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With Jamo out for the next two weeks - TEN and at GB - Kalif should see a slight uptick in snap counts. Trusted veteran, core member of "the old guard" as Dan Campbell says, the ones who went through 3-13-1 three seasons ago. Has the best official 40 time on the team (4.34 coming out of Holy Cross; Gibbs ran 4.36 last year, Jamo is likely sub-4.3); widely regarded as the second fastest Lions player in pads. If your league has return yardage, he is their primary PR.
Bumping this because Campbell thinks about things like "oh, he's going up against his old team, he's gonna be up for this one." Not that Kalif is ever anything but up; he rivals Goff and St Brown in terms of work ethic, they all turn up at the facility at 6 or 7 a.m. regardless of when meetings are scheduled. Hugely popular with his teammates and coaches. He was actually the first extension Brad Holmes handed out. Folks outside Detroit likely never think about him much, but the organization considers him to be a critical piece, both for his athletic talent and veteran leadership.
If you're desperate and need a dart throw, I would not be surprised if Ben Johnson dials one up for him playing against one of his 4 former teams. Only 2 TDs the last 3 years - got one last week - but he is literally the only quality deep threat they have for the next two weeks. Probably neither here nor there, but he's pretty close with ARSB, they're always hyping each other.
6 first downs on the season, 5 in the last two weeks.
Targets by down:
Targets by Yards to go:
- 0-3 1
- 4-6 2
- 7-10 10
- 11+ 2
5th on the team in targets, 3rd among WRs (ARSB>>Jamo>>>Kalif); 64% of his targets and 75% of his yards have come in the last 2 games.
Though it is notable Tim Patrick has carved out a role and is coming on, understand they have different roles. Patrick is pretty slow but great at in breakers and crossers. Kalif runs more out patterns, double moves, or sail routes. Also a threat to run the reverse.
Both have a good rapport with and the trust of Goff. Overall I think Patrick as the X is the one who will be on the field when they run two receiver sets, but he'll be on the field enough to contribute.
Opponent | PFF Grade | Snap Count | Routes Run | Targets | Receptions | Yards | TD | Rushing | YPRR | Snap % | PR Yards |
LAR | 54.9 | 37 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-12 | - | 61% | 3-18 |
TB | 58.6 | 31 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 0 | - | 1.13 | 36% | 3-32 |
at ARI | 55.9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 7% | 4-40 |
SEA | 59.5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | - | 3.00 | 11% | 1-6 |
at DAL | 90.9 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 73 | 0 | - | 5.62 | 35% | 1-6 |
at MIN | 84.8 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 1 | - | 3.90 | 28% | 2-23 |
TEN | | | | | | | | | | | |
at GB | | | | | | | | | | | |
season total | 73.3 | 119 | 77 | 15 | 11 | 148 | 1 | 1-12 | 1.92 | 14-125 | |
2024 is the third consecutive season Raymond has posted PFF grade of 72.1 or above, with YPRR never dipping below 1.91. Simply put, he is a high quality role player.
Lastly, this blurb from PFF during the off-season:
• Kalif Raymond was open on nearly all of his targets in 2023: Raymond has enjoyed the best years of his NFL career in Detroit, and he was open on 42 of his 43 targets this past season. His open target rate of 97.7% ranked 1st in the NFL in 2023 (minimum 40 targets.)
- Raymond gained separation on all but one of his 43 targets in 2023.
- He finished third on the team in target rate (22.2%)
- third in receiving yards (489)
- led the way in yards after the catch (6.7).
- Raymond gained 20 first downs
- nine catches of 20-plus yards
- generated a team-best 121.8 passer rating when targeted.