Predicting who will lead the Detroit Lions in receptions this season

Heading into a season where their offense should be better, who will lead the Detroit Lions in receptions in 2022?

Even with a promising finish, the Detroit Lions’ offense was among the most lackluster in the NFL last season. They were 25th in scoring (19.1 points per game), 18th in passing (211.6 yards per game), 19th in rushing (110.9 yards per game), 22nd in total offense (322.5 yards per game) and last but not least they had the second-worst third down conversion rate (34.7 percent).

With some additions (DJ Chark, Jameson Williams), quarterback Jared Goff projecting more comfort and confidence and a rising star in offensive coordinator in Ben Johnson, the Lions’ offense should be more efficient, more proficient and more fun to watch this season.

Shifting focus to the passing offense, let’s make a prediction….

Who will lead the Detroit Lions in receptions this season?

The Lions were middle of the pack in the league in pass attempts last season (593; 34.9 per game)., with the 12th-highest pass play rate (59.6 percent). Let’s assume, with only improvement to be had in third down efficiency, that raw number of pass attempts climbs some this year. Last year, 610 pass attempts would been the 10th-highest in the NFL, which translates to one more pass attempt per game than the Lions had.

With at least a little bit larger target pie for Detroit, there will also be a lot of hands in it. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end T.J. Hockenson, running back D’Andre Swift, eventually Williams, Chark, wide receiver Josh Reynolds, wide receiver Kalif Raymond….so many hands in said offensive pie that it’s worth wondering if Goff can keep them all afloat in a fantasy football light.

It would not be shocking to see St. Brown, Hockenson, Swift and Chark all get at least 50-60 catches this year, and that might be a low water expectation for the first three. But only one Lions’ pass catcher has legit 100-plus catch potential this year, and some might even say he has the potential to lead the league in catches.

So who will lead the Detroit Lions in receptions this season? There’s one obvious answer, and I’m taking the low-hanging fruit.

Amon-Ra St. Brown.