Craig

Reynolds

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.

Reynolds was utilized heavily in the second half as the Lions went into clock-killing mode, with the massive-for-him yardage output inflated by a gassed defense that was on the field for 81 plays from scrimmage. Even so, fantasy managers in deeper leagues that were in a pinch have to be happy with the returns from the third-string back. It is likely that Reynolds turns into a pumpkin after the Week 9 bye considering David Montgomery is likely on his way back to the active roster.

Playing second fiddle to Jahmyr Gibbs, Reynolds saw just four touches in a blowout loss to the Ravens. Entering the week banged-up likely led to a smaller workload for Reynolds, who was the only other back used on offense with David Montgomery out. Gibbs is ahead of Reynolds regardless of game script, but a closer game likely sees more Reynolds carries. If Montgomery remains out, Reynolds is an RB4 for Week 8 against the Raiders.

With David Montgomery out and Jahmyr Gibbs off the injury report, Reynolds will again serve as a backup this week. Expect him to see a few carries while getting run in pass-protection situations. Gibbs should see the majority of the touches in the Detroit backfield. He is a deep FLEX option for Week 7.

Jahmyr Gibbs was removed from the Week 7 injury report and will draw the start with David Montgomery sidelined. If active, Reynolds will paly a role in the backfield, though it would be hard to trust him as a standalone fantasy option as an underdog to Baltimore. He will rank as an RB4, assuming he plays, in Week 7.

“I’d like to say we’ll be careful with him, but the reality of it is we need him, so we’ll go as far as he can take us,” Campbell said Friday. “He’s ready.” It’s finally happening for Gibbs drafters, who have seen their guy relegated to a part-time pass-catching role behind lead back David Montgomery this season. Montgomery is sidelined with a rib injury, leaving Gibbs and a banged-up Craig Reynolds as Detroit’s only to viable running back options. Assuming he’s a full go, Gibbs should (finally) be a top-12 fantasy option in Week 7. At worst, his PPR floor should be solid.

Once the hottest waiver wire addition of the week, Reynolds is now at risk of missing the Lions’ Week 7 game. Jahmyr Gibbs was also listed as limited, so the starting role may not be up for grabs anyway. The Lions only held a walkthrough on Wednesday. We will know more about Reynolds’ injuries on Thursday.

We’d like a bit more clarity here, but the tone in the comment suggests Montgomery won’t be playing in Week 7 against the Ravens. We’ll have a better sense of his status when the team takes the practice field on Wednesday, but it’s possible Craig Reynolds could be in line for a busy day if Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) can’t go. Detroit’s injury report will be one to watch for when it drops later this week.

Craig Reynolds was thrust into a larger role at the end of the second quarter when David Montgomery left the game with a rib injury. While Reynolds was unable to get much going on the ground, he threw a vicious block to spring Amon-Ra St. Brown for a touchdown. While that may not seem important, it just highlights why Detroit trusts him to be on the field so often when its top two options are down. If one or both of Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are unable to play in Week 7 against the Ravens, Reynolds could work himself into the low-end FLEX conversation.