The top five Detroit Lions players for the 2022 season
There were many Detroit Lions players who excelled in 2022, but these five were the most important.
The Green Bay Packers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Detroit Lions in Week 18 thanks to their victory, which marked the season's grand finale. Even though the Lions were already out of the playoffs before the game began, beating the Packers is always enjoyable.
Let's examine the players who had the most effects on this club in 2022. The top five Lions players from the previous season are shown below.
#5. James Houston, Linebacker
After being first cut by the team and returning to practice, James Houston only participated in seven games this season, but he had an immediate impact. In those seven games, he recorded eight sacks, adding another edge rusher to Hutchinson's lineup. In the games Houston participated in, the Lions went 5-2 while only surrendering 20.7 points per contest. Without him, they allowed 28.2 points per game.
It seems strange to argue that a Lions player who didn't even play until Thanksgiving was one of the team's most valuable this year. Nonetheless, there is no doubting Houston's influence on this defense. The Lions will have proven to have uncovered a late-round gem if he can continue to perform at a level even somewhat comparable to that in the years to come.
#4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Wide Receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown, unquestionably the top receiver for the Lions, is currently among the league's most productive receivers. St. Brown caught 106 catches for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns this year, following a stellar rookie campaign. He received 146 targets, 76 more than any other receiver, making him Goff's top option and the top receiver in the eighth-ranked passing attack in the NFL.
While St. Brown lacks any particularly standout physical characteristics, some may compare him to Rams receiver Cooper Kupp because of his propensity for finding openings. And as Kupp has shown, a champion team may have this kind of receiver as its best.
#3. Jamaal Williams, Running Back
Jamaal Williams immediately assumed the lead back position when D'Andre Swift was widely expected to do so, and he hasn't looked back since. Williams ran for 1,066 yards on 262 carries while scoring a franchise-high 17 touchdowns. He played a significant role in the Lions' fourth-best red zone offense, which saw touchdowns scored on 66 percent of their visits into the area.
Williams, who started his career with Green Bay, was playing this season on a contract. He performed more than adequately to earn Detroit's decision to re-sign him this offseason. You can be sure that this offensive would not have been nearly as effective and skilled in the red zone without Williams. With a two-touchdown performance against his former team to end the season, he eliminated them from the playoffs. Fans of the Lions should anticipate his return in 2019.
#2. Aidan Hutchinson, Defensive end
Hutchinson, who was selected by the Lions with the second overall pick in the April 2018 draft, more than lived up to and above expectations. With 9.5 sacks and three interceptions, Hutchinson set the standard at the edge. He was tenacious in his chase of the quarterback and frequently succeeded on his second attempt. At the line scrimmage, he displayed elite hands and a rapid burst that made him difficult for offensive lines to contain.
Aidan Hutchinson has given the group a foundation on which to construct their team. In addition to being a leader on the field through his performance and communication, he is a team favorite in the locker room because he embodies the work ethic that head coach Dan Campbell wants this team to develop. With Hutchinson, the Lions were successful.
#1. Jared Goff, Quarterback
This season, Goff was the player that garnered the most admiration and faith from the Lions' fan base. Goff's 2021 season was at best ordinary, but this past season, when he finished fifth in QBR, he was among the best in the league (61.2). Sixth in the league, he passed for 4,438 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.
Throughout the season, Goff had complete control over this attack. He was the coordinator of the fifth-best offensive in the league and the division, averaging over 27 points per game. Goff went above and beyond in a year where he needed to establish his worthiness to remain in the league for the long run. He might have made a name for himself as Detroit's long-term quarterback.
