2026 Team Outlook: Detroit Lions
WR Jameson Williams, DET - Not Draft Worthy
Williams barely factored into Ohio State's passing game across his freshman and sophomore seasons, totaling just 15 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns before transferring to Alabama. The move paid off immediately — he erupted for 79 catches, 1,572 yards, and 15 touchdowns, including four explosive performances over a five-game stretch (10/160/1, 6/158/3, 8/190/3, and 7/184/2). From Weeks 10 through 13, he averaged a staggering 25.0 yards per catch, hauling in
23 receptions for 575 yards and eight scores. His momentum was then cut short by a torn ACL in his left knee in early January 2022. The appeal of Williams as a big-play weapon is easy to see. He has the speed to blow past deep coverage and the ability to turn short throws into long touchdowns. His areas needing development were his release off the line and his effectiveness in the short and intermediate portions of the route tree. William came into the league with reliable hands but needed to add strength, and it's worth noting that two of the top five receivers in the 2022 draft ahead of him had played alongside him at Ohio State. His rookie season amounted to no fantasy value. Detroit kept him on the field for just 78 snaps, and he caught one pass for 41 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. A gambling-related suspension wiped out the first four games of 2023, and Williams never fully got rolling after returning. Across 12 games, he caught 24 of 42 targets for 354 yards and two receiving touchdowns, adding three carries for 29 yards and a rushing score. Detroit gave him only 28 touches over his first nine games back (218 combined yards with three touchdowns), followed by 17 catches for 286 combined yards with two touchdowns on 25 targets over his final six games. 2024 was the breakout his talent had long promised. Williams averaged 17.3 yards per catch, racking up 17 receptions of 20-plus yards — six of which went for 40 or more. He set career highs across the board with 58 catches, 1,001 yards, and eight touchdowns, though a PED suspension cost him two games. His four best fantasy outings (24.40, 22.60, 26.00, and 24.70 points) included three games topping 100 yards (5/134/1, 4/126/1, and 5/150/1), and after Week 10, Williams posted a floor of at least 9.40 fantasy points in each of his final nine appearances.
Williams was a frustrating fantasy ride over his first five games in 2025 due to only one outing (2/108/1) being fantasy-relevant. Over this span, he caught 11 of his 21 targets for 223 yards and one score. Other than two no-catch games in Week 7 and Week 12, the Lions got him rolling in his other 10 matchups (54/905/6 on 76 targets), leading to him averaging 18.05 PPR fantasy points. Williams jumped to 10th in PPR scoring (220.70) for the year, with three winning days (6/119/1, 7/144/1, and 7/134/1). Despite his success, he had five targets or fewer in eight starts, leading to him having another gear to his ceiling. Fantasy Outlook: The boom/bust outputs of Williams have a much better feel as WR3, as game managers will be tempted to sit him after a couple of poor games. His ADP (50) in June in the National Fantasy Football Championship prices him as a WR27, which would require about 180.00 fantasy points to reach par. I see value backed in his draft value in 2026, and Williams has beaten that threshold in back-to-back seasons. Next step: 70 catches for 1,100 yards and eight scores.
