DECEMBER 5, 2021 • NFL.COM
T.J. HOCKENSON #87 - TIGHT END - MINNESOTA VIKINGS
112 YDS •
13 REC •
0 TD
112 YDS
13 REC
0 TD
T.J. Hockenson catches dime for a TD Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson catches dime for a TD.
Lions reeling after chaotic finish leaves them at 0-10-1
The Detroit Lions for all the mistakes they had made Thursday against the Chicago Bears still had one chance to pick up their first win of the seasonNOVEMBER 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thanksgiving Thursday top plays: Bills smash Saints, Raiders top Cowboys, Bears edge Lions
Thanksgiving is known for both the food and the football. Check out the top plays from the NFL's holiday slate!NOVEMBER 25, 2021
Lions find new ways of self-destructing in loss to Bears
When the Detroit Lions punted with 8:30 left against the Chicago Bears, quarterback Jared Goff was already planning what his offense would have to do nextNOVEMBER 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Snags Thanksgiving touchdown Hockenson secured three of three targets for 35 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's 16-14 loss to Chicago.
Impact Not only did he enter the week outside the top 60 players in terms of red-zone targets, Hockenson has now seen eight or more targets seven times while logging three or less targets in the other four outings. While this up-and-down usage has occasionally hindered his fantasy output, the Iowa product managed to overcome his minimal usage Thursday by snagging a 17-yard score in the third quarter. However, that was just his second touchdown since Week 2, and it may be difficult to build upon this performance in Week 13 against a Vikings defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2021.
NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Santos' game-ending FG ends Bears' skid versus winless Lions
Cairo Santos made a 28-yard game-ending field goal to give the Chicago Bears a 16-14 win over the Detroit Lions on ThursdayNOVEMBER 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lions players surprise Detroit farmer with greenhouse, Thanksgiving tickets Lions running back Jamaal Williams, tight end T.J. Hockenson and cornerback Amani Oruwariye team up with Ford to surprise Jerry Ann Hebron o...
NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • NFL.COM
Bounces back with six receptions Hockenson recorded six receptions on eight targets for 51 yards in Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Browns.
Impact After failing to find the stat sheet against Pittsburgh in Week 10, Hockenson bounced back to record at least six receptions for the fourth time in his last five games. His biggest gain of the day came late in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard reception, though the drive ultimately stalled and concluded in a punt. While he was otherwise limited to short-area catches, Hockenson has now topped 50 yards in five contests this season heading into a Week 12 matchup against the Bears.
NOVEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Browns look to rebound from blowout loss, host winless Lions
The Lions are desperate for their first winNOVEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blanked by Steelers Hockenson was targeted once but he did not record a catch during Sunday's 16-16 tie with the Steelers.
Impact It is not believed that Hockenson was dealing with any sort of injury. Instead, it seemed like he was yet again victim to Detroit's Jared Goff-led passing attack that generated 114 yards on the day. Since Hockenson entered the week averaging eight targets per game with 31 targets in his previous three games, fantasy managers should expect some sort of rebound in Week 11 against Cleveland, but this outing should be a reminder that the floor for even Goff's best pass catchers is apparently zero in any given week.
NOVEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Surging Steelers look to keep woeful Detroit winless
The Pittsburgh Steelers carry a four-game winning streak into a meeting with the reeling Detroit LionsNOVEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 9
Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa has earned a spot in an elite tierNOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winless Lions go into bye with fans staying away from games
The Detroit Lions have a lot of long-suffering fans and they’re starting to show their displeasure by simply not showing up for games to watch the NFL’s only winless team at Ford F...NOVEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NFL Today, Week 8
NFL Today, Week 8NOVEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dan Campbell takes blame for another ugly Lions loss
For eight weeks, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell has been consistent about one thingOCTOBER 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Snags double-digit receptions Hockenson caught 10 of 11 targets for 89 yards during Sunday's 44-6 loss to the Eagles.
Impact Seeing more than double the number of targets as the next closest player on the team, Hockenson was the only avenue through which the Lions were able to find success. However, through eight games, the tight end has now seen at least eight targets six times, which is a claim that only one other tight end in the NFL (Travis Kelce) can make. While Hockenson won't have Kelce's upside as long as Jared Goff is throwing him the ball, his usage rate is elite and it's likely that Hockenson is just approaching his physical peak. The No. 8 pick of the 2019 NFL Draft will remain a top fantasy option when the Lions return from their Week 9 bye.
OCTOBER 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cleared for Week 8 Hockenson (ankle/knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Impact Despite being listed on the injury report for much of the season, Hockenson has played at least 80 percent of snaps on offense in every game, with his 53 targets narrowly topping D'Andre Swift's 52 for the team lead. The third-year tight end should be a big part of Detroit's gameplan this Sunday against a slumping Philadelphia defense.
OCTOBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Remains limited at practice Hockenson (ankle/knee) was limited at Thursday's practice, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Impact Despite a rotating cast of Lions wide receivers, Hockenson hasn't been incredibly efficient with his workload, with his 53 targets going at a clip of 6.8 YPT. He's also reached the end zone just twice in seven games. Assuming he puts his ankle and knee injuries behind him ahead of Sunday's game, Hockenson will look to exploit an Eagles defense that has given up the second-most catches (46, tied with the Ravens) to tight ends this season.
OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 8
Daniel Jones has a great matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, who rank 30th in adjusted pass defense based on numberFire’s metricsOCTOBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dealing with ankle, knee injuries Hockenson (ankle/knee) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday.
Impact Hockenson has been saddled with a knee injury for most of October, and now an ankle issue has reared its head on the practice report. In three games dealing with the former, he compiled a modest 16-144-0 receiving line on 23 targets. Hockenson again will look to ditch the designations before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff against the Eagles, if not by the release of the Lions' final Week 8 injury report Friday.
OCTOBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Busy but inefficient Hockenson (knee) caught six receptions for 48 yards on nine targets against the Rams on Sunday.
Impact The Rams were well aware that the Lions would try to feed Hockenson in this one and prepared accordingly, including setting elite corner Jalen Ramsey against Hockenson at times. Although Hockenson's efficiency was lacking Sunday and the struggles of quarterback Jared Goff might make that an ongoing risk, the nine-target usage for Hockenson is rather encouraging. It wasn't an easy matchup for Hockenson, yet the ball headed his way often. He'll face the Eagles in Week 8.
OCTOBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Playing Sunday Hockenson (knee) is listed as active Sunday versus the Rams in L.A.
Impact For a third straight week, Hockenson is gutting out a knee injury on game day. On the first two contests, he hauled in 10 of 14 targets for 96 yards. Another semi-fruitful outing could be on tap against a Rams defense that has given up the ninth-most yards (364, tied with the Cowboys) to tight ends this season.
OCTOBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Listed as questionable Hockenson (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Impact The tight end logged limited practices Thursday and Friday after sitting out Wednesday's session. He'll likely continue playing through his knee injury, this time in a tough matchup against the stellar Rams defense.
OCTOBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Limited in return to practice Hockenson (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Impact Hockenson was withheld from the Lions' first Week 7 practice Wednesday, but his return to the field Thursday in a limited capacity suggests his absence from the field a day earlier may have been mostly for maintenance purposes. Hockenson may need to practice fully Friday to avoid carrying a questionable designation into Sunday's game against the Rams, but regardless, he appears on track to play this weekend.
OCTOBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Back at practice Hockenson (knee) returned to practice Thursday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Impact Hockenson didn't participate in Wednesday's practice, but the tight end's return for Thursday's session bodes well for his chances of suiting up for Sunday's contest against the Rams. That said, it wouldn't surprise us to see Hockenson listed as questionable come Friday, as he was in advance of Week 6 action before suiting up this past Sunday against the Bengals en route to catching eight of his 11 targets for 74 yards.
OCTOBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
