Jameson Williams had a strong showing in 2024, but there are still valid reasons for fantasy football managers to remain cautious in 2025.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams broke out for fantasy players last season, ending as the WR19 in 0.5-point PPR formats after surpassing 1,000 yards and scoring seven touchdowns for the first time. Due to a relatively modest 58 receptions, he ranked higher in standard leagues (WR10) and lower in full PPR formats (WR23), with all data through Week 17.
Even after serving a two-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, Williams still ranked second in team targets with 91. Concerns about whether he could earn volume in a crowded offense were largely put to rest, and he might have topped 100 targets if not for that suspension.
There’s definitely a clear path for Williams to do more in 2025, and he has WR1 (top-12) fantasy upside. However, examining his week-to-week performance last year reveals some red flags. Dave Ventresca of RotoBaller highlighted these while naming Williams one of his early overvalued wideouts to steer clear of in 2025.
“Williams had a breakout campaign in 2024 and set personal bests in every category. He closed out the year with 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 targets, making him the PPR WR19 overall.”
“John Morton is now Detroit’s offensive coordinator, replacing Ben Johnson, who left for the Chicago Bears. Although Williams will remain a part of the game plan, a shift in play-calling might alter his usage. While his 2024 was impressive, he thrived on 17+ yards per catch efficiency, and any role tweak could lower his fantasy ceiling.”
“There’s upside in picking Williams, but he’s currently going earlier than he should. It’s wise to skip him at this price point and aim for better value at wide receiver later in your draft.”