RB Isiah Pacheco, DET - Fantasy Handcuff
Pacheco saw limited action during the first half of 2022, managing 210 combined yards, one touchdown, and 13 catches on 47 touches. His best single-game output came in Week 1 (12/62/1). Kansas City leaned on him more heavily as an early-down runner over the final 12 games, where he carried 163 times for 830 yards and five touchdowns while adding 16 catches for 182 yards. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 12.27 fantasy points per game in PPR formats over that stretch, but Pacheco never topped 16.50 points in any individual outing. He added more receiving value in 2023, catching 56 passes for 304 yards and two scores, but his yards per reception (5.4) graded poorly. Across 18 games, including the playoffs, Pacheco averaged 19.0 touches and 15.73 fantasy points per game in PPR formats. He cracked 20.00 points four times (24.80, 25.90, 21.30, and 29.50) and missed three games with shoulder, quad, and concussion injuries. The postseason was his best stretch. Kansas City fed him 23.3 touches per game, resulting in 373 combined yards, 12 catches, and three touchdowns. His 2024 season began promisingly (189 combined yards, a touchdown, and seven catches on 41 touches through two games), good for 31.90 PPR fantasy points. A broken leg in Week 2 then cost
Pacheco nine games, and he never fully regained his form upon returning. Over his final eight appearances, the Chiefs gave him 62 carries, resulting in 212 rushing yards (3.4 yards per carry), and added only eight catches for 42 yards, leading Kansas City to scale back his role as the season wound down. Last year, Pacheco gained 563 combined yards with two touchdowns and 19 catches on 137 touches. He never scored over 13.50 fantasy points in any game. A right knee injury cost him four games, and Kansas City rested him in Week 18. He gained only 3.9 yards per carry and 5.3 yards per catch. Fantasy Outlook: I’m not a fan of Pacheco as a fantasy running back, and he could be closer to a season-ending injury than to delivering RB3 stats. In the high-stakes market (NFFC ADP – 148), drafters have priced him as a backend RB4 in PPR formats in late June. I expect the Lions to be searching for a better backup running back over the summer.
WR Isaac TeSlaa, DET - Sleeper (undervalued)
TeSlaa put up modest numbers across his final two seasons at Arkansas (34 catches for 351 yards and two touchdowns on 67 targets in 2023), followed by 28 receptions for 545 yards and three scores on just 36 targets in 2024. At 6'4" and 216 pounds with a 4.43 40-yard dash, the physical tools are appealing. His developmental concerns lie in his route running, which still lags behind his athletic profile. TeSlaa has the ability to win quickly against tight press coverage off the line, an area that will need meaningful improvement before he can be trusted as a consistent contributor at the next level. TeSlaa was a late deep sleeper mover last draft season, but Detroit only had him on the field for 39.7% of their snaps. Half of his scouting report came true as Jared Goff was able to hook up with him for six touchdowns. His rookie season ended with 16 catches for 239 yards on 27 targets, and he scored on 37.5% of his receptions. From Week 1 to
Week 12, TeSlaa only had four catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. He offered flex value in four (2/35/1, 2/20/1, 4/52/1, and 3/49/1) of his last six contests despite only seeing 18 targets. Fantasy Outlook: The Lions' third and fourth wideouts combined for 40 catches last year, in a year when TE Sam LaPorta missed eight games. TeSlaa will be a scoring factor in the red zone, with a chance to double his catches and receiving yards in 2026. His ADP (161) in the high- stakes market in June ranks 65th among wide receivers drafted in PPR formats. Potential tease player who may need a Detroit receiving injury to become a trusted flex play. His winning path starts with a rise to five to six targets a game.
WR Greg Dortch, DET - Low Potential
Dortch was a productive college receiver across two seasons at Wake Forest, catching 142 of 204 targets for 1,829 yards and 17 touchdowns, with his best year coming in 2018 (89 catches, 1,098 yards, and eight scores). At 5'7" and 175 pounds, he's an undersized player for the position. He carved out a useful role in Arizona in 2022, stepping in as an injury cover for Rondale Moore and delivering three solid outings to open the year (7/63, 4/55/1, and 9/80). The Cardinals largely ignored him over the following seven weeks, with just five catches for 23 yards and a score on six targets. Dortch resurfaced with two strong late-season performances (9/103 and 10/123). Arizona scaled his role back to WR4 usage in 2023, where he finished with 24 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns on 41 targets, but he offered starting flex value in four individual games (6/76, 3/27/1, 2/45/1, and 7/82). His opportunity nudged up to a WR3 role in 2024 with 37 catches for 342 yards and three scores on 50 targets, but Dortch only cracked double-digit fantasy points twice all year (6/47 and 4/47/2). The
Cardinals led the NFL in pass attempts (649) and completions (427) last year. Unfortunately, he only produced two winning games (6/66/1 and 6/53/1). Dortch only had 17 catches for 87 yards and one touchdown on 18 targets across his other 10 matchups. His season ended in Week 13 due to a chest injury. Fantasy Outlook: Dortch is a matchup player for the Lions' offense when defenses overlook him. He can move the chains, with volume upside at times, but his role and targets will be minimal in most games in 2026.
