With the Fourth of July now in the rearview mirror, some may it's officially fantasy football season for 2023. Of course a chunk of people pay attention to NFL developments with an eye on fantasy year-round.
The Detroit Lions should have a good offense again this year, and thus multiple fantasy-relevant players on the radar of managers as draft season ramps up now.
So let's take a look at the current ADP (Average Draft Position), as of July 6, using ESPN (full PPR and Yahoo! (0.5-point PPR) for the draftable Lions players (h/t to Fantasy Pros).
Detroit Lions fantasy football ADP checkup--July 6
QB Jared Goff: ESPN-QB16, No.98 overall; Yahoo!-same
Goff was a top-10 fantasy quarterback last year, but in QB2 range by ADP is right where he belongs. He is an ideal option for best ball leagues. Otherwise he's a QB2/matchup play/bye week fill-in, best-used at home and/or lined up for a good matchup in the bye week of your starter in a one-quarterback leagues.
RB David Montgomery: ESPN-RB24, No. 82 overall; Yahoo!: RB27, No. 79 overall
RB Jahmyr Gibbs: ESPN-RB13, No. 38 overall; Yahoo!: RB15, No. 36 overall
Montgomery has been a bit of a fantasy football study since signing with the Lions. It was easy to be bullish on him as the Lions' new lead back, even if would've taken a second-round pick to get him. Then his stock fell with the drafting of Gibbs, and now he looks like a steal in RB3 range as a seventh-round pick in 12-team leagues.
As for Gibbs, there are plenty of analysts out there who buy into the full upside for him this year while others aren't there yet. Just outside the top-12 running backs and in the late-third/early-fourth round, he'll be an enticing pick for those who go wide receiver-heavy early in drafts.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: ESPN-WR8, No 13 overall; Yahoo!: WR9, No. 16 overall
WR Jameson Williams: ESPN-WR49, No. 102 overall; Yahoo!-WR49, No, 114 overall
WR Marvin Jones: ESPN-WR93, No. 219 overall: Yahoo!: WR96, No. 252 overall
WR Josh Reynolds: ESPN-WR105, No. 250 overall; Yahoo!: WR103, No. 281 overall
WR Kalif Raymond: ESPN-WR129, No. 306 overall: Yahoo!: Not in top-123 wide receivers
The star here is of course St. Brown, who's worthy of being drafted a top-10 receiver regardless of scoring format. His massive target share is not going away, and he mixes a high floor and a nice ceiling very nicely.
Lots of fantasy managers will just stay away from Williams, and look to add him off the waiver wire when he's nearing his Week 7 return after a gambling suspension. But by broader ADP, he's going off the board as a WR5, a top-50 wide receiver and a ninth or 10th-round pick in 12-team leagues.
Jones could fall into some fantasy value over the first six games this season, while Williams serves his suspension. But it'll likely be hit and miss, and he'll have to have a game or two of noticeable production before anyone looks to add him off the waiver wire. His draftability is tied to league/roster size.
Reynolds will be worth watching going into the season, to see who gets snaps and targets in Williams' absence. But he's not draftable, outside of leagues with a massive amount of teams or more roster spots than are probably necessary.
Raymond is a player to have an eye on, with a boost in leagues that count return yardage due to his prowess as a punt returner. But in terms of ADP, he's way off the radar right now.
TE Sam LaPorta: ESPN-TE19, No. 160 overall, TE20, No. 165 overall
The history of rookie tight ends knocks down LaPorta's fantasy stock automatically. But he does have opportunity in front of him, and there's definite sleeper potential based on that. Such as drafting a second tight end is palatable, the Lions' rookie is on the radar. Having him as your only tight end coming out of a draft is risky.