Fantasy Football 2021 Team Previews: Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions Fantasy Preview 2021
All ADP data is courtesy of Fantasy Pros.
** = target in drafts at this ADP
Top 120
**D’Andre Swift, RB (ADP: 35): Swift is the player to own from this team. The Lions did their best to work against their own self-interests at times last season, stubbornly forcing carries to the likes of Adrian Peterson despite having burned first-round capital on Swift, and having him be awesome. This team is in the early stages of a complete rebuild, so right now, Swift figures to be almost the entirety of this offense. He will have a full workload in Year 2, and he will contribute massively in the passing game, as this team is bereft of quality pass-catchers. Last season Swift was highly productive in the passing game, catching 80.7% of his targets and finishing with 46 receptions, 357 yards and two touchdowns on 57 targets. If this were a better offense overall, I’d be ecstatic about him, but as it stands I view Swift as a strong RB2 with an extremely high floor. If this ADP holds, he’ll be a value.
T.J. Hockenson, TE (ADP: 55): Hockenson certainly has hype. I mentioned that Detroit’s WR corps is maybe the worst in the NFL, so that has led many to peg Hockenson as the true primary target. That says more about the receiving options than it does about Hockenson, but opportunity is still king. He was productive last season, turning 101 targets into 67 catches, 723 yards and six touchdowns. That target share is about to skyrocket, because Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and Kenny Golladay are gone, as are the 216 targets they received. Hockenson was already Detroit’s No. 2 in targets behind Jones, so he could very well flirt with 80+ receptions and 900 yards this season. Drops are an issue for him, but the truth is this offense simply doesn’t really have anyone else to go to. At TE6, the price isn’t extremely high, but for all that opportunity, he’s just not a talent on the level of Travis Kelce, Darren Waller or George Kittle, so I don’t know that there’s much higher ground for him to reach. The ADP is a little steep for me.
Fantasy Relevant (121-200 ADP)
Jamaal Williams, RB (ADP: 120): Williams is in theory presenting a threat to Swift, as he has a similar skill set in terms of receiving prowess, but Swift is a first round pick. Williams was brought in for continuity when he spells Swift, and as insurance if Swift gets injured, but he will not be stealing enough work that he’s anything more than a handcuff. I think I’d draft him with Swift because the RB in this offense will be leaned on so heavily, but if it costs this ADP I’d rather wait and risk losing him.
Sleeper Class (200 & later)
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (ADP: 203): St. Brown is a fourth-round rookie WR who is the first off the board from this team. For context, he is the WR68. Things are dire for this receiving corps, and the Lions are going to be extremely bad. He wasn’t particularly prolific at USC, but he did have a knack for scoring touchdowns. It’s possible that he works his way to the front of the line here and sees a healthy-ish target share, but he’s unlikely to slide into any starting lineups. Even at No. 200 overall it seems like a reach.
Jared Goff, QB (ADP: 212): Goff, a former first overall pick, is the QB27 off the board. We’ve seen Goff go off, but those days are long gone. He’s in a new offense with no brand-name receivers, that will require him to force feed his RB and TE in the passing game. The setup is great for Swift and Hockenson’s fantasy value, but Goff’s has appropriately plummeted. He’s worth a pick in two-QB leagues simply because he is a starter, but I couldn’t have less interest in him in 2021.
Breshad Perriman, WR (ADP: 258): Perriman is the de facto No. 1 for the Lions, and his time has passed. He had a brief moment of optimism in 2019 when he ascended the Bucs’ depth chart due to myriad injuries and did well, but that good will died last year with the Jets. He’s a boom-or-bust guy at best, and it’s gonna be a ton of bust in this offense.
Tyrell Williams, WR (ADP: 300): Williams has been explosive in years past, but he can’t stay healthy. Were Williams to stay on the field, he’d be the best bet of any of these receivers to carry a semblance of fantasy worth, but I’m not betting on him, nor do I trust Goff to support anybody beyond Hockenson.
Defense/Special Teams (ADP: 348)
They’re the 30th D/ST off the board for a reason.