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Jacob Saylors • RB • Lions

Jacob Saylors Providing Waiver Wire Value as Handcuff to Gibbs

Fourth-year running back out of East Tennessee State, Jacob Saylors, is in line to potentially back up one of the best running backs in the game and the consensus No. 1 fantasy running back, Jahmyr Gibbs. Important to note that head coach Dan Campbell did come out Monday and said that the team's RB2 role behind starter Gibbs will be by committee, according to Brad Galli; however, Saylors is listed as the team's RB2 on the depth chart, and with how potent this Lions offense is, that makes him a valuable bench option on the off chance Gibbs goes down with an injury. Saylors went undrafted in 2023 and has two career rushing attempts in the NFL, so he is truly a handcuff option for the Lions, with no standalone value to start the season. The Lions' former RB2, David Montgomery, was picked up by the Houston Texans during the offseason, opening the door for the 25-year-old. Fantasy managers looking to stash a handcuff should be looking in Saylor's direction.

7 hours ago

Sione Vaki • RB • Lions

Sione Vaki Has a Path to Week 1 Touches

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki has a little more life as a deep-league stash with Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve. Dan Campbell said Vaki and Jacob Saylors will split the No. 2 role behind Jahmyr Gibbs against New Orleans, so there is no clean handcuff here. Still, Vaki has earned some trust. Campbell liked the progress he made as both a runner and pass catcher during camp and said he is comfortable using him when Gibbs needs a breather. The problem is we have barely seen Vaki on offense in the NFL. He has seven career carries for 18 yards and three catches for 37 yards, while Saylors is going to get work too. Vaki is rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues and sits in the 14-team PPR range on the current waiver list. That makes him more of a cheap bench swing than someone to start in Week 1.

14 hours ago

Isaac TeSlaa • WR • Lions

Isaac TeSlaa Shouldn't Be Ignored in Deeper Leagues

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa has a better path to playing time than his rookie numbers would suggest. He caught only 16 passes for 239 yards last season, but six went for touchdowns, and Detroit enters Week 1 with just four receivers on the active roster. Greg Dortch was released, Kalif Raymond left in free agency, and general manager Brad Holmes said TeSlaa is stepping into the No. 3 job behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The Lions also liked the progress he made as a route runner this summer. That does not make him a Week 1 starter. St. Brown, Williams, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs are still going to command most of the touches, and RotoBaller has TeSlaa at WR71 for the opener against New Orleans. He is rostered in only 6% of Yahoo leagues and is best left for 14-team formats or deeper benches, where the new role is worth taking a shot on before we see what the target share looks like.

18 hours ago

Jacob Saylors • RB • Lions |

Sione Vaki • RB • Lions

Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki to Split RB2 Role in Detroit

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said on Monday that the team's RB2 role behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs will be by committee, according to Brad Galli. Campbell thinks that both Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki will be ready when Gibbs needs a breather. The head coach sees Vaki getting carries, but knows that Saylors will contribute on offense and special teams. The news makes it hard for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to pinpoint the preferred handcuff option for Gibbs. For what it is worth, Vaki is not currently rostered in any Yahoo leagues, while Saylors is rostered in just 2% of leagues. Vaki, a former fourth-rounder from Utah in 2024, has seen only seven carries for 18 yards and has three catches for 37 yards in 27 games (zero starts) in his first two NFL seasons. Saylors, a former undrafted free agent out of East Tennessee State, ran the ball twice for 11 yards last year and was not targeted as a receiver. Neither RB will have any standalone fantasy appeal as long as Gibbs is healthy, and if Gibbs misses time with an injury, Vaki and Saylors would likely split the backfield down the middle.

Yesterday

Jacob Saylors • RB • Lions

Jacob Saylors has Earned the Trust of the Coaching Staff

Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors runs hard and "has earned the trust of the coaching staff" for his play on offense and special teams during training camp, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's official website. Saylors led the team in total scrimmage yards during the preseason (31 carries for 187 yards and five catches for 40 yards) and could be in the mix to return kicks on special teams if he is active on game days. The chances of Saylors being active for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season went way up when the Lions placed Isiah Pacheco (back) on Injured Reserve to start the year. All-Pro RB Jahmyr Gibbs will handle the lion's share of backfield work, but Saylors could open his second year in the NFL as the No. 2 over Sione Vaki. The former undrafted free agent out of East Carolina appeared in 16 games for the Lions as a rookie in 2025, but he only had two carries for 11 yards on offense. Even with an elevated role to open his sophomore campaign, Saylors is only in consideration as a handcuff option for Gibbs in deeper leagues.

