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Sam LaPorta • TE • Lions

Sam LaPorta Misses Practice With Undisclosed Injury

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (undisclosed) was not present at Wednesday's training camp practice due to an undisclosed injury, according to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit. Reisman writes that there is no word yet on the nature of LaPorta's injury after he worked all offseason to rehab from back surgery that limited him to nine games in 2025. Fantasy managers should be worried if LaPorta's absence on Wednesday is related to his back. But for now, we will consider him day-to-day. After recovering from back surgery, the former second-rounder in 2023 from Iowa has been excellent in training camp practices to this point and could easily bounce back to being a high-end pass-catching TE for fantasy managers in 2026. RotoBaller currently has LaPorta ranked as the No. 6 fantasy option at the position, behind Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, and Tucker Kraft. He is a fine target at TE if you do not want to spend top dollar at the position. Don't forget that LaPorta burst onto the NFL scene in his first two years in the league with 146 receptions (203 targets) for 1,615 yards and 17 total touchdowns.

4 hours ago

Jameson Williams • WR • Lions

Jameson Williams Back in Uniform on Wednesday

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (shoulder) is back at training camp practice on Wednesday and is in uniform, according to Richard Silva of The Detroit News. Williams missed the last few practices in camp due to a minor shoulder injury, but he's back now and could be in line to suit up in Saturday's preseason contest against the Washington Commanders. The 25-year-old should have no issues being ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener as one of the key targets for quarterback Jared Goff in the Lions' passing game. The former 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft has had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons the last two years, ending in a career-high 1,117 yards with 65 receptions and seven touchdowns on 102 targets in 17 games in 2025. Williams has had exactly seven touchdown receptions in each of the last two years. The return of a healthy tight end Sam LaPorta and a bigger role for second-year wideout Isaac TeSlaa could be roadblocks for Williams to get to a third straight 1,000-yard season. Fantasy managers should target him as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex as a big-play receiver for the Lions.

9 hours ago

Jameson Williams • WR • Lions

Jameson Williams Dealing With Minor Shoulder Injury

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (shoulder) is dealing with a minor shoulder injury in training camp, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Head coach Dan Campbell said it is nothing serious. Expect the Lions to play it safe with Williams, who is a big part of their passing game. The 25-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2022 from Ohio State had his second straight 1,000-yard season in 2025 and the second year in a row with seven touchdown receptions. Williams had a career-high 1,117 yards on a career-high 65 receptions (102 targets) in 17 games played. It is unclear if the Lions will feel safe running Williams out there with the starters for this Saturday's preseason tilt against the Washington Commanders, but his shoulder injury shouldn't impact his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. A healthy tight end Sam LaPorta and a bigger role for second-year wideout Isaac TeSlaa are looming obstacles to Williams potentially coming up short of expectations in 2026. Target him as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex with boom/bust big-play abilities at the receiver position.

2 days ago

Isiah Pacheco • RB • Lions

Isiah Pacheco Will Not Practice Next Week

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) will not practice this week, according to head coach Dan Campbell. Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain during last week's practice, and it reportedly won't affect his Week 1 status. However, with Pacheco's injury and Jacob Saylors (ankle) dealing with a minor injury, the team signed running back Trayveon Williams to a one-year contract. If this knee sprain lingers as the season approaches, Pacheco could lose reps to star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who has proven he can be a full workhorse back. Fantasy managers of Gibbs and Pacheco should monitor the former Kansas City Chiefs back's status closely, since missed time could impact both players in fantasy.

2 days ago

Jahmyr Gibbs • RB • Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs to See Heavy Workload Early in Season?

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs could see a heavy workload early in the season due to backup Isiah Pacheco's injury. Gibbs recorded over 1,800 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025, though he lost significant snaps to running back David Montgomery, who will start in Houston this season. The team signed former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, who was expected to spell Gibbs in 2026. However, Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain in practice last week, which could affect his Week 1 status. Even if Pacheco is active in Week 1, he is losing valuable practice reps and may need to be eased in. When Montgomery missed time in Detroit, Gibbs averaged 22.7 attempts per game, 143 scrimmage yards, and 10 touchdowns over seven games. In one of the league's most potent offenses, Gibbs is the favorite to be the first-overall pick in fantasy drafts this season.

