#Project32 provides in-depth breakdowns, projections, and rankings of all 32 teams coupled with promotion of some charitable organizations (a ‘My Clause My Cleats’ charity from some of your favorite fantasy players on each team)
In support of Michigan Heroes Museum, the 2021 ‘My Cause My Cleats’ pick of Hard Knocks legend Jamaal Williams
Michigan Heroes Museum is unique in that it is the only museum devoted to the wartime experiences of men and women from the state of Michigan. The museum’s mission is to Honor, Respect, and Remember Michigan’s citizens’ personal contributions to our nations military, and space program.
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- Division: NFC North
- 2021 Finish: 3-13-1
- Divisional Record: 2-4
- 2022 Projected Finish: 7-10
- 2022 Strength of Schedule: 28th
Detroit Lions Offense
Play Caller: Dan Campbell / Ben Johnson
Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties from Anthony Lynn towards the end of last season, but it remains to be seen who will handle that responsibility in 2022. Ben Johnson was calling plays during OTA’s and training camp, but Campbell has not announced if that will continue into the season. What we do know is that this offense will play with more tempo this season, with a roster that features a top-five offensive line, a veteran quarterback, and a slew of playmakers that includes D’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown, D.J. Chark, T.J. Hockenson, and first-round draft pick Jameson Williams. This team will be a lot of fun to watch, and it would not surprise me to see them in a battle for a playoff spot late in the season.
2021 By the Numbers
- Points Scored: 325 (25th)
- Total Yards: 5,484 (22nd)
- Total Plays: 1,056 (19th)
- Yards Per Play: 5.2 (20th)
- 1st Downs: 329 (22nd), Passing 193 (19th), Rushing 104 (21st)
- Scoring Rate: 34.3% (22nd)
- Turnover Rate: 12.9% (22nd)
- Offensive Plays/Game: 62.1 (19th)
- Pace of Play: 29.3 Seconds Per Play (19th)
- Passing Ratio: 59% (11th)
- Neutral Game Script: 52% (27th)
- RPO: 43 Snaps – 23.3% Success Rate
- Motion: 431 Plays – 36.9% Success Rate
- No Huddle: 70 Plays – 44.3% Success Rate
- Play Action: 145 Plays – 42.8% Success Rate
2021 Target Distribution
WRs: 312 Targets (20th)
RBs: 129 Targets (8th)
TEs: 113 Targets (16th)
2021 Personnel Groupings
11 Personnel: 666 Plays
OVR: 63% (46% Success Rate)
Pass Rate: 68% (47% Success Rate)
Run Rate: 32% (43% Success Rate)
12 Personnel: 153 Plays
OVR: 15% (46% Success Rate)
Pass Rate: 41% (48% Success Rate)
Run Rate: 59% (45% Success Rate)
21 Personnel: 106 Plays
OVR: 10% (47% Success Rate)
Pass Rate: 40% (31% Success Rate)
Run Rate: 60% (58% Success Rate)
Offensive Line Projected Starters
LT: #68 Taylor Decker
Age: 27 HT: 6’7 WT: 320 College: OSU Draft: RD1 Pick 16
OVR PFF: 75.5 Pass: 84.0 Run: 66.8 (529 Snaps)
Contract: 3 years / $14,912,500 per year (14th at position) – Expires 2025
LG: #73 Jonah Jackson
Age: 25 HT: 6’4 WT: 311 College: Ohio State Draft: RD3 Pick 75
OVR PFF: 69.3 Pass: 56.4 Run: 76.4 (1,037 Snaps)
Contract: 2 years / $1,187,202 per year (38th at position) – Expires 2024
C: #77 Frank Ragnow
Age: 26 HT: 6’5 WT: 309 College: Arkansas Draft: RD1 Pick 20
OVR PFF: 86.7 Pass: 73.9 Run: 90.2 (223 Snaps)
Contract: 5 years / $13,500,000 per year (2nd at position) – Expires 2027
RG: #72 Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Age: 29 HT: 6’6 WT: 328 College: TCU Draft: RD5 Pick 164
OVR PFF: 68.4 Pass: 66.9 Run: 65.4 (953 Snaps)
Contract: 3 years / $9,000,000 per year (4th at position) – Expires 2025
RT: #58 Penei Sewell
Age: 21 HT: 6’5 WT: 335 College: Oregon Draft: RD1 Pick 7
OVR PFF: 77.0 Pass: 69.4 Run: 84.5 (1,039 Snaps)
Contract: 3 years / $6,024,767 per year (13th at position) – Expires 2025 – 5th year option available
“Goff has an opportunity to save his career if he can lead this team to a solid season in 2022”
