TeSlaa’s Growing Role Spells Trouble for Fantasy Owners
Being limited by an illness during the practice week led to Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa playing just three offensive snaps in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. His highlight-reel touchdown catch was the easy highlight of an otherwise rough day for the Lions, and it brought visions of what he might be able to do with a bigger role.
The day after the season opener, Lions head coach Dan Campbell promised TeSlaa would see more action.
"I think we really wanted to try to get him involved last week (going into Week 1)", Campbell said. "But then he got sick and he missed a lot of practice, so then we didn't feel comfortable trying to load him up with stuff. So it was gonna be very limited. But certainly, we'd like to use him more."
The end of Campbell's comments coming out of Week 1 was easy to see as a sneaky message to fantasy managers (in deeper leagues) to put TeSlaa somewhere on their radar.
Isaac TeSlaa is lined up to be an increasing factor in the Lions' offense
In Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, TeSlaa played 17 offensive snaps as he narrowed the playing time gap (as expected) with Kalif Raymond (32 snaps). The rookie made another one-handed catch late in the first half, on his lone target in the game, which kicked off a sequence that was made controversial by an officiating error.
On a little more than half the snaps against the Bears, TeSlaa ran just two fewer routes than Raymond with the same number of targets (Raymond had one carry). Taking a look at the game from a fantasy perspective,
"The Lions used Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams as their main wide receivers last week, while Kalif Raymond almost always joined the two in three-receiver sets. TeSlaa’s three snaps all came at Raymond's expense in three-receiver sets."
"This week, Raymond’s playing time in 11 personnel dropped to 70.3%, while TeSlaa’s time increased to 43.2%. TeSlaa also played a snap in a two-wide receiver set. This was not necessarily a result of the blowout. TeSlaa played 12 snaps in the first half compared to Raymond's 15. TeSlaa played noticeably less in the second half because the Lions weren’t using as much 11 personnel."
Jahnke finished his analysis with what easily lands as the bottom line regarding TeSlaa as a fantasy factor this year.
"While TeSlaa might not see enough volume to make him a fantasy starter, it will be interesting to see if he can take volume away from anyone else in the offense."
TeSlaa (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) is, at minimum, an ideal red zone target for Jared Goff as he gets more and more integrated into the Lions' offense. Toward the higher end of outcomes, he's the "X" receiver they've struggled to find.
Barring an injury to Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams, TeSlaa will not see the consistent volume befitting a fantasy starter this season. But, as time goes on, he could siphon off enough valuable opportunities to impact the Lions' pass catchers who are weekly lineup locks (St. Brown, Williams, tight end Sam LaPorta).
The term "fantasy vulture" is usually reserved for players at positions other than wide receiver. But TeSlaa could become that dreaded production leech for a segment of fantasy managers, just as Lions fans are getting excited about his growing role in the offense.
Steelers Rookie Jack Sawyer Sends Sam Darnold to the Turf, Claims Hit of the Week
Steel City Underground hand selects the ‘Steelers Hit of the Week’, a bigtime play that shook the opponents, following every game of the 2025 NFL regular season for fans to relive.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had their hands full with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL regular season at Acrisure Stadium. While the run defense, and interior, was exposed, two linebackers had big hits – and they weren’t named T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, or Patrick Queen.
While both Jack Sawyer and Payton Wilson are deserving of the ‘Steelers Hit of the Week’ against the Seahawks – both earning sacks – we opted to give the honors to the rookie this week.
Sawyer helped boost the interior of the defense as Highsmith (left the game), Queen (injured ribs, played hurt), Isaiahh Loudermilk (left the game), Wilson (vomiting, but returned) became casualties of heat, a pounding Seahawks run game, and passes over the middle.
Late in the game, on 2nd & Goal at the Pittsburgh 10, Sawyer was able to get through the gap and put Sam Darnold onto the turf for a loss of nine yards. Sawyer beat Watt, who had no sacks in the game, to the Seattle quarterback.
It was Sawyer’s career-first sack in the NFL and gives fans an idea of what the former Ohio State Buckeye might provide from the inside linebacker position this season. Sawyer’s stats included the sack as well as 6 tackles (4 solo) and 2 tackles for a loss.
We don’t want to discount Wilson’s sack; it was also his career first. His hit came during the second quarter, when the game was still in contention, and helped the Steelers defense force a Seahawks punt. Wilson dropped Darnold for an eight-yard loss.
Wilson put together a pretty strong game. He logged the highest tackle total among all Steelers defenders with 10 (8 solo). He played sideline to sideline to help stop the run and cover crossing routes. He recorded one tackle for a loss. All of that while being overcome by the heat for a time.
The Steelers will need more big plays from both Sawyer and Wilson as they tweak their defense to account for injuries in preparation for the New England Patriots in Week 3.
