Commanders cut veteran RB Craig Reynolds

No real surprises here as the Lions enter Week 3 as one of the healthier teams in the league. They will have their hands full against the 1-1 Ravens on Monday Night Football.

The Lions trust Reynolds in his long-time backup role. The deal gives him another shot at securing a Super Bowl ring while doing his duty as a seldom-used contributor. Reynolds rushed 31 times for 139 yards and caught 3-of-5 targets for 40 yards last year.

He did see the ball on special teams, returning four kicks for a combined 93. Reynolds was one of three backs to see an uptick in snaps with David Montgomery hurt late in the regular season. None of the three made any headway toward being the definitive No. 3 next year. A restricted free agent in the offseason, Reynolds will likely be brought back as a special teamer for the 2025 season.

Reynolds was added to the injury report on Friday after being held out of practice. It could have been precautionary, but the late-week DNP is typically a bad sign for a player’s odds of suiting up on Sunday. If Reynolds can’t play, Jermar Jefferson would take over the RB2 duties in Detroit’s duel for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Reynolds was one of a few options to be the Lions’ next man up with David Montgomery out. Week 16’s split of the backup duties didn’t give us much clarity. Reynold’s four attempts led the group, but Jermar Jefferson ran three times and Sione Vaki caught two passes, pacing the trio in all receiving categories. The answer here is Jahmyr Gibbs and no one else. Fantasy managers can cut ties with Reynolds heading into Week 17.

The question is simply how big of a role there is behind Gibbs. Reynolds took 14 carries to Gibbs’ 26 in Week 8 of 2023 against the Raiders, and three carries to Gibbs’ 11 in Week 7 of 2023 against the Ravens. That was with a rookie Gibbs, though, and it’s possible the Lions are more interested in entrusting Gibbs with a large majority of the workload today. Ultimately we expect Reynolds and Vaki to command no more than a Cam Akers-ish closeout role with a snap here or there. It may not be enough for fantasy value in Week 16.

A brutal day for the Lions gets even worse as Montgomery goes from out indefinitely to out for the season. Montgomery finishes the season with a 185/775/12 rushing line as well as 36 catches for 341 yards. He just signed an extension this season, but with the late date of this injury and the quick “out for season” call, it’s possible the torn MCL has Montgomery missing time this offseason. This firmly places Jahmyr Gibbs as high as RB2 overall in the fantasy ranks this week, behind only Saquon Barkley. It’s also possible it creates a fantasy role for Craig Reynolds.

According to Schefter, Montgomery is undergoing additional tests on his knee and getting a second opinion, while adding that the veteran running back “could be lost for the season.” He also added that there are some in the Lions’ organization who believe Monty will be out for the season. It’s a brutal blow to the Lions, and Montgomery’s fantasy managers, as Monty has played a key role in the team’s offensive success both on the ground and through the air. Serving as the “Knuckles” to Jahmyr Gibbs’ “Sonic,” Montgomery has rushed 185 times for 775 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns this season. His 12 rushing touchdowns are tied for second-most amongst all running backs, while his 1,116 yards from scrimmage ranks 18th amongst all backs. Montgomery’s absence should set up Gibbs for high-volume weeks in the fantasy playoffs, while backup Craig Reynolds could also see an increase in playing time. Reynolds’ unpredictable workload will keep him off the fantasy radar in Week 16, although he does make for an interesting stash in deeper leagues for those still in the hunt for a championship.

Reynolds was an exclusive rights free agent this offseason and will now return to battle for a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. The former UDFA has stuck around on the Lions for the last three seasons after previous stops in Washington and Jacksonville and has totaled 119-511-1 on the ground while adding another 22 catches for 218 yards since 2021. His contributions on special teams have been valuable in his efforts to make the team each of the last three seasons and will likely play a role in deciding whether or not he’s on the team in 2024.

Reynolds is tendered after he was set to be an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. He entered the league in 2019 as an undrafted free agent, bouncing around until latching on with the Lions in 2021. As the No. 3 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in 2023, Reynolds finished with 41 carries for 179 yards and touchdown, adding five receptions for 47 yards. He also returned a few kicks, splitting time as an offensive backup and special-teamer throughout his career. Reynolds will now return as depth for the Lions.