Donovan

Peoples-Jones

Peoples-Jones was released as part of final roster cuts Tuesday but resurfaces with the team on their practice squad a day later. It would take a lot for DPJ to find his way onto the active 53-man roster on game days without significant injuries in Detroit.

The Lions acquired DPJ in a trade with the Browns last season. The speedster caught just five passes for 58 yards after the trade and was unable to secure a roster spot in a crowded receiver room this season. Peoples-Jones is just two years removed from a 61-839-3 season with the Browns and should catch on with another team in the coming days.

According to Bleacher Reports Jordan Schultz, the Lions “prioritized” keeping Peoples-Jones and believe he “is a rising player at just 25 years old.” We’ll see how much of this translates to on-field success next season, as DPJ managed just five receptions for 58 yards in eight games with the Lions after being moved at the trade deadline. Peoples-Jones went off for 61-839-3 in 2022 with the Browns but was made expendable last season after they went out and added Elijah Moore. Even if DPJ earns more work in 2024, it’s hard to imagine much fantasy upside with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta challenging him for targets. According to Schultz, Peoples-Jones can earn up to $2 million on his contract.

Montgomery returns after a multi-week absence due to a rib injury. He will be inserted back into the backfield next to rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, who had a breakout two-weeks in Montgomery’s absence. Both will have a fantasy-relevant “committee” workload. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones’ Lions debut is put on hold this week with a rib injury.

The former Michigan Wolverine caught 61 passes for 839 yards and 3 TD’s last season, but seemed to fall out of favor with the coaches or Deshaun Watson or both this year. This season DPJ had just eight catches for 97 yards on 18 targets despite running 205 routes. Obviously, a future 6th round pick is not a lot for the Lions to give up but with a seemingly full wide receiver room, the addition does make you question how much faith the team has in second-year wide receiver Jameson Williams. Of course, at 6'2" and 205 pounds, Peoples-Jones also gives the Lions a bigger, more physical receiver, which they had been lacking since Marvin Jones Jr. stepped away from football.

DPJ has been held to one catch for fewer than 15 yards in all but one game this year. He is struggling to earn targets and hasn’t done anything when Deshaun Watson or Dorian Thompson-Robinson have looked his way. Fantasy managers can cut him loose as Cleveland heads in their bye week.

It was a needed outing for DPJ after he totaled 68 yards across Weeks 1 and 2. He was still the intended recipient on just 4-of-33 Deshaun Watson attempts. There is little indication Peoples-Jones is about to become re-draft relevant in 12-team leagues.

With Cooper all but ruled out already, Elijah Moore and Donovan Peoples-Jones both project for strong workloads heading into Week 2. Moore dominated Cleveland’s targets while on the field in Week 2. Now that he will get a full complement of snaps, Moore should push for WR2 fantasy numbers versus the Steelers.

Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore both saw seven targets. Peoples-Jones also gave up a pair of deep targets to Marquise Goodwin, though neither one resulted in a catch. With Moore and Goodwin both eating into his routes, Peoples-Jones will be droppable if he puts together another dud in Week 2 against the Steelers.

Van Pelt mentioned changing up the route combinations and using different receivers. He also noted Marquise Goodwin’s speed as a threat to opposing safeties. Scott Petrak is right to point out the team’s lack of downfield prowess last year. Per Pro Football Focus, Deshaun Watson completed just 23.1 percent of his passes that traveled 20 or more yards in the air. Those attempts only made up 7.6 percent of his total throws. Both rates were among the worst in the league. A better downfield game would be good news for Donovan Peoples-Jones, who operated as the team’s field-stretcher last year. It could also open a path for Elijah Moore to make use of his speed. It sounds like Van Pelt has already pinpointed one of the Browns’ biggest shortcomings under Watson. If he can help fix the issue, the former Houston passer may be able to rebound in his second season with the Browns.