Detroit Lions true No. 1: Marvin Jones or Kenny Golladay?

Going into the 2020 season, the Detroit Lions have two extremely talented wide receivers. But who’s the true number one target for Matthew Stafford?

Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay are without a doubt the two best wide receivers that the Detroit Lions have. The real question is who deserves the label of being quarterback Matthew Stafford’s first target.

Both guys bring a different skill set to the table. Golladay is more of a big-body deep threat, while Jones brings a little bit more speed and athleticism. However, both guys have the ability to make big plays when needed.

Last season, Golladay caught 65 passes for 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns, marking two career highs for him since being drafted in 2017. Jones had 62 receptions for 779 yards and nine touchdowns last season. However, he did miss three games due to injury, making it the second year in a row where he’s missed time due to injury.

To go off of that, Jones has only played 20 games in the past two seasons. It makes you wonder if injuries will be a reoccurring thing for him in the future. On the flip side, Jones’ absence has allowed Kenny G to flourish and develop has he ended up being the only reliable target on the field.

Marvin Jones is only 30 years old, so it’s not like he’s extremely old or anything. Ironically, out of his eight-year career so far, his best seasons have been with Detroit. The change of scenery (and quarterback) by moving to the Motor City has allowed Jones to show the talent he really has. Even with the injuries, he’s been able to produce when he is actually on the field.

Golladay has only improved in his time with the Lions. The former third round pick is showing the rest of the league why he deserves to be the number one target in Detroit. His big play ability has caused people to call him “Babytron” in reference to former Detroit Lions wideout, Calvin Johnson, or Megatron as he was known as.

Both receivers have a valid argument to be known as the number one target. No matter which one you pick, the other guy will be close behind. With that being said, right now, I think Golladay has the upper-hand.

Mostly because all the attention has been on him the past two seasons because of Jones’ absence. He’s been able to show the league his true ability, and has really been able to grow and flourish.

Either way, it’s a blessing to have both guys on the Detroit Lions’ roster as they feed off of each other. They push each other everyday to be better, and it helps when NFL defenses can’t choose which guy to hone in on week in and week out.