Game Info
Kickoff: Monday, October 30th, 8:15 PM ET
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Betting Odds: DET -9, O/U 45.5 via OddsShark
Network: ESPN
Writer: Nick Beaudoin (I don’t have Twitter)
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo (Start, QB2), Brian Hoyer (Sit, QB2), Aidan O’Connell (Sit, QB2)
Jimmy Garoppolo was rested in Week 7 after leaving the Raiders’ Week 6 matchup (in an ambulance) with a back injury, however, HC Josh McDaniels has been optimistic about his availability for Week 8. There is a conversation to be had for Garoppolo this week, as the Lions’ injury-plagued secondary was just picked apart by Lamar Jackson, and as 9-point underdogs, the game script favors a heavy passing attack from the Raiders. However, coming into the week injured and ranked QB24 in PPG, I have little trust in him providing QB1 numbers this week. Although he does have two QB1 finishes on the year (QB11 & QB12), those numbers feel like his absolute ceiling. With a team-implied point total of just 19, I’d rather look for upside elsewhere. Garoppolo can be treated as a mid-QB2 this week.
If for some reason he is unable to go, I’m not considering either of the other Raiders QBs (in 1QB leagues). Veteran Brian Hoyer got the start against the Bears last week, but was benched for rookie Aidan O’Connell after two interceptions and a 30-6 deficit. O’Connell has rushing upside, but he would be an extremely risky play.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs (Start, RB2), Zamir White (Sit)
Josh Jacobs was disappointing in a favorable matchup against the Bears last week, which is not a promising sign for Week 8, as he heads to Detroit to face the (typically) stout Lions rush defense. Coming into the week ranked #3 in PPG to fantasy RBs, I’m expecting Aidan Hutchinson and the Lions defensive line to get back to terrorizing opponents this week. Jacobs is a safe RB2 due to guaranteed volume, but always has RB1 upside if the Raiders can get him involved in the passing game again. No matter how difficult the matchup, Jacobs was the RB3 overall last year, so he should be in your lineup.
Zamir White remains the second-fiddle to Jacobs in this offense, and is only seeing the field to give Jacobs a breather or in garbage time, like last week. He should not be in your lineups, but remains a high-value handcuff.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Davante Adams (Start, WR1), Jakobi Meyers (Start, WR2), Hunter Renfrow (Sit), Michael Mayer (Start, Low-TE1), Austin Hooper (Sit)
Davante Adams was peppered with targets on the first two drives last week, but was dead silent after that point. Adams was clearly unhappy, with camera crews making a point to show him sitting alone on the sidelines as the Raiders made their final drive. McDaniels has made it clear that they do not intend to trade Adams, and if they want to keep him happy, then this is their last week to do it. According to PFF rankings, Adams has favorable matchups across the board, and it will be worth monitoring CB Jerry Jacobs’ status, as he missed last week with a knee injury. Look for Garoppolo to feature Adams against a Lions’ secondary that was just torched by Lamar Jackson, making Davante a high-floor, high-ceiling WR1 this week.
Jakobi Meyers’ success this season has been a welcome surprise to us all. Even with the Raiders’ QB carousel this season, Meyers is ranked WR12 in PPG, averaging 9.3 targets/game. If the Lions’ defensive line can create pressure on Garoppolo, I’d expect another 6-8 target this week for Meyers, making him a high-floor WR2 in what looks to be a positive game script.
Hunter Renfrow is averaging 2.4 targets/game, and is not a focal part of this offense anymore. He can be left on waivers.
Rookie Michael Mayer has been quietly creeping into Austin Hooper’s playing time and target share over the past few weeks, and may be a good streaming option this week as well. The Lions rank bottom-2 in PPG to TEs and were just dominated by Mark Andrews for 63 yards and two TDs. Mayer has TE1 upside and is a good streaming option in a favorable game script.
Detroit Lions
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff (Start, QB1)
Jared Goff and the Lions were embarrassed last week in Baltimore, but I expect them to get right (at home) this week, against a Raiders defense that just allowed 30 points to an UDFA rookie in his first-ever start. The Raiders come into this week ranked 13th in PPG to opposing QBs, but I’m expecting the Lions’ line (that’s fun to say) to win in the trenches, dominating the run game, and allowing OC Ben Johnson to get back to Lions football. With one of the highest team-implied point totals on the slate (26), you can feel comfortable rolling with Jared Goff as a QB1 this week.
