Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson will make the trip to London with the team, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Johnson has an ankle injury and while this news is definitely better than the inverse, it doesn't guarantee that he'll be playing. Johnson has been dealing with the injury since Week 3, and it's been downhill from there.
Calvin Johnson traveling with team; still not likely to play for fantasy owners in Week 8
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is traveling with the team to London. We break down the fantasy implications.
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson played in Week 4 and Week 5, but was used primarily as a decoy. That turned out to be a mistake, as he caught just three passes, and then missed a bunch of practice time and the next two games. The team never confirmed it, but Johnson clearly suffered a setback to his recovery time by running routes even at half speed in a game situation.
Fantasy Impact: Johnson traveling with the team is a big deal; at the same time, he's a locker room leader and there's no real reason to leave him behind, even if the team plans on resting him. It would be a surprise if he played in Week 8 given that the Lions have a bye week right after that. It might be best to rest him and get him back after the bye, especially given that the Lions are 5-2 on the season and facing the Atlanta Falcons, who are struggling. Fantasy owners will need to continue looking elsewhere for the week.
