." Peterson is heading into his age-36 season and still needs 3,536 yards to pass Smith. He'll have to average 884 yards per season for the next four years to break Smith's mark, which would require nearly 200 carries per year at his career average of 4.6 yards per carry. It's unlikely to happen, but AD continues to truck along and will look for a situation that can provide him with as many touches as he can handle in 2021. It's unlikely that he'll find a gig as anything more than a complementary back, making him a very low-ceiling and unattractive fantasy RB.
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift, who led the team with 10 touchdowns as a rookie and finished second with 521 rushing yards despite missing three games with migraine headaches, could see his role increase under new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn and assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley in 2021. Both Lynn and Staley believe Swift can be a "three-down back" capable of handling 20-plus touches per game. Swift had to work alongside Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson last year and didn't become the starter until Week 10, averaging only 13.2 touches per game. If the Lions stay true to their plans for Swift in his sophomore season, he will have a clear path to RB1 production behind a strong offensive line. Swift was also tied for third in Detroit last year with 46 receptions.
Quarterback Jared Goff has been dealt to the Detroit Lions in a deal that saw quarterback Matthew Stafford dealt to the Rams. Goff is coming off a rough 2020 season that saw him throw for his fewest touchdowns since his rookie season, plus throw 13 interceptions. He heads to a situation where he should still have some solid receiving targets, but where he won't get the same volume of work that he was getting with head coach Sean McVay. Goff should be the starting quarterback in Detroit, but his fantasy outlook in Detroit isn't as bright as it was with the Rams. Goff still likely has value as a fantasy QB2, but it would be surprising to see him end up approaching the top-12 numbers he's posted earlier in his career.