In fantasy football there often is a difference between the best players and the player with the best statistics. Derrick Henry (RB Titans) leads the league in rushing statistics, but most fantasy owners would probably put Saquon Barkley (RB Giants), Christian McCaffrey (RB Panthers), Alvin Kamar (RB Saints), and Dalvin Cook (RB Vikings) ahead of him if they all were healthy and if we were drafting tomorrow.
The same can be said at other positions as well. The key to fantasy football is being able to identify the top players while also keeping your finger on the pulse of what fantasy players are putting up the best statistics that particular year in order to be in contention for your championship in seasonal leagues. Dynasty leagues are a different story; the quality of the prospect is almost always the top factor to consider.
Lions at Titans fantasy focus
The Detroit Lions will face one of those top players in 2020 and a physical specimen in Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. This guy is 6-foot-3 and 247 lbs, and the Lions run defense has been one of the many liabilities on their team this year. The Lions will have to find a way to slow down the opponent’s run game and the Titans have a stud in wide receiver A.J. Brown too.
D’Andre Swift returned last week to help Detroit’s backfield. He’s a dynamic running back, but with him just coming off the injury list last week it is hard to determine how much he will be used. The Lions have been hurt by injuries to other top fantasy skill players and on defense throughout the season.
This looks like a mismatch for the Titans. Tennessee has a physical, nasty team and the Lions are very beat up physically along with them not playing hard-nosed football on the defensive side of the ball consistently in 2020. Play all your Titans, and limit the Lions you play especially if Matthew Stafford is unable to play at quarterback due to a rib injury.
Start
Jalen Hurts (QB Eagles)
Cam Akers (RB Rams)
A.J. Brown (WR Titans)
T.J. Hockenson (TE Lions)
Sit
Tua Tagovailoa (QB Dolphins)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB Chiefs)
Laviska Shenault Jr. (WR Jaguars)
Jordan Reed (TE 49ers)
Top 3 projected players by position
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen, Bills
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Running Backs
Derrick Henry, Titans
Dalvin Cook, Vikings
Austin Ekeler, Chargers
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams, Packers
Stefon Diggs, Bills
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Darren Waller, Raiders
T.J. Hockenson, Lions
Team Defenses
Steelers
Rams
Ravens
Kickers
Graham Gano, Giants
Younghoe Koo, Falcons
Rodrigo Blankenship, Colts
Waiver wire options
Derek Carr (QB Raiders)
Mitchell Trubisky (QB Bears)
Jeff Wilson (RB 49ers)
DeAndre Washington (RB Dolphins)
Keke Coutee (WR Texans)
Tim Patrick (WR Broncos)
Irv Smith (TE Vikings)
Cole Kmet (TE Bears)
Intriguing games and players in Week 15
(Week 15 Bye Weeks: None)
LA Chargers at Las Vegas, Thursday 8:20 PM, EST
- LAC: Justin Herbert (QB), Austin Ekeler (RB)
- LVR: Josh Jacobs (RB), Nelson Agholor (WR)
Buffalo at Denver, Saturday 4:30 PM, EST
- BUF: Josh Allen (QB), Zach Moss (RB)
- DEN: Drew Lock (QB), Jerry Jeudy (WR)
Carolina at Green Bay, Saturday 8:15 PM, EST
- CAR: Mike Davis (RB), D.J. Moore (WR)
- GB: Allen Lazard (WR), A.J. Dillon (RB)
Tampa Bay at Atlanta, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- TB: Tom Brady (QB), Mike Evans (WR)
- ATL: Matt Ryan (QB), Hayden Hurst (TE)
New England at Miami, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- NE: T.Y. Hilton (WR), Jonathan Taylor (RB)
- MIA: DeAndre Washington (RB), Mike Gesicki (TE)
Detroit at Tennessee, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- DET: T.J. Hockenson (TE), Jamal Agnew (WR)
- TEN: Derrick Henry (RB), A.J. Brown (WR)
Kansas City at New Orleans, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- KC: Patrick Mahomes (QB), Demarcus Robinson (WR)
- NO: Michael Thomas (WR), Taysom Hill (QB)
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, Monday 8:15 PM, EST
- PIT: James Conner (RB), Diontae Johnson (WR)
- CIN: Tee Higgins (WR), Gio Bernard (RB)
Bottom Line
Elite players are often elite. Statistics are often statistics. The key in fantasy football is to draft and identify elite players that put up the top statistics in your particular fantasy league. Easier said than done. Don’t let statistics blind you from top prospects. Also, don’t be afraid to cut ties or bench someone in a seasonal league for other players that are having great statistical seasons that particular year. As Bruce Lee once said, “Be water, my friends”.