Fantasy Football Week 13: Rankings and Advice for Thursday Night Football

Who would have thought that at this stage of the NFL season, the Detroit Lions are having more success lately than the Green Bay Packers?

That’s the reality of the situation as of late. Jim Caldwell’s club has won three straight games after a 1-7 start. The Pack has dropped four out of five contests since opening 6-0.

While Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford comes off his best game of the season, Aaron Rodgers has been having problems connecting with his receivers.

It all makes for plenty of drama both reality and fantasy wise as Detroit looks to sweep this series for the first time since 1991 as the teams get ready to clash on Thursday Night Football.

Big Board

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Here's the Thursday night big board:

Rank      Name                                Pos.       Team

1              Aaron Rodgers                  QB          Green Bay Packers

2              Calvin Johnson                  WR         Detroit Lions

3              Eddie Lacy                          RB         Green Bay Packers

4              Randall Cobb                     WR        Green Bay Packers

5              Golden Tate                       WR        Detroit Lions

6              James Jones                       WR        Green Bay Packers

7              Ameer Abdullah                RB         Detroit Lions

8              Richard Rodgers               TE          Green Bay Packers

9              Eric Ebron                          TE          Detroit Lions

10            Theo Riddick                     RB         Detroit Lions

Injury Report

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Green Bay Packers

• Ty Montgomery, WR, Out (Ankle)
• Bryan Bulaga, T, Questionable (Ankle)
• T.J. Lang, G, Questionable (Shoulder)
• Corey Linsley, C, Questionable (Ankle)
• Damarious Randall, CB, Questionable (Knee, Hamstring)

Detroit Lions

• Lance Moore, WR, Out (Ankle)
• Calvin Johnson, WR, Questionable (Ankle)
• Matt Prater, K, Questionable (Illness)
• Glover Quin, S, Questionable (Ankle)
• Golden Tate, WR, Probable (Calf)

 Injury information courtesy of NFL Communications

Quarterbacks

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Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers

It’s been a rough stretch for the reigning league MVP, as he’s completed less than 60 percent of his passes in each of the last four games. During the team’s current 1-4 stretch, Rodgers has still managed to throw nine touchdown passes compared to only two interceptions.

But we’re also talking about one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league in recent memory, one that threw for 15 scores and committed just three turnovers during Green Bay’s 6-0 start.

Rodgers’ history in this series is noteworthy as well. In 13 meetings with the Lions, he’s thrown 24 touchdown passes and has been picked off only five times. In the Week 10 loss to Detroit, he threw for 333 yards and two scores without an interception.

Projections: 293 passing yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs; 14 rushing yards.

Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford

The days of the first overall pick in 2009 putting up extraordinary numbers seems to be limited these days.

Of course, Stafford took advantage of the Philadelphia Eagles’ struggling defense, striking for five touchdowns. But the strong-armed quarterback has thrown for 300-plus yards only twice this season and nine of his 20 scores through the air have come in home wins over the Chicago Bears (four) and Eagles (five).

Stafford has been sacked 28 times this season and has turned over the football on 13 occasions. He may not be able to avoid those pitfalls against the Green Bay defense whose pass rush have come in spurts this season. Still, look for respectable numbers from the seven-year pro.

Projections: 304 passing yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 11 rushing yards.

Running Backs

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Green Bay Packers: Eddie Lacy

The supposedly-slumping workhorse running back has awoken in the last two weeks after sitting out the first meeting with the Lions this season in Week 10. 

Lacy still leads the Packers with 513 rushing yards, but has picked that up in 10 games—shaky numbers for a player who ran for 1,000-plus yards in each of his first two seasons. But in each of Green Bay’s last two games, the burly back has reached the 100-yard mark on the ground and also caught a touchdown pass in the Thanksgiving night loss to Chicago.

Don’t be surprised if Tom Clements and Mike McCarthy give him another heavy workload in this tilt.

Projections: 121 rushing yards, 1 TD; 3 receptions, 19 receiving yards, 0 TD.

Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah

The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns currently find themselves tied for last in the league this season in rushing yards. The Men from Motown are averaging a paltry 74.5 yards per game on the ground this season.

This would be a good time for Jim Caldwell’s team to break out of the logjam. And his team will be facing a Green Bay defense ranked 23rd in the NFL against the run.

Abdullah leads the team with 347 yards on the ground on 96 carries (one touchdown), a disappointing 3.6 yards per carry. He’s also caught 16 passes for 134 yards and a score and is the team’s primary kickoff return specialist.

We have been seeing a little more of Joique Bell as of late, but neither performer inspires a lot of confidence.

Projections: 86 rushing yards, 0 TD; 5 receptions, 41 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Wide Receivers

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Green Bay Packers: Davante Adams

As we documented earlier this week, it’s been a rough stretch for the second-year wideout, who’s not 100 percent healthy these days due to an ankle injury.

In eight games this season, Adams has totaled only 32 catches for 322 yards and not scored a touchdown this season. He's missed three games in 2015, but he has had his problems with drops and consistency for any number of reasons. It will be interesting to see how much Aaron Rodgers turns to him in this contest.

Projections: 4 receptions, 71 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Green Bay Packers: Randall Cobb

A year ago, Cobb finished second on the team with 91 receptions, 1,287 yards and 12 scores, finishing second to teammate Jordy Nelson in all three categories.

