With training camp about to get underway, we will look at some of the training camp battles, questions, early fantasy rankings, and interesting numbers to look at over the next few weeks.

QB: It’s safe to say QB Jared Goff will not be drafted as a QB1 in many leagues this season. The rankings I’ve seen usually have him in the 25 to 28 range so he is a borderline pick even in leagues with two quarterbacks or a superflex. I don’t play in those type of leagues so Goff won’t be on my radar. His job security is not in question which maybe gives him some value in best ball leagues. The Lions will give him every chance to salvage his career after the Rams gave up on him. If it doesn’t look like it will work out, the Lions can draft someone in 2022. QB Tim Boyle is the backup and I am curious to see Boyle in the preseason as some say he has potential, but he is mostly an unknown. Expectations for Goff will not be high, especially considering this is such a weak group of wide receivers on this roster. Last year with the Rams Goff had 3,952 yards, 20 TDs and 13 INT and those numbers are way down from his best season (2018) when he had 4688 yards and 32 TDs. His yardage held up in 2019 (4638) but his TDs dropped to 22, followed by his disappointing 2020 season. He did have 4 rushing TD last year but that was probably a bit of a fluke as he is not a threat with his legs.

RB: There is nothing new to report on free agent RB Todd Gurley after the Lions showed some interest in him last month. Lots of veteran backs on the market and with camps starting soon we might be some movement. You figure the Rams will be interesting in bringing a veteran in. The Lions don’t necessarily need to add a veteran but there doesn’t look to be much depth behind the one two punch of RB D’Andre Swift and RB Jamaal Williams. I think the market has corrected itself on Swift after OC Anthony Lynn did an interview a while back pumping up Williams. As I said last month, Swift is the guy you want. Best case, he becomes a poor man’s Alvin Kamara. I’m seeing him ranked in the 14 to 18 range so he is a solid RB2, with extra value in PPR formats. You won’t see him getting 25 touches per game, but not many backs do. Yes, this will be a committee approach, but Swift was brought along slowly last year and only averaged 12.3 touches per game. That number will be higher in 2021. I saw a note that Swift scored on 8 of his 17 carries inside the 10 yard line, so even though he is a smaller back he has a nose for the end zone. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and caught 46 passes on 57 targets. Williams will be the other guy in the two man committee and he can do a little bit of everything. Rookie RB Jermar Jefferson figures to get plenty of playing time in the preseason to prove himself as a 7^th round pick.

WR/TE: Let’s start with TE TJ Hockenson. The experts have him ranked highly at tight end, usually around 5 give or take. He’s a tier below Kelce/Waller/Kittle, but he should live up to his ranking. He figures to get plenty of targets as Goff’s top option. As for the wide receivers, I was looking at various cheatsheets and you have to go way down the list to even find a Lion. WR Tyrell Williams and WR Breshad Perriman eventually appear in the 60s which means they will be undrafted in most leagues. My gut tells me Williams has more upside than Perriman, if you want to take a flier on one of them. Willaims had a 1000+ yard season, albeit back in 2016. Meanwhile, the Lions will be the 5^th team that Perriman has played for. Rookie WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is a guy to watch in dynasty leagues as he could develop into a reliable slot receiver. If he impresses in the preseason he could make an impact sooner rather than later. WR Quintez Cephus is a wild card. In theory he could overtake Williams and/or Perriman, but I wouldn’t bet on that.

K/DST: Not much of a comparison between PK Randy Bullock and the guy he is replacing (Matt Prater) when it comes to 50+ yard field goals. Bullock’s career from that distance, he is 12 of 25, compared to 59 of 79 for Prater. Without that long distance upside and with an offense likely to generate fewer scoring chances, avoid Bullock. You won’t want to draft the Lions defense either. It would be almost impossible for them to be as bad as they were last year, but they are a long way from being good. The scheme is changing to more of a 3-4 look, so for IDP leagues, Trey Flowers and Romeo Okwara figure to be the top pass rushers, and they might still be listed as defensive ends even though they now project to be outside linebackers. LB Jamie Collins will have IDP value as a do it all inside linebacker.

The first preseason game is set for Friday August 13 against the Bills. In my next report I will have observations from that game along with all other news coming out of training camp. The Lions have announced their schedule of practices that will be open to fans but I think I am going to skip it this season.

End.