Lions Fantasy Outlook in Week 4: Should You Start Jared Goff, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and More
Week 4 of the NFL season opens with an NFC North battle between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. The winner will take over sole possession of first place in the division.
Both teams have several players that have started the year strong and are possible starters for your fantasy team. Let’s first take a look at the Detroit Lions.
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Jared Goff Fantasy Outlook
Goff is off to a solid start through three weeks. He’s completed 72-of-103 passes for 819 yards and five touchdowns. Goff has been sacked three times, thrown two interceptions and not lost a fumble.
Goff has attempted between 33-35 passes in each game, finishing with over 240 passing yards and at least one score too. He isn’t much of a rushing threat, with just 2 yards on 10 attempts. Goff did score once in week 3.
The quarterback helped his team to two wins over the Packers last season. In the first meeting, Goff threw for 137 yards and two touchdowns while completing 14-of-26 passes. He was intercepted once and not sacked. In the second matchup, Goff completed 23-of-34 passes for 224 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown or interception and was sacked just once.
There’s several offensive players that are on the injury report, so that will be something to keep an eye on as the Thursday game approaches. Most of the team’s offensive skill position players should be out there.
Goff is the 19th-ranked quarterback in our week 4 projections.
Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery Fantasy Outlook
One of the skill players that is on the injury report is Montgomery, which clouds the Lions’ running back room a bit. Montgomery has been listed as a limited participant in practice, but he’s trending toward playing.
Montgomery missed week 3 but still almost has more snaps played than Gibbs. In two weeks, Montgomery has attempted 37 runs and caught one pass. His runs have gained 141 yards, while his catch went for 7 yards. Montgomery has scored twice on the ground and has seven red zone attempts.
He’ll likely be limited in some fashion if he plays Thursday, but I’d still expect him to get most of the red zone looks.
Gibbs has seen his touches increase in each of the first three weeks. He’s rushed 31 times for 139 yards and has caught 10 of the 13 passes thrown his way for 59 yards. Gibbs has received five carries in the red zone.
Even though he’s playing a complementary role, Gibbs has posted 50+ total yards in each game.
Gibbs is the 29th-ranked back in our week 4 rankings, with Montgomery a slot back at 30th.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds Fantasy Outlook
Two Detroit wide receivers, St. Brown and Reynolds, appear in our top 80 for week 4, so let’s talk about each guy a bit.
St. Brown is the clear No. 1 for the Lions, leading the team’s pass catchers in snaps (181), targets (27), receptions (21), red zone targets (4) and yards (275). He’s been targeted at least seven times in each game and is the team’s leader in fantasy points scored.
St. Brown caught four of the nine passes thrown his way for 55 yards in the team’s first matchup last season. He added 49 yards in the second game, catching six of his nine targets.
After getting 13 targets and scoring twice through two weeks, Reynolds was not targeted in week 3. Reynolds still has nine receptions on 13 targets for 146 yards on the year. He was dinged up a bit going into last week, but isn’t on the injury report this week.
Reynolds played in just the second game against the Pack a season ago. He was held to one catch on two targets, gaining 16 yards.
St. Brown is the 11th-ranked receiver for the upcoming week, while Reynolds slots in at 54th.
Sam LaPorta Fantasy Outlook
A reason the Lions were still able to win in week 3 despite Reynolds struggling was because of LaPorta. The rookie tight end was targeted 11 times, matching his total from the first two games combined.
LaPorta tied St. Brown last week with his 11 targets. He caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown while playing 52 snaps.
The rookie looks like he’ll play a big role in the team’s success this season. He’s already up to 18 catches on 22 targets, going for 186 yards. He’s been targeted just once in the red zone.
Riley Patterson Fantasy Outlook
Patterson hasn’t been needed much so far, with just three field goal attempts in three weeks. He’s made all three kicks, but none have come from over 40 yards. Patterson has made all nine of his extra point tries.
The kicker’s low usage so far has him 25th in our weekly projections
Lions’ Defense Fantasy Outlook
The Lions’ defense is the 16th-ranked one in our week 4 projections.
Detroit ranks near the middle of the league in slowing opposing quarterbacks and running backs while being in the top 10 in slowing wide receivers. Detroit is the worst in the league against opposing tight ends.
Who Should You Start?
The Packers’ defense has been average at best to start the regular season, so there’s some good fantasy options for Detroit.
The Pack has struggled most against running backs, so I would start both Montgomery or Gibbs this week. Both guys should be heavily involved and I like both to top their projections.
Green Bay is right in the middle of the league when it comes to slowing opposing quarterbacks, which makes Goff a possible streaming option. However, given how he fared against them last season, unless he throws or scores a few touchdowns, I’d avoid Goff. The only way I’d start Goff is if Montgomery is ruled out, as then the team would be far more likely to throw, and Goff could go for 250+ yards and two or more touchdowns.
The Packers have been an average defense when it comes to slowing tight ends. Given how LaPorta has fared so far, I’m starting him this week. He’s simply too big a part of the team’s offense to sit him.
Green Bay has the sixth-best points allowed average against wide receivers. I’m still starting St. Brown, as he’s emerged as one of the league's best wideouts. I’d sit Reynolds, first off because of his poor showing a week ago, but also because I think Detroit emphasizes the run. Reynolds would be fifth in the pecking order for touches if Montgomery plays.
I like Patterson to get a couple of field goal attempts in a lower scoring game, but I think it’s best to leave him on the waiver wire, as there’s plenty of better options out there.
Green Bay’s offense has been inconsistent so far, but is expected to get a couple skill players back in running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Christian Watson. The Packers also have taken good care of the ball so far, so for those couple reasons, I would not start the Lions’ defense.
