Kalif Raymond has been the most consistent Lions’ wide receiver this season, but is he now a viable fantasy option?
The Detroit Lions were not flush with wide receiver talent going into the season, then injuries to Tyrell Williams (concussion) and Quintez Cephus (collarbone) has opened up opportunity for others. Amon-Ra St. Brown has had a bigger role, but Kalif Raymond has been the most consistent of the two and of the Lions’ wide receiver group.
In Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams, Raymond had a breakout game with six catches for 115 yards.
Raymond also had six receptions (for 37 yards) in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he has 15 targets over the last two games with at least six targets in four of the last five games. In five of seven games this season, he has hit or surpassed at least one of the following marks–six catches, 50 yards or a touchdown.
For the season through Week 7, Raymond is WR40 in standard and full PPR fantasy scoring.
Fantasy Football: Is Kalif Raymond worth a look on the waiver wire?
In Week 8 the Lions face the Philadelphia Eagles, who are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season (Yahoo!; 0.5-point PPR). But the Rams was a tough matchup, and Raymond delivered. Then comes a bye in Week 9. From Week 10-17, here’s a look at where Detroit’s opponents rank against wide receivers entering Week 8 (again, Yahoo!; 0.5-point PPR).
Week 10: Pittsburgh Steelers-5th most
Week 11: Cleveland Browns-11th most
Week 12: Chicago Bears-4th most
Week 13: Minnesota Vikings-16th fewest
Week 14: Denver Broncos-10th fewest
Week 15: Arizona Cardinals-16th most
Week 16: Atlanta Falcons-7th most
Week 17: Seattle Seahawks-13th fewest
In some of these matchups (Week 11-Browns, Week 15-Cardinals), Raymond’s fantasy outlook is boosted by the likelihood of a negative game script for the Lions. To say the standing of Minnesota and Seattle in the top half of the league against wide receivers is tenuous is an understatement. Going back to the Cardinals, they’d still be bottom-12 against the position if they hadn’t faced the Houston Texans’ inept offense in Week 7.
Chasing Raymond’s 100-yard game from Week 7 is not advisable. But he is worth a look as a depth option in deeper leagues, with possible WR3/WR4 utility to help get through the remainder of bye weeks and beyond. Being available in most leagues (3 percent owned on Yahoo!, 5.9 percent owned on ESPN, 7 percent owned on Sleeper) helps add to whatever appeal he has. He’s clearly not a must-add in a broad sense, but don’t overlook Raymond–he is at least worth pinning to a watch list as you mine the waiver wire for wide receivers in Week 8.