Tim

Patrick

Patrick can earn up to $4 million on his deal next season. The veteran receiver who missed all of the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to a torn ACL (2022) and torn Achilles (2023) played in 16 games last season for the Lions while making nine starts. Patrick posted a line of 33-394-3 in his return to action and will provide the Lions with some reliable depth in the receiver room, along with a big red zone target for Jared Goff.

With Davante Adams and Allen Lazard both expected to be playing elsewhere in 2025, signing on with the Jets would give Patrick as good a chance as any to compete for a starting role, though he is likely best deployed in a rotational capacity. Patrick, entering his age-32 season, can also serve as a mentor for Garrett Wilson and Hughes reports that “changing the culture is a major priority for” new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. Wilson is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, with one year remaining on his contract, though it “could take a [little time]” for the Jets’ front office to evaluate the value of a star player whose productivity and development have been somewhat stunted by previous, unideal organizational circumstances. Patrick and Glenn, then the Lions’ defensive coordinator, spent the 2024 season together in Detroit.

Patrick appeared to be a midseason revelation for the Lions after he caught 16 passes for 176 yards and three scores during a four-game stretch late in the season. That production quickly evaporated and he would go on to reel in a measly three passes over his final four games including the playoff loss. Patrick is a solid third receiver who adds some extra juice in the run game as a blocker, but two season-ending injuries have likely sapped enough of his athleticism to prevent him from ever running as a team’s second receiver again. He should still have no issues finding a roster spot on the open market once free agency opens.

Patrick’s two targets were primarily a function of only 33 pass attempts from quarterback Jared Goff in the convincing win. Jameson Williams led the team with eight targets, followed by seven each for tight end Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown and five for running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The win clinched the NFC’s top seed, a playoff bye, and home field advantage for the Lions, who will await the results from Wildcard Weekend before learning their opponent in the Divisional Round.

Coming off three touchdowns in his past two games, Week 16 was a heat check for Patrick that he failed in dramatic fashion for fantasy managers. He was held without a catch for the first time since Week 10. With Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams all seeing at least seven targets and scoring, there simply wasn’t room in the game plan for a part-time No. 3 receiver to see the ball. Better days are ahead for Patrick, but any notion of a floor for the veteran wideout was nixed with today’s doughnut. He is a touchdown-or-bust WR5 for Week 17 against the 49ers.

Patrick has been emerging as a threat to Jameson Williams’ status as the number-two wide receiver in Detroit for a few weeks now, and he out-targeted Williams again today. Some of that had to do with the Bills’ keeping their safeties deep to take away the big play, but Patrick is a solid receiver who can do everything pretty well, so he is going to continue to command targets. With the Lions’ defense continuing to struggle with injuries and shootouts potentially on the horizon, Patrick is on the deep-league radar.

Patrick’s touchdown grabs came from three and one yards out. Both the catches and targets were easily new season highs for the former Bronco, who also doubled his 2024 scoring total. Although tonight was his biggest night, Patrick has cleared 40 yards in three straight appearances. With Kalif Raymond (foot) sidelined, Patrick is currently unchallenged for No. 3 status in this elite offense. That could change for Week 15 against the Bills with Raymond having 10 more days to get healthy. Patrick still isn’t producing enough to command WR4 fliers.

The Lions had just 225 yards of total offense in a game that their defense and special teams dominated. As a result, not many of their offensive players put up huge days. However, we should note that, with Jameson Williams suspended, Tim Patrick played the second-most snaps of any Lions wide receiver and ran the second-most routes on the team, one ahead of Sam LaPorta, and three behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. It didn’t lead to anything this week, but perhaps it could lead to deep-league fantasy points next week against the Packers.

Raymond also returned a punt for a touchdown and averaged 38 yards per return on five punts. Despite his production, Raymond played just 15 offensive snaps and ran a route on nine pass plays, which was fewer than both Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson. However, Raymond has the speed and athleticism to take the ball to the house anytime he touches it. While Patrick could be relevant next week against Green Bat, he had no catches this weekend and Raymond’s big-play ability will keep him on the deep league radar next week against the Packers.

Patrick came within a yard of scoring his first touchdown since 2021 before a review overturned the initial call on the field. Patrick’s 68-yard outing comings after the team’s Week 5 bye, and two weeks after he surprised by 2-52 in Week 4. The veteran receiver has been targeted 10 times in the four games he’s played in this season. While his recent yardage totals are enticing, Patrick is producing on very limited opportunities. We wouldn’t recommend starting him in Week 7 against the Vikings.