As we close in toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move, with key events like free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft still to come. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the dynasty rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of WR Jameson Williams.
Jameson Williams’ Dynasty Outlook and Value
Arguably, Williams was the biggest question of last year’s draft cycle. Unfortunately, very little was answered in 2022. But that wasn’t unexpected.
William was the top wide receiver in college football in 2021, and it wasn’t particularly close. Transferring from Ohio State after sitting on the back burner for two years, Williams took it to another level while continuing the incredible string of Alabama wide receivers. With DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle already in the big leagues, in 15 games, Williams recorded 70 receptions, 1,572 yards, and 15 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.
He was statistically one of the most dominant receivers in the nation, accounting for 20.8% of the receptions and 2.75 yards per team passing attempt. As a vertical specialist, Williams was a game-breaking play waiting to happen, evidenced by his 19.9 yards per reception. However, we could never see the game-breaking, earth-shattering top-end speed as Williams suffered a torn ACL during the national championship against Georgia.
MORE: Top Dynasty WR Trade Targets 2023
Although there were some expectations Williams would be able to return relatively soon in 2022, that never felt realistic. More than likely, he was going to be redshirted for the 2022 season, as the Detroit Lions have tended to be more on the conservative side when it comes to injuries – as seen with D’Andre Swift.
That was the case last season. Williams made his first appearance in Week 13 against Jacksonville, and it didn’t take him long to make his first impact. Just one week later, against the Minnesota Vikings, Williams hauled in his first career catch for a 41-yard touchdown. It was also his only catch of the season, as he ended the year with one reception on nine targets.
The burst certainly was present. Even though Williams still appeared to be moving at about 80% speed, his 80% is better than 90% of the league’s 100%.
Due to a relatively unproductive season, many viewed this as a down year. For me, the simple fact that Williams did not reinjure his knee and could go through the full rehab process without being thrown to the wolves too soon made last season a success.
Williams Handed a Six-Game Suspension by the NFL
However, Williams’ time in the NFL has hit another roadblock as before the draft, he was suspended for the first six games of the 2023 season due to violating the league’s gambling policy. Additionally, the Lions released fellow WR Quintez Cephus along with safety C.J. Moore after they were suspended by the NFL indefinitely for gambling policy violations.
No one will be happy about this. That I can guarantee. While I do not want to come off as overly dismissive, the dynasty impact of this on Williams is minimal. If this were redraft and Williams would miss 33% of his games, then yes, he would take a noticeable hit in value. But given the year-over-year nature of this format, a six-game stretch should not be a determining factor in his long-term outlook.
It will certainly annoy managers who have held on to him since last year, knowing he wouldn’t play until 2023, but they need to wait a few extra weeks before injecting a dose of speed into their rosters.
Jameson Williams Fantasy Ranking
It’s challenging to get a complete grasp on Williams’ dynasty value. It’s very subjective league to league due to there being nothing to speak of happening on the field. So it comes down to whether or not a manager has been stubborn enough to select him with a first-round pick and then hold onto him for the entire year, knowing they would get nothing in return.
Most managers appear to view Williams in the mid-to-low-end WR2 range. While I’m just slightly lower, there’s no denying the fact that Williams has WR1 upside. Currently, Williams is the WR25 in our dynasty wide receiver rankings for PPR formats, which is a positive sign for managers who have held him since last year.
MORE: Dynasty Startup Drafts
There hasn’t been a massive shift in value due to Williams not playing. When it comes to Superflex rankings, where QBs see an increase in value due to positional scarcity, Williams is the No. 67 overall ranked player.
As a game-breaking threat, Williams could easily use his speed laterally to leave defenders in the dust and create after the catch. Throw in a potential new quarterback or even the same level of play we saw from Jared Goff last year, and I think Williams would be a reliable WR2 at worst for years to come and create a dynamic duo with Amon-Ra St. Brown.