Should I Pickup And Stash Jameson Williams? Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook

With the 12th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected wide receiver Jameson Williams out of Alabama. Williams was the fourth receiver off the board but very well could have been the first had he not suffered a torn ACL in the National Championship game just three months prior.

Williams is yet to make his NFL debut, but was designated to return from Injured Reserve earlier this week and practiced with the team ahead of its Thanksgiving Day contest. With only six games remaining on the Lions' schedule, it's fair to question just how much of an impact Williams can make this season.

Is it worth picking up and stashing Williams for the fantasy playoffs?

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When Will Jameson Williams Be Activated?

Although Williams was designated to return from IR and did participate in drills throughout the week, he was not activated for Thursday's matchup against the Buffalo Bills. It appears, however, that the rookie is feeling good and trending in the right direction for Week 13.

The #Lions wouldn't have opened the practice window for Jameson Williams if he wasn't full speed. He did everything with the team this week and has been going top speed in his rehab drills. The rookie has been in all the meetings and mentally is ready. It's coming. https://t.co/hphm7jaGG1

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2022

It will be important to see if Williams can practice in full next week. Assuming he does, it is likely he makes his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday.

How Talented Is Jameson Williams?

If Williams is a free agent in your fantasy football league, you may be wondering whether or not it's worth it to add an unproven rookie to your roster for the playoff stretch. To make this decision, it's important to know what his ceiling could be.

For starters, the Alabama product has a game-breaking speed.

The fastest player this season is Kenneth Walker, clocked at 22.1 mph. Last year, Jameson Williams was clocked at 23 mph

Jamo could become the fastest man in the NFL when he makes his NFL debut, and the Lions can't wait. "He’s just got so much speed, man" https://t.co/5fjtT2LoCa

— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) November 21, 2022

Because of this speed, he has been compared to vertical threats Will Fuller and Marquise Brown.

Additionally, Williams' skills as a pass-catcher are evidenced in his collegiate statistics. As a junior in 2021, Williams finished fifth in the nation in receiving yards and tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns with 15.

The fact that he was selected with such high draft capital despite a serious knee injury demonstrates how obvious his massive upside is.

Is Jameson Williams Worth Picking Up Ahead Of Week 13?

It's certainly possible that Williams plays on a limited snap count when he first returns to the field. Still, he has an excellent opportunity to make an immediate impact. Detroit's remaining schedule is enticing from a fantasy perspective, with plus matchups against the Jaguars, Vikings, and Panthers coming in the next four weeks.

The Lions' offense is also surging at the right time. The team has averaged 29 points per game over the past three weeks and just went toe to toe with the Bills on Thanksgiving Day.

Amon-Ra St. Brown has been the clear-cut WR1 for the Lions this year, but Williams could easily become quarterback Jared Goff's second-favorite target. D.J. Chark and Josh Reynolds have posted solid performances this season but have struggled to stay healthy. Goff, who ranks top-10 in deep ball attempts, is sure to enjoy taking some shots to Williams down the field.

If you have an available IR spot, it's a no-brainer to pickup and stash Williams this week, but even if not, his potential role in what has been a high-scoring offense makes him worth adding to your bench. His schedule in the fantasy playoffs further emphasizes this.

Heading into Week 13, Williams should be rostered in just about every league before he makes his official NFL debut.

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