While fantasy managers are gnashing their teeth in frustration over Jameson Williams’ lack of double-digit scoring, his value to the Detroit Lions has never been higher.
Jameson Williams’ Value to the Detroit Lions Has Never Been Higher
Last year’s career-best season ranked Williams 59th on ESPN Fantasy’s PPR Top 300. He recorded over 1,000 yards receiving on 58 receptions, seven touchdowns, and another 61 yards on 11 carries with one touchdown.
During the preseason, when asked about Williams, Coach Dan Campbell gave a glowing response , “Listen, he’s had a good spring…there’s so much versatility with him. There are so many things we can do with his routes on the outside. We can do things inside, but just with his speed, and he’s gotten so much stronger. His ability to stop, put his foot in the ground. When you can run like he can run, and now you’re beginning to see where you can stop on a dime, you talk about a hard cover. The sky’s the limit for him.”
Williams’ Lack of Fantasy Production
Fantasy managers who drafted him as one of their top picks were salivating with the expectation of another breakout year. Williams earned his 2024 fantasy managers 212.2 PPR fantasy points . Instead, this season his production suffered. Drops, near misses, and fewer targets have resulted in a total of 39.4 fantasy points. Through the first five weeks, Williams nabbed only 11 of 21 targets for 223 yards with one touchdown. In the Lions’ 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 5, Williams caught two of eight passes.
Part of the reason for Williams’ reduced production is the increased coverage he draws. Following his breakout season last year, opposing defenses recognize the deep vertical threat he poses and scheme to limit that possibility.
Jamo’s Multiple Threat Capability
However, while the points haven’t materialized in fantasy, it doesn’t mean Williams isn’t earning his huge contract extension in other ways. OC John Morton has repeatedly addressed the value of wide receivers blocking in the run game. “We’ve got wideouts that can block. They’re the best in football, and a lot of teams see a loaded box like that, they’re just throwing it. But not with our guys. It’s pretty impressive what our wideouts do. That’s the reason why we’re one of the tops in the run game, because of what they do.”
Quarterback Jared Goff echoed Morton’s enthusiasm, referencing how much it fires up the team. “Yeah. That’s cool. I mean, that’s the DNA of our team, and the DNA of the guys that they continue to bring in here are guys that do that. When you see guys like Saint and Jahmyr and David (Montgomery) and Jamo do it over and over and over again, it’s like everyone has to do it; they don’t have a choice. It’s cool. It’s part of our culture, and those guys continue to do it, and it helps, it really does. It springs some of those runs and some of those long downfield plays and gets them in the end zone.”
Williams Has Seen His Share Of Good and Bad Calls
The Lions invested a great deal of faith in Williams, trading up to acquire him 12th overall in the 2022 draft. However, an ACL injury in his first year and off-field gambling issues had fans questioning the wisdom of that move. Following his involvement in the 2023 gambling scandal that saw older team participants released, management gave him a second chance. However, despite flashes of speed and downfield mobility, Williams didn’t play much of a role in Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme in his first two years. That changed during his stellar 2024 season. Learning from that experience, the former Alabama standout went on to become one of the NFL’s leading receivers.
Nonetheless, one horrific play call from last season involving Williams stands out. Late in the postseason game against the Washington Commanders, the Lions were behind when Johnson called for Williams to throw a pass. He threw an interception, the Commanders scored, and went on to win the game 45-31.
Recently, Johnson, the Chicago Bears head coach, acknowledged his error in judgment . “I felt like within that setting, that as good as that (Commanders) offense was clicking, you know, you feel a little bit of pressure on offense to go score for score and you don’t want to fall behind by two scores against a good team like that,” Johnson said. “So, might have been a little bit more aggressive with the play calls and got away from the game plan a little bit based on how that game went.”
A Mature Veteran And Lions Role Model
Now, Williams is pairing his talent with a new level of maturity and leadership. In his fourth year, Williams is now a veteran in the receiving room. He is seen as a mentor by the young receivers who come to him with questions. Williams is grateful that now he is the one with the experience and the answers, “They’re coming to me asking what’s going on. And I got the right answers for them. So, it feels good being that guy, that role model for them.”
When asked about Williams’ contributions and growth this season, Campbell acknowledged the difficulty in getting open due to the attention he attracts from team defenses. “Yeah, well, he gets a lot of attention put his way when he’s out there…It’s not always the easiest thing if you’re a receiver.”
But Campbell paid Williams a big compliment for how he contributes in other ways, noting, “He didn’t let it affect him, and he was going to help those other guys downfield, he was going to help our runners, and he did. He showed up in a big way; he was physical in the run game. So, he’s a team guy and we appreciate that about him.”
Main Photo: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
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