Will New OC John Morton Let the Lions Roar?

The Detroit Lions are one of the NFL's premier offenses, and fantasy managers have come to rely on them for consistent, top-end production across the board. With Ben Johnson calling plays, the Lions have finished 5th, 5th, and 1st in points scored over the last three seasons. Now that Johnson has left for Chicago, it's fair to ask whether new offensive coordinator John Morton can sustain the excellence.

Here's the bottom line: This offense remains one of the safest bets in fantasy football. The foundation stays intact, and Morton's approach is more about refinement than overhaul. That said, there will be some shifts in style and usage that are important to track.

Fantasy Takeaways at a Glance

• QB Jared Goff remains a high-floor QB2 with weekly QB1 streaming value. Morton helped build the version of this offense that revived Goff's career in 2022. Expect continued rhythm passing, strong red zone production, and elite offensive line support.

• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is still an elite WR1. We rank him as WR6 heading into the season, and nothing about this coordinator change alters that confidence. Morton values precision route-runners and smart coverage readers, and St. Brown is the heartbeat of this passing game.

• WR Jameson Williams is the potential riser. Morton is more inclined than Johnson to attack vertically, and Williams has the deep speed to exploit it. He will remain volatile, but if the usage trend grows, he could make a leap into weekly WR3 territory with spike weeks baked in.

• RB Jahmyr Gibbs is a top-tier fantasy asset. We have him ranked as a top-3 running back, and Morton's style may actually raise his ceiling. Quick-game passes, spacing mismatches, and red zone versatility all align with Gibbs' elite skill set. He belongs in the first round of every draft.

• RB David Montgomery holds steady RB2 value. The offensive line dominance is not changing, and Morton is not going to complicate the run game. Expect continued high-leverage work, including goal-line touches and 15-plus carries most weeks.

• TE Sam LaPorta remains locked in as a mid-to-high TE1. His role as Goff's chain-mover and zone-beater will stay vital, and Morton's history working with tight ends in layered passing concepts ensures LaPorta will not be left behind.

The Lions are not rebuilding. They are evolving. Morton hopes to offer just enough new wrinkles to keep defenses guessing, without sacrificing the structure that made this one of the most productive offenses in football. For fantasy managers, Detroit remains one of the most bankable depth charts in the league.

Who Is John Morton?

John Morton's Coaching Resume (Source: PFR)

Morton steps into the coordinator role after serving as a senior offensive assistant for the Lions in 2022, the year their offense turned the corner. His résumé includes stops with the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and USC. His primary focus throughout has been passing game design and wide receiver development. He has worked under respected coaches like Jon Gruden, Sean Payton, and Jim Harbaugh. The fact that these coaches have rehired him speaks volumes about his football intelligence and creativity.

A Fair Concern: Morton's Track Record as a Play-Caller