3 days ago

Jahmyr Gibbs • RB • Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs the Consensus 1.01 in Fantasy Drafts

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has an ADP of 1.1, which means he is consistently being taken with the first pick in 2026 fantasy football drafts. There are plenty of intriguing names near the top of the draft, including running backs Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey, but managers who have the luxury of picking first are selecting Gibbs more often than not. Gibbs has been a top-10 fantasy running back in each of his three pro seasons, including RB1 and RB3 over the last two years, respectively. In fact, despite finishing as the RB3 last year, he posted the highest fantasy points total of his young career. Despite sharing touches with David Montgomery, Gibbs broke out for 1,223 rushing yards, 77 catches, 616 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns. Assuming he stays healthy for 17 games this year, he's a pretty safe bet to finish among the top three at his position, with a very real chance at the overall RB1 title.

4 days ago

Jared Goff • QB • Lions

Jared Goff Offers Top Late-Round Value

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff isn't going to be the first QB taken off the draft board in fantasy leagues. The strong value of Goff is sometimes forgotten, which could be a benefit to fantasy managers. This past season, Goff threw for over 4,500 passing yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The 31-year-old has finished within the top-10 at his position for four straight years. Despite continuing to play above expectations, Goff is sometimes pushed to the side during fantasy drafts. The veteran quarterback is an excellent late-round option with a high floor given the talent in Detroit and past performances.

4 days ago

Sam LaPorta • TE • Lions

Sam LaPorta Poised for Resurgent Season with Improved Health Outlook

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta's 2025 campaign came to a premature end after he suffered a back injury in Week 10 that ultimately required season-ending surgery. The 25-year-old was productive before getting hurt, recording 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns on 49 targets across nine games played. LaPorta gave fantasy managers a scare when he suffered a hip injury that caused him to miss some time this summer. However, the young tight end was able to return to practice and looks to be on track to start the regular season fully healthy. Between wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, as well as running back Jahmyr Gibbs, LaPorta faces plenty of target competition in Detroit. Still, the Lions enter the year with questions on defense and a new-look offensive line, both of which could force them to turn to the air early and often in 2026. As long as LaPorta remains healthy, he could be poised for a bounce-back season.

5 days ago

Isaac TeSlaa • WR • Lions

Isaac TeSlaa Still Has Lions' Trust After Quiet Summer

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa had a rough summer, but the team isn't backing away from him. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said he is "not too concerned" about TeSlaa's camp and preseason. Detroit intentionally gave the second-year receiver more work against top cornerbacks, and he remains the No. 3 option behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. TeSlaa caught just 16 passes for 239 yards as a rookie, but six of those catches went for touchdowns. He also finished the year with eight receptions for 119 yards and two scores over the final three games. His preseason opener against Cincinnati was ugly, including a drop that turned into an interception, but Detroit hasn't let one uneven month change its plans. TeSlaa still has a bigger role waiting for him in Year 2.

6 days ago

Isiah Pacheco • RB • Lions

No Timeline for Isiah Pacheco's Return

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said that he does not want to put a timeline on running back Isiah Pacheco's (back) return after the team placed him on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. "He's doing everything that he can to get back. He's steadily feeling better," Holmes said. Pacheco's fantasy stock continues to fall because of injuries after he was brought to Detroit in free agency to handle change-of-pace duties behind stud All-Pro back Jahmyr Gibbs. The 27-year-old will miss at least the first four games in 2026, and possibly more if he is not ready by then. With Pacheco now injured, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors will battle for RB2 scraps behind Gibbs, who is one of the few elite workhorse backs left in the NFL. Pacheco, a former seventh-rounder in 2022 from Rutgers, had 1,765 combined rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two years with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023, adding 57 receptions for 374 yards and two more TDs as a receiver. But he played in only 20 games the last two years and finished with 772 rushing yards and two touchdowns and 31 catches for 180 yards and a score.

