Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 20th, 1:00 PM ET
Location: MetLife Stadium, New York
Betting Odds: NYG -3.5, 46 O/U total via oddshark.com
Network: FOX
Writer: Dustin Ludke (@theDunit13 on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff (Sit, QB2)
The Lions are constantly in the conversation as a team needing a quarterback, but Jared Goff has played well this season for real football, not fantasy football. He only has 3 games where he was a QB2 or higher, with a respectable 15 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He is only completing 63.8% of his passes. The Lions seem to be relying on the running game more and taking the ball out of Goff’s hands as much as possible. They traded away one of their best pass-catching weapons in Hockenson and have a solid rotation in the backfield. He now faces the Giants, who are giving up the 19th most points to the quarterback position, so not a great matchup but not one that scares you off. Unless you are desperate, you shouldn’t start Goff this week.
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift (Start, FLEX), Jamaal Williams (Start, FLEX)
The Lion’s backfield has been super frustrating this fantasy season. Managers have been waiting for D’Andre Swift to take over as the lead back but it looks like that role is secured by Jamaal Williams. In the three games since Swift has been back, the carry totals are 13 for Swift and 50 for Williams. Williams has gone from the goal-line touchdown vulture to being an every-week starter for fantasy. It’s a tough matchup for both of them as they get the Giants, who are giving up the fourth fewest points to running backs at 19.4. While the volume has been there for Williams, the snaps are not. He is playing under 60% of the team’s snaps in every game except one. It’s even worse for Swift who has only cracked 50% of the team’s snaps one week since coming back (Week 8). They are both FLEX plays this week. Williams is getting enough carries and goal-line work that a touchdown is probable. Swift makes it in there due to being involved in the passing game. He has had 12 targets over the past three games while Williams has only three. That should be enough to keep his fantasy relevant in PPR.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Start, WR2), Kalif Raymond (Sit), Josh Reynolds (Sit), Brock Wright (Sit)
The Lions pass catchers have just one option: Amon-Ra St. Brown. He is leading the team in targets since the Week 6 BYE. He got banged up in the Week 7 game but outside of that, he has played on 80% or more of the team’s snaps. In every game where he is healthy, he has posted over 50 yards. He is a solid WR2 every week for fantasy. He does get a tough matchup against the Giants, as they are giving up the fifth-fewest points to wide receivers at 28.91. St. Brown will see a lot of coverage from Adoree Jackson who PFF.com rates at 71.1 in coverage. The Lions should try and move him around and get a better matchup, like against Fabian Moreau who rates at 62.2.
After ARSB, if Josh Reynolds is back on the field, you might consider him. He played well early in the season but has missed the past two games with a back injury so monitor practice reports. If Reynolds plays (which I don’t think he will), he would be a FLEX option. Kalif Raymond has been playing on over 80% of the team’s snaps but has seen under five targets in the past three games. He’s not seeing enough targets, and given the matchup, you can’t trust him.
With T.J. Hockenson now in Minnesota, it has opened the door for Brock Wright. He has played 81% and 74% of the team’s snaps in the past two weeks. He has only one target in each game, so no, you can’t trust him. The Giants are giving up the 12th most points to tight ends but the lack of targets is concerning. He could catch a touchdown but so could James Mitchell or Shane Zylstra.
New York Giants
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones (Start, QB2)
Don’t look now but Daniel Jones might be a good quarterback. He is completing 65.8% of his passes and has eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He has four games in the QB2 range or higher. The Giants offense is built around the run, which in this case involves the QB. Daniel Jones is second on the team in rushing yards with 387 and has added three touchdowns with his legs. He gets the Lions defense, which has given up the most fantasy points to the quarterback at 23. He will have to contend with the emergence of star players like Aidan Hutchinson on the pass rush and Jeff Okudah and Kerby Joseph in the secondary. Jones has been good enough and protective of the ball to make him a solid choice if you need him. The matchup and the rushing upside will give him enough production to get solidly into the QB2 range.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley (Start, RB1)
It’s a throwback feel for the Giants this season. Not only are they a run-first team, but they also have a true workhorse, bell cow (and whatever other animal you like) running back in Saquon Barkley. Barkley is currently the fantasy RB3. He is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and is getting 22 carries per game on average. It’s a huge amount of volume and so far the body has held up. The Lions are giving up the 11th most points to the running back position at 24.07. You drafted Barkley with the hopes he would return to form, and he is paying huge dividends to fantasy managers. It’s a no-brainer that he is a start and an RB1.
There isn’t much else behind him on the offense. If you are looking to lock up your handcuff for the stretch run, it’s Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Darius Slayton (Start, FLEX), Wan’Dale Robinson (Start, FLEX), Kenny Golladay (Sit), Isaiah Hodgins (Sit), Tanner Hudson (Sit)
The Giants are a low-volume passing offense. They are only throwing the ball 46.37% of the time. The team has been searching for its star wide receiver all season. It’s not Kenny Golladay. Coming back last week, he only played 38% of the snaps, only saw two targets, and didn’t catch either of them. He has been injured and looked like he doesn’t want to be there most of the season.
It looks like it comes down to Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson. This past week coming out of the BYE, the two were very similar in most numbers. The routes advantage went to Robinson with 19 to Slayton’s 17. Targets went to Slayton 4 to 2. Snaps went to Slayton 55 to 52. They now come in and face the Lions who are giving up the seventh most points to wide receivers at 36.32. Both should be started as FLEX plays this week, and it will probably come down to coverage matchups. Neither starting corner for the Lions, Jeff Okudah and Mike Hughes, are rated well by PFF.com: Okudah is at 63.3 and Hughes is at 46.2. With Slayton playing the majority of his snaps out wide, if he can get matched up with Hughes more, he could have a great day. Robinson lines up more in the slot which will mostly draw coverage from Will Harris who rates at 62.5.
The only other name to watch in that receiving core is Isaiah Hodgins. He was signed after being let go by the Bills. He played on 62% of the team’s snaps in his first game and saw two targets. He was third on the team in routes run at 15. If his role continues to increase, he will be someone to watch.
Tight end Tanner Hudson has a good matchup with the Lions allowing the third most points to tight ends at 16.51. He lost snaps the past week to Lawrence Cager. Neither can be trusted as they are running under 10 routes each. Rookie Daniel Bellinger should be back next week and will resume his role as starting tight end.