Detroit Lions News

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.

The Buffalo Bills have signed quarterback Kyle Allen to a two-year, $4.1 million deal that is worth up to $6.1 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Allen most recently backed up Jared Goff in Detroit, and now he'll join Buffalo to back up his close friend, Josh Allen. The 29-year-old instantly slots into the No. 2 role on the depth chart after the Bills watched Mitch Trubisky depart for the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Buffalo will hope that Josh Allen stays healthy for all of 2026, but if he needs to miss any time, they'll feel comfortable about plugging Kyle Allen into the offensive system. The Houston product mostly just handled kneel-down situations for the Lions in 2025, but back in 2019 with the Panthers, he appeared in 13 games with 3,322 passing yards, 19 total touchdowns, and 23 total turnovers.

Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker announced on his Instagram account on Friday that he requested and will be released by the team, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Decker and the Lions were unable to agree on a contract restructure, and now the 31-year-old veteran is free to sign with any team. Decker was due to make $18.2 million in 2026. The former 16th overall pick in 2016 out of Ohio State was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024. All 10 of his NFL seasons have been with the Lions, and he has started all 140 games that he's appeared in. By releasing Decker, the Lions will save $17.9 million in salary cap space this year and $21 million next year. It will be a big change for the Lions offense, as Decker has been a cornerstone left tackle for the franchise since 2016. Decker will attract plenty of interest on the free-agent market.

The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) missed the final eight weeks of the 2025 regular season, and when he returns in 2026, he'll find himself in a new-look offense. The strong supporting cast remains in place (minus David Montgomery), but we expect to see a new offensive scheme and style of play after Detroit made a coaching staff change. The Lions hired former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to the same role, indicating we could see even more emphasis on the tight end position next year. Petzing helped pepper Trey McBride with targets last year; the 26-year-old was the TE2 in PPR leagues in 2024, and the TE1 last season. LaPorta is looking to return to that type of elite form. He was the TE1 himself as a rookie in 2023, but he dropped to TE8 in 2024 and TE27 in his injury-shortened 2025 campaign. When healthy last season, LaPorta averaged 4.4 catches, 54.3 yards, and 0.3 touchdowns per game. If Petzing places an emphasis on getting the tight end even more involved, he'll make a strong push to be a top-five fantasy option at the position in 2026. Because he's coming off an injury, he's an intriguing buy-low option in dynasty leagues, as well as an underpriced draft pick at his ADP in redraft formats.

The Detroit Lions announced on Monday that they released offensive lineman Graham Glasgow. The move to cut Glasgow will save the Lions around $5.6 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season. The 33-year-old veteran was taken in the third round (95th overall) in 2016 out of Michigan by Detroit. He spent the first four years of his career with the Lions before joining the Denver Broncos from 2020 through 2022. Glasgow returned to the Lions in 2023 and spent the last three seasons with them. He played in 15 games (14 starts) a year ago but will now head to the open market. The veteran offensive lineman's best days are likely behind him at this point, but his experience alone should make him plenty attractive on the open market for team's looking for interior O-line depth.

The Detroit Lions acquired offensive guard Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick on Monday from the Houston Texans in exchange for running back David Montgomery, a source told Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Scruggs, 26, was originally selected 62nd overall in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Texans out of Penn State. He played in a career-high 17 games in 2025 in Houston, but he started just one game and wasn't very efficient on the offensive line for the Texans. In his new home in Detroit, Scruggs will most likely serve as offensive-line depth as he enters his fourth year in the league. Scruggs has started 20 of the 37 games he's appeared in over his first three seasons in the NFL in Houston.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs already entered this offseason atop the depth chart. Now, he essentially has the backfield all to himself after the Lions traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Gibbs played exactly 67% of the Lions' snaps last season, while Montgomery played 37.1%. A significant portion of the veteran's vacated snaps and touches will go to Gibbs, who has consistently impressed as a ball-carrier and receiver. He was the overall RB1 in full-PPR leagues in 2024, and he finished 2025 as the overall RB3. Through 17 games last season, he tallied 1,223 rushing yards, 77 catches, 616 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns. We would expect the Lions to sign or draft another running back who can offer a decent change of pace behind or alongside Gibbs, but there's a strong chance it won't be anyone of Montgomery's caliber. Therefore, this trade is great news for Gibbs, who is once again trending up. The young running back has a chance to be the overall RB1 in fantasy football leagues during 2026.