It seems like things are falling apart for the Detroit Lions well before Week 1 kickoff.
After a remarkable turnaround in recent years, they started on the downward slope last season. This offseason, though, has been marred by controversies and unfortunate developments.
Now, with a brutal blow to their secondary heading into the season, the team needs to be an offensive juggernaut to stay competitive in a brutal NFC North. For fantasy managers, though, the news could mean huge developments, at least to start the year.
Why Lions Could Be a Fantasy Football Goldmine
Injuries have constantly been a problem for the Lions defense over the last three seasons. Last year, that led to a massive drop as the team went from eighth in PFN’s Defense Impact Metrics in 2024 to #17 in 2025.
That fall was replicated in the standings as well, as they won just nine games and finished in last place in their division. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like their defensive woes are getting fixed anytime soon.
In the offseason, they suffered a massive blow when Terrion Arnold was arrested on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery. As a result, the team decided to release him. But their secondary has been further devastated by injuries.
With the 53-man rosters being made official, both Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch landed on the PUP list, keeping them out for a minimum of the first four games of the season. That could directly mean a much bigger load on quarterback Jared Goff’s shoulders.
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Brian Drake of Sirius XM believes that is an inevitable possibility, claiming, “Jared Goff is this season’s Matthew Stafford. Dude is going to throw until his arm falls off.” However, more than the Lions, some analysts were interested in what it could mean for their opponents.
Goff ranks #18 in PFN’s Fantasy Football QB Rankings to start the year.
Jared Goff is this season’s Matthew Stafford.
Dude is going to throw until his arm falls off. https://t.co/8eLKQ7oUde
— Brian Drake (@DrakeFantasy) August 31, 2026
Sigmund Bloom of Football Guys saw the immediate potential in the first week of the season itself when the Lions open against the New Orleans Saints. “Tyler Shough projected in the top 10 QB Week 1?”
Tyler Shough projected in the top 10 QB Week 1? https://t.co/VCdyGCVTpk
— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) August 30, 2026
Given that he’s entering his second season without extremely high expectations, Shough might not have been a popular pick for fantasy owners. But the lack of two key defenders could give him tremendous upside to open the year.
Even fans got excited about the news, with a Buffalo Bills fan claiming, “Just absolutely massive for the Bills Week 2.”
Just absolutely massive for the Bills week 2 https://t.co/W92MYNNes5
— Bills Chat Podcast (@BillsChatPod) August 30, 2026
With both players out for a minimum of four weeks given the PUP designation, even New York Jets fans were intrigued about the possibility, as one fan claimed, “Jets won’t see both the Lions star safeties week 3.”
Jets won’t see both the Lions star safeties week 3 https://t.co/tW4uy6Ea4e
— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) August 30, 2026
One fan went a step further, claiming that the running back duo of Braelon Allen and Breece Hall would run roughshod over the defense, arguing, “Good luck stopping Breece and Allen with some rookie safety lol.”
It remains to be seen how the injuries affect the Lions. After winning just nine games last season and missing the playoffs, they will be hoping for a major bounceback. But if the defense is once again wafer-thin, it could be deja vu in Motor City.
