WR Brandon Powell (DET) | Year 2
2018 Stats: 11rec 129 yards 0 TDs
If you’re like me and you like to scour the waiver wires looking for that deep dive player that has a path to production, then you need to take a look at Lion’s WR Brandon Powell. An undrafted free agent signee of the Lions in 2018, Powell did not get many opportunities to perform last season. Even with WR Marvin Jones‘ season-ending injury and the trade that sent Golden Tate to Philly, the Lions instead choose to sign Bruce Ellington literally off the street and thrust him into the slot role that was vacated by Tate.
In four games with the Lions, Ellington averaged 7.5 targets and caught nearly six passes per game. If we were to extrapolate that over a 16 game season, you’re looking at 120 targets and 96 catches, definitely a fantasy-worthy WR. What does any of this have to do with Powell, you ask? Well, Ellington is no longer with the team, and while the Lions did sign Danny Amendola, I think there will be an open competition for the slot duties heading into training camp.
Powell had a nice close to the season in 2018 when he finally got a start in Week 17, albeit in a meaningless game, but he went off for 6 catches and 103 yards on 9 targets. That game alone won’t be enough to guarantee him a roster spot in 2019 — but it doesn’t hurt. Having made the team as a UDFA last season with fellow WRs Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Golden Tate still on the roster, his path to making the Week 1 roster looks better this offseason then it did at this time last year.
I wouldn’t go out of my way to try and add Powell to your roster, but if you have a spot on your bench for a speculative add, he is worth a shot. The slot duties have long been a lucrative position in the Matthew Stafford post Calvin Johnson era, as we saw with Bruce Ellington last season. He only needs to beat out a 33-year-old WR with extensive injury history in Danny Amendola and, if he does, he could end up with a ton of volume in this offense.
2019 Projection: 88 targets 67 receptions 837 yards 4 TDs
Breakout Confidence Level: 35%
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