The 2022 season was filled with Detroit Lions players who stepped up, but these five were the most valuable.
The Lions finished this season off in style with a victory to eliminate the Green Bay Packers from the playoffs in Week 18. The Lions were eliminated from the playoffs themselves before kickoff, but beating the Packers is always nice.
Many people have quickly turned their attention to next season, trying to play general manager of the Lions and foresee the moves needed to get them over the hump. But before we look ahead, let’s look at those players who made the most impact on this team during the 2022 season.
Here are the five most valuable Lions players from this past season.
The 5 most valuable Detroit Lions for the 2022 season
Quarterback Jared Goff
No player earned more respect and confidence from the Lions’ fan base this season than Goff. While his 2021 season was average at best, Goff was among the league’s best this past season, ranking fifth in QBR (61.2). He threw for 4,438 yards (sixth in the league) and 29 touchdowns, with just seven interceptions.
Goff was in absolute control of this offense during the season. He was the leader of the top-ranked offense in the division and the fifth-best offense in the entire league, averaging nearly 27 points per game. In a year where Goff needed to prove himself in order to show he was worthy of being in the league long-term, Goff did more than that. He may have established himself as the long-term quarterback in Detroit.
Running Back Jamaal Williams
There is no denying that Goff was only as good as he was in part because of how good the run game was this season. And while many expected D’Andre Swift to be the lead back, Williams quickly took that role and didn’t look back. Williams ran the ball 262 times for 1,066 yards and a franchise-record 17 touchdowns. He was a main reason why the Lions had the fourth-best red zone offense, scoring touchdowns on 66 percent of their red zone trips.
Williams was in a contract year this season after having spent the early part of his career in Green Bay. He did more than enough to warrant Detroit re-signing him this offseason. Without Williams, you can be sure this offense would not have been nearly as efficient and proficient in the red zone. He capped off his season with a two-touchdown performance against his old team, knocking them out of the playoffs. Lions’ fans should hope to see him back next year.
Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown
Clearly the best receiver on the Lions, St. Brown has emerged now into one of the most prolific receivers in the league. Coming off a breakout rookie season, St. Brown caught 106 passes for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns this year. He was the leading receiver in the league’s eighth-ranked passing offense and Goff’s No. 1 option with 146 targets, 76 more than anyone else.
While St. Brown does not have one physical trait that jumps out at you, he may remind some of Rams receiver Cooper Kupp as someone who just always seems to get open. And as Kupp has proven, you can have this type of receiver as the best on a championship team. The Lions can hope for St. Brown to be that guy.
Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson
The second overall pick in the draft last April, Hutchinson lived up to and exceeded the hype that made the Lions draft him so high. Hutchinson set the tone off the edge, accounting for 9.5 sacks and three interceptions. He was relentless in pursuit of the quarterback, oftentimes getting his sacks on second effort. He showcased quick burst and elite hands at the line scrimmage that made him a challenge for offensive lines to handle.
Hutchinson has provided the organization with a cornerstone to build their team around. Not only is he a leader on the field with his play and communication, but he is a locker room favorite with the team, embracing the hard work culture head coach Dan Campbell wants this team to adopt. The Lions struck gold with Hutchinson.
Edge Rusher James Houston
Houston played just seven games this season after being initially cut by the team and landing back on the practice, but he made an instant impact. He had eight sacks in those seven games, providing another edge rusher to complement Hutchinson. The Lions went 5-2 in the games Houston played in, giving up only 20.7 points per game. They gave up 28.2 points per game without him.
It seems odd to say one of the most valuable players on the Lions this season was one who didn’t even play until Thanksgiving. But there is no denying the impact that Houston had on this defense. If he can maintain anywhere close to that level of play in the years to come, the Lions will be proven to have found a late-round gem.