Team news: Detroit Lions

As rookie Jameson Williams recovers from his ACL, the team and he understands the importance of easing him back onto the field. His snaps have been limited — eight, 13, 13, and 11 in his four games, but the coaching staff seems ready to fire him up for the remainder of the season. Per head coach Dan Campbell, “We’ll get him more reps, yeah,” Campbell said Monday. “We’ll get him more reps.”

As Williams’ rookie year winds down, the expectation is that his workload will continue to increase. It would be quite the risk to plug him in here in Championship Week but he could be an interesting splash-play option in DFS in these final two weeks.

"But yeah, [Jameson Williams] and I are moving along. It’s much better than it was two weeks ago, with just understanding his speed and what he’s good at and what he likes. So yeah, we’re moving right along, and it’ll only get better from here,” Jared Goff said.

The two have only played three games together so far. Goff underthrew Williams on what potentially was a touchdown last week so the duo is still working to get on the same page. There are only three games left in the regular season as the Lions push for a playoff spot. Williams just isn't a safe play in fantasy lineups right now, especially in the playoffs.

The Lions activated first-round rookie WR Jameson Williams Saturday.

Williams will make his NFL debut Sunday against the Jaguars. Williams is returning from his ACL injury during last season's national championship game. The Lions moved up 20 spots in the draft, trading with division rival Minnesota, to select Williams at No. 12 overall. They took their time with Williams and now are ready to let him get loose on the field and get his first taste of NFL action. Williams checks in as our WR68 this week.

The Lions obviously won't have rookie WR Jameson Williams today, but as he looks to return from a torn ACL in college, he's coming soon. This week's wasn't a full-speed practice, but next week's will be. If he makes it through unscathed, there is a good chance he's activated.

Williams should slot immediately into a WR2 role opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown and provides a boost to QB Jared Goff. His fantasy ceiling will be limited by a run-first offense but could get some low-volume run while replacing the likes of Tom Kennedy and Kalif Raymond.

Jameson Williams will return to practice today for the first time since his ACL injury.

Related Players: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, Tom Kennedy

Williams still has some time until he hits a football field in a game, but it could come in December. For fantasy teams already prepared to make a playoff run, it would behoove those managers to consider throwing the rookie on to benches if he is available on your waiver wire. Kalif Raymond, who is essentially operating as the WR2, would revert back into a slot role immediately upon Williams' arrival.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters that RB D'Andre Swift did not have any setbacks and "We're hopeful we can give him a little bit more this week."

Related players: Jamaal Williams

The week before against the Dolphins, Swift played 33 snaps, but the Lions came out and said they probably needed to ease him along a little more - and we saw that last week as he played 10 snaps against the Packers. The hope for owners is Swift starts to get more work going forward, but it seems like the team will use caution with their young RB.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell says the plan is to get D'Andre Swift in the game vs. Green Bay and "see where he's at."

Related Players: Jamaal Williams

From an outside perspective, you would think that the team would like to nurse their most explosive offensive weapon instead of giving him touches to "see where he's at," but we're here for fantasy takes. If the team is unsure about the running back's health, you can likely take that as a negative when trying to project his Week 9 workload. Jamaal Williams' stock as an RB2 this week receives a positive bump.

D’Andre Swift was back in action for the first time in more than a month this past weekend. But the Detroit Lions running back wasn’t 100% while dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries.

Related players: Jamaal Williams, Craig Reynolds, Justin Jackson

And now, according to the story, head coach Dan Campbell openly regrets how much work the team gave Swift during the team’s loss against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket’s Stoney & Jansen that “he’s not back” and they should’ve spread more of Swift’s work around. Obviously this isn't great news for owners going forward as the Lions will likely reduce his workload until declared fully healthy. Be sure to monitor his practice status this week.

Trade! The Lions are sending TE T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

Related players: Brock Wright, Rashod Berry, James Mitchell, Irv Smith

Minnesota sends a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 third-round pick to Detroit for Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round pick. Smith is expected to miss 8-10 weeks with an ankle injury, so Hockenson slides right in as the Vikings TE1. Wright should now become the Lions TE1. Hockenson will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Lions’ RB D’Andre Swift is off this week’s injury report and is expected to play Sunday vs. Miami, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is listed as questionable.

Related Players: Jamaal Williams

Both Swift and St. Brown should be in fantasy lineups if they're good to go Sunday, in a great bounce back spot against a leaky Dolphins defense.