2 days ago

Amon-Ra St. Brown • WR • Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown Remains One Safest WR1s in Redraft Leagues

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been about as steady as it gets for fantasy managers, and nothing this summer has changed that. He caught 117 passes for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns on 172 targets last season, giving him a fourth straight year with at least 100 receptions. Detroit has a new play caller in Drew Petzing, but the offense has settled in well during camp, and St. Brown has looked like himself. On Aug. 6, he beat Rock Ya-Sin deep for a touchdown in one-on-ones and scored again during red-zone work. There are plenty of mouths to feed with Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and Isaac TeSlaa all involved, so another 172 targets would be a lot to ask for. That hasn't stopped St. Brown from commanding elite volume before. RotoBaller's Aug. 14 outlook still views him as one of the safest first-round wide receivers after three straight WR3 finishes in both PPR and half-PPR. He's not a riser because there isn't much higher to go, but there is no real reason to fade him either.

5 days ago

Dominic Lovett • WR • Lions

Dominic Lovett Leads Lions in Targets in First Preseason Game

Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett was heavily featured in his team's passing game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, recording three catches for 28 yards on a team-high eight targets. A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Lovett appeared in 12 games for Detroit in 2025 but did not see a single target. Entering 2026, the Lions appear to have a clear top three at the wide receiver position in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa. However, the team lost veteran slot receiver Kalif Raymond in free agency, opening the door for Lovett to potentially slide into Detroit's WR4 role. Lovett is likely competing with veterans Greg Dortch and Cedrick Wilson Jr. for playing time and potentially a role on the 53-man roster. While Lovett likely remains an injury or two away from fantasy-relevant target volume, his stock is trending up after Detroit's first preseason game.

5 days ago

Jacob Saylors • RB • Lions

Jacob Saylors Leads Lions' Rushing Attack on Thursday

Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors led his team's ground attack in preseason action against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, rushing for 55 yards on eight carries while also logging three catches for 28 yards on five targets. Saylors appeared in 16 games for the Lions in 2025, but his impact mostly came on special teams, as he recorded just two carries for 11 yards. Entering 2026, Detroit has running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco locked in at the top of their depth chart. However, Saylors could be leading the team's RB3 competition, which also features Sione Vaki (nose), Kye Robichaux, and Raheem Blackshear. As long as Gibbs and Pacheco are healthy, Saylors is highly unlikely to play a fantasy-relevant role in Detroit. Still, he could be a name to know in deeper leagues in case one of the two top Lions backs suffers an injury.

5 days ago

Luke Altmyer • QB • Lions

Luke Altmyer Sees Heavy Playing Time in Rocky Preseason Debut

Detroit Lions undrafted rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer had an up-and-down performance in his preseason debut on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. Altmyer completed 13 of 22 pass attempts for 130 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Across 13 games at the University of Illinois in 2025, Altmyer completed 67.4% of his pass attempts for 3,007 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Lions do not have any questions at the top of their quarterback depth chart, where Jared Goff is firmly entrenched as the team's starter. However, the surprise retirement of veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater has left Detroit searching for its QB2. The Lions signed experienced NFL journeyman Joshua Dobbs shortly after Bridgewater's retirement. Dobbs has appeared in 27 NFL games (15 starts) across six NFL seasons and likely has the upper hand on Altmyer coming out of the first week of the preseason.

5 days ago

Sam LaPorta • TE • Lions

Sam LaPorta Reminding the Lions What They Missed

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta missed the final eight games of 2025 with a herniated disc in his back, but once again healthy and unencumbered, he's made his presence felt throughout training camp, with senior team writer Tim Twentyman noting that he's reminded the team just how much he was missed to end the year. A day after quarterback Jared Goff called him a "stud" while speaking with the media, the two connected on back-to-back plays during a competitive portion of Tuesday's practice, following a big gain down the seam with a nine-yard touchdown. LaPorta was the TE1 as a rookie in 2023, and after a quieter second season, he was pacing as the TE7 through his first nine games of 2025. With a major role projected in Drew Petzing's tight end-friendly offense, he is RotoBaller's TE6 for 2026.

