The 2024 season was a huge one for Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. From OTAs all the way through he delivered, topping 1,000 receiving yards with eight total touchdowns as he became a more complete receiver in his third season.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell has taken the wheel of the Williams hype train again this year, with some strong backing from new offensive coordinator John Morton.
In fantasy football terms, through Week 17, Williams finished as the WR10, WR19 or the WR23 depending on your scoring format (standard, 0.5-PPR and full PPR respectively) last year.
So any idea he takes another step this year, and becomes more consistent, puts a top-12 (WR1) finish in play. With current ADPs in the low-end WR3/high-end WR3 range, there's some value there for those who buy into the upside.
The Jameson Williams fantasy hype train is already off the rails
Fantasy Pros rounded out some analysts to put together a fresh set of bold predictions for 2025. Lee Wehry of Fantasy Pros tapped into the aforementioned idea by predicting Williams "will finish as a WR1."
Andrew Erickson of Fantasy Pros took things to a whole other level with his bold prediction for Williams.
"Jameson Williams out-scores Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2025."
"Quietly went over 1,000 yards last year on limited volume last season – and after returning from suspension in Week 10, he ranked as the WR10 in fantasy points per game. And the breakout smoke from Detroit cannot be ignored. HC Dan Campbell and new OC John Morton have made it clear: Jamo is the guy. Meanwhile, the Sun God just had offseason knee surgery and might not be as featured in the post Ben Johnson offense, which may not be dedicated to the slot. Keep in mind that Jamo ended last season with a 21% target share – closing the target gap to St. Brown’s over the back half, minus that 18-target outlier game in Week 15. Williams is a former 12th overall pick, only 24 years old, with elite explosiveness and a clear opportunity. He has 15 career TDs – 9 of which came on plays over 40+ yards. All gas and no brakes. Giddy up.“
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Bold predictions have to be sufficiently bold to qualify as bold predictions, and Williams' target share did spike in a couple games late last season to close that particular gap on St. Brown.
The big play element Erickson referred to also invites a boom-or-bust element fantasy managers have to he cognizant of. 43 of his 91 targets last season came in five of his 15 games, and Nic Bodiford of Pro Football Focus outlined some data that reeks of unsustainability.
"Williams thrives in his featured, centerfield role ranking No. 1 overall in both yards per reception (30.9) and yards after the catch per reception (13.9) among 65 NFL wide receivers with at least 12 targets thrown 10-plus yards downfield and between the painted numbers in Weeks 1-17. His qualifying 22 targets and 14 receptions rank and/or tie for 16th. Among 65 NFL wide receivers with at least 410 receiving snaps, Williams rank(ed) 21st in YPRR (1.97), second in yards per reception (17.3) and No. 1 overall in yards after the catch per reception (8.3)."
It's one thing to predict Williams to take another step this season, or that he's an upside pick in fantasy drafts relative to his ADP. It's entirely another to predict he'll put up more fantasy points than St. Brown. If the "Sun God" is healthy, and his offseason knee surgery is not likely to be a lingering issue, that is not happening.
The peak of 2025 fantasy football draft season is fast approaching, and the hype train attached to Williams has already been driven way off the rails.
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