Coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday at the Annual League Meeting that Chark recently underwent ankle surgery, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Rivera said that Chark could be ready for OTAs. The 26-year-old looks primed to join 32-year-old veteran Adam Thielen, both newcomers to Carolina's offense, as the team's top receiving options, though further competition could be added in the 2023 NFL Draft. Of course, the Panthers also look poised to add a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, so if Chark is able to return to health early in the offseason it will give him more time to build up a rapport with what should be a first-year starting quarterback.
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Panthers' DJ Chark: Lands with Panthers
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The Panthers have agreed to a one-year deal with Chark, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Chark caught 30 passes on 52 targets for 502 yards and three TDs in 11 games for Detroit in 2022, his lone campaign with the team. As long as he can stay healthy, the 26-year-old projects to be a key pass-catching target for the Panthers in 2023 alongside fellow newcomer Adam Thielen. Veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton currently tops the team's QB depth chart, but it's assumed that Carolina will bolster the position via the top pick in next month's NFL Draft, with Chark's early-season fantasy prospects in 2023 hinging on how well he meshes with the franchise's Week 1 starter.
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Lions' DJ Chark: Makes game-sealing catch
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Chark caught three of four passes for 14 yards during Sunday's 20-16 win over Green Bay.
Chark struggled to get open most of the game outside of the play in which he made the game-sealing catch on 4th-and-1 with just over a minute remaining in regulation. He'll finish out his one-year contract with Detroit having racked up 502 yards and three scores over 11 games. While this isn't the kind of production that will significantly boost his stock entering free agency, Chark performed well in a deep-threat role and caught a career-high three catches of 40-plus yards despite seeing a handful fewer targets than he saw during his productive days in Jacksonville between 2019 and 2020.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: WRs to Sit
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Chark was good the last time he was on the road in Week 16 at Carolina with four catches for 108 yards on five targets, but I'm not going to trust him here at Green Bay. The Packers secondary is tough, led by standout cornerback Jaire Alexander, and Chark hasn't scored a touchdown in his past three games. He's also been at five targets or less in three games in a row, and the only Fantasy receiver to start for the Lions is Amon-Ra St. Brown. Jared Goff will get help from his running backs, St. Brown and some tight end who will likely come out of nowhere (see Shane Zylstra in Week 16 and Brock Wright in Week 17), but Chark is not worth starting in the majority of leagues in Week 18.
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Lions' DJ Chark: Two long gains against Bears
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Chark caught two of four targets for 56 yards during Sunday's 41-10 win over the Bears.
Chark logged a pair of 28-yard gains but wasn't needed to do much else -- outside of throwing an impressive block to help spring Jameson Williams for a 40-yard rushing gain -- on a day Detroit had its way on the ground. Against a Bears defense that ranked among the worst in the league in many passing categories, this output was surely a disappointment to anyone counting on Chark for production. Look for the entire Lions passing game to rebound in a crucial regular-season finale in Green Bay to book a trip to the playoffs.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Chark just had four catches for 108 yards on five targets in Week 16 at Carolina, and it was good to see him perform well on the road. He has a favorable matchup in Week 17 against Chicago, and in his past two games at home, Chark had 11 catches for 192 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville in Week 13 and Minnesota in Week 14. He's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against the Bears, who have allowed six receivers to score at least 13 PPR points in their past four games.
While we're waiting for the Lions to let rookie Jameson Williams out of the cage, so to speak, Chark is the clear downfield threat for Detroit. There's legit volatility here because he doesn't see a ton of targets every week, but his upside shouldn't be ignored in a favorable home matchup.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Sleeper WRs
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Chark just had four catches for 108 yards on five targets in Week 16 at Carolina, and it was good to see him perform well on the road. He has a favorable matchup in Week 17 against Chicago, and in his past two games at home, Chark had 11 catches for 192 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville in Week 13 and Minnesota in Week 14. He's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against the Bears, who have allowed six receivers to score at least 13 PPR points in their past four games.
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Lions' DJ Chark: Tops century mark
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Chark caught four of five targets for 108 yards during Saturday's loss to the Panthers.
Chark made a number of nice catches -- including a 39-yard haul on 3rd-and-10 at one point -- while displaying a deep-threat ability that continues to complement fellow starting wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown well. Chark has finished with at least 94 receiving yards in the past four games and his 19.9 yards per reception over this stretch ranks among the highest in the league -- significantly outpacing the season-long league leader in that category, Jaylen Waddle (18.0). With the Lions possibly set to lean on the passing game over the final two games with Jamaal Williams (leg) uncertain to play, Chark could keep the good times rolling in Week 17 against the Bears.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Week 17 Early Waiver Targets (Add/Drop)
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Last Sunday, ESPN's Mina Kimes tweeted that the Lions "sacrificed" D.J. Chark to Sauce Gardner in Week 15, and that probably helps explain his only bad game in the past month. Chark topped 90 yards for the third time in four games Sunday, leading the Lions with his 108 yards on just five targets. He's been the big-play guy for an offense that consistently moves the ball pretty well, and it's a role that has fit him perfectly. And now he gets to go against a Bears defense in Week 17 that allows the third-highest yards per pass attempt in the league. Teams tend to not have to pass the ball against the Bears, but with Chark's big-play role, that's less of a concern. He's never going to be a guaranteed contributor, but the way he's playing right now and the matchup make him a viable WR3 for the Fantasy championships.
