Joseph Fauria turned out to be a terrific after-the-draft find for the Lions and is he's expected to play an important role in new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's system.
Lombardi knows a thing or two about good tight end play. He worked with All Pro tight end Jimmy Graham in New Orleans during Graham's first four years in the league.
Lombardi says he's brought the Saints playbook with him to Detroit and that's something that immediately got the attention of Fauria last week.
"I have a similar background to (Graham) with basketball and similar height and the way we play. I'm not calling myself Jimmy Graham, but I strive to have the kind of production he has. I think I can contribute very similarly to how he has with the Saints."
Fauria would need to make a leap to become a starting-caliber fantasy TE1. He was merely a redzone threat in his first season, though if Brandon Pettigrew leaves in free agency, the opportunity would be there for Fauria.
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