But there’s no Nelson this season, and while Cobb leads the Packers with 53 catches for 627 yards and six scores, he totaled 100-plus yards just once this season and has scored only two touchdowns in his last eight games. But don’t be surprised if better opportunities await him tonight, although the Lions defense has played better as of late.

Projections: 8 receptions, 110 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson

No doubt many are waiting for another mega-effort from Johnson, who lit up the Philadelphia Eagles for eight catches, good for 93 yards and three touchdowns. The perennial Pro Bowler scored only three touchdowns in the team’s first 10 contests in 2015.

Johnson leads Detroit with 67 receptions, good for 921 yards and six scores. He’s caught at least five passes in 10 consecutive games and remains one of the best players in the league at his position. But he also faces a defense this week that has surrendered only 14 scores through the air this season.

Projections: 7 receptions, 125 receiving yards, 0 TD.

Detroit Lions: Golden Tate

A year ago, Tate was one of the best free-agent pickups in the league. The former Seattle Seahawks wideout totaled 99 receptions for 1,331 yards and four touchdowns.

This season, it’s kind of hard to put a finger on the falloff. He’s been targeted 91 times and has caught 59 passes for 552 yards and only two scores, averaging a mere 9.4 yards per reception. Tate has yet to total 100-plus receiving yards in any game this season, a feat he managed five times in 2014.

Projections: 7 receptions, 81 receiving yards, 0 TD.

Tight Ends

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Green Bay Packers: Richard Rodgers

It may surprise some to know that Rodgers ranks second on the Packers with 40 catches this season. He’s totaled just 293 yards, but has pulled in five touchdown passes, trailing only James Jones (seven) and Randall Cobb (six).

Keep in mind that during his rookie season a year ago, Rodgers totaled 20 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns, teaming with fellow tight end Andrew Quarless.

If you’re looking for big yards from Rodgers, you may want to search elsewhere. He’s yet to total even 50 yards receiving in any game this season.

Projections: 4 receptions, 25 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Detroit Lions: Eric Ebron

A year ago, he was the 10th overall pick in the draft and was part of a tight end group that couldn’t stay consistently healthy. Ebron was inactive for three games and totaled just 25 catches for 248 yards and one score in 2014.

It’s been a much better year for the former North Carolina Tar Heel standout. In nine contests this year, Ebron has totaled 29 receptions for 348 yards and three touchdowns. He did miss two games this season but in this season’s first meeting with the Packers, he was targeted eight times and caught four passes for 28 yards. Look for Matthew Stafford to look to him often against Green Bay’s 3-4 defense.

Projections: 6 receptions, 53 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Defense/Special Teams

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Green Bay Packers Defense/Special Teams

We know the issues that this unit has had against the run in recent seasons, as well as in 2015. Green Bay currently ranks 23rd in the league in rushing defense, although it’s also worth noting that they’re facing a Detroit team currently tied for last in the NFL in yards gained on the ground this season.

The Packers have totaled 30 sacks this season, but their pass rush has been erratic in terms of production. Green Bay defenders totaled 23 sacks during the team’s 6-0 start, but then went through a three-game stretch in which they were shut out in terms of quarterback traps.

Dom Capers’ unit awoke against the Minnesota Vikings, sacking Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater six times two weeks ago. But the Packers got to Jay Cutler just once last week. Erratic indeed.

Green Bay has also forced only 14 turnovers in 11 games this season, disappointing to say the least.

Projections: 17 points allowed, 2 INTs, 2 FF, 1 FR, 5 sacks.

Detroit Lions Defense/Special Teams

On Thanksgiving Day against the Philadelphia Eagles, Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah tormented quarterback Mark Sanchez, totaling 3.5 of the Lions' six sacks in the 45-14 win. Like the Packers, Detroit has totaled 30 sacks this season, 11.5 by the improving Ansah.

Still, that pressure hasn’t resulted in a lot of takeaways. The Lions have totaled only 12 takeaways in 11 games and have forced only three turnovers in their last seven games. They also have zero takeaways in four of those contests.

In terms of special teams, keep an eye on the status of kicker Matt Prater, who was listed as questionable (illness) on the latest injury report.

Projections: 28 points allowed, 0 INTs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 4 sacks.

Best Sleeper Add

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Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions (owned in 38.5 percent of ESPN Standard Leagues)

It’s not like Theo Riddick is an unknown commodity, but he’s certainly not a starter in the backfield. However, what he does provide quarterback Matthew Stafford with is an excellent outlet option.

He has run the ball just 28 times for 84 yards without a score this season. However, only Calvin Johnson (67) and Golden Tate (59) have more catches on the team than Riddick, who has totaled 55 receptions for 507 yards and three touchdowns. He’s an intriguing pickup against Green Bay’s 3-4 defense.

Start or Sit?

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James Jones, WR, Green Bay Packers

Yes, the veteran wideout leads the club with seven touchdown receptions this season, and in the team’s 30-13 win at Minnesota two weeks ago, he saw 11 thrown his way and hauled in six passes for 109 yards and a score.

But Jones has also been shut out two of the last three weeks, targeted a combined eight times in the home losses to the Lions and Chicago Bears, and totaling zero catches. Proceed with great caution.

Verdict: Sