There are times in fantasy football where you look at your roster, see your injuries, evaluate the lack of waiver wire options, and just know it is going to be a difficult week.
With all the COVID issues, injuries, and unexpected players out last week that was one of those weeks in the NFL and especially for the Detroit Lions.
Lions vs Cardinals fantasy focus
After a tough game last week in Denver where they were forced to play backups of the backup at many positions, the Lions need to regroup in a hurry to play a high-powered Arizona Cardinals team. The Cardinals have one of the best records in the NFC, but just got the news they will be without their star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
The Lions are still unsure if they will have some of their top fantasy players in D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson. Other role players like Craig Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, and Brock Wright have been asked to step up and fill the void.
This game is in Ford Field, but an angry Arizona team that just lost a crucial matchup to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams last week is coming in. Expect them to throw it all over the field against the Lions and them to put up some nice fantasy statistics in this one. The Lions will have to have some tricks up their sleeve and try to grind it out if they want to pull out a big upset win.
Start
- Tom Brady vs Saints
- Dalvin Cook at Bears
- Ja’Marr Chase at Broncos
- Zach Ertz at Lions
Sit
- Cam Newton at Bills
- James Robinson vs Texans
- D.K. Metcalf at Rams
- Tyler Higbee vs Seahawks
Top 3 projected players by position
Quarterbacks
- Josh Allen vs Panthers
- Lamar Jackson vs Packers
- Tom Brady vs Saints
Running Backs
- Jonathan Taylor vs Patriots
- Dalvin Cook at Bears
- Nick Chubb vs Raiders
Wide Receivers
- Cooper Kupp vs Seahawks
- Davante Adams at Ravens
- Justin Jefferson at Bears
Tight Ends
- Travis Kelce at Chargers
- Mark Andrews vs Packers
- Rob Gronkowski vs Saints
Team Defenses
- Dolphins vs Jets
- Cowboys at Giants
- Cardinals at Lions
Kickers
- Nick Folk at Colts
- Justin Tucker vs Packers
- Matt Gay vs Seahawks
Waiver wire options
- PJ Walker (QB Panthers)
- Case Keenum (QB Browns)
- Craig Reynolds (RB Lions)
- Royce Freeman (RB Texans)
- Anthony Schwartz (WR Browns)
- Dee Eskridge (WR Seahawks)
- Harrison Bryant (TE Browns)
- Nick Vannett (TE Saints)
Intriguing games and players in Week 15
(Week 15 Bye Weeks: None)
Kansas City at LA Chargers, Thursday 8:20 PM, EST
- KC: Travis Kelce (TE), Patrick Mahomes (QB)
- LAC: Justin Herbert (QB), Keenan Allen (WR)
Las Vegas at Cleveland, Saturday 4:30 PM, EST
- LVR: Josh Jacobs (RB), Darren Waller (TE)
- CLE: Nick Chubb (RB), Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR)
New England at Indianapolis, Saturday 8:20 PM, EST
- NE: Mac Jones (QB), Damien Harris (RB)
- IND: Michael Pittman Jr (WR), Johnathan Taylor (RB)
Arizona at Detroit, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- AZ: Kyler Murray (QB), Rondale Moore (WR)
- DET: Craig Reynolds (RB), Josh Reynolds (WR)
Cincinnati at Denver, Sunday 4:05 PM, EST
- CIN: Joe Burrow (QB), Joe Mixon (RB)
- DEN: Javonte Williams (RB), Jerry Jeudy (WR)
Seattle at LA Rams, Sunday 4:25 PM, EST
- SEA: Russell Wilson (QB), Rashad Penny (RB)
- LAR: Matthew Stafford (QB), Sony Michel (RB)
New Orleans at Tampa Bay, Sunday 8:20 PM, EST
- NO: Alvin Kamara (RB), Taysom Hill (QB)
- TB: Tom Brady (QB), Ronald Jones (RB)
Minnesota at Chicago, Monday 8:15 PM, EST
- MIN: Justin Jefferson (WR), Dalvin Cook (RB)
- CHI: Allen Robinson (WR), David Montgomery (RB)
Bottom Line
Even in times when you look at your roster and feel there is no path to victory – there is. You have to work hard to find it sometimes though. The Lions are trying to do that with all their key injuries and current COVID-19 cases.
Most fantasy owners are now in the fantasy playoffs or maybe have one more week to go. Even if your lineup has some question marks and the final score projections don’t look pretty to start, you still have a chance to win. Add some sneaky-depth players that might get the football or find the endzone, cover your positions where you have potential injuries where that player might not be able to play that week, and put your best lineup in before kickoff. Anything can happen in the NFL, for the Lions, and especially in fantasy football.
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