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Should I drop Jameson Williams for fantasy football Week 6? Is Jameson Williams a safe player to cut? Read the fantasy football waivers outlook.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has had a disappointing start to his 2025 season after breaking out in 2024, catching 58 of 91 targets for 1,001 receiving yards and scoring eight total touchdowns. He was one of the most efficient and explosive players in football, finishing second in yards per reception (17.3), and was one of only four players to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards on less than 100 targets. The other players are all superstars: George Kittle, A.J. Brown, and Nico Collins.
It's been challenging for Williams to earn volume in Detroit's loaded offense. He is fourth on the team in targets on the season (21) and has been unable to connect with QB Jared Goff on some explosive plays.
However, there could still be some reasons for optimism, as it is still early. So, should you drop Jameson Williams and search elsewhere for WRs, or is he worth hanging onto? Let's dive in!
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Should I Drop Jameson Williams in Fantasy Football?
We are on the heels of Williams' most tilting game of the season, where he had a smash matchup against a horrid Cincinnati defense. But he laid an egg, catching just his only target of the day for nine yards. Coming into the game, Cincy had allowed a reception of at least 22 yards in every game this season. That again occurred multiple times on Sunday, but not to Detroit's most explosive receiver.
The weekly floor is just not very high for Williams. He's caught two or fewer balls in every game except Week 1, where he still only caught four of five targets for 23 yards. But while the surface-level stats are frustrating, there are still some signs of hope to cling to for fantasy managers.
Williams is still earning the high volume of air yards that we would expect from him. His 436 air yards are the 17th most among WRs for the season, and his 40.2% air yards share is fifth-highest, per FTN Fantasy. However, only 45.2% of those air yards have been catchable for Williams, which ranks 52nd out of 62 WRs (minimum 20 targets).
Some of that should correct as a larger sample size plays out, but that speaks to his volatility as a player. His speed is an incredibly useful real-life trait that unlocks a ton of things for the Detroit offense. But he's clearing out the defense for his teammates like Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown to catch the underneath passes and rack up yards after the catch.
#Lions Scottie Montgomery on Jameson Williams not getting the ball: "If he's not unselfish, he's fooling the hell out of me. This was his best, cleanest, most physical in the run game. On the sideline, every single play, he was so excited for everyone."
— Kory Woods, MSW (@KoryEWoods) October 8, 2025
There's been a noticeable difference from last season for Williams regarding his short-area targets. Last season, his aDOT was right around the league average at 11.4. That's nearly doubled in 2025, as the layup targets for the speedster have dried up without offensive guru Ben Johnson.
In 2024, he averaged over four targets per game on throws coming in the short area of the field, virtually tied with LaPorta and almost three targets per game behind St. Brown. On those plays, Williams had the second-highest explosive play rate (18.2%) and 7.5 YAC/reception.
Through five games in 2025, he's averaging just two targets per game in the short area. St. Brown predictably still leads the team in this area, while LaPorta has seen his layup targets increase almost a full target per game from last season. And, of course, Detroit wants to utilize superstar RB Jahmyr Gibbs in this area on choice routes against linebackers. So, that leaves Williams as the odd man out and resorts to field-stretching duties.
There is still clear upside with the profile, but choosing the right spots to start him will be challenging. In deeper leagues, he can't be cut because the alternative likely isn't a better bet. But in 10-team leagues and shallower, if fantasy managers are stuck in a hole, he's not a must-roster at this stage.
NFL defenses are designed to limit explosive plays at all costs and are willing to live with the underneath passes and have offenses march the ball downfield without making a mistake.
Who Should I Pick Up for Fantasy Football?
Finding plug-and-play wide receivers feels tougher than scooping up a Michael Carter or Rico Dowdle after the starter was ruled out. We did just have a prime example of that last Thursday night with Kendrick Bourne taking advantage of the decimated 49ers pass-catching core.
But there are a couple of intriguing options for Week 6, including Bourne, who is in line to see a heavy target share again, with Ricky Pearsall (knee) not expected to play and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) missing practice on Wednesday.
10 catches. 142 yards.
Kendrick Bourne BALLED OUT. pic.twitter.com/eXCLa7FGzZ
— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2025
Fantasy managers can also consider two young WR options in the Cowboys' Ryan Flournoy and Seahawks' Tory Horton. Flournoy racked up 114 total yards on six catches (nine targets) and looked pretty impressive. He could be worth a speculative add where available.
And Seattle rookie Horton has looked great as well, scoring three touchdowns in five games. He has some serious upside if Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Cooper Kupp were to miss any time. And an incredible comparison from his offensive coordinator:
I asked Klint Kubiak if he’s coached a rookie WR that reminded him of Tory Horton. He initially declined to name the player, and then revealed who he was talking about:
Justin Jefferson pic.twitter.com/9VeTZTt14I
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) September 23, 2025
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