Detroit Lions News

Veteran running back Isiah Pacheco had a disastrous year in his final season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025. Across 13 games, the 27-year-old recorded 563 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 137 touches. Pacheco signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions in free agency, where he will serve as the RB2 behind star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco's star has fallen quite a bit in recent seasons, as he's failed to average four yards per carry since 2023 and has missed 14 games over the past two years due to injury. Still, Detroit is a solid landing spot for his fantasy value. Former Lions back David Montgomery scored 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons in a role similar to the one Pacheco will likely fill in 2026. Additionally, any injury to Gibbs would immediately vault Pacheco into the RB1 role in Detroit. In dynasty formats, Pacheco could be a decent buy-low target for fantasy managers.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is far from the flashiest name in fantasy football, but his reliability has allowed him to be a top-10 fantasy option year in and year out. Goff has ranked as the QB10 or higher in each of his four seasons, including a QB9 finish in 2025 as he tallied 4,564 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He lacks rushing upside, but he also does a pretty good job protecting the football, which has allowed him to remain in the top-12 range. It also helps that he has a bunch of superstars at his disposal, including Jahmyr Gibbs at running back, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at wide receiver, Sam LaPorta at tight end, and Penei Sewell in the trenches. Older, non-rushing quarterbacks aren't typically dynasty trade targets, but if we assume that Goff will produce similarly to Matthew Stafford in his thirties, then the Cal product can still be an intriguing offseason addition in dynasty leagues. Plus, he'll remain relatively affordable in trades as long as he lacks the rushing upside that quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert possess. A current ranking as the QB23 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings doesn't quite reflect the short-term QB1 value he could bring to a contender in dynasty leagues.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) missed the second half of the 2025 season due to a herniated disc, giving managers a prime opportunity to buy low in dynasty leagues this offseason. The 25-year-old was averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game when healthy, contributing 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns through nine weeks. He has finished each of his three NFL seasons with at least 10.9 fantasy points per game, offering consistency as a mid-range TE1 in fantasy football. However, LaPorta's back injury has skewed his price tag in dynasty leagues, where he's being priced as more of a low-end TE1 in trade talks. For tight end-needy dynasty managers, this is the perfect opportunity to buy low on LaPorta and get a weekly contributor. Not only has he been productive in the past, but he'll continue to operate in a Lions offense that should be good for a long time. Jared Goff has shown that he can support big fantasy outputs from Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and LaPorta all at once. The Iowa product remains a productive weapon in a successful offense. He's one of the most intriguing buy-low options at the tight end position in dynasty leagues this offseason.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had another spectacular season in 2025, totaling 1,223 rushing yards, 77 catches, 616 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns. He scored a career-high 366.9 fantasy points in PPR leagues, but despite this new personal-best mark, he actually dropped in the overall ranking from RB1 in 2024 to RB3 last year. Moving forward, Gibbs is a strong candidate to jump back up to the overall RB1 spot in 2026. The backfield dynamic looks a little different, which has the potential to help his cause. David Montgomery was traded to Houston, leaving behind 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. Most -- but perhaps not all -- of that vacated volume will go to Isiah Pacheco, who signed with the Lions in free agency. Pacheco is averaging just 4.25 touchdowns per season throughout his career, though, so we wouldn't be surprised to see some of Montgomery's goal-line volume go to Gibbs. If the 24-year-old can stay healthy for a full 17-game season again, he'll certainly be in the mix to finish as the overall RB1 in 2026 and beyond. Fantasy managers are taking notice, as Gibbs ranks as the RB1 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings. That puts him ahead of Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, who has been a top-three fantasy running back in back-to-back seasons.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams' NFL career got off to a rocky start. Injury, suspensions, and one of the league's highest drop rates limited the former 12th overall pick to only 25 catches, 395 yards, and three scores through his first two seasons. Williams has since strung together back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons and scored 15 total touchdowns since 2024, but he likely still has yet to reach his true ceiling. A large part of Williams' turnaround has been gaining his coaches' trust and being used in a wider variety of ways. Rather than just relying on his speed to chase down go balls, Williams has become one of the most dangerous receivers in the league on crosser routes. His work with the ball in his hands has elevated his fantasy value, but he has acknowledged that he needs to get stronger to reliably work through traffic, and he has still been plagued by untimely drops and the occasional disappearing act. Five times in the past two seasons, Williams has been held to fewer than 10 receiving yards, combining for negative yardage across his three worst outings. His nine drops in 2025 marked a career high. Williams is RotoBaller's WR27 in dynasty rankings, but it's likely we've yet to see his best, and it should surprise nobody if that number continues to rise.

As a rookie in 2025, Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa caught six touchdowns on only 26 targets and 16 receptions, a touchdown rate almost 10 times higher than the league average, and nearly double that of Davante Adams, who led the NFL with 14 touchdown grabs. While few are calling for a repeat of such outlandish efficiency in year two, some have labeled him as a potential breakout candidate on the hopes that increased volume could make him a less touchdown-reliant fantasy asset. However, TeSlaa has never been a target-earner. His 14% target share across two seasons at Arkansas ranked well behind several of his own teammates, and even with the Lions, he was regularly on the field for more than just gadget plays designed to find him in the end zone. His 296 routes run last season put him in the top 10 in his rookie class, while his 0.81 yards per route run trailed only Arian Smith, Konata Mumpfield, Dont'e Thornton Jr., and Gage Larvadain among rookies with at least 100 routes run. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta all figure to slot in ahead of TeSlaa in the target pecking order, and unless he can bank on a second outlier season, he will likely be little more than an occasional injury replacement in 2026.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has solidified himself as one of the most talented and consistent players in dynasty fantasy football. He has finished as the overall WR3 for three consecutive seasons, catching 117 passes for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. In addition to being consistent in terms of fantasy points, he has also been dependable health-wise. St. Brown hasn't missed a game since 2023, and in total, he has been sidelined just twice during his five-year career. The 26-year-old has shown that he, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta can all co-exist in a high-octane Detroit offense. St. Brown continues to be a flashy target in dynasty trades. You won't be able to get him at a discount, but you can also rest assured that he'll continue to produce at an elite level once he's on your roster. He currently ranks #6 among wide receivers in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, positioning him firmly in the second tier at his position.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was unable to lead the Lions back to the postseason in 2025, but he did plenty to help his fantasy managers, throwing for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in 17 starts. The 31-year-old veteran has been the picture of consistency in his last four years in Detroit, throwing for over 4,000 yards each year and 30-plus touchdown passes in three of the four seasons. Goff has been a Pro Bowler in three of the last four years, as well as the Lions continue to employ a pass-happy approach on offense under head coach Dan Campbell. In fantasy football, Goff finished last season as the QB6 overall, and he should remain a safe bet to be a top-10 signal-caller again when all is said and done in 2026. Detroit's offensive line in front of him could be a question mark, but Goff still has elite weapons in the passing game in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Sam LaPorta (back), plus one of the best running backs in the league behind him in Jahmyr Gibbs. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was with the Cardinals last year when they led the league in passing attempts, so expect Goff to continue to throw the football with regularity.

Running back Isiah Pacheco signed a one-year, $1.81 million contract with the Detroit Lions in free agency this year after winning two Super Bowls in his first four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old former seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft out of Rutgers looked like a potential star in the NFL in his first two years in the league, averaging 4.7 yards per carry for 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 31 games (24 starts) in 2022 and 2023. He added 57 receptions on 63 targets for 374 yards and two additional touchdowns. The last two years, unfortunately, were injury-riddled disappointments, as he averaged 3.8 yards per tote for 772 yards and only two rushing TD in 20 games (18 starts), adding 31 catches for 180 yards and another receiving TD. In Detroit, he'll essentially replace David Montgomery as the RB2 behind do-it-all lead back Jahmyr Gibbs. There's some bounce-back potential if Pacheco is healthy, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect the kind of volume that Montgomery had with the Lions, especially not near the goal line.

