Financial debates aside, Goff’s recent extension means
he will remain the captain of the Detroit Lions for the foreseeable
future. Even if his stats or play on the field don’t pop
off the page, his command of the offense, cool demeanor, and SoCal
smile has endeared him to the blue-collar blood of Detroit. In
leading the Lions to an absolutely magical playoff run last year,
Goff had one of the best statistical seasons of his career. Feeding
off a creative play-action based scheme, and balanced attack,
Goff finished 2nd in the NFL in completions and yardage.
By some miracle, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returns, as
do a large percentage of the starting offense. Continuity is a
huge advantage in the NFL, as the offense can evolve, especially
as young keystone players like Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs,
and Sam LaPorta continue to develop. With a top-5 offensive line
and a versatile set of skill position players, there is no reason
Goff can’t continue to hover around the top-10 as he’s done now
in two consecutive years. A tougher schedule, a shallow receiver
depth chart, and zero rushing upside will leave little room for
Goff to grow his fantasy numbers, but he remains an ideal target
for owners who wait to draft their starter, or as an insurance
back-up to pair with a risky upside starter (Richardson, a rookie).
If lightning could run, it would wear a Hawaiian blue #26 jersey.
Detroit certainly raised some eyebrows when they made Gibbs the
12th overall pick in the 2023 draft, but instead eyeballs popped,
as the rookie rolled up 11 touchdowns and 1,261 total yards on
just 234 touches. Despite splitting the backfield with David Montgomery
and not scoring his first NFL touchdown until Week 7, Gibbs often
looked like played with his speed setting turned up, as he finished
as a strong RB1 in both standard and PPR leagues. OC Ben Johnson
deployed him all over the offense, using him on sweeps, screens,
inside gaps, and wheel routes. His 52 receptions were good for
9th among backs, and this is the area I expect the most growth.
Montgomery’s usage at the goal line likely limits his touchdown
upside, but the offensive coaches have already gone on record
about their desire to make Gibbs a bigger part of the passing
game. Look for the Lions to deploy their backs in a similar rotation
this season, but if Gibbs can carve out an additional 20-25 touches,
he’s got a chance to crack the top-5.
If Montgomery and Gibbs were one player they would have put up one
of the best fantasy seasons of all time as they combined for over
2,400 total yards and 24 touchdowns. While Gibbs was the chef's
knife slicing and dicing from all angles, Montgomery was the meat
tenderizer, churning out the tough yards, plowing into the endzone,
and setting up the play-action. Montgomery was a free agent hit,
as he teamed with Gibbs to give Detroit a reliable, productive veteran
who could salt games away in the 4th quarter, or help grind up opposing
defenses. His 13 touchdowns were easily a career high, and thanks
to an elite offensive line, his 4.6 yards-per-carry was also a career
best. With the offensive coaching staff intact, and no physical
red flags, look for more of the same for Montgomery. With Gibbs
getting most of the hype, Montgomery figures to be a solid, overlooked
RB2 in all formats.
With a monster extension this offseason, St. Brown has officially
transitioned from cute underdog story into bonafide superstar.
His 2023 line of 119-1515-10 shattered his previous career highs
as he led Detroit on a deep playoff run. The heartbeat of this
team, “Sun God” not only produced elite numbers in
every measurable metric, but also outside the box score. His toughness,
work ethic, and leadership exemplify what this Lion team wants
to be about. He has been able to dominate the short and intermediate
areas with a lethal combination of quickness and route running.
His average depth of target (7.8) was lowest among the top 20
targeted receivers, but made up for the lack of downfield plays
by being 2nd in the NFL in yards after the catch (668). With 21
career receiving touchdowns, St. Brown has a nose for the endzone,
and as the continued alpha in this creative, versatile offense,
there is no reason to think he can’t continue to produce
as a slam dunk WR1 in all formats.
With just 25 career receptions, the former 1st rounder hasn’t
exactly been much of a fantasy asset thus far, but that is poised
to change in 2024. Not eligible to play until Week 5 last season
because of a gambling suspension, Williams was scarcely deployed
from then on. Not only did he join a team on a roll, but there
were rumblings that Williams wasn’t mentally prepared to
contribute more than a handful of specially designed plays. Those
plays were typically simple bombs (unlike St. Brown his ADOT was
15.8) or runs. When he did touch the ball, it quickly became obvious
why he was the 12th overall selection, as his straight-line speed
is absolutely lethal. He popped off the screen with two long touchdowns
on just three touches in the NFC title game, and has set the stage
for a career year.
After heavy criticism from the coaching staff early in his career,
he’s had glowing reviews about his work ethic and dedication
this off-season. Another year in the offense should open up more
opportunities, and with little on the receiver depth chart behind
him, Williams should easily surpass the 24 receptions from a year
ago. The issue remains that his main role is one of vertical threat,
as St. Brown, LaPorta, and Gibbs will soak up all of the short
to intermediate routes. Barring a seismic shift in deployment,
Williams will likely slot in as a boom/bust WR3 for fantasy purposes.
There are solid rookie seasons, and then there are the historic
ones former Hawkeye Sam LaPorta put up last season. He wasn’t
only good for a rookie, he was the No.1 scoring fantasy tight
end in any format imaginable. His 86-889-10 line on 120 targets
put him in rarefied air in NFL history. LaPorta was thrust into
an early season role as a receiver with the suspension to Jameson
Williams, and continued to be the dance partner to St. Brown as
the season continued. Not only did he also provide elite blocking,
but was able to pile up 21 receptions, 178 yards and a score in
the playoffs with a comically large brace on an injured knee.
His historic start has already made him one of the best at his
position, and with continuity in scheme and personnel, there is
every reason to make LaPorta one of the first tight ends off the
board.
