Even though the Detroit Lions were horrific as they embarrassed their way through the only 0-16 record in NFL history, there were some bright spots. Unfortunately for the Lions, those few sunny moments came mostly in the imaginary game of fantasy football.

Their success in a made-up game still got everybody fired, of course, but those few glimmers of hope and the subsequent offseason changes actually make the Lions an intriguing team when it comes to the 2009 fantasy football season.
The big names are receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Kevin Smith, but there are also a few potential sleepers who could turn into fantasy bench players or even develop into starters. Throw in a kicker and there could be at least five Lions worth keeping on fantasy rosters.
While some people make it a policy to avoid drafting fantasy players from bad teams, nobody can deny Johnson is one of the NFL’s top receivers.
He was unbelievably good in his second season, catching 78 passes for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns — one of them for 96 yards. Those would be huge numbers any year, but Johnson was even more impressive considering just how pathetic the rest of the offense was.
The Lions scored only about 17 points a game, fewer than 26 other teams, and had major injury woes. Dan Orlovsky was the starting quarterback most of the time (7 games), followed by Jon Kitna (5 games) and Daunte Culpepper (who went from retired couch potato to NFL starter in less than a week and started four times). Of course, Lions starters often weren’t finishers last year, so Drew Henson and Drew Stanton also took snaps.
Even with all those spare parts throwing his way — and every defense knowing they were throwing his way — Johnson went over 100 yards five times and scored in 10 games.
Following the logical assumption that quarterback play can’t possibly get any worse, his numbers should be at least as good as last year.
At running back, Smith should be a No. 2 running back in most leagues. And he could be huge based on last year.
Detroit coaches, apparently sensing Smith could be really good, pretty much ignored him the first half of the season. In his final eight games, he averaged 22 carries for just over 80 yards and scored four times. Not exactly monster numbers, but over a full season that projects to more than 1,300 yards. And, again, those stats were compiled with an inept surrounding cast.
Of the possible fantasy surprises in Detroit, Culpepper has the most potential.
If he beats out rookie first-round pick Matt Stafford, he’ll be looking to prove that he’s still an elite quarterback and keep the rookie on the bench. Remember, this is the same guy who piled up 70 touchdowns in 2003-04 in Minnesota. (Then again, he essentially forgot how to play the next four years, failing to go for more than seven games while wandering around Miami, Oakland and Detroit.)
Stafford also has potential, but it’s probably more long term. If he wins the job, he’ll probably be pretty bad as he adjusts to the NFL games. (His interception returned for a TD in his preseason debut could be a preview of things to come.)
If he eventually becomes competent or takes over the job as the season wears on, he might be a long shot to start for a fantasy team. He could even be a Matt Ryan-like surprise, but he’s more likely worth tucking away deep on the bench if you’re in a keeper league.
Elsewhere, receiver Bryant Johnson might worth a late, late gamble in the draft. More likely, he’s worth keeping an eyeball on for a possible waiver wire addition. Johnson was once a regular entry on fantasy football preseason lists as a possible sleeper, but he never panned out in Arizona or San Francisco. (He’s catching on nicely with the Lions’ bumbling style, though, hurting himself in a freak offseason golf-cart accident.)
New receiver Dennis Northcutt and backup running back Maurice Morris also merit waiver-wire monitoring.
Other major changes in Detroit also should boost fantasy potential. New offensive coordinator Scott Linehan will immediately help as long as his confidence isn’t shot from his dreadful term as St. Louis’ head coach. He still has an impressive resume as an offensive coordinator in Minnesota and Miami.
The Lions also brought in three new offensive linemen who were decent names in recent years.
All the changes may or may not make much of a difference in Detroit’s win-loss record, but one thing’s for sure: Things can’t get any worse.