5 former Detroit Lions who should be on your radar in 2023 fantasy football drafts

4. Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints

Williams' exit in free agency was something a lot of Lions' fans could not conceive of until it happened. He landed with the Saints, who needed a contingency plan as Alvin Kamara faced a likely suspension.

Kamara finally got a three-game ban to start the season, so there's been needed clarity there as the teeth of fantasy draft season has come. Williams is in line for the lead back role while Kamara sits out, with rookie Kendre Miller lined up to be a factor too.

With great impact as a pass catcher not very likely, with or without Kamara available, Williams will need carry volume and red zone work to have his greatest fantasy value. He obviously won't get the kind of work around the goal line he got with the Lions last year (45 carries inside the 10-yard line; with 29 as the second-most), but the Saints' investment in him means he will get work no matter who else is sharing touches.

Williams is not an exciting running back to draft onto a fantasy roster, and he will naturally regress from topping 1,000 yards and scoring 17 times on the ground last year in Detroit. And the prospect of a three-man timeshare when Kamara returns makes him even less enticing. But a share of the goal line work no matter what, and three games lined up for 15-20 touches to start the season, makes a RB4 ADP palatable.