Luke Willson

A disappointing one-year effort for Willson in Detroit included just 13 catches on 19 targets for 87 yards in 14 games, which came on the heels of a more respectable five-year stint with the Seahawks. While Willson now joins Darren Waller, Derek Carrier and rookie Foster Moreau at tight end in Oakland, the Raiders appear to be deploying a committee approach as they attempt to replace Jared Cook's volume. Willson's experience alone could give him the edge in a race to become the Week 1 starter, but Waller and Moreau each have enough athleticism to push for playing time early and often.

The Eric Ebron Scissorhands Tour has moved on to Indianapolis, so Detroit fans can look forward to Willson getting a shot this fall. Willson's claim to fame to this point is having two Ls in his last name, and not being the brother of Frat Pack funnyman Owen Wilson. The Seahawks liked to use the occasional element of surprise with Willson, funneling 11 touchdowns to him on a modest 89 catches. Of course, it took five years to get to that point, so let's not get drunk on upside dreams. Willson's best yardage season was 362; his best touchdown count was last year's four. If he exceeds those numbers, the Lions will be doing cartwheels down Woodward Avenue.

Willson will continue as second-fiddle to Jimmy Graham after the tight end signed a one-year extension with the Seahawks in March. Last season, Willson managed 15 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. While he doesn't receive a ton of offensive reps, he could be flung into the starting lineup at any moment given Jimmy Graham's injury-prone history with the team.

With the addition of Jimmy Graham, Willson saw his numbers fall across the board in 2015. However, Seattle’s high-profile tight end acquisition in 2016, the selection of Nick Vannett in the third round, likely won’t have the same effect, as Vannett projects as more of a blocking specialist. The thing is, Graham’s 2015 stat line likely represents his own statistical floor, leaving Willson without much room for improvement in 2016. Barring a setback in Graham’s return from a patellar injury, Willson will likely play second fiddle to Graham in the passing game and will only be worth consideration in the deepest of fantasy leagues.

Willson, who has sufficient speed to beat linebackers up the seam, showed enough upside last year to warrant a bigger role in the passing game, finishing the campaign with 22 catches for 362 yards and three touchdowns. However, his fantasy value took a hit when the team traded for Jimmy Graham in March. An expanded role now looks unlikely unless Graham goes down. He'll be used in two-TE sets and can split wide as well, but how many opportunities he gets remains to be seen.

Willson had a decent rookie season, showing he likely could be a steady target in the passing game if he had the opportunity. He probably won't get that opportunity with the Seahawks, though. Zach Miller is the starter, and the team doesn't throw to its tight ends much anyway (Miller's team-leading 56 targets ranked 26th among tight ends). But Anthony McCoy, who missed all last season with an injury, suffered another season-ending injury early in camp, eliminating any competition Willson had for the backup job. Improved blocking will help Willson get on the field more, but even then his receiving numbers won't climb much.