Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions Matchup Preview (10/17/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

The trade of Matthew Stafford was always going to leave the Lions worse off at quarterback, but Jared Goff has been surprisingly competent this season. His raw numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s done enough to keep the Lions in just about every game they’ve played this season. He ranks 22nd in the NFL with a 91.0 passer rating and 14th with a completion rate of 66.8%. Jared Goff will never live up to the hype that was attached to him when he was the top selection in the 2016 draft, but he’s been decent so far. Goff has, however, been held back by the situation surrounding him. With Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow injured, Detroit’s offensive line has not been as good as expected. Penei Sewell has been decent if inconsistent at left tackle, and he will be more comfortable once Decker returns and he can shift back to the right side.

D’Andre Swift has been the Lions’ best offensive weapon this season and the running back has 442 yards from scrimmage as he’s been a high-level runner and receiver. Jamaal Williams doesn’t rank too far behind him in terms of rushing and receiving success, and both players form a valuable backfield one-two punch. T.J. Hockenson has 24 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns this season, but he’s been quieter lately as he’s averaged just 24.3 yards per game over the past three weeks. The Lions’ wide receiver room has been a revolving cast of characters without much consistency, but rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown is hoping to change that. He has averaged 6.5 catches for 67.5 yards over the past two weeks and is coming into his own in the NFL. With Tyrell Williams still on Injured Reserve and Quintez Cephus likely out for the rest of the year with a broken collarbone, St. Brown’s emergence is all the more critical.

This season, the Lions rank just 29th in defensive DVOA, but it’s hard to blame the coaching or management given how many injuries the team has seen. Jeff Okudah, the 2020 first-round pick, was expected to be the team’s top corner in his sophomore season, and he’s out for the year with an Achilles injury suffered in Week 1. CB Ifeatu Melifonwu has also joined him on Injured Reserve. Romeo Okwara, the team’s top pass-rushing presence, is out for the rest of the year with a torn Achilles, while Dashawn Hand also popped up on the injury report this week. There aren’t many teams in the NFL that could withstand losing their top two cornerbacks, top pass-rusher, and a critical defensive lineman, so it’s no surprise that the Lions have one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Detroit Lions Depth Chart

QB: Jared Goff
RB1: D’Andre Swift
RB2: Jamaal Williams
WR1: Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR2: Khalif Raymond
WR3: Quintez Cephus
TE1: T.J. Hockenson
TE2: Darren Fells

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions Daily Fantasy Picks

While this game may seem underwhelming on the surface, there is plenty of fantasy football value to be had for DFS lineups. Ja’Marr Chase stands out as he continues to outproduce preseason expectations and has yet to see his DFS pricing adjust to where it should be for the WR7 in half-PPR scoring. Joe Mixon is also a terrific value if we can start to feel more confident about his health as he has massive upside if he plays to his usual potential. On the Lions’ side, D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson are always solid options, while I’m intrigued by Amon-Ra St. Brown’s increasing role in the offense.