2025 Detroit Lions Fantasy Preview
Preceding Washington, head coach Dan Campbell showed how much difference one person can make in reinventing a franchise. The Lions’ 2025 offseason was a calculated effort to build on their 15-2 season and NFC No. 1 seed, despite a playoff loss to the Commanders. Camebll and GM Brad Holmes prioritized depth to address 2024’s injury-plagued defense (ranked 18th in EPA/play), while new offensive coordinator John Morton replaced Ben Johnson, bringing a less trick-play-heavy scheme (10.8% play-action rate). With $40M in cap space, Holmes made strategic signings, re-signings, and drafted seven players, focusing on the defensive line and secondary. Key losses like Carlton Davis and Za’Darius Smith were offset by health recoveries (Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill) and additions like D.J. Reed.
Jared Goff is locked in as the starter, with a 69.2% completion rate and 7.8 yards per attempt. He comes off a career-best 4,629 passing yards and a 37-touchdown season. It resulted in an overall QB9 finish. But losing Johnson is a concern. Goff should be viewed as a borderline fantasy QB1, but expect some regression.
RBs Jahmyr Gibbs (1,929 total yards, 20 TD) and David Montgomery (1,076 yards, 11 TDs) form an elite tandem. The unit’s 4.9 yards per carry (6th in NFL) thrives in Morton’s zone-heavy run game, with Gibbs’ 5.4 yards after contact driving explosiveness. The Lions are expected to stick with their successful rotation, with Gibbs having an outside shot at repeating last year’s overall RB1 finish. Montgomery is a solid RB2 who comes with a significant discount.
Amon-Ra St. Brown saw his targets and catch numbers dip, but retained top-5 value thanks to a career-best 12 touchdown grabs. With two straight overall WR3 finishes and a WR7 showing in 2022, St. Brown is one of the safest first-round bets in all of fantasy.
Jameson Williams was the subject of trade rumors but will be back as the club’s No. 2. Williams broke 1,000 yards and ranked 12th in yards after catch despite ranking just 51st in target share (18.9 percent). Second-round pick Isaiah TeSlaa will push Tim Patrick for WR3 duties. Whoever wins that job has sneaky late-round sleeper appeal.
Under Johnson, Detroit ranked third (32.2 percent) in utilizing 12 formations. However, Sam LaPorta is the real star here, ranking 6th in receiving yards (726), 3rd in deep targets (9), and 5th with 19 red-zone targets. LaPorta didn’t replicate his rookie totals, but is still an elite option who will come with a discounted price.
Fantasy Grade: A
Everything peaked for Jared Goff last year, but the loss of OC Ben Johnson complicates his chances of matching his career-best numbers. Goff ranked 6th in QBR (68.4) and 3rd in red zone attempts per game, benefiting from Detroit’s aggressive offensive scheme. While he offers minimal rushing upside, his consistency is bolstered by elite weapons like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. The Lions’ 2025 QB strength of schedule ranks 17th, suggesting a neutral but manageable slate. Despite the departure of Johnson, Goff remains a reliable weekly starter in most formats.
It was Jahmyr Gibbs, not Saquon Barkley, who led all running backs in total fantasy points. Gibbs produced 1,912 scrimmage yards and led the league with 20 total touchdowns. With David Montgomery sidelined, Gibbs feasted in Weeks 16-18, accumulating 487 scrimmage yards and scoring six touchdowns to secure countless fantasy championships. Montgomery will be back, but Gibbs scored more than 12 fantasy points in every game, giving him the highest floor of any player. That makes him, arguably, the safest bet to warrant consideration for the fantasy 1.01.
RB Montgomery, David, DET [RB2]
David Montgomery delivered a strong 2024 campaign, finishing as the RB18 in PPR formats despite missing three games due to a torn MCL. He accumulated 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 carries, complemented by 36 receptions for 341 yards, averaging 15.8 PPR points per game, which ranked 16th among running backs. Montgomery’s role as Detroit’s primary goal-line back remained secure, even with Jahmyr Gibbs’ increased involvement. The Lions’ high-powered offense, averaging 32.8 points per game, provided ample scoring opportunities. With a full recovery expected for 2025, Montgomery should continue to be a reliable RB2 option, particularly in non-PPR and half-PPR formats.
WR St. Brown, Amon-Ra, DET [WR1]
St. Brown delivered another incredible season in 2024. He was the WR3 in total and per-game scoring while also leading the NFL in red-zone receptions. However, his target share dipped to 23 percent over the final seven games. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left for Chicago, and that could be cause for concern. Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta pose significant threats to St. Brown’s target share in 2025, possibly capping upside. St. Brown is talented and has a rapport with QB Jared Goff that is undeniable, and that should be enough to keep him in the elite WR1 conversation.
WR Williams, Jameson, DET [WR2]
There were rumors that Jameson Williams was on the trade block, but returning to the Lions keeps the fourth-year speedster in the upside WR2 conversation. Williams broke out in 2024 (58 receptions, 1,001 yards, eight total TDs in 15 games). His 17.3 yards per catch and 21-percent target share (post-suspension) highlight elite efficiency, ranking 3rd in YAC per reception. Despite a crowded offense with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, new OC John Morton projects a “huge” season. Williams’ boom-or-bust nature (seven top-24 weeks) and a potential role shift under Morton make him a WR3 with WR1 upside. Draft as a top-30 wideout in 2025.
A third-round rookie out of Arkansas, TesSla is big (6-4, 214) and should have a legit chance at opening the season as Detroit’s No. 2 wideout. TesSla posted a 9.97 RAS, had zero career drops, and has inside/outside flexibility. Worth a late-round stash in deeper leagues.
In his second season, Bates finished as the No. 8 fantasy kicker. He booted 26-of-29 field goals and had a league-high 64 point after tries. Without Ben Johnson, Detroit will have a hard time matching those lofty numbers. However, Bates remains a quality fantasy option in one of the NFL’s most potent offenses.
The nature of Detroit’s offense means the defense will be challenged often. Dan Campbell’s 2024 unit made big strides, improving to the DST14 in fantasy. However, Aaron Glenn left for the Jets’ head coaching job, so it’s fair to project the Lions to drop off a bit.
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