By Sunday 
As NFL training camps near and fantasy draft season looms, hype is building fast — especially around the Detroit Lions. But not everyone’s buying into the Motor City momentum.
One fantasy football analyst is throwing a caution flag. And not the kind that gets picked up after review.
The Detroit Hype Train Is Real… But Maybe Too Real?
Detroit’s offense has become a trendy target in fantasy drafts. After a breakout year, Jahmyr Gibbs is creeping into the top three running backs on draft boards. Amon-Ra St. Brown is being taken as a top-5 wide receiver. And let’s not forget about Sam LaPorta, the breakout tight end who was practically stealing Travis Kelce’s thunder for parts of last season.
But according to a recent fantasy projection breakdown, the Lions might not be as reliable as we’re all hoping.
“Detroit will still be solid, but they may not repeat their red-zone efficiency or volume,” the analyst noted. “You can’t bank on last year’s script repeating exactly — especially with the offensive coaching changes.”
Coaching Shuffle Could Shift the Fantasy Outlook
Let’s not forget, the Lions are heading into 2025 without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — the architect behind that high-octane, unpredictable offense. And with a new OC and RB coach at the helm, there’s no guarantee that Gibbs sees more usage, even if fantasy managers want to manifest it into reality.
“Coaching turnover is always a wild card in fantasy,” the analyst continued. “Just ask anyone who drafted Najee Harris thinking they’d get his rookie workload again.”
Tempering Expectations Doesn’t Mean Avoiding Lions
This isn’t to say the Lions are a fantasy landmine — far from it. But the warning here is about relying too heavily on their players without accounting for potential regression.
Gibbs? Still a top talent — just maybe not worth a top-3 pick in every format.
St. Brown? PPR gold — but could see fewer targets if rookies step up or the offense slows.
LaPorta? He’ll be fine — but repeating a historic rookie tight end season isn’t easy.
“Lions fans should still be optimistic,” the analyst concluded, “but fantasy managers should spread their risk.”
Final Take: Draft Smart, Not Sentimental
If you love the Lions, by all means — draft them. But don’t bet the farm expecting another miracle run. Just because they were hot last year doesn’t mean they’ll burn as bright this year.
As always in fantasy: past results do not guarantee future touchdowns.