Lions 2026 First Quarter Risers and Fallers

Through five games, the Detroit Lions have managed to secure a winning record.

Though they've had bumps along the way, the Lions are 3-2 with a chance to make a statement within the division with two NFC North opponents awaiting them out of the bye week.

While they've had some success to start the year, upcoming games against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at home should be telling about where this team ultimately stands.

Here are risers and fallers for the Lions through the first quarter of the 2026 NFL season.

Risers

DE D.J. Wonnum

The Lions were hoping they could find an ideal running mate for star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in Wonnum after signing him to a one-year contract. Through five games, he's out-performed those expectations and is looking at a possible career year.

He currently leads the team with five sacks, and has three straight games with at least one. His career-high in a season is eight, and working opposite of Hutchinson has proven to be ideal for him. Not known for being an overly dominant pass-rusher, Wonnum is currently wreaking havoc.

Wonnum has a pass-rush win rate of 11.6 percent, which ranks behind only Hutchinson and Alim McNeill amongst Lions. He has also held his own against the run, and is looking like one of the team's better offseason signings.

RB Jahmyr Gibbs

Gibbs was entrusted with being the team's bell-cow back after they traded David Montgomery, and to this point he's lived up to the hype and then some. He ranks fourth in the league in rushing and is on pace for a career-high in receptions as well.

While there are rightfully some concerns about the level of usage that Gibbs has had to endure up to this point, he's certainly one of the league's most dynamic talents. He's quelled any concerns about the workload he's dealt with, and as a result there are high expectations for him moving forward.

OL Christian Mahogany

The Lions were open about the fact that Mahogany would have to earn his starting job back heading into the season. In fact, they brought in veteran Ben Bartch and had plans of recently acquired Juice Scruggs also competing for the job.

However, due to injuries, the competition never materialized quite the way the team envisioned. That hasn't been to the detriment of the franchise, though, as the Lions have stuck with Mahogany and he has played at a high level through his first four starts.

The Boston College product missed the team's Week 2 loss to Buffalo, but has been one of the top-performing players. He's helped stabilize the interior amidst some offseason changes, and is currently the team's third-highest Pro Football Focus graded player with an 86.4 overall offensive grade.

While there were some concerns about Mahogany, he has ultimately found a way to cement himself as a starter moving forward and has taken his performance up a notch.