Jameson Williams — Week 2: Four Targets, Fifth on the Team
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Friday, Sep 18
Williams caught two of four targets for 33 yards, 16 on second and fifteen before halftime and 17 on the final touchdown drive, and was fifth on the Lions in targets behind St. Brown, Gibbs, LaPorta and TeSlaa. A fourth-and-eight throw his way in the fourth quarter fell incomplete and was wiped out by a defensive holding call, in a 41–31 loss to the Bills.
When Jameson Williams's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
The full episode, in writing
34 to 17, Bills, 12 24 left in the fourth quarter, fourth and eight at the Buffalo 17 after a false start. Jared Goff threw short left for Jameson Williams, incomplete, and the play came back on a defensive holding call against Dorian Igbinosun — first and 10 at the 12. +2.3 expected points added on the penalty — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and the drive ended in Sam LaPorta's touchdown three plays later. That is the play that mattered most with his name on it, and it is not in his line.
The line: four targets, two catches, 33 yards, two first downs, +1.5 expected points on his targets. 50 air yards, one after the catch. The catches: 16 deep right on second and 15 with 16 seconds left in the half, on the drive that produced Jake Bates's field goal, and 17 deep left to the Buffalo 27 with two minutes left, the play before Amon-Ra St. Brown's final touchdown. The incompletions: short left on first and 10 with two-oh-eight left in the half, and short right with 21 seconds left. Three targets before halftime, one after, none on third down.
Where he sat: fifth. St. Brown 13, Jahmyr Gibbs eight, Sam LaPorta seven, Isaac TeSlaa five, Williams four. Goff threw 38 times for 327 yards and four touchdowns, and the two throws of 20 or more air yards that landed went to St. Brown and TeSlaa. Detroit trailed from the first quarter, threw 42 pass plays to 20 runs, and Williams's share of that volume was about one in 10.
Back in June the preview's read on Williams was a defined alpha role at a WR26 price — a WR10 finish across all 17 games as Detroit's deep threat, with durability, about 73 percent availability since 2021, the only concern. Week 1 was nine targets, second on the team, and the deep catch that set up the overtime win. Thursday was four, fifth on the team, on a night Detroit threw 42 times. That is a contradiction of the role half of the read, in one game, in a passing offense that ran through St. Brown after halftime. Two games is one of each, and the durability half is unchanged — he played. Detroit is home to the Jets on Sunday the 20-seventh. The number to watch went from how many deep ones come down to how many come his way.
_Data via nflverse._
When Jameson Williams's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
Keep going