6 days ago

Jameson Williams • WR • Lions

Jameson Williams Could Lead Lions in Receiving

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams could emerge as the team's leading receiver this season, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Williams is coming off another big year, catching 65 passes for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 targets in 2025. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch and topped 1,000 yards for the second straight season. The Lions have spent the past few years asking Williams to become more than a downfield threat, and there were signs of that growth in camp. Jared Goff recently praised the nuance Williams has added to his route running, while new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has challenged him to play more physically. The obvious obstacle is Amon-Ra St. Brown, who drew 172 targets and finished with 1,401 receiving yards last year. Williams also led the NFL with 12 drops. Still, if Petzing can get him involved more consistently at every level of the field, a career year is firmly in play.

6 days ago

Isiah Pacheco • RB • Lions

Lions Place Isiah Pacheco on Injured Reserve

The Detroit Lions announced on Tuesday that they placed running back Isiah Pacheco (back) on Injured Reserve. Pacheco will now have to wait until at least Week 5 to make his Lions debut in 2026. The 27-year-old also missed time in training camp this summer with a sprained MCL in his knee, so the injury issues that plagued his final two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and 2025 have followed him to Detroit. Pacheco was not expected to see much volume behind three-down workhorse Jahmyr Gibbs, but his fantasy appeal as a late-round handcuff now takes another hit. In Pacheco's absence, Sione Vaki is expected to serve as Detroit's RB2, with Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small fighting for expanded roles as well. Pacheco had a combined 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in his first two years in KC, adding 57 receptions for 374 yards and another two scores as a receiver. However, he managed to play in only 20 games over the last two seasons and produced 772 rushing yards and only two rushing TDs on 201 carries in the last two years.

7 days ago

Isaac TeSlaa • WR • Lions

Isaac Teslaa has WR3 Job Locked Down in Detroit

It looks pretty obvious that Detroit Lions second-year wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa is locked into the WR3 role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams going into the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September after the team cut Greg Dortch on Sunday to trim their roster down to 53 players. The 24-year-old third-rounder from Arkansas caught only 16 passes as a rookie for 239 yards, but he scored six touchdowns on 27 targets over 17 games played as a notable red-zone weapon for quarterback Jared Goff. With TeSlaa's role in the Lions' passing game likely to increase in his second year in the NFL, he should not be forgotten as a valuable late-round flier for touchdown upside. The 6-foot-4, 214-pounder could once again struggle for consistent targets as long as both St. Brown and Williams stay healthy, but with Dortch now cut and Kalif Raymond in Chicago, there is a path for TeSlaa to take a step forward as a sophomore in the NFL. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 69 fantasy wideout for the upcoming 2026 season.

Aug 31

Amon-Ra St. Brown • WR • Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown Ends Camp on a High Note

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown finished August about as well as he could have. He was already coming off 117 catches for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns on a career-high 172 targets, and nothing in camp suggested that volume is about to disappear. Tim Twentyman wrote on Aug. 15 that St. Brown looked better than he ever had and had been nearly impossible to cover. The strong finish kept coming. He turned a fourth-and-two catch from Jared Goff into a 32-yard touchdown on Aug. 26, then caught four passes on one late-camp drive the next day, including a 16-yard score. Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and Isaac TeSlaa will all get their share, so another 172 targets is no guarantee. St. Brown has been Detroit's steady answer anyway. RotoBaller currently has him as the WR4 for 2026, and his camp did nothing to loosen that grip. For a receiver already going in the first round, that's enough to count as a win.

Aug 31

Jahmyr Gibbs • RB • Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs Could Be Busier Than Ever

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was already set for more work after David Montgomery was traded to Houston. August made that setup look even better. Dan Campbell called Gibbs the Lions' bell cow back in June, and there is no established Montgomery-type partner waiting behind him. Isiah Pacheco was signed for the No. 2 role, but he missed most of camp with a sprained MCL and is now also dealing with a back injury. His Week 1 status is still up in the air. Campbell said Saturday that he would be comfortable using Jacob Saylors as Gibbs' primary backup if Pacheco can't go. Gibbs, meanwhile, finished camp making plays, including a 59-yard touchdown run during Detroit's final practice. He totaled 1,839 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns last season while playing a career-high 67% of the offensive snaps. RotoBaller still has Gibbs as its RB1 and No. 1 overall player in PPR. He was already an elite pick. The backfield around him now makes an even bigger workload easier to picture.

