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WR Kalif Raymond, DET (1 Viewer)

Faust

MVP
Fantasy Football Sleepers, Week 9: Deon Jackson, you're needed once again

Excerpt:

WR Kalif Raymond vs. Miami

Yep, we’re going back to the Raymond play. Six teams are off this week; we are desperate for wide receiver help. And Raymond is still rostered in a mere two percent of Yahoo leagues.

Raymond’s turned into a full-time player of late, running 90 percent of the snaps the last three games. He’s posted a useful 13 catches for 196 yards over that span. Yes, Amon-Ra St. Brown’s absence did help in two of those games, but the Sun God returned last week and Raymond was still active. If nothing else, consider Raymond the Hail Mary play in this passing game, not Josh Reynolds. And perhaps the absence of traded TE T.J. Hockenson will open up a few more opportunities.
 

Josh Reynolds (back) is doubtful for Week 9 against the Packers.​

With D.J. Chark on injured reserve and Reynolds unlikely to play, Kalif Raymond is walking into an every-down role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown this week. Raymond has topped 70 yards on a 90 percent snap share in each of his previous two games. He is a viable FLEX option for Week 9.
Nov 4, 2022, 3:52 PM ET
 

Kalif Raymond caught 5-of-7 targets for 45 yards in the Lions' Week 5 loss to the Patriots.​

Raymond was second on the team with seven targets as Amon-Ra St. Brown was eased back into the lineup after missing Week 4 with an ankle issue. Raymond ran a route on a strong 95 percent of the Lions' drop backs and had a nice 20-yard catch and run in the first half. Raymond won't be fantasy viable if DJ Chark is able to return to the lineup following the team's Week 6 bye.
Oct 9, 2022, 6:55 PM ET


Kalif Raymond caught 5-of-6 targets for 75 yards in the Lions' Week 7 loss to the Cowboys.​

With D.J. Chark (ankle) on I.R., Josh Reynolds battling a knee issue, and Amon-Ra St. Brown concussed in the first quarter, Raymond led the Lions in targets, catches, and yards on a day Detroit didn't score a touchdown. If St. Brown can't go next week against the Dolphins, Raymond would again be forced into heavy snaps.
Oct 23, 2022, 4:17 PM ET


Khalif Raymond caught 3-of-4 receptions for 76 yards in the Lions' Week 8 loss to the Dolphins.​

Raymond had a 43-yard reception to set up a 1st-and-goal. He had two additional receptions for 33 yards. Raymond ultimately led the Lions' wide receivers in receiving yards, due to a somewhat quiet day from Amon-Ra St. Brown, who went for 69 yards. Raymond will be a dart-throw option against the Packers in Week 9.
Oct 30, 2022, 6:06 PM ET
 
Kalif Raymond caught 3-of-3 targets for 17 yards in the Lions' Week 9 win over the Packers.

Coming off back-to-back 75-yard efforts, Raymond was set up well for a third with Josh Reynolds on the shelf, but Jared Goff struggled to just 14 completions in a grind-it-out affair. Reynolds (back) will have a decent shot at returning for Week 10 against the Bears, so Raymond's DFS window could close just as quickly as it opened. His usage in the 5-6 target range has been stable enough that he will always offer cheap theoretical upside. Emphasis on theoretical.

- NBCSportsEDGE
 
Josh Reynolds missed another practice today. Detroit signed Trinity Benson, who was on the team all of 2021 and in TC this year, off the Broncos practice squad.

All of which is likely pointing to a week of 90% snaps & 30+ routes for Raymond. He’s not targeted enough to expect consistency and CHI gives up the 10th fewest FF points to WRs. Still, there are worse dart throws out there. Decent WR4 / 2nd Flex option for WK 10.
 
Kalif Raymond will put up decent numbers the first half of the season. He will be the Lions WR2 at least until Jamo returns. Lions offense will be feeding a lot of mouths, but the WR2 is going to get his targets. Would not shock me if he got around 500 yards/4 TDs the first half of the season. A guy that is undrafted in 99 percent of the leagues.
 
Seems like a good late round flyer if you play in deeper leagues. Yesterday, with ARSB (not serious) and Jamo (hammy TBD) both injured early in joint practices, Raymond emerged as Goff’s most trusted target. By a good margin. If there has been one consistent theme with Jared it’s that he won’t trust guys who are inconsistent. LaPorta ran a bad route yesterday and Goff had a very animated conversation that went on for awhile.

Josh Reynolds has some rapport with the QB, especially in the RZ. MJJ is probably washed but he has had a good camp. They want to utilize Gibbs and he looks like easy mode, so smooth. But Kalif is way in front of the herd just in terms of always being where he’s supposed to be.

Was second on the team in receiving yards last year and if I was a betting man I think he does it again. Very underrated.
 
Kalif Raymond caught a 20-yard pass in the Lions’ Week 1 win over the Chiefs.

Raymond’s third quarter reception was his lone target. That’s a fluke after Raymond caught 47 balls a season ago, but he isn’t going to be able to command enough targets to carve out WR5 PPR relevance behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs.
 
Brutal game for MJJ, oldest WR in the league looked like it eh

Kalif might see an uptick over the next month
 
1% owned in Yahoo leagues

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:
  • 1st - 5
  • 2nd - 6
  • 3rd - 4
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.

OpponentPFF GradeSnap CountRoutes RunTargetsReceptionsYardsTDRushingYPRRSnap %PR Yards
LAR54.9372300001-12-61%3-18
TB58.6312443270-1.1336%3-32
at ARI55.9540000--7%4-40
SEA59.5631190-3.0011%1-6
at DAL90.9241364730-5.6235%1-6
at MIN84.8161043391-3.9028%2-23
TEN
at GB
season total73.311977151114811-121.9214-125

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.
 
Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, Lions WR Kalif Raymond's 38.0 punt return average is the highest in any game with at least five punt returns.
 
Kalif Raymond caught both of his targets for 14 yards and a touchdown in a Week 8 win over the Titans, and also returned a punt for a touchdown

Raymond averaged 38 yards per return on five punts. Despite his production, Raymond played just 15 offensive snaps and ran a route on nine pass plays, which was fewer than both Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson. However, Raymond has the speed and athleticism to take the ball to the house anytime he touches it. While Patrick could be relevant next week against Green Bay, he had no catches this weekend and Raymond’s big-play ability will keep him on the deep league radar next week against the Packers.
- Rotoworld
 
1% owned in Yahoo leagues

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:
  • 1st - 5
  • 2nd - 6
  • 3rd - 4
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.

OpponentPFF GradeSnap CountRoutes RunTargetsReceptionsYardsTDRushingYPRRSnap %PR Yards
LAR54.9372300001-12-61%3-18
TB58.6312443270-1.1336%3-32
at ARI55.9540000--7%4-40
SEA59.5631190-3.0011%1-6
at DAL90.9241364730-5.6235%1-6
at MIN84.8161043391-3.9028%2-23
TEN
at GB
season total73.311977151114811-121.9214-125

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.
Nicely done. Great call. 👏
 

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