DETROIT LIONS (5-11)
New faces: GM Brad Holmes, coach Dan Campbell, QB Jared Goff, RB Jamaal Williams, WR Tyrell Williams, OT Penei Sewell (No. 7 overall draft pick), DT Michael Brockers.
Key losses: QB Matthew Stafford, RBs Kerryon Johnson, WRs Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola, DT Danny Shelton, CB Desmond Trufant, K Matt Prater, returner Jamal Agnew.
Strengths: Run game and TE T.J. Hockenson. RB D’Andre Swift, coming off a solid rookie season, and Jamaal Williams, a former Green Bay Packer, will run behind a relatively strong line led by LT Taylor Decker and Pro Bowl C Frank Ragnow. Hockenson, drafted No. 8 overall in 2019, earned Pro Bowl recognition last season and is perhaps the team’s best player.
Weaknesses: Defense and receivers. The Lions allowed 519 points and 6,716 yards last season, breaking team records set by their 2008 winless team, and the defense does not seem better. The Lions let Golladay, Jones and Amendola leave in free agency and simply didn’t invest much to replace them.
Camp Development: Even though Detroit is desperate for help at receiver, the team’s new leadership sent a message when veterans Breshad Perriman and Geronimo Allison were let go for a lack of production in the preseason. The Lions also didn’t seem to like their replacements for K Matt Prater, releasing Randy Bullock and Zane Gonzalez.
Fantasy Player To Watch: Hockenson will be Goff’s best option in the passing game and will probably have a lot of passes thrown his way each game. The third-year pro is expected to surpass the 67 receptions, 723 yards receiving and six touchdowns he had last season.
FanDuel Says: Win Super Bowl: 180-1. Over/under wins: 5.
Expectations: A fourth straight double-digit loss season looks likely. Holmes and Campbell will need more than a year to turn around a team that lost a lot under former general manager Bob Quinn and ex-coach Matt Patricia. Detroit’s defense, which was among the worst in NFL history last year, does not appear to be much improved. Offensively, a potentially potent running game may get stymied by defenses that don’t have to respect Goff’s ability to connect with lackluster receivers down the field.
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