Running Backs
David Montgomery (Start, RB1), Jahmyr Gibbs (Start, High-RB2), Craig Reynolds (Sit)
Before being ruled out of last week’s contest, HC Dan Campbell was kind enough to let fantasy managers know that David Montgomery (ribs) will be out “a little bit.” We will have to monitor his status all week, but if he’s active, he’s always got multi-touchdown upside, and you probably have to start him (anyone who faded him in Week 3 against GB will agree). The Raiders come into the week bottom-8 in PPG to fantasy RBs, and just allowed an RB1 overall performance to D’Onta Foreman last week, who has been a healthy scratch for most of the season. The Lions have a top-three-ranked offensive line, and I expect their game plan to revolve around the run game, which bodes well for whoever is in the Lions’ backfield this week.
Jahmyr Gibbs truthers… UNITE! In the absence of Montgomery last week, Jahmyr Gibbs was finally given the reigns to the backfield, rewarding fantasy managers with the RB3 overall performance on the week. As someone who specifically watched (and wrote about) this game, I can say that his stat line last week outweighed his overall performance, but that’s neither here nor there. It was clear that Gibbs was the guy (over Reynolds), but outside of his touchdown run in the fourth quarter, he struggled to get much going on the ground against a tough Baltimore defense. The majority of his production came in the second half when the game was already out of hand, where the Ravens allowed him to rack up dump-offs and yardage underneath. None of that matters for fantasy though, and also shows that Gibbs will be a favorite target for Goff whenever the Lions are in a negative game script. Gibbs appeared to leave this game in full health, and is a safe RB2 if Montgomery is available. If Monty is unable to go, he will be vaulted into high-RB1 status as 9-point favorites.
Craig Reynolds (toe) took a backseat to Gibbs last week, being out-touched 20-4. If Montgomery is available and in full health, he likely won’t see the field. If Montgomery is unavailable and Reynolds is the backup to Gibbs again, I’d expect him to be slightly more involved this week (as his health increases), but not enough to trust for fantasy purposes.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Start, WR1), Josh Reynolds (Start, FLEX), Kalif Raymond (Sit), Jameson Williams (Sit, FLEX), Sam LaPorta (Start, Low-TE1)
Amona-Ra St. Brown is an absolute machine, and automatic WR1 start each week. Even against a stingy Baltimore secondary, ARSB commanded 19 targets (36% target share), converting 13 receptions into 102 yards. Although the Raiders come into the week top-8 in PPG to fantasy WRs, St. Brown will have an excellent matchup this week against slot CB Amir Robertson, and remains a target hog in this offense. Fire up St. Brown as a WR1 every week.
The Lions do a good job of spreading the ball around each week, but it is often Josh Reynolds who stands out as the third receiving option on this team. He clearly has Goff’s trust, and has stepped up in big moments (let’s not forget his 66-yard, two-touchdown performance against Seattle in ARSB’s absence). Reynolds’ ceiling is capped with a solid surrounding cast, but he’s averaging five targets and 64 yards/game through six games played this season, which is good enough for a FLEX option in our rankings.
Kalif Raymond remains a consistent part of the offense, but has not done enough to be trusted as a fantasy contributor for your team. He currently averages 2.3 targets and 30 yards/game. He can be left on waivers/benches until further notice.
Jameson Williams has had the most improbable touchdown-dependent career of any WR ever, with two touchdowns (both 40+ yards) on five receptions in his career. Last week was extremely discouraging, with zero receptions on six targets. He is about as boom/bust as they come, and almost brought in a 47-yard touchdown last week with less than two minutes to go, that would have changed everyone’s attitude about him. If you have the guts to start him, I commend you. His big-play ability gives him the lowest floor and highest ceiling of almost anyone in the league.
Just start Sam LaPorta. Last week was not the Lions’ week, and he still salvaged his day with six receptions for 52 yards (mostly in garbage time). The Raiders are 12th in PPG to TEs, but LaPorta has been dominant and is currently TE4 in PPG. If he is on your roster, he should be a locked-and-loaded TE1 every week.
– Nick Beaudoin
I can’t anymore with these intrusive ads. Very poor placement.