Lions win over Chiefs may have given some insight into what their receiving corps could look like Week 1

The Detroit Lions have had some receiver problems as of late. The team has been dying for someone to step and really fill that WR3 role this summer and nobody really has. Still, Saturday's win over the Chiefs and comments from Dan Campbell earlier in the week really gave some insight into what this group could look like.

Let's start with the Campbell side of this. On Monday h e made the comment about the team dying for someone to step up , but it was Wednesday's comments about not just giving receivers a spot because they're receivers that really get this insight going.

"Honestly, what it is, is we just need a reliable staple, you know? Like, that's what Reynolds was for us. Josh Reynolds was the reliable guy we could count on he was gonna be where he's supposed to be when he was supposed to be there to play any spot, and he'd make a critical catch for you" Campbell said. "You need a steady reliable, when the ball needs to find you because coverage dictates it, and that's the guy we need to find. Who is that guy? That is important now. That being said, we don't want to just keep a guy because he's receiver 3,4,5. Like, we want to keep the best players we have in the roster, and that could come in the running back room. Okay."

It's that little spot at the end there. Now we ask, who did you see get a lot of targets in the pass game and succeed on Saturday? That would be running back Sione Vaki. It's looking like he's about to be a big part of this pass game in 2024. He might even be locking down the WR4 role.

I say four for Vaki because what the Lions need at WR3 is a bigger receiver. They can't just have three smaller guys out there. That's where Kaden Davis could find himself on the 53-man roster.

He had a pretty good game against Kansas City and it looks like the Daurice Fountain story might be over. He had a minute there where he looked like he could land the role, but he's fallen out of favor lately and he was a ghost against the Chiefs. You really didn't see Fountain till the third quarter. Not where you want to be seen if you're trying for a starting spot.

Judging by camp and the latest preseason game, here's how we see the Lions initial receiver group looking.

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown
2. Jameson Williams
3. Kaden Davis
4. Sione Vaki
5. Kalif Raymond

Carrying just five allows the Lions to also carry an extra running back this year and that is how the team will likely get Jamar Jefferson onto the roster with five running backs.

I know some will wonder about Isaiah Williams not being here. He's been good during the preseason, but he's got St. Brown and Raymond ahead of him as a slot receiver and a return man. He's going to be on the practice squad if he clears waivers, but making the 53-man roster is going to be hard.

The Lions should still be on the lookout to add at receiver, but this could be the way they go if they don't.

Related: 7 stock up and 3 stock down for the Lions after preseason game against the Chiefs