Detroit Lions News

Since the start of the 2022 season, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns. In four fully healthy seasons with the Lions, he has never finished outside the top 10 for fantasy, and despite expected improvements to both the team's offensive line and play calling ahead of the 2026 season, he is currently being drafted as the QB16. The Lions return both 1,000-yard receivers from a year ago, and with tight end Sam LaPorta expected back at full health and three-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs ready to inherit a true bell cow role, an easy argument could be made for Goff's supporting cast as the strongest in the league. The former first overall pick has topped 4,400 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in each of the past four seasons, and with the Lions boasting what is on paper one of the league's most fantasy-friendly schedules, there is no reason to expect that streak should end in 2026. In a season where the third, or even fourth tier of fantasy quarterbacks is deep and flat, Goff may be the poster child for punting at the position and is capable of delivering a league-winning performance from the closing rounds of drafts.

Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, who is facing legal issues in Florida, was released by the Lions last week and cleared waivers on Monday to become a free agent, according to ESPN. Arnold was released after he was arrested on felony charges of armed robbery and kidnapping. He's expected to visit NFL teams that have shown an interest in signing him. The 23-year-old defensive back turned himself in on June 24 after authorities accused him of orchestrating the abduction and beating of three men whom prosecutors believe he wrongly suspected of having stolen luxury goods and $100,000 in cash from him. Arnold was a former first-round pick by the Lions in 2024 out of the University of Alabama, and he was scheduled to start outside opposite D.J. Reed this year before his release last week. He had two years and $4.8 million left on his rookie contract. It's unclear at this time if any other NFL team is willing to take on Arnold's baggage and give him another chance.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams finished as the fantasy WR5 over the final 10 weeks of the 2025 season, and while many are quick to point to the absence of tight end Sam LaPorta as the driving factor behind his late-season breakout, there's evidence of his leveling up even before LaPorta was placed on injured reserve with a herniated disc. The two games following Detroit's Week 8 bye proved to be LaPorta's final two outings of the season, but they were also arguably his most productive two-game stretch of 2025, totaling 150 yards on 11 catches while reeling in one of his three touchdown grabs on the year. In those two games, the start of his end-of-season run of dominance, Williams caught 10 passes for 185 yards and two scores, finishing as the WR14 and WR3. With LaPorta expected to be healthy again for 2026, the Lions are likely to deploy more of the two-receiver sets from which Williams has proven to be a dynamic weapon. If Williams can find more consistency in his fifth season, an expectation expressed publicly by wide receiver coach Scottie Montgomery in one of his final media sessions of minicamp, the 2022 first-round pick could pick right back up on the 82-catch, 1,400-yard, and nine-touchdown pace with which he ended 2025, and he should have little trouble outproducing his current ADP as WR26.

ESPN's Ben Solak thinks the Detroit Lions should trade tight end Sam LaPorta as they stare at upcoming big contract extensions for him, star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and safety Brian Branch. The Lions are also carrying sizable second contracts at quarterback (Jared Goff), wide receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown), edge rusher (Aidan Hutchinson), and offensive tackle (Penei Sewell). Gibbs is probably untouchable as one of the best dual-threat backs in the NFL. LaPorta had an eye-popping rookie season with 86 catches, 889 yards, and 10 touchdowns, but he's lost some volume in Detroit's passing attack as receiver Jameson Williams has developed into the team's WR2. In the last two years, LaPorta's 25% target per route fell to 19.7%, and Williams has produced more yards per target, yards per route, and explosive receptions per target. The 25-year-old former second-rounder is now the clear fourth target in an explosive Lions offense, which makes him somewhat expendable. Additionally, LaPorta isn't a very strong blocker. Solak predicts that the Carolina Panthers, a team that hasn't had a difference-making pass-catching tight end since Greg Olsen, could come calling if the Lions are willing to listen.