QB Room
#16 Jared Goff
Age: 27 HT: 6’4 WT: 217 College: Cal Draft: RD1 Pick 1
Contract: 3 years / $33,500,000 per year (11th at position) – Expires 2025
Jared Goff seems to have become the forgotten quarterback in far too many fantasy circles. How quickly we forget that he has thrown for over 4,600 yards twice in his career and led the Rams to a Super Bowl. He was selected to two consecutive Pro Bowls after the 2017-18 seasons and the Rams were 42-20 over his last four seasons in Los Angeles. The Lions traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick, and two first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The rebuild in Detroit had officially begun and they are starting to believe in the future. Goff has an opportunity to save his career if he can lead this team to a solid season in 2022, while the front office continues to build the roster around him. I will continue to take Goff at his current ADP and reap the benefits of what should be a bounce-back year in Detroit.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Passing: 582 Attempts, 67.1% Comp Rate, 4,153 Yards (7.1 YPA), 28 Touchdowns (4.8%)
Rushing: 25 Attempts, 4.8 YPC, 121 Yards, 1 Touchdown
PROJECTIONS TEMPLATE – GET NOW!
RB Room
#32 D’Andre Swift
Age: 23 HT: 5’9 WT: 208 College: Georgia Draft: RD2 Pick
Contract: 2 years / $2,134,730 per year (31st at position) – Expires 2024
D’Andre Swift was on pace to have a solid season in 2021 before the shoulder injury. He finished with 617 yards rushing and 452 yards receiving in just 13 games. He was on pace for 806 yards rushing, 81 receptions, 591 yards receiving, and nine touchdowns. The dual-threat do-everything running back is running behind three first rounders on the offensive line that is ranked third in the NFL by Pro Football Focus heading into the 2022 season. He was second in target share (18.4%), fifth in routes run (297), fifth in yards created (869), and first in yards created per touch (4.08) in just 13 games. His ceiling is finishing as the overall RB1 in fantasy this season. I’m all in on D’Andre Swift.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 19% Target Share, 111 Targets, 88 Receptions, 663 yards (7.5 YPR), 4 Touchdowns
Rushing: 48% Rush Share, 202 Attempts, 950 Yards (4.7 YPC), 9 Touchdowns
#30 Jamaal Williams
Age: 27 HT: 6’0 WT: 224 College: BYU Draft: RD4 Pick 134
Contract: 1 years / $3,000,000 per year (22nd at position) – Expires 2023
Jamaal Williams may be the most liked man in the NFL when it comes to the fans and NFL media. His upbeat personality and motivational speeches can make you cry, make you laugh, and make you want to go to battle with him all at the same time. His veteran leadership means a lot to this team and when his number is called, he’s always ready to go. In his five seasons in the NFL, he’s never finished below 460 yards rushing and 3 total touchdowns in any given season. This year should be no different.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 4% Target Share, 23 Targets, 19 Receptions, 140 Yards (7.4 YPR), 0 Touchdowns
Rushing: 35% Rush Share, 147 Attempts, 590 Yards (4.0 YPC), 4 Touchdowns
WR Room
#14 Amon-Ra St. Brown
Age: 22 HT: 6’0 WT: 202 College: USC Draft: RD4 Pick 112
Contract: 3 years / $1,066,315 per year (151st at position) – Expires 2025
Amon-Ra St. Brown slid down draft boards in a deep wide-receiver class in 2021. The Lions would eventually grab him in the fourth round with the 112th overall pick. He was a five-star recruit out of Mater Dei High School and finished his career at USC with 178 receptions for 2,270 yards and 16 touchdowns. I think it’s safe to say that the Lions are very happy with the ROI on St. Brown. In his rookie season, he finished with 119 targets, 90 receptions, 912 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. He also carried the rock seven times for another 61 yards and a score. He finished sixth in slot snaps (488), eleventh in yards after catch (435), and seventh in contested catch rate (61.1%). He should pace the Lions again early in the season as first-round draft pick Jameson Williams recovers from a torn ACL. I will be watching this offense very closely throughout the season to see how targets are earned in the passing game.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 19% Target Share, 111 Targets, 83 Receptions, 837 Yards (10.1 YPR), 7 Touchdowns
“His metrics have steadily declined over the last two seasons as he’s struggled to create separation and win in contested catch situations”
#4 D.J. Chark
Age: 25 HT: 6’4 WT: 205 College: LSU Draft: RD2 Pick 61
Contract: 1 year / $10,000,000 per year (34th at position) – Expires 2023
D.J. Chark was happy to get out of Jacksonville after the Urban Meyer experiment blew up. He arrives in Detroit with an opportunity to revive his career. He missed 13 games in 2021 due to a fractured ankle he suffered in a Week 4 against the Bengals. His metrics have steadily declined over the last two seasons as he’s struggled to create separation and win in contested catch situations. The Lions hope he can regain his 2019 form when he had over 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. I think Chark bounces back in Detroit, but he will be the third or fourth option when Jameson Williams returns.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 16% Target Share, 93 Targets, 56 Receptions, 776 Yards (13.9 YPR), 6 Touchdowns
#9 Jameson Williams
Age: 21 HT: 6’1 WT: 180 College: Alabama Draft: RD1 Pick 12
Contract: 4 years / $4,365,448 per year (50th at position) – Expires 2026 – 5th year option available
Jameson Williams was arguably the WR1 in this draft class before tearing his ACL in the CFP Championship game. Prior to the injury Williams showed his sub-4.4 speed early and often during his final season at Alabama. In 15 games, he collected 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns. He can eat up cushion quickly and flat out fly by squared or flat-footed defenders with regularity. On the flip side, he could struggle against physical corners and at the catch point when challenged. I expect the Lions to use him as the move Z receiver that is off the line to create free releases to take advantage of his speed.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 15% Target Share, 87 Targets, 57 Receptions, 856 Yards (15.0 YPR), 6 Touchdowns
TE Room
#88 T.J. Hockenson
Age: 25 HT: 6’5 WT: 244 College: Iowa Draft: RD1 Pick 8
Contract: 2 years / $4,955,307 per year (24th at position) – Expires 2024
T.J. Hockenson will be involved early in the season while the Lions wait for Jameson Williams to get to 100%. He should be the second to third option in this offense behind Swift and St. Brown in the passing game depending on matchups. What remains to be seen, is what that role looks like once Williams works his way into game shape. If Williams is what the Lions think he is and St. Brown continues to wreak havoc in the slot, then this affects Hockenson’s ability to be a top-five TE because to do so, he needs to be a top-two option in this offense. The talent and athleticism are there for Hockenson, but where he lands in the pecking order is everything heading into the second half of the season. I’m not reaching for Hockenson, but if I can grab him at value, I’ll take my shot.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 15% Target Share, 87 Targets, 61 Receptions, 605 Yards (9.9 YPR), 5 Touchdowns
**Advanced Stats & Metrics provided by Yards Per Fantasy, Player Profiler, Sharp Football Analysis, Fantasy Pros, Team Rankings, Pro Football Focus, Over the Cap and Pro Football Reference**
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