Often in fantasy football leagues, you are in a league with your good friends who you have known for years. You know their tendencies and strategies inside and out.
You have fun with those friends during the off-season and even during the draft, but then it turns to fierce competition when the real games start to be played and even ratchets up more when you play head to head.
Lions at Rams fantasy focus
The Detroit Lions find themselves in a bit of a fantasy matchup this week when they travel out to Los Angeles to play their former quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The current Lions quarterback Jared Goff is also in fantasy land as he is traveling back to play against the team he called for years in the Rams.
It feels similar to that matchup you often see in your fantasy league where two really good friends are playing each other, you know they both want to win badly, but on paper you can tell one has a distinct advantage over the other when it comes to the talent on their team which often is reflected in the final score.
Expect this one to be lopsided and for all of the Rams offensive players to be starting options in your fantasy lineup. Stafford should play well to help your fantasy team if he’s your starting quarterback, but will also probably show his former team some respect in the end by not running up the score too much.
Start
- Matthew Stafford vs. Lions
- Damien Harris vs. Jets
- D.J. Moore at Giants
- Jonnu Smith vs. Jets
Sit
- Justin Fields at Buccaneers
- Latavius Murray vs. Bengals
- Henry Ruggs vs. Eagles
- Robert Tonyan vs Washington
Top 3 projected players by position
Quarterbacks
- Patrick Mahomes at Titans
- Kyler Murray vs. Texans
- Lamar Jackson vs. Bengals
Running Backs
- Derrick Henry vs. Chiefs
- Alvin Kamara at Seahawks
- Darrell Henderson vs. Lions
Wide Receivers
- Davante Adams vs. Washington
- Cooper Kupp vs. Lions
- Tyreek Hill at Titans
Tight Ends
- Travis Kelce at Titans
- Darren Waller vs. Eagles
- Mark Andrews vs. Bengals
Team Defenses
- Cardinals vs. Texans
- Buccaneers vs. Bears
- Patriots vs. Jets
Kickers
- Justin Tucker vs. Bengals
- Matt Prater vs. Texans
- Daniel Carlson vs. Eagles
Waiver wire options
- Jameis Winston (QB Saints)
- Tyrod Taylor (QB Texans)
- D’Ernest Johnson (RB Browns)
- Rashaad Penny (RB Seahawks)
- Sterling Shepard (WR Giants)
- Rashod Bateman (WR Ravens)
- Pat Freiermuth (TE Steelers)
- O.J. Howard (TE Buccaneers)
Intriguing games and players in Week 7
(Week 7 Bye Weeks: Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers)
Denver at Cleveland, Thursday 8:20 PM, EST
- DEN: Courtland Sutton (WR), Melvin Gordon (RB)
- CLE: Austin Hooper (TE), Odell Beckham Jr (WR)
Cincinnati at Baltimore, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- CIN: Joe Burrow (QB), Tee Higgins (WR)
- BAL: Marquise Brown (WR), Mark Andrews (TE)
Kansas City at Tennessee, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- KC: Tyreek Hill (WR), Patrick Mahomes (QB)
- TEN: A.J. Brown (WR), Anthony Firkser (TE)
Atlanta at Miami, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- ATL: Calvin Ridley (WR), Kyle Pitts (TE)
- MIA: Myles Gaskin (RB), Jaylen Waddle (WR)
Detroit at LA Rams, Sunday 4:05 PM, EST
- DET: D’Andre Swift (RB), Jamaal Wiliams (RB)
- LAR: Matthew Stafford (QB), Darrell Henderson (RB)
Chicago at Tampa Bay, Sunday 4:25 PM, EST
- CHI: Justin Fields (QB), Allen Robinson (WR)
- TB: Tom Brady (QB), Mike Evans (WR)
Indianapolis at San Francisco, Sunday 8:20 PM, EST
- IND: Carson Wentz (QB), Michael Pittman Jr (WR)
- SF: Brandon Aiyuk (WR), Deebo Samuel (WR)
New Orleans at Seattle, Monday 8:15 PM, EST
- NO: Alvin Kamara (RB), Adam Trautman (TE)
- SEA: Tyler Lockett (WR), Gerald Everett (TE)
Bottom Line
Having a great fantasy football league with your friends is an awesome way to compete and enjoy football together, but at times it can also be complicated.
Trades are made, high stakes are on the line between friends when they play against each other, and at the end of the day you both just really want to win.
Lions safety Tracy Walker said it best during a recent press conference, “When I’m on that field you aren’t my teammate, you aren’t my friend but after the game, it is all love.”
The interesting matchup for the Lions this week will be one to remember or maybe one to forget when it’s all said and done. Enjoy your fantasy leagues with good friends, but when it’s time to play them there is only one objective and that is to win.