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Lions' DJ Chark: Blanketed by Jets
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Chark caught one of two passes for 18 yards during Sunday's 20-17 win over the Jets.
Chark ultimately drew one of the more unfavorable matchups he could find against likely defensive rookie of the year Sauce Gardner, who was almost never tested by Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Instead, the Lions directed the vast majority of the passing game through Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back D'Andre Swift on short passes. Chark and the rest of the Lions' air attack will look to get back to their explosive ways in Week 16 against a Panthers defense that could be without top cornerback CJ Henderson (ankle).
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Lions' D.J. Chark: WRs to Sit
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I've been hyping up Chark for the past two weeks, and he's been great with at least 14 PPR points in two outings against Jacksonville and Minnesota. He has 13 targets over that span for 11 catches, 189 yards and a touchdown, and it's been fun to watch him be productive after an injury-marred start to the season. But this should be a tough week for him against the Jets, who are No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. The Jets have allowed just two touchdowns to opposing receivers since Week 8, and the Lions passing attack has struggled on the road. Chark is a low-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver at best in this matchup.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Week 15 Waiver Priority List
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Chark doesn't have an easy matchup in Week 15 at the Jets, but I still want him on my Fantasy team. He's been great the past three games with two touchdowns, two games of at least 14 PPR points and two outings with at least 94 receiving yards. Now, he only has 18 targets over that span, but he's been a big part of Detroit's offensive resurgence of late, and he could be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all formats to close the season. After facing the Jets, he gets more favorable matchups against Carolina in Week 16 and Chicago in Week 17, so hopefully he's still playing well in those games. Chark should be added for at least 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Week 15 Early Waiver Targets (Add/Drop)
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The Lions are starting to get something out of prized rookie Jameson Williams, who caught his first career NFL pass Sunday, a 41-yard touchdown. However, Chark followed up a solid Week 13 with an even better Week 14, putting together his best game of the season. That's consecutive 90-plus-yard games from Chark, in a Lions offense that is rolling heading into a tough matchup against the Jets. Chark looks like a viable WR3 with boom-or-bust potential for that one.
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Lions' DJ Chark: Continues surge in Week 14 win
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Chark brought in six of seven targets for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Lions' 34-23 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Chark co-led the Lions in receptions while pacing the team in receiving yards with the help of a game-long 48-yard grab for a second-quarter touchdown. The speedster has generated an 11-192-2 line over the last two games, and he's seen 18 targets in his last three contests overall. He'll look to continue his surge in a tough Week 15 road matchup against the Jets.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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I want to use players in the Vikings-Lions game, which has a projected total of 53 points, according to Caesars Sportsbook. We could see Jameson Williams have a bigger role this week, but Chark is coming off two solid performances for the Lions and is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in this matchup. Chark scored a touchdown in Week 12 against Buffalo and then followed that up with five catches for 98 yards on six targets against the Jaguars, his former team, in Week 13. The Vikings are No. 3 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Chark and Amon-Ra St. Brown should both do well in this matchup.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Sleeper WRs
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I want to use players in the Vikings-Lions game, which has a projected total of 53 points, according to Caesars Sportsbook. We could see Jameson Williams have a bigger role this week, but Chark is coming off two solid performances for the Lions and is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in this matchup. Chark scored a touchdown in Week 12 against Buffalo and then followed that up with five catches for 98 yards on six targets against the Jaguars, his former team, in Week 13. The Vikings are No. 3 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Chark and Amon-Ra St. Brown should both do well in this matchup.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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I'm hopeful Jameson Williams (58 percent rostered) starts to play more after being activated in Week 13, but Chark should be more useful for the foreseeable future. Chark scored a touchdown in Week 12 against Buffalo and then followed that up with five catches for 98 yards on six targets against the Jaguars, his former team, in Week 13. He has a favorable matchup again in Week 14 against the Vikings, and Chark has the potential to be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues until Williams is 100 percent. Add Chark for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB, and Williams is worth speculating on for 1 percent.
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Lions' DJ Chark: Lights up old team
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Chark secured five of six targets for 98 yards in the Lions' 40-14 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
Chark got a crack at his original Jaguars squad and was able to generate season-best catch and yardage totals in the process. The 2018 second-round pick of the Jaguars has shown signs of life over the last two games -- he also recorded his first touchdown since Week 1 against the Bills on Thanksgiving -- giving him some momentum heading into a key Week 14 divisional battle against the Vikings at Ford Field.
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Lions' D.J. Chark: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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I still like Chark as a sleeper in deeper leagues against the Jaguars, even with Jameson Williams (ACL) expected to make his NFL debut this week. Williams will likely be on a snap count, and this is a revenge game for Chark, who started his career in Jacksonville. Chark has the chance to be a No. 3 receiver in deeper formats, and he just scored a touchdown in Week 12 in Week 12 against Buffalo with two catches for 16 yards on five targets.
