Detroit Lions Depth Chart
- NFC North
- Stadium
- Ford Field
- Head Coach
- Matt Patricia
- Offensive Coordinator
- Darrell Bevell
- Defensive Coordinator
- Cory Undlin
- Special Teams Coach
- Brayden Coombs
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay is entering the final year of his contract and could command big money moving forward, according to Justin Rogers of The Detroit News. With Amari Cooper recently receiving a five-year, $100 million deal this offseason, the Lions may need to surpass that amount to retain his services. The 26-year-old racked up 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns off of 65 catches in 2019 and did so despite the season-ending back injury to quarterback Matthew Stafford. He also was one of the league's most proficient downfield threats while also serving as an equally dominant menace inside the 10-yard line. Fantasy managers will want to plan accordingly in drafts for the 2020 season as Golladay will be one of the first wideouts off the board, especially in standard formats.
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift will likely start the year splitting carries with Kerryon Johnson, but according to Good Morning Football host Peter Schrager, he has a good shot at taking over as the team's workhorse at some point. Whether or not the rookie will be impactful running the ball regardless of his role is debatable, primarily since the Lions were ranked 21st in the league in 2019 with 103.9 rushing yards per game. Johnson has yet to play an entire season throughout his inaugural two years in the league, so Swift may get his chance in 2020 sooner rather than later.
Sheila Ford Hamp took on principal ownership and chairwoman duties of the Detroit Lions from her mother Martha Firestone Ford, who stepped down from the role on Tuesday. Hamp said she would support the coaches and general manager if they thought it was a good idea to sign free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Matthew Stafford is returning from injury as the starter in 2020, with Chase Daniel likely the backup and David Blough as the third-stringer. Kaepernick hasn't played in the NFL since 2016, the year in which he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice. If Kap was to sign with a team for the 2020 season, it'd most likely just be as a backup, which would make him unlikely to return any fantasy value.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said that tight end T.J. Hockenson (ankle) has resumed running routes but isn't quite 100 percent healthy yet after suffering a season-ending ankle injury last November. However, Bevell said Hockenson is "well on his way to being there" and that the team is comfortable with his progress. Barring a setback, it sounds like Hockenson should be ready to go for the start of the regular season. The former eighth overall pick was great in Week 1 last year but then fell off in his rookie season before his injury. If he proves to be over his ankle injury in training camp and the preseason, his standing as a low-end TE1 in fantasy will continue to rise.
Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson was excited when he learned the team took D'Andre Swift in the second round of April's draft. "He was threatening to go 80 yards, 70, 60 every time he touches it. So I'm excited. I can learn from him. He can learn from me. We can all learn from each other and we can all get better," Johnson said. Detroit plans to use a combination of Johnson, Swift and Bo Scarbrough in the backfield this season. Johnson has appeared in 18 of 32 games due to injuries in his first two years, rushing for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns. The combination of both Johnson and Swift sharing touches will keep both of their fantasy ceilings down. Many are expecting Swift to eventually lead the team in touches next year, pushing him above Johnson in terms of fantasy appeal as an RB3/flex type.