Fantasy Football Guide 2021: NFC sleepers, targets, busts, strategies

Detroit Lions Fantasy Football Guide

I’m sorry, I can’t find a reason to draft Jared Goff in any format. The only upside he seems to present is volume, which can be found elsewhere.

D’Andre Swift is a complicated fellow. I love his talent and think if given a workhorse role, he can be a top-five running back in fantasy and in the league. It helps to have a great, young offensive line, too. New offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn has praised Swift and his three-down potential throughout the offseason. Looking at Lynn’s history with running backs, his main backs have typically averaged in between four and nine targets per game. Swift averaged 3.6 last season.

I just can’t see Lynn and Dan Campbell tossing Swift out as a receiving back when he’s clearly capabale of being one. I think Jamaal Williams was simply brought in for depth and he won’t have as big of a role. However, if Williams does own third downs, Swift’s value plummets to flex consideration. I’d be content with him as my RB2 and ecstatic as my RB3.

I’m using most of this page to talk about  Swift and T.J. Hockenson because the wide receivers here are not good. Maybe Amon-Ra St. Brown has dynasty value? On the other hand, I’m buying every share of Hockenson I can. He’s typically going as TE4-TE6 in drafts. After reaching 100 targets last season, Hockenson gets a quarterback who has targeted tight ends 23% and 25% of the time in each of the last two years, respectively.

Not only has the new duo been reportedly clicking in camp, but Hockenson has a clear path to be Detroit’s best receiver. Every sign indicates a career year for Hockenson, though I don’t expect him to be a solidified elite tight end until after the 2022 season. Hockenson is my absolute favorite player to target in every draft. I can spend all day talking about him.