7 days ago

Jameson Williams • WR • Lions

Jameson Williams "Continues to Get Better"

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was one of the hottest pass-catchers to end the 2025 season, topping 70 receiving yards in seven of his last nine games, and his continued development has not gone unnoticed by quarterback Jared Goff. In a recent media session, Goff told reporters, "He just continues to get better. And the stuff that he's doing now that's nuanced, that you can't really teach... That little stuff has been so cool to see him start to adopt that and understand coverage and understand space. And that's the next level for him, and he's done a great job of it." Williams has been praised throughout the summer for a standout training camp, and as a player who has shown steady progression since coming into the league as a first-round pick in 2022, he could prove to be one of the more mispriced players in 2026 drafts, currently coming off the board as the WR21 after his WR10 finish a season ago.

7 days ago

Isiah Pacheco • RB • Lions

Isiah Pacheco Has MCL Sprain, Should Be Ready for Week 1

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) is dealing with a sprained MCL, but head coach Dan Campbell told the media that the team still feels good about his Week 1 availability, according to beat writer Nolan Bianchi. Pacheco signed a one-year deal in the offseason but having now missed a string of training camp practices, the Lions have leaned on third-year back Sione Vaki to handle an expanded workload as three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs ramps back up from an early training camp hold-in that resulted in him becoming the league's highest paid running back. After splitting the backfield with David Montgomery for his first three seasons, Gibbs is expected to handle close to a bell cow role in 2026, limiting Pacheco's standalone value but making him one of fantasy's most important handcuff backs and a player who can generally be found in the closing rounds of drafts as RotoBaller's RB44.

Aug 10

Jared Goff • QB • Lions

Josh Dobbs Joining Lions as Jared Goff's Backup

The Detroit Lions are signing quarterback Josh Dobbs to a one-year, $1.425 million contract with $475,000 fully guaranteed, according to Mike Garafolo. The move comes after Teddy Bridgewater stepped away from the team, creating an opening behind starter Jared Goff. Garafolo reports that the financial commitment reflects Detroit's plan for Dobbs to serve as its No. 2 quarterback. The 31-year-old spent last season with New England, appearing in four games and completing 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards. He has made 15 starts during his NFL career, giving Detroit an experienced option behind Goff while undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer continues to develop. Goff has already been ruled out for the entire preseason, so Dobbs should have an opportunity to get acclimated quickly once the signing becomes official.

Aug 9

Teddy Bridgewater • QB • Lions

Teddy Bridgewater Stepping Away From Lions

Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has informed the team that he plans to step away, with retirement considered likely, according to Ian Rapoport. The 33-year-old entered training camp as Jared Goff's expected backup after returning to Detroit for a third stint in March. Bridgewater appeared in four games for Tampa Bay last season, completing eight of 15 passes for 62 yards, and has made 65 starts over his NFL career. His decision leaves undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer as the only other quarterback currently on the roster behind Goff. Altmyer had been trying to push Bridgewater for the No. 2 job and should now get an extended look during the preseason. Detroit is not handing him the position uncontested, however, as the Lions plan to work out several quarterbacks while looking to add another veteran to the room.

Aug 9

Jared Goff • QB • Lions

Jared Goff Will Sit Out Entire Preseason

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff will not play at any point during the preseason, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Sunday. Campbell left little doubt about the plan, joking that even if Detroit ran out of quarterbacks, Goff still would not play and the team could turn to wide receiver Tom Kennedy instead. Goff is coming off another strong season, throwing for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 68.0% of his passes across 17 games. Detroit opens its preseason Thursday against Cincinnati, and several other key starters could also be held out. Goff's absence will put more attention on rookie Luke Altmyer, especially after Teddy Bridgewater decided to step away from the team. Altmyer should now see plenty of preseason work while Detroit evaluates him and searches for another veteran quarterback.

