Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond is a deep league fantasy sleeper again in Week 9

After coming through on the notion he could be a fantasy sleeper in Week 8, Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond is lined up to do so again in Week 9.

As the Detroit Lions wide receiver corps has been hit by injuries, opportunity has knocked for Kalif Raymond. In Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, spurred by receptions of 27 and 43 yards, he had three catches for 76 yards to hit on the forecast some people had for him as a fantasy football sleeper.

Over the last four games for the Lions, Raymond has 16 receptions for 234 yards. His 22 targets are good for a 16.1 target share from Jared Goff over that stretch.

With DJ Chark (ankle) on IR, Josh Reynolds seemingly picking up a new injury every week (back this week) and tight end T.J. Hockenson traded to the Vikings this week, the trusted passing game options for Goff are pretty light. Raymond has at least 75 yards in back-to-back games, and at least 9.5 full PPR fantasy points in three straight. He has also played at least 85 percent of snaps in three straight.

Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond shouldn’t be overlooked as a Week 9 fantasy sleeper

It’s not a great matchup for the Lions’ wide receivers in Week 9. The Green Bay Packers enter the week allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers (24.6 per game; Yahoo!, 0.5-point PPR), with parallel standing in receptions and yards allowed to the position.

But simply put, the Lions’ defense has been largely awful this season. If a struggling Green Bay offense is ever going to get on track, it will be this week. Goff has at least 35 pass attempts in five of seven games this season, with 34 in one of the others. Those targets have to go somewhere besides Amon-Ra St. Brown or an if-healthy D’Andre Swift, and Reynolds is trending toward being out pending Friday’s final injury report.

Six teams are on a bye in Week 9, so plenty of fantasy managers will be plumbing some depths for lineup options.

Raymond is best as a viable option in a certain segment of leagues–12 or more teams where you could start three receivers, or even start four receivers in leagues with bigger lineups. But in that circumstance 6-10 full PPR points would be just fine, and Raymond can certainly deliver that this week.