The Detroit Lions officially announced on Wednesday that they re-signed kicker Jake Bates to an undisclosed deal. Bates was an exclusive-rights free agent. The 27-year-old will return for his third season with the Lions in 2026. The former undrafted free agent out of Arkansas has become one of the more reliable kickers in fantasy football over the last couple of seasons in a Lions offense that should remain formidable in 2026. Last year in 17 games, Bates made 27 of his 34 field-goal tries (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and a league-high 54 extra points on 56 tries. He has made 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts in his two years in the NFL while succeeding on 95.9% of his 123 extra-point attempts. Bates was the No. 6 fantasy kicker in 2025. It also helps that half of his games come indoors, mitigating his volatility.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta entered the league with a bang, finishing his 2023 rookie season as the TE1 and working his way to the top of most dynasty value charts. After a disappointing sophomore season and a 2025 campaign ended by a back injury after only nine games, his value sits as low as it has since he's taken a snap in the NFL. The Lions have made a change to their coaching staff for 2026, bringing Drew Petzing in from Arizona to serve as their new offensive coordinator. While the target competition in Detroit is much stiffer than what Petzing left behind in the desert, his tight end-friendly system was a not-insubstantial factor in Trey McBride's breakout, spraying his dominant fourth-year player with 302 targets over the past two seasons, including 163 for a record-breaking TE1 finish in 2025. LaPorta has already proven his ability to feast off a high-volume attack, and with his value still suppressed by injury, he's a high-upside buy-low candidate heading into his fourth season.

For the first time in his NFL career, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs looks to be entering the 2026 season in a true bellcow role. The Lions selected Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 Draft, the same year they added veteran David Montgomery through free agency. For three seasons, Gibbs and Montgomery shared Detroit's backfield as the most productive running back tandem in the league. 2025 signalled the beginning of a shift, with Gibbs officially taking over the starter title and out-touching Montgomery by nearly a two-to-one margin, despite the latter playing 17 games for the first time in his career. With Montgomery now being shipped to Houston, Gibbs is presumably in line for the largest workload of his career, and he deserves thorough consideration as the RB1 in both redraft and dynasty leagues. Detroit added former Chief Isiah Pacheco in free agency to fill the vacated bruiser role, but injuries and inefficiency over the past two seasons have limited his role in a room with no true standouts, and he should not be viewed as a serious threat to keep Gibbs off the field.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has finally started to deliver high-end results in fantasy football, and it's happening somewhat consistently. One of the biggest flaws with Williams early in his career (outside of a pair of suspensions) was that he had upside but couldn't be trusted on any given Sunday. In other words, he was a boom-or-bust receiver with no way to predict when he would break out. That started to change in 2024, as he flashed more reliability, and he truly took his consistency to the next level in 2025. In 10 games following the Lions' Week 8 bye, Williams scored 12+ fantasy points on eight occasions. He had just two games with fewer than four catches during that span, and he finished the season as the overall WR12 in PPR leagues. Ranking among the top 12 is impressive in itself, but it's even more fascinating when you consider that Williams had been a little streaky to start the year. If he can replicate the back half of his 2025 season over the entire 2026 season, we're looking at a potential top-five fantasy receiver. With that in mind, we wouldn't fault dynasty managers for sending out trade offers for Williams. His price is pretty high already, but there might still be an opportunity to get him for cheaper than what he'll be worth after the 2026 season. And for what it's worth, we're not concerned about his role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two have repeatedly shown that they can co-exist. They both played 17 games in 2025, and they still both managed to finish as top-12 fantasy receivers. There are more than enough targets to go around in Detroit to support big years from the Lions' two primary pass-catchers.

Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. It's a reunion with new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who coached Dortch the last three years in Arizona. In that time, the 27-year-old pass-catcher caught 90 of his 124 targets for 828 yards and eight touchdowns in 45 games (11 starts). The former undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest was a regular contributor in Arizona's offense, but he was never a priority option for fantasy football managers at any time. The speedy wideout will add depth to Detroit's pass-catching corps and will also be an asset on special teams, as he had 31 kick returns for 811 yards and 16 punt returns for 185 yards in 12 games in 2025. At best, Dortch will be the Lions' WR4 behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa to begin next season.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa took a little while to get going during his rookie season in 2025, but a strong finish to the year should provide dynasty managers with plenty of optimism going forward. TeSlaa recorded the bulk of his production over the final six weeks of the season, during which he caught 12 of his 18 targets for 174 yards and four touchdowns. Throughout that span, he ranked as the overall WR29 in PPR leagues. He's still stuck behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on the depth chart for 2026, but the state of the Lions' offense suggests they could support fantasy-relevant production from their No. 3 receiver here and there. Plus, he'd instantly rank as a strong fantasy WR3 or flex if St. Brown or Williams were to get hurt. Year 2 is a common time for wide receivers to break out, and the stars appear to be aligning for TeSlaa to take a major step forward in 2026. Dynasty managers could look into trading for TeSlaa in dynasty leagues, but he seems to be accurately priced at the moment, so you'll likely end up paying full price for him. That's still a reasonable move to make, given the upside he possesses going forward.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been the model of consistency since his late-season rookie breakout in 2021. He has topped 100 receptions and 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons, while scoring double-digit touchdowns over the past three, finishing as the WR3 for three straight years. Putting to rest any fears that the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson might negatively affect his fantasy impact, St. Brown finished 2025 with 117 receptions for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns, his second-highest career totals across all categories. He is currently being valued as the WR5 in dynasty startups and going in the back half of the first round in best ball drafts, suggesting he's still being undervalued despite his steadfast consistency.

Free-agent cornerback Roger McCreary agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with the Detroit Lions on Friday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. McCreary will head to the NFC North after spending the 2025 season with the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams. In 14 combined games during the regular season, the 26-year-old defensive back had a career-low 37 tackles (23 solo), one sack, an interception, and two pass breakups. McCreary was selected in the second round (35th overall) in the 2022 NFL draft out of Auburn and played the first three full seasons of his career in Nashville. He opened last season with the Titans before being traded to L.A. in late October. McCreary spent four games on the sidelines in 2025 with a hip injury, but he should be ready for all offseason workouts with his new squad. In what is likely to be a rotational role in Detroit's secondary, McCreary is off the IDP radar.

Free-agent tight end Tyler Conklin is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Detroit Lions on Friday, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. Conklin will join the Lions, his fourth different team, for his ninth NFL campaign in 2026. The 30-year-old veteran played for the Los Angeles Chargers last year and caught only seven of his 10 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns in 13 regular-season games (five starts) as a depth option. The former fifth-round pick (157th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 out of Central Michigan will likely be in a depth role again in his move to Motown, behind both Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (neck), leaving him avoidable in all fantasy football leagues. Conklin had a career-high 621 receiving yards in 2023 with the New York Jets, and he's never scored more than four times in a single season. He's caught a total of 270 passes in his career for 2,645 yards and 11 touchdowns across his eight seasons.

The Detroit Lions have restructured quarterback Jared Goff's contract to create $32 million in 2026 cap space, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Detroit's maneuvering could mean that the team is looking to make a big splash, although most of the league's top free agents have already come off the board. The Lions have needs at premium defensive positions such as edge rusher and cornerback. However, the team's biggest hole may be at left tackle, as Detroit released longtime starter Taylor Decker earlier this offseason. It's not entirely clear what the Lions' plans are, and they could simply be looking to create more flexibility for a series of smaller moves. The 31-year-old Goff remains under contract with the team through 2028 and appears to be locked in as the team's QB1 for at least the next few seasons.

Veteran free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is signing an undisclosed deal with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Bridgewater will return to Motown after serving as Jared Goff's backup in 2023 and 2024. The 33-year-old 11-year NFL veteran hasn't started a game since 2022 with the Miami Dolphins and has gone 8-for-15 passing for 62 yards in five appearances over the last three seasons. Bridgewater was the backup to Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. The former first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 out of Louisville has plenty of experience in the league, but the Lions' offense will have very limited upside if Goff gets injured and Bridgewater is forced into a starting role. He's completed 66.3% of his 2,082 pass attempts in his career since entering the league in 2014.