Aug 31

Greg Dortch • WR • Lions

Lions Release Wide Receiver Greg Dortch

The Detroit Lions have released wide receiver Greg Dortch as part of the process to get their active roster down to 53 players, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Dortch had spent the last five seasons in Arizona, peaking as the WR62 in PPR leagues during the 2022 season. His productivity had dipped in recent years, and he finished 2025 with just 29 catches, 206 yards, and three touchdowns across 12 games. He faced an uphill battle to make the Lions' roster and ultimately wasn't able to beat out any of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, or Tay Martin. The fact that Detroit is carrying just four receivers right now could leave the door open for Dortch to re-sign with the team before Week 1, but it seems unlikely after he caught just two passes for 22 yards during the preseason. He may have to settle for a practice squad spot somewhere else.

Aug 30

Jacob Saylors • RB • Lions

Lions Comfortable with Jacob Saylors as the No. 2 Running Back

Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors has carried the ball only twice since coming into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023, but he could open the season as the team's primary backup behind three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs. After trading away veteran David Montgomery, the Lions signed Isiah Pacheco (back, knee) to a one-year free agent deal, but with the former Chief dealing with back and knee injuries and his Week 1 availability up in the air, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Saturday that he'd be comfortable playing Saylors in that role if necessary, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "I'm comfortable with those guys. And I just like the thought of having a guy in our system, think that's important. Knows our terminology, knows our guys, knows the protections. Just kind of knows it all, man. Understands our quarterback and how he thinks. I just think that's important." Saylors, who has seen the Lions' heaviest running back rush share in each of the past two preseasons, ran for 100 yards on 17 carries in Saturday's 25-16 win over the Colts, and he is now a player to pay attention to as a potentially critical handcuff to begin the 2026 season.

Aug 30

Trayveon Williams • RB • Lions

Trayveon Williams Making a Late Push for a Roster Spot in Detroit

Detroit Lions running back Trayveon Williams strengthened his case to make Detroit's initial 53-man roster on Saturday, recording 57 rushing yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in his team's 25-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Williams finished the preseason strong, recording over 100 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns across Detroit's final two exhibition contests. The Lions have star running back Jahmyr Gibbs as their RB1, but the team's RB2 role is currently a bit unsettled with veteran back Isiah Pacheco (back, knee) battling back and knee injuries. If Pacheco misses time to start the year, Williams could be in the mix with running backs Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki for playing time behind Gibbs in Detroit. The veteran Williams may be the most experienced back of the bunch, as he's appeared in 75 games across seven NFL seasons. In deeper fantasy leagues, Williams is a name to monitor as Detroit sets its 53-man roster in the coming weeks.

Aug 29

Jacob Saylors • RB • Lions

Jacob Saylors Shines in Preseason Finale, Competing for RB2 Role in Detroit?

Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors impressed in his team's preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, recording 17 carries for 100 yards and two catches for 12 yards on four targets. Saylors appeared in 16 games for Detroit in 2025, but he recorded just two carries on the season. Entering 2026, star Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is firmly atop the team's depth chart at the position. However, RB2 favorite Isiah Pacheco's (back, knee) availability for the start of the season is currently in question as he battles back and knee injuries. As a result, Saylors looks to be competing with Sione Vaki and Trayveon Williams for an early-season role in the Detroit backfield. Saylors helped his case with a strong performance in the preseason, rushing for 187 yards on 31 carries across three games played. In deeper leagues, Saylors could be worth rostering until more is known about Pacheco's health.

Aug 29

Joshua Dobbs • QB • Lions

Joshua Dobbs Throws Two Touchdowns on Saturday, Secures QB2 Role in Detroit?

Detroit Lions quarterback Joshua Dobbs put together a strong performance in his team's final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, completing 15 of 19 pass attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Dobbs was signed by Detroit midway through the summer after the surprise retirement of former Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The veteran Dobbs is competing with undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer for Detroit's QB2 job behind starter Jared Goff. However, Dobbs outplayed Altmyer on Saturday and may have solidified himself as the Lions' backup quarterback to open the year. Assuming he makes Detroit's 53-man roster, the Lions will be Dobbs' seventh team as he heads into his seventh NFL season. His last extended run of playing time came in 2023, when he threw for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 13 games (12 starts) split between the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings. As long as Goff remains healthy, Dobbs should not be on the radar of fantasy managers.

Aug 29

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