When the Lions (2-1) travel to face the Packers (2-1) in Green Bay in the first game of NFL Week 4 on "Thursday Night Football" (8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video), fantasy football owners are hopeful to get several key players back from injuries.
For host Green Bay, it will still be missing the starting left side of the offensive line (David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins), but it should get back running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) and wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) to help Jordan Love. Defensively, cornerback Jaire Alexander (back) should also return after missing Week 3.
Detroit also has issues with three of its offensive linemen, but skill-position wise, running back David Montgomery (thigh) is set to return after not playing vs. the Falcons on Sunday.
TNF INJURY UPDATES: Aaron Jones | Christian Watson | David Montgomery
How do those developments affect who you should play in fantasy, whether in seasonal leagues or DFS single-slates? Here are our lineup recommendations:
WEEK 4 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Lions: Who to start, sit in fantasy football on TNF
Sit: QB Jared Goff
Goff was QB6 for Week 2 when he had throw often in a losing overtime shootout vs. Seattle. He has sandwiched that with QB18 and QB14 finishes. The Packers' pass defense has seen a couple of running QBs and hasn't allowed much through the air, and the Lions also should decide to attack more on the ground against the No. 27 run defense with David Montgomery (thigh) likely back. In an even game script vs. a good pass defense, it will be difficult to extract top-12 numbers from Goff, especially on the road in prime time.
MORE THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best props | Betting preview
Start: RB David Montgomery
Montgomery has run well early when healthy and had an effective Week 1 even though it wasn't explosive in relation to rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. Monty should go back to seeing key work. The Lions' offensive line is hurting and needs at least Taylor Decker and Jonah Jackson back on the left side to push the run blocking to its usual high level. The matchup is too good to sit Monty. Consider him an RB2 should he go.
WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Start: RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs might be helped by the return of Montgomery, so the Lions can work to scheme him open in the passing game, not needing to worry about active linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, a good run stopper and cover man who's out with ankle injury. Look for the Lions to get Gibbs more involved as an outlet receiver working the short-to-intermediate area to avoid tough corners Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas.
WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Start: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
St. Brown can work the slot well in this game by avoiding those outside matchups for Goff. Look for his typical five-to-seven catches with a great shot at a third straight 100-yard game.
Sit: WR Josh Reynolds
Reynolds got blanked outside by A.J. Terrell and the Falcons last wee, so it's impossible to trust him vs. the Packers' perimeter coverage.
WEEK 4 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Start: TE Sam LaPorta
LaPorta is TE2 on the season, a great start in three games as a rookie. His role and routes keep expanding as a key complementary target to St. Brown, living up to his preseason hype. The Packers are decent against the tight end but are now more vulnerable without Campbell. LaPorta's athleticism down the seam should be deployed well enough here.
Sit: K Riley Patterson
Patterson isn't getting the required field-goal chances to start, as the Lions' offense typically finishes well once in the red zone.
Sit: Lions D/ST
Aiden Hutchinson and Brian Branch are among their young players delivering, but there are not enough big plays to be had vs. the Packers.
Packers: Who to start, sit in fantasy football on TNF
Start: QB Jordan Love
Love has produced at least two combined scores in every game this season and was QB3 in Week 1 and QB7 in Week 3. He is getting it done with his arm and legs regardless of who's out there around him. He's yet to push for 300 yards and is a bit TD-dependent, but the system sets him up for success. You're looking at a high-floor play, like 250 yards and two TDs, but not much more.
Start: RB Aaron Jones
Jones has seen AJ Dillon and Patrick Taylor not do a whole lot as runners or receivers over the past two games. Jones looked good in Week 1 with his explosive versatility. He can put together a solid, borderline RB1 outing.
Start: WR Romeo Doubs
Doubs falls right into the bottom of WR2s so far with his production tied to touchdowns in Weeks 1 and 3. He's been enough of a key target for Love early to think he's playable outside as a WR3.
Start: WR Christian Watson
It's hard to know what one will get from Watson in his first action of the season after having a ridiculous scoring rate as a rookie last year. His upside makes him worth a shot as another WR3 option.
Sit: WR Jayden Reed
Forget about Reed this week despite his rookie flashes. He's set to draw top rookie defensive back Brian Branch in coverage.
Start: TE Luke Musgrave
Musgrave should have scored on a long TD at home last week. Kyle Pitts should have done the same vs. the Lions on the road last week. The Lions have given up big plays to the position, and Musgrave is a big-play tight end. Look for this rookie to respond well and put up some sneaky top-12 numbers opposite LaPorta.
Sit: K Anders Carlson
Just a reminder that it's no longer Mason Crosby.
Sit: Packers D/ST
The Lions can be pretty clean with Jared Goff with a lot of running.
Lions vs. Packers: DraftKings Showdown lineup
- Captain (1.5X): Packers QB Jordan Love $14,700
- FLEX: Packers WR Christian Watson $8,200
- FLEX: Lions TE Sam LaPorta: $8,000
- FLEX: Lions RB David Montgomery $6,800
- FLEX: Packers TE Luke Musgrave $6,400
- FLEX: Lions WR Kalif Raymond $5,200
Here's tying Love to two key weapons with fair matchups while getting the Lions' three primary complements for Goff. It's a good blend of both teams, and Raymond should be busier than you think again with Reynolds contained away from ARSB.
Lions vs. Packers: FanDuel single-game lineup
- MVP (1.5X): Packers QB Jordan Love $16.000
- AnyFLEX: Lions RB David Montgomery $12,500
- AnyFLEX: Packers WR Christian Watson $11,500
- AnyFLEX: Lions TE Sam LaPorta $10,000
- AnyFLEX: Lions WR Kalif Raymond $8,500
The same thinking goes here, except without Musgrave. There's a nice blend of big-play and scoring potential in each build.