In case the Detroit Lions' trading of David Montgomery to the Texans was not enough of a signal that fourth-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs was going to be the team's bell-cow back for the 2026 season, head coach Dan Campbell said the words clear as day in one of his first media sessions of organized team activities, telling reporters, "He's going to be our bell-cow now," and then later, "We're going to hang our hat on him quite a bit. We're going to do a lot of things we feel like he does well." Running backs coach Tashard Choice, who has known Gibbs since he was a high school recruit, has since expressed belief that the 2023 first-round pick is in the best shape of his life, and having already finished as the RB4 and the RB2 in his past two seasons (while Montgomery was still averaging more than 200 touches of his own), expectations are through the roof for 2026. The Lions signed former Chief Isiah Pacheco to a one-year deal in free agency, but after averaging more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage over his first two years in the league, the 2022 seventh-round pick has struggled through injuries and has been held to only 952 yards and three touchdowns across the past two seasons. While he will undoubtedly play a role in keeping Gibbs fresh, all the rhetoric out of Detroit suggests that the backfield is ready to be fully handed over to one of the most explosive playmakers in the league. As such, Gibbs has earned the top overall spot in RotoBaller's 2026 single-quarterback fantasy rankings.

The Detroit Lions have made it clear that running back Jahmyr Gibbs will be their bell-cow back in 2026, which means that newcomer Isiah Pacheco must prepare for a backup role in his new digs, according to Kory Woods of MLive Media Group. Pacheco, who won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed a one-year deal with Detroit to replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans in early March. The 27-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Rutgers started 31 of 34 games in the last three seasons in KC, but he's preparing for a much different role in Detroit. He's looking at a drastically reduced role in the Lions' backfield, especially after dealing with injuries in recent seasons. Pacheco missed nine games in 2024 with a broken right fibula and missed a month with an MCL sprain in 2024. In his first two years in the league, Pacheco averaged at least 4.6 yards per carry, but that number has dropped to 3.8 yards per attempt the last two years. Pacheco is committed to his new role behind Gibbs, but he has tumbled to No. 44 in RotoBaller's RB rankings for the 2026 campaign, making him more of a handcuff for Gibbs' managers.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to be quarterback Jared Goff's security blanket and "looks a little stronger and more explosive" as he heads into his sixth year in the league in 2026, according to Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official website. St. Brown proved difficult to cover for the team's defenders during a recent two-day minicamp. The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2021 out of USC has led the league in catches (547) in the last five seasons and should continue to be an elite player for fantasy managers in 2026. St. Brown is the Lions' unquestioned WR1 and has made the Pro Bowl in four straight seasons. In 17 starts in 2025, he caught 117 passes (career-high 172 targets) for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns. St. Brown has had 100-plus receptions and over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons, and he's scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the last three years in Detroit's improved offense. He will come off the board in the early rounds of fantasy drafts again this fall, and he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 5 fantasy WR.

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco enters 2026 in a backup role behind star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. It's a new role for Pacheco, who spent most of his first four seasons in the NFL as the RB1 for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Pacheco has struggled with both injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons, missing 14 games and averaging just 3.8 yards per carry since the start of the 2024 campaign. In Detroit, Pacheco's touches will be limited as long as Gibbs remains healthy. Still, former Lions RB2 David Montgomery recorded 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games in 2025. If Pacheco can assume a similar role as the thunder to Gibbs' lightning, he could be a productive player for fantasy managers in 2026. Pacheco's handcuff appeal is obvious as well, as he profiles as the clear winner in the Detroit backfield if Gibbs suffers an injury. In redraft leagues, Pacheco could be a late-round sleeper to target in drafts.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) was a partial participant on the first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and head coach Dan Campbell said he could be cleared for the start of training camp in late July, according to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. "We like where he's going," Campbell said. "He's trending the right way." A herniated disc in his back limited the 25-year-old to just nine games in 2025, and he underwent surgery in November. LaPorta didn't take part in full-speed team drills in earlier offseason workouts this spring, but he's getting close to being a full-go for training camp this summer. The former second-round pick (34th overall) in 2023 out of the University of Iowa burst onto the scene in his rookie campaign and led all tight ends with 86 catches on 120 targets for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games. He took a slight step back in Year 2 with a 60-726-7 line in 16 starts before catching just 40 passes for 489 yards and three scores last year. The offensive situation in Detroit hasn't changed much since LaPorta's strong rookie season, and with his price coming down after his injury in 2025, LaPorta is a potential TE1 value play in fantasy drafts as an obvious bounce-back candidate if he stays healthy. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 9 fantasy TE for 2026.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was very complimentary of second-year wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa and where he's heading going into Year 2 in 2026, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's official website. The head coach said that TeSlaa has looked "like a consistent veteran this offseason" and is excited about where he's headed. The 24-year-old was selected with the 70th overall pick (third round) last year out of the University of Arkansas. In his first NFL season, TeSlaa had 16 catches for 239 yards and six touchdowns on 27 targets over 17 games played (three starts). Detroit added veteran wideouts Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Greg Dortch in free agency this offseason, but TeSlaa should have an elevated role for the Lions in Year 2 as the WR3 behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The 6-foot-4, 214-pounder isn't an athletic freak by any means, but he proved to have a nose for the end zone in 2025. Volume could be an issue again, making TeSlaa a late-round target in fantasy football drafts this fall with upside if the Lions give him more responsibilities outside the red zone.

