Fantasy Football Sleepers, Busts & Predictions: 2026 Detroit Lions

When the Lions fell to the 49ers 34-31 in the NFC Championship at the end of the 2023 season in heartbreaking fashion, head coach Dan Campbell addressed the team and told them that might have been their only shot. He didn't say it was their only shot, or that he believed it was their only shot, but that it does happen that teams think they have a window when it turns out all they had was a clogged vent. Two years later, it's looking a little like he might have been right on. The 2024 Lions went 15-2 and claimed the 1 seed in the NFC, but they got blown out by the Commanders in their lone playoff game. Last year, they fell further, going 9-8 and actually finishing last in the NFC North. Now, Jared Goff turns 32 in October. The offensive line has taken a step back. The secondary was the team's weak spot before everything happened with Terrion Arnold. As of right now, the Lions are still the favorites in the NFC North, but the Packers and Bears are right there, and the Vikings could pop if Kyler Murray still has it. So the window isn't closed. But if things don't work for the Lions in 2026, the questions are really going to start up in earnest.

2026 Sleepers, Busts & Bold Predictions: Detroit Lions

Sleeper: Jared Goff, QB

Four quarterbacks have finished as fantasy QB1s each of the last four years. Three of them should be pretty easy to guess — Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes. The fourth is Jared Goff, who has been the QB10, QB7, QB6 and QB8 across the last four seasons. Goff is fifth in total fantasy scoring in that time, behind the other three and Lamar Jackson.