Aug 9

Isaac TeSlaa • WR • Lions

Isaac TeSlaa's Growing Role Makes Him a Dynasty Buy

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa didn't do much between the 20s as a rookie, but six touchdowns on 16 catches made it hard to ignore what his size can add to this offense. Detroit is giving him more to do now. The 24-year-old enters camp as the clear No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and Dan Campbell said the Lions had built a lot of trust in him by the end of last season. There is some noise in the late-season numbers, though. TeSlaa caught 12 balls over the final six weeks, but that run came after Sam LaPorta went on injured reserve. LaPorta is back at full strength, and Jahmyr Gibbs will also see plenty of targets. TeSlaa may never get enough volume to become a weekly fantasy starter in this offense. Still, Detroit traded up 32 spots to take him 70th overall last year, and his 6-foot-4 frame gives him a red-zone role that doesn't require huge target volume. RotoBaller has him 189th overall in its latest dynasty rankings. That's cheap enough to buy into the Year 2 role growth without paying for a breakout that's already happened.

Aug 8

Jared Goff • QB • Lions

Jared Goff Looks to Have a "Great Grasp" on New Offense

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff leads the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns over the past four seasons, so it should come as little surprise that he was listed among senior writer Tim Twentyman's 10 players who have impressed through the first two weeks of Lions training camp. Twentyman notes that the five-time Pro Bowler continues to wow with his ball placement and accuracy and appears to have "a great grasp of Drew Petzing's offense." Goff has one of the most feared surrounding casts in the league and a head coach unafraid to play to the final whistle, making his current ADP of QB16 all the more confounding following four straight top 10 fantasy finishes. In a year with a deep pool of quality options making it easier to wait at the quarterback position, Goff has week-winning upside and is a player to target in the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.

Aug 8

Jahmyr Gibbs • RB • Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions Agree on Three-Year, $67.5 Million Deal

Three-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions agreed on Thursday on a three-year, $67.5 million deal that could be worth up to $75.75 million and includes $51.5 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal makes Gibbs the league's highest-paid running back after the Atlanta Falcons just signed star RB Bijan Robinson to a three-year extension worth $66.75 million on Tuesday. The 24-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2023 from the University of Alabama is well-deserving of the massive contract, having produced a whopping 3,580 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns on 675 carries for the Lions in his first three years in the NFL. Gibbs has also lit up box scores as a receiver, catching 181 of 228 targets for 1,449 receiving yards and another 10 touchdowns as a pass-catcher. In an offense in Detroit that hasn't changed all that much under head coach Dan Campbell, Gibbs will continue to be the focal point on the ground and through the air, which makes him the most obvious choice as the No. 1 overall fantasy football pick in 2026.

Aug 6

Jahmyr Gibbs • RB • Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions Expected to Finalize a Deal Soon

The Detroit Lions and star running back Jahmyr Gibbs continue to work on a new deal in training camp that is expected to be finalized soon, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Gibbs should be the third RB domino to fall this summer after both Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor signed with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts, respectively, over the last 48 hours. Gibbs, who has also been dealing with a tight back, made an appearance at practice on Thursday. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports that the two sides could be closing in on a new three-year deal that would make the 24-year-old dual-threat back the highest-paid RB in the league. A deal could be completed as early as Thursday, which would be great news for the Lions, as they'd get the best all-around RB back on the field. Despite his hold-in to start camp, the former 12th overall pick from the University of Alabama should be the top player off the board in most fantasy football drafts after another 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 to go with 18 total touchdowns (13 rushing, five receiving) in 17 starts.

Aug 6

Jahmyr Gibbs • RB • Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs Working with Trainer on Side Field

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs took part in a walk-through and team stretch on Thursday morning before moving to a side field to work with a trainer. One week into Lions training camp, the three-time Pro Bowler has yet to take part in practice as he awaits a long-term contract extension. High-profile running backs Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor both agreed to new extensions this week, so it's possible a new deal for Gibbs could be close, but until he puts ink to paper, it's unlikely he'll take part in any drills. After sharing a backfield with David Montgomery for his first three seasons, the veteran's trade to the Texans has presented Gibbs with the opportunity to handle close to a bell cow role, and he is RotoBaller's RB1 for 2026. With training camp approaching its halfway point, fantasy managers will want to see him on the field as soon as possible to avoid carrying any rust or added injury risk into the Lions' regular season opener on September 13.

Aug 6

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