Dating back to 2022, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has now recorded four consecutive seasons with at least 4,400 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. Even through a rocky season overall in Detroit in 2025, Goff completed 68% of his pass attempts for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Goff's fantasy upside is limited by his complete lack of rushing ability, as he hasn't reached 100 rushing yards in a season since 2018. The Lions' offensive line has also deteriorated in quality in recent years, with tackle Penei Sewell the only truly plus starter remaining in the group. Still, Goff has an excellent group of pass-catchers around him in wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, tight end Sam LaPorta, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. As Goff enters his age-32 season, he projects as a high-floor, low-ceiling dynasty QB2 who may still be slightly undervalued in some leagues.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams put together the most productive season of his career in 2025, recording 65 receptions for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 targets across 17 games. However, the season was a tale of two halves for Williams, who had just 17 catches for 289 yards and two scores on 30 targets through Detroit's Week 8 bye. The 25-year-old's second-half production surge coincided with the absence of Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back), who suffered a season-ending back injury in Week 10. With LaPorta expected to be back in the mix for Detroit in 2026, Williams may once again struggle to provide consistent fantasy production. When all three of LaPorta, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs have been available, Detroit has typically opted to utilize Williams in a low-volume downfield role. In dynasty formats, managers may want to explore selling Williams at what could be a peak in his value.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa had a relatively quiet rookie season, propped up by an unreal 23% of his targets resulting in touchdowns. While he did turn himself into a steady contributor by year's end, making at least two catches in four of his final six games, that stretch only occurred after tight end Sam LaPorta was placed on injured reserve with a herniated disc in his back. With LaPorta healthy and participating in organized team activities, there's a chance TeSlaa is pushed outside the margins of fantasy relevance in a new-look Lions offense. Only two current playcallers ran a higher percentage of plays out of multi-tight end sets than new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing did with the Cardinals last year, which could spell trouble for a receiver who already failed to reach a 60% snap share in 13 of 17 games as a rookie. An older prospect coming into the league, TeSlaa is now 24 and RotoBaller's dynasty WR87, but unless he can find a way to sustain his seemingly unsustainable touchdown rate from 2025, even that could prove to be too high a ranking.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) looked good and was moving around well at OTA practice on Thursday after he sat out of the first open practice last week, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. It's a good sign for LaPorta, who is coming off back surgery to fix a herniated disc that forced him to miss the final eight games of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of the University of Iowa was the No. 1 fantasy TE in his rookie year, catching 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns on 120 targets in 17 regular-season games. LaPorta took a slight step back in 2024 with a 60-726-7 line in 16 starts, before catching just 40 passes for 489 yards and three scores a year ago in nine starts. It won't cost nearly as much to secure LaPorta's services in fantasy as a low-end TE1 after his injury in 2025, and with the situation not much different in Detroit than in his first two years, there is clear bounce-back potential in his fourth year in the NFL if he can stay healthy. LaPorta is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 9 TE for the 2026 campaign.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that rookie fifth-round wide receiver Kendrick Law (knee) tore his ACL during practice on Tuesday, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's official website. It's a rough way for the 22-year-old to begin his career in the NFL after he was selected with the 168th overall pick in the NFL draft back in April. The former University of Kentucky pass-catcher wasn't going to be on the fantasy football radar in single-year leagues while providing depth in the WR room behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, James Williams, and second-year wideout Isaac TeSlaa. Law will almost certainly be placed on Injured Reserve and miss his entire rookie season. Behind St. Brown, Williams, and TeSlaa, Detroit will have Greg Dortch, Cedrick Wilson, Tom Kennedy, and Dominic Lovett competing for the WR4 role. In 12 games in his final collegiate season in 2025 at Kentucky, Law had a career-best 53 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats. There is long-term yards-after-the-catch potential with Law, but his development will be put on hold for another year.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that the expectation is that running back Jahmyr Gibbs will be the team's "bellcow" in 2026, according to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News. "We're gonna hang our hat on him," Campbell said. It's not unexpected, especially after the team traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans early in the offseason. The 24-year-old Gibbs, who was the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of the University of Alabama, has been one of the best all-around RBs since he set foot in the NFL, being named a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons. The Georgia native has a whopping 3,580 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns, to go along with 181 catches (228 targets) for 1,449 receiving yards and 10 receiving TDs in 49 regular-season games for Detroit. Gibbs hasn't dipped under 5.0 yards per carry in any of his three seasons, and is an elite three-down fantasy RB. With even more usage coming in 2026, fantasy managers sitting in the No. 2 draft spot this year will be ecstatic if he doesn't come off the board at No. 1 overall.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has caught at least 115 passes and double-digit touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, never falling below 1,250 receiving yards and finishing as the fantasy WR3 in all three seasons. In 2026, it's possible his ceiling could be even higher under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. The buzz out of Detroit through OTAs has been around Petzing's ability to bring balance to an offense that became too reliant on explosive plays in 2025. With St. Brown healthy after sitting out this time last year following an offseason knee surgery, he's been one of several Lions players to express excitement about the new direction of the offense. As the coordinator for the Cardinals in 2025, Petzing helped to transform third-year receiver Michael Wilson into a fantasy league-winner in an offense that also saw Trey McBride set the single-season tight end reception record. While former Pro Bowler Sam LaPorta is expected back in the fold after missing eight games in 2025 with a herniated disc in his back, he is no threat to earn a McBride-level of volume, and St. Brown should be the biggest benefactor of an offense designed to exploit the weaknesses of opposing teams. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR6, the 26-year-old St. Brown continues to be undervalued, but he should remain one of the most reliable fantasy contributors in one of the league's most high-powered offenses for the foreseeable future.

