NFL Player Props: TJ to lead the way in Motown

A change in QB isn't likely to help TJ Hockenson but he still has every opportunity to clear 800.5 receiving yards according to Neil Monnery...

TJ Hockenson has become one of the most reliable Tight End’s in the league and coming into his third season he has just cracked NFL.com’s Top 100 player list for the first time with the former Hawkeye coming in at #93.

Back in college he was part of one of the best TE duo’s around the country along with fellow first-round pick Noah Fant. Their career trajectories have been eerily similar but it was Hockenson who put up the better numbers in 2021 as he caught 67 passes for 723 yards and six TDs.

Last year he was receiving balls from Matthew Stafford but this time around there will be a significant downgrade as Jared Goff will be the man under Center. This causes me a bit of concern looking at how Hockenson may go in his third season but then I look around the lack of talent in the WR positions and I get a lot more bullish about his chances of clearing that 800.5 yard plateau this season.

Looking at the Lions’ depth chart and you’ll see the expected starting trio at receiver are Tyrell Williams, Bresham Perriman and Quintez Cephus. That is not exactly a set of players in the skill position that is going to give opposition Defensive Coordinators sleepless nights.

This means that I think Hockenson will be the number one target for Goff. He’s got a very reliable set of hands and the short-passing game may well be en vogue in Detroit this season with the change in QB.

I like TJ to get 8-10 targets a game and churning out 50+ yards on average throughout the 17-game campaign. 50 yards a game puts him at 850 and I think despite the Lions potentially being a very poor team offensively - the third year man leads the way for them and is better value on the over side of this ledger.

Pick: Over on the TJ Hockenson receiving yards market (800.5 yards) at -112.