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Will the third year be the charm for Detroit Lions wideout Jameson Williams? Fantasy footballers certainly hope so.
Williams was taken in the first round of 2022 NFL Draft with the hopes he would be the big-play pass-catcher the Lions desperately needed at the wide receiver position. He was a home-run hitter during his college years at Alabama, but he has been more of a strikeout-prone singles hitter in the pros. Williams’ growth and fantasy value has been stunted by a combination of injuries, inconsistency, growing pains, and a suspension.
So, what does Williams’ fantasy future look like heading into the 2024 NFL campaign? Here is a look at what he did last year, what he is bound to do this year, and what his fantasy value in dynasty leagues will be!
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Jameson Williams' 2023 Season Review
After a rookie campaign ruined by the torn ACL he suffered at the end of his collegiate career (one 41-yard TD catch in six games -- that was it), Williams entered his second season with a lot of promise and hope. The positive vibes were quickly dashed when he violated the NFL’s gambling policy and was suspended for six games to begin the year. The suspension was later reduced so he was able to return sooner, but his fantasy season still got off to an abysmal start.
When Williams eventually suited up, he was behind the eight ball and buried behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, rookie standout Sam LaPorta, and veteran wideouts Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond in the target line. Rookie runner Jahmyr Gibbs was getting more looks than Williams, too. Williams was barely seeing snaps and only being used in situational packages when Detroit called for quarterback Jared Goff to heave up 50-yard passes in the hopes that Williams could keep defenses honest.
Williams had his moments as the season wore on, no doubt. He flashed his playmaking skills against the Dallas Cowboys during Week 17 when he caught a 63-yard pass, his longest play of the season. Of course, due to Williams’ lack of luck, he sprained his ankle on the catch and missed the rest of the regular season due to it. He finished with 24 receptions for 354 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. In other words, another disappointing season for him and the fantasy managers who rostered him.
Jameson Williams' Fantasy Football Outlook
Williams is the clear No. 3 option in Detroit’s passing attack behind clear No. 1 WR St. Brown and top-three fantasy tight end LaPorta. While that might sound like bad news for Williams’ fantasy value, it is actually a step in the right direction. In 2023, he had Reynolds ahead of him on the target totem pole, too, but he has moved on to the receiver-starved Denver Broncos.
Williams has upward mobility in spades. He is the perfect complement to St. Brown and LaPorta. While St. Brown is making the tough third-down grabs from the slot and LaPorta is dominating the seams and the red zone with his routes, Williams will be the deep threat that opens up room underneath for the other two. And when St. Brown and/or LaPorta are being double-covered and Williams is in single coverage, the latter will have ample opportunities to make big gainers downfield.
It is not difficult to predict that 2024 will easily be the best of Williams’ short career so far. How could it not? He made one catch in his rookie year, and in his second he missed five games while being a reserve receiver for most of the season. If Williams suits up for 14 games or more, improves his route running, and matures into the explosive playmaker the Lions believed they were getting when they drafted him, he will blow his previous career highs out of the water.
What is Jameson Williams Worth in Fantasy Football?
Williams is worth 10 times more in dynasty leagues than he is in standard leagues. Sure, I can see Williams having 55 catches for 800 yards and six scores, and possibly more if he takes the jump many other NFL receivers have made during their third season in the league. He can be a WR3 or WR4 for fantasy teams this year, but his long-term fantasy value is where the fantasy money is at.
Williams can only catch so many passes when St. Brown and LaPorta are on the field. Williams will not be a 100-catch guy this season, St. Brown will. Williams will not be a 10-TD guy this season, LaPorta will. Williams will never see the targets those two will. Not even close. But his role as Detroit’s deep threat will afford him several chances per game to make big-chunk plays where he can rack up fantasy points for his managers, and hopefully this will be the year he can fully take advantage of the opportunities.
I am humbly requesting Ben Johnson to give Jameson Williams more touches next year pic.twitter.com/3ttU4N8Xbt
— Football Analysis (@FBallAnalysisYT) April 11, 2024
In 2025 and beyond, though, as Williams improves and becomes a larger part of the Lions' passing attack (or whichever team he plays for in the future), he could turn into a perennial 1,000-yard receiver who scores 10 touchdowns per season. His size/speed combo makes him difficult to cover when he runs great downfield routes, and in the coming years he will get better at catching the tough balls over the middle and along the sidelines.
Grabbing Williams now in dynasty leagues when he is on the cusp of a breakout season is better than having to trade for him once the 2024 season starts and he has a couple great games under his belt. He is a top-40 fantasy WR for the upcoming season, but he could evolve into a top-20 or even top-10 WR in the future if he stays healthy and suspension-free.
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