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco finds himself in a new place for the 2026 season, and it could be exactly what he needs to get back on track as a fantasy-relevant running back in dynasty leagues. Pacheco spent his first four seasons with the Chiefs, finishing higher than RB37 just once. He was the RB15 in 2023, but injuries cost him 14 games over the last two years, and he wasn't particularly effective when healthy, either. The Chiefs used him as more of a primary running back, getting him involved on rushing and passing downs, while the Lions may use him as more of a short-yardage option to move the chains or get into the end zone. That could mean fewer touches and yards per carry, but more touchdowns and more of a clear-cut role. The new landing spot could vault Pacheco back into the top 36 fantasy running backs, making him a low-end RB3/flex on a weekly basis. As it stands, he is the RB55 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff may be 31 years old, but he continues to offer a stable quarterback option for managers in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Goff has been a top-10 fantasy quarterback in each of his last four seasons, benefitting from a strong supporting cast that features Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta (back), and Jahmyr Gibbs. He had one of the best seasons of his career last year, amassing 4,564 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions. One of the biggest factors for Goff going forward is the protection in front of him. The veteran took a career-high 38 sacks last year, and he's not mobile enough to evade defenders. Fortunately, the Lions solidified their offensive line with Cade Mays and Blake Miller, both projected to take on starting roles. With improved protection, a terrific arm, and a productive supporting cast, Goff should remain in the low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 conversation in dynasty leagues for several years to come.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023 and immediately became a high-end TE1 in fantasy, catching 86 of 120 targets for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games to finish as the overall TE1 in half-PPR scoring. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old former second-rounder (34th overall) out of Iowa took a step back in 2024 (60-726-7 line as the TE7 overall), and he played in a career-low nine games in 2025 due to a disc injury in his back that required surgery. Despite the lost year last season, LaPorta had a career-high 54.3 yards per game and 12.2 yards per catch before being shut down for the year. He also had an 81.6% catch rate on 49 targets in nine games. It's obvious that LaPorta's dynasty stock is down coming off back surgery, and although he's in Detroit's high-powered offense, there are still plenty of mouths to feed. LaPorta is expected to be healthy for training camp and the start of the 2026 regular season. With 20 touchdowns in three seasons in a high-scoring offense, savvy fantasy managers should look to buy low on LaPorta now that his value is at an all-time low. At RotoBaller, he's still ranked as the TE6 in dynasty formats.