After two seasons diminished by recovery from a torn ACL and a gambling suspension, the 2024 season was going to be a big one for Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. Right off the bat, at OTAs, he was on the right track by all accounts. The question would be if he could carry it into the season.
From a fantasy football perspective, Williams was an acceptable risk/reward-type pick at his ADP (WR45-48, outside the top-100 overall). The likely week-to-week ups and downs were perfectly acceptable in a WR4 on draft day.
Williams started the season very well, with five catches (on nine targets) for 121 yards and a touchdown (with one carry for 15 yards) in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. He didn't score a touchdown in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he did get 11 targets on his way to five receptions for 79 yards with another rushing attempt for 15 yards.
That target volume was not sustainable, and it was proven with 10 targets over the next four games. Williams offset some of the target downturn over that span with big plays and two touchdowns, and he topped 75 receiving yards in four of the first five games.
2024 Fantasy Football season review: Lions WR Jameson Williams
Using 0.5-point PPR scoring, let's take a look at Williams' weekly fantasy finishes.
Week 1: WR5
Week 2: WR23
Week 3: WR114
Week 4: WR18
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: WR15
Week 7: WR104
Week 8: Suspended
Week 9: Suspended
Week 10: WR39
Week 11: WR7
Week 12: WR28
Week 13: WR52
Week 14: WR31
Week 15: WR28
Week 16: WR4
Week 17: WR9
Week 18: WR60
For the season through Week 17, the end of the regular season in most fantasy leagues, Williams finished as WR19 (WR18 by points per game). From Week 14-17, Williams was WR13 in 0.5-PPR scoring. Stretch back to Week 11, and he was WR11 from there through Week 17.
In standard scoring, Williams finished as WR10 in fantasy (through Week 17). In full PPR, as could be expected with a lower catch total (58), he finished as WR23.
While big plays were still a calling card for him, as he finished second in the league in yards per catch (17.9) with four 50-plus yard receiving touchdowns, Williams became a more complete wide receiver this season and it showed big-time. If not for his two-game performance-enhancing substance suspension, he might have finished as a top-10 fantasy wide receiver regardless of scoring format.