Rams, Lions Fantasy Football Start/Sit Decisions: Should You Start Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, D'Andre Swift, Puka Nacua and More?

The NFL playoffs continue with three intriguing Wild Card Round games on Sunday.

Let’s take a look at the fifth game of the playoffs - Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions - and determine what guys you should be starting in playoff fantasy leagues or DFS.

We’ll provide an outlook for each game, so check back for the final writeup. The articles for the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans game, Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs game, Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills game and Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys game are all available now.

Quarterback Options

This is probably the most fascinating quarterback matchup in the Wild Card Round. Long-time Lion Matthew Stafford leads the Rams into Detroit for a battle with Jared Goff. These guys were traded for each other in 2021.

Goff was a pretty good fantasy option this season, falling under 200 passing yards just once, while going over 300 yards on five occasions. He had a touchdown pass in all but one game, including nine multi-touchdown outings. He threw 12 interceptions across eight weeks. Goff doesn’t add much as a runner, but did score twice this season.

Stafford got hot down the stretch and only fell under 200 passing yards twice this season - he went over 300 yards in five games. He threw at least one touchdown in 14 of the 15 games he played in, with six multi-touchdown efforts. Interceptions were an issue for him too, with 11 picks over eight weeks. Stafford also barely ran this season, and he didn’t score on the ground.

The Lions’ defense was shredded by opposing quarterbacks most of the season, allowing an average of 19 fantasy points. The Rams’ defense wasn’t much better, allowing 19 points as well.

Both teams are fairly healthy offensively going into the game. Tyler Higbee is questionable for the Rams, while a couple guards also are. Sam LaPorta is questionable for Sunday’s game, and his backup James Mitchell is out. Kalif Raymond is also out for the game.

Verdict: This is really a toss up in my eyes, and I’d be OK starting either guy this week. I see this as your average scoring game, with Detroit winning 28-27. I’d pick Stafford if I needed to make a choice between the two, but again, I’m good with starting either guy in the favorable matchups.

Running Back Options

There’s three very talented running backs in this game. Los Angeles has Kyren Williams, while Detroit has a fantastic 1-2 punch of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

When Williams was on the field this season, he was the unquestioned workhorse. He capped the season with over 1,300 total yards and 15 total scores despite missing several games.

Williams had between 22-32 touches across his last three games played.

Gibbs and Montgomery split the workload for much of the season. Montgomery had over 1,100 total yards and 13 touchdowns, while Gibbs went for over 1,200 total yards and 11 touchdowns.

Between weeks 15-17, Montgomery had 14-19 touches, while Gibbs was between 13-19.

For as weak as the pass defenses are for both teams, the run defenses are stout. The Rams’ defense allowed just 17 fantasy points per week this season. The Lions’ defense was even better, allowing just 15 fantasy points.

Verdict: Most weeks, I’m not thinking twice about starting Williams, Montgomery and Gibbs, but given the tough matchups, I’m skeptical to start any of them. Because Detroit has two guys to utilize, I like Williams as the top fantasy RB in this game. I like Gibbs slightly more than Montgomery, although the difference in their fantasy scores might be whichever guy can score. I’d try to find other RBs to start, but would be OK with starting Williams. I’m leaning even more toward sitting Gibbs, but would also be fine starting him because of his pass-catching ability. I’d prefer to sit Montgomery and then hope he doesn’t steal a touchdown or break off a long gain.

Wide Receiver Options

There’s talented wide receivers on both sidelines, but Los Angeles definitely has the better collection of wideouts.

Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp lead the charge for LA. Nacua had 1,486 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season, while Kupp went for 737 yards and five touchdowns despite missing several weeks.

The Rams also saw Demarcus Robinson emerge as the season went along. He actually outplayed Kupp most weeks. Robinson tallied 371 yards and four scores this season.

Tutu Atwell was an option early in the season, but only was fantasy relevant when Nacua, Kupp or Robinson were out by the time the season ended.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is Detroit’s go-to receiver, and that could be even more true if LaPorta is out. St. Brown capped the regular season with 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Josh Reynolds and Jameson Williams will get more snaps with Kalif Raymond out, but neither consistently produced this season. Reynolds got some beneficial work in week 18, while Williams was out, so that could be an indicator on which of the two produces this week.

If both defenses struggled to slow quarterbacks, it makes sense that both defenses also struggle to slow opposing wideouts. Detroit’s defense allowed 40 fantasy points to WRs this season, while Los Angeles surrendered 36.

Verdict: For as much as I wanted to stay away from the running backs, there’s several pass catchers I like. St. Brown is the top option for me - I like St. Brown over Nacua because he’s got less pass-catching options around him. I’d also want to start Nacua this week though. I’d love to start another Detroit receiver, but I don’t trust Williams or Reynolds enough - as for the Rams, I’d actually prefer to start Robinson over Kupp, although I’d not super confident in either guy. I’d avoid starting any other wideout, but this is how I’d rank all the wideouts in this game: St. Brown, Nacua, Robinson, Kupp, Reynolds, Williams, Atwell.

Tight End Options

It’s a shame that LaPorta might miss the game, and the Rams’ offense would take a slight hit without Higbee too.

LaPorta has a claim for Offensive Rookie of the Year after going for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. If he can’t play, then Brock Wright (91 yards and one touchdown this season) is the next man up.

Higbee tallied 495 yards and two touchdowns this season. Davis Allen is the guy who would get the most snaps if Higbee were to miss the game, which I don’t anticipate.

Both of these defenses are below average in slowing opposing tight ends. Both defenses allowed 13 fantasy points per game.

Verdict: LaPorta is the better fantasy option in this game, but his injury scares me. If he suits up, he’ll be hard to bench or not utilize, but I’d be most comfortable doing just that. I also don’t want to start Higbee this week, regardless of his status. I’m not a fan of the backups either, so I’m trying to avoid these TEs at all costs.

Other Thoughts

With a 28-27 final score prediction, that means I expect a decent amount of offense, so I’d prefer to not start either defense. 

The Los Angeles defense is quite a bit healthier going into the game, so if I had to pick one, I’d take them, even though I have them losing in the end.

The kickers for each team haven’t had great years, so I think we’ll see both offenses going for it on fourth down in enemy territory.

Los Angeles will have Brett Maher kicking. Maher is 17-of-23 on his field goals and 13-of-15 on his extra points across eight games played.

Michael Badgley is kicking for Detroit now. He was 4-of-4 on his field goals and 13-of-15 on extra points across four games.

I’d try to avoid starting either guy this week and think the difference in the game might be a missed extra point. I guess that means I’d take Badgley over Maher if I needed to make a decision between the two.