Once touted as one of the best wide receiver prospects in his class, Jameson Williams is now swirling in controversy. He has yet to play more than 20 snaps in a game. News broke on April 21 that Williams would be suspended for the first six games of 2023. When Williams does finally come back, how does he impact fantasy football teams, and what is Jameson Williams fantasy football outlook long term?
What Suspension Means for Jameson Williams Fantasy Football Outlook
Redraft Impact
Williams is not the kind of player that has earned the trust of managers. He doesn’t have the trust of his coaches, and this is not a similar situation to suspensions in the past. When Deandre Hopkins was suspended last year, he was guaranteed to come back and produce for fantasy squads. Throughout six games in 2022, he put together a stat line of one catch for 41 yards and a touchdown.
His underwhelming stat line in 2022 needs to come with some context as well. Williams tore his ACL during the National Championship in January. This was after leading the SEC in yards per reception, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He is unquestionably talented but was kept on the shelf in 2022. Some receivers don’t even play in the regular season following an ACL tear, so any playing time was a good sign for Williams. If the Lions were planning on bringing him along slowly, the first six games of the season were probably going to be land mines anyway.
With that in mind, where should managers look to take him in 2023 drafts? In leagues that allow suspended players in an IR slot, or leagues with deep benches Williams is worth a stash. The Detroit Lions drafted him 12 overall in 2022, and it’s far too early to throw in the towel. Williams is the kind of player that after filling out a lineup a savvy manager can look to scoop up and hold. Worst case scenario, he can be cut from teams week eight if he shows nothing. Best case scenario, he’s the wide receiver the Lions hoped he was and dominated the back half of the season.
Best Ball Best Bet
As it stands now in Underdog, Jameson Williams is overpriced. But, following this news, he is going to slide down ADP through the rest of the summer. Sharp managers will wait until Williams hits the WR 50 to 60 range and then pounce on him late in drafts. Williams best attributes are his deep route running and explosive plays, so even if he misses the first six games the chances of him cracking managers’ lineups is better than his future ADP will settle at. He’s over valued now, but in July and August he will be a screaming value.
Jameson Williams Dynasty Outlook
Last year Williams was valued somewhere between the 1.04 and 1.08 in rookie drafts. Managers drafting Williams already expected him to miss most of 2022. He was going to be a long-term stash regardless. If players are getting scared off of Williams due to his off-the-field troubles, this could be a buying opportunity. Williams is a better prospect than any wide receiver in this class (other than Jaxon Smith-Njigba) and was only suspended six games. Six games for a 22-year-old is vastly different than six games for a 30-year-old. He still has eight or nine seasons of potential time left if he pans out.
Some other things to keep in mind with Jameson Williams, he was a super young prospect entering the NFL. He is currently younger than projected top-50 pick Zay Flowers, younger than Cedric Tillman, and only a few months older than Josh Downs. Managers that need wide receiver help should buy Williams for the 1.09 or later.
The impact of the NFL suspending five players is to be determined.
Main Photo: Kirthmon Dozer – USA Today Sports
