My Biggest Bold Prediction for the 2026 Detroit Lions
· Yahoo Sports
Every NFL season produces at least one prediction that seems outrageous in July but looks obvious by January.
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Here’s mine for the 2026 Detroit Lions:
Jameson Williams will lead the Lions in receiving yards, finishing ahead of Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Yes, you read that correctly.
The player many still view as Detroit’s home run threat is about to become its No. 1 producer.
This Isn’t a Knock on Amon-Ra St. Brown
Before anyone overreacts, let’s get one thing straight.
Amon-Ra St. Brown remains one of the best wide receivers in football.
He has established himself as Jared Goff’s security blanket, one of the NFL’s elite route runners, and the emotional heartbeat of Detroit’s offense. His consistency has been remarkable, posting another outstanding season in 2025 with 117 receptions for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns.
There’s every reason to believe he’ll once again eclipse the 100-catch mark.
But leading the team in receptions and leading the team in receiving yards aren’t always the same thing.
That’s where Jameson Williams enters the conversation.
Jameson Williams Is Ready for Another Leap
Williams finally showed Lions fans exactly why Brad Holmes traded up to draft him.
In 2025, he hauled in 65 receptions for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging an explosive 17.2 yards per catch.
Those numbers only scratch the surface.
For the first time in his NFL career, Williams looked comfortable running the entire route tree instead of being viewed primarily as a vertical threat. His chemistry with Jared Goff improved dramatically, and his ability to create yards after the catch became a much bigger part of Detroit’s offense.
Now comes the scary part.
He’s still improving.
Defenses Can’t Double Everyone
One of the biggest reasons I believe Williams will explode is because opposing defenses simply don’t have enough answers.
If defenses roll coverage toward St. Brown, Williams gets favorable one-on-one matchups outside.
If they dedicate extra attention to Williams’ speed, St. Brown will continue to dominate the middle of the field.
Then there’s Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and the rest of Detroit’s offensive weapons demanding attention.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has inherited one of the league’s most talented skill position groups, and Williams may be the biggest beneficiary.
There simply aren’t many secondaries capable of matching his speed without sacrificing help somewhere else.
Explosive Plays Change Everything
This prediction isn’t based on Williams catching significantly more passes than St. Brown.
It’s based on what happens after he catches them.
St. Brown thrives by moving the chains, piling up first downs, and dominating underneath coverage.
Williams changes games with a single play.
A 65-yard touchdown counts the same as six short completions on the stat sheet.
If Williams continues averaging anywhere near 17 yards per reception while increasing his target share, he won’t need 120 catches to finish with the most receiving yards on the roster.
He simply needs a few more opportunities each game.
The Lions Have Been Building Toward This
Detroit didn’t trade up for Jameson Williams just to make him a complementary receiver.
They envisioned a player capable of becoming one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
After watching his growth over the past year, it feels like everything is finally coming together.
His confidence is higher.
His route running has improved.
His connection with Goff continues to grow.
Most importantly, the game appears to have slowed down for him.
That’s often when great players become stars.
The Bottom Line
Will Amon-Ra St. Brown still be one of the NFL’s premier receivers?
Absolutely.
Will he still be the engine that makes Detroit’s passing game go?
Without question.
But if Jameson Williams stays healthy for an entire season, I believe he’ll produce the biggest statistical year of his career and finish as the Lions’ receiving yardage leader.
It’s a bold prediction.
Then again, every breakout season begins with someone willing to make one.