Williams is part of a WR room that didn't add any new bodies during the 2024 NFL Draft.

EDGE Analysis

It's a subtle vote of confidence in the 12th overall pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, as Detroit's roster otherwise has a slew of fourth-receiver types behind Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, namely Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green and Tre'Quan Smith. The No. 2 receiver spot may not be a high-volume task in an offense with ARSB, TE Sam LaPorta and an excellent RB duo, but it's nonetheless a positive sign for Williams that the Lions didn't prioritize adding competition for him this offseason. While he made a bunch of big plays down the stretch last season, Williams has played only 522 regular-season snaps on offense to this point in his career and has never caught more than five passes in a game.

Head coach Dan Campbell indicated that Williams is set for an increased role in 2024, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports. "[Williams] is going to push to be a full-time starter, and that's what we're looking for. Everybody grows at a different rate. Maybe it's taken him a little bit longer, but he is developing and growing. The kid has come on. We got high hopes for him and see him continuing to grow," Campbell said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

EDGE Analysis

Williams technically became a starter Week 7 of last season, but he never topped 70 percent of the offensive snaps in a single game until Detroit's season-ending loss to the 49ers in the playoffs. The 2022 first-round pick also saw just 3.5 targets per game after joining the starting unit. Given that the likes of Josh Reynolds and DJ Chark have regularly topped 80 percent of the offensive snaps while serving as the No. 2 wideout behind Amon-Ra St. Brown in recent years, Williams at least has considerable room to grow from a playing-time standpoint, especially with Reynolds set to become an unrestricted free agent. However, neither Reynolds nor Chark saw more than 4.7 targets per game in a season with Detroit, and none of the top-36 wide receivers in per-game half-PPR scoring saw less than 5.6 targets per game in 2023. With St. Brown and Sam LaPorta presumably the centerpieces for the passing game of a run-first Lions offense, Williams may need to rely upon touchdowns and explosive plays to pay off as a difference-making fantasy asset in 2024.

Williams caught 24 passes on 42 targets for 354 yards and two touchdowns while rushing three times for 29 yards and one touchdown over 12 games in 2023.

EDGE Analysis

While Williams -- who missed the first four games of the year due to a gambling-related suspension -- has not truly lived up to his first-round pedigree through two seasons, he seems to be making strides in the right direction. After starting the season consistently logging less than half of the offensive snaps, the Alabama product finished the year seeing at least two-thirds of them while serving as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams then made a number of catches over three playoff games, ultimately putting together a two-touchdown performance in a loss to the 49ers in the NFC championship game. Unless Detroit brings in significant competition at wide receiver, Williams could be in store for a breakout 2024 campaign as an ascending talent within a high-scoring offense.

Williams (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

After injuring his ankle during the Lions' Week 17 loss at Dallas, Williams kicked off Week 18 prep with an absence from drills. He continued to sit out practices Thursday and Friday, but he was listed with an illness on both occasions and eventually was ruled out ahead of this past Sunday's regular-season finale against the Vikings. Head coach Dan Campbell told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com on Monday that Williams was expected to practice this week and should be good to go for Sunday's wild-card matchup with the Rams, and after Wednesday's uncapped session, the wide receiver is in the clear to return to action. In eight appearances since Detroit's Week 9 bye, Williams averaged 15.7 yards on his 18 catches, notched three carries for 29 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Williams (ankle/illness) is practicing Wednesday, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams sprained his ankle Week 17 and missed the Lions' Week 18 win over the Vikings, but head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the wide receiver should return for the start of the playoffs. His participation Wednesday confirms that he's on the right track to be available for Sunday's wild-card game against the Rams.

Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Williams (ankle/illness) is expected to be good to play Sunday against the Rams, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams missed practice last Wednesday with an ankle injury and then came down with an illness Thursday. He sat out the Week 18 finale against the Vikings but is expected to practice this week leading up to Sunday's playoff game. Williams could take on a bigger target workload if Sam LaPorta (knee) is unable to play.

Williams (ankle/illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Minnesota.

EDGE Analysis

Williams suffered an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's 20-19 loss to Dallas and never returned to the game. He didn't practice this week, and the Lions never figured to push things given that their Week 18 result is highly unlikely to have an impact on their playoff seed (currently No. 3). It's possible some of the teams healthy players are held out or rested, and that combined with Williams being absent should lead to at least one of the team's depth receivers (Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green) playing a lot of snaps. Williams, meanwhile, will hope to make it back for a home game in the wild-card round.

Williams (ankle/illness) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice.

EDGE Analysis

Williams' listed absence Wednesday was due to the ankle injury that forced him out of this past Saturday's game at Dallas, but an illness now is afflicting the second-year wide receiver as well. Per Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com, coach Dan Campbell termed the ankle issue "nothing significant" Monday, but the new ailment clouds Williams' status as the Lions make their way through Week 18 prep. Friday's practice report could be telling for Williams' odds to suit up Sunday against the Vikings.

Williams (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, per coach Dan Campbell, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Campbell downplayed Williams' injury Monday, but it's significant enough to keep the wide receiver off the practice field Wednesday. The coach says that the team plans to play its starters as usual against the Vikings in Sunday's regular-season finale, but injured players could get the week off to heal up for the playoffs, so Williams could be held out as a precaution even if the injury isn't especially significant.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Williams' ankle injury is "nothing significant," Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to Dallas and was unable to return. However, the injury doesn't appear to be serious, and the second-year wideout is considered day-to-day, per Campbell. That being said, the Lions are unlikely to move out of the No. 3 playoff seed in the NFC, so it wouldn't be surprising if Williams is put on a snap count or held out altogether for Sunday's regular-season finale versus Minnesota.