Things are slow this time of year but we will take a look at the 2026 schedule, plus news and notes as the Lions have been working through their offseason program.

QB: It’s another new offensive coordinator this season but QB Jared Goff is a veteran so I wouldn’t expect it to be a big issue. Ben Johnson was elite of course but he’s not coming back. The bigger issue will be the revamped offensive line as issues with the line hurt in 2025. Can you believe this is Goff’s 11th season, and 6th in Detroit? Time flies I guess. When it comes to fantasy, Goff is still a high floor, low ceiling option. Could the Lions consider this Brendan Sorsby kid in the supplemental draft? The depth behind Goff isn’t going to wow anyone so I wouldn’t mind if they could get him for a mid round pick but I am guessing someone will use an earlier pick to get him. It just seems like a chance to get a talented player at a discount so how can you not be intrigued?

RB: Dan Campbell has talked about how the Lions need to get back to their roots and find their grit again and that starts with running the ball. Campbell at heart wants the Lions to be a physical team that establishes the run first and then generates offense off of that foundation. RB Jahmyr Gibbs is clearly set up for a huge year and I have seen him ranked as the top overall pick in many rankings and mock drafts. They have talked about getting Gibbs more involved in the passing game but he did catch 77 passes last year so there isn’t that much room for growth there. But you can usually take Campbell at his word so when he says Gibbs is the workhorse you can believe it. RB Isiah Pacheco will get his share of touches as a physical runner behind Gibbs, but I could see the workload split going from 67/33 where it was last year when Gibbs shared with David Montgomery to more of a 75/25 split this year. Gibbs is eligible for a contract extension which could get done by the time camp opens. It seems either Gibbs or Bijan Robinson will have to go first when it comes to setting the running back market with a big extension

WR/TE: Someone to keep an eye in camp will be TE Sam LaPorta. He is coming off of back surgery which ended his 2025 season early. The reports have been positive throughout OTAs and minicamp. Tough break for rookie WR Kendrick Law. The 5th round pick tore his ACL and will miss the season. Veteran WR Cedrick Wilson signed recently to compete for a spot, and they also added some receivers that were playing in the UFL for camp depth. Most of the Lions skill players are known, proven commodities when it comes to fantasy. If there is anyone on the offense that could be considered a breakout candidate it would be WR Isaac TeSlaa. His numbers should improve but as the 3rd receiver and likely 5th in target share when you factor in Gibbs and LaPorta, it’s hard to see a true breakout unless something happens to guys in front of him.

K/DST: The Lions defense has some question marks in the secondary but they don’t face many elite passing offenses in the early part of the schedule so they can figure it out as they go. Former first round pick CB Terrion Arnold has been a disappointment and it sounds like he will need to earn his starting spot. When you factor in injury questions at safety and some versatile pieces, it might take time for this unit to come together. It sounds like the Lions may play more nickel this season as they liked staying in base personnel more than other teams around the league. It’s possible this makes them a little more vulnerable against the run.

2026 Schedule:

Week 1 Sept. 13 vs. New Orleans 1:00

Week 2 (THU) Sept. 17 at Buffalo 8:15

Week 3 Sept. 27 vs. NY Jets 1:00

Week 4 Oct. 4 at Carolina 8:20

Week 5 Oct. 11 at Arizona 4:25

Week 6 Oct. 18 BYE

Week 7 Oct. 25 vs. Green Bay 4:25

Week 8 Nov. 1 vs. Minnesota 1:00

Week 9 Nov. 8 at Miami 1:00

Week 10 Nov. 15 vs. New England (Munich, Germany) 9:30 am

Week 11 Nov. 22 vs. Tampa Bay 1:00

Week 12 (THU) Nov. 26 vs. Chicago 1:00

Week 13 Dec. 6 at Atlanta 1:00

Week 14 Dec. 13 vs. Tennessee 1:00

Week 15 Dec. 20 at Minnesota 8:20

Week 16 (MON) Dec. 28 vs. NY Giants 8:15

Week 17 Jan. 3 at Chicago 4:25

Week 18 Jan 9/10 at Green Bay TBD

Schedule thoughts: Opening Buffalo’s new stadium will be fun, and it avoids a potential bad weather game. The finish looks brutal though with January games outdoors in Chicago and Green Bay. Although week 18 isn’t usually too relevant in fantasy. They actually finish with 3 of 4 on the road, with all 3 road games in that stretch against their division rivals. Four prime time games and six total national windows plus two slots as the featured game in the late doubleheader window indicates the league feels the Lions will be a contender. The schedule overall appears to be a bit on the easy side thanks to last season’s 4th place finish in the division despite a record of 9-8. Not a great year to be a season ticket holder. Nine home games but other than the division rivals, New England was perhaps the only attractive opponent and that game got moved to Germany.

I will be back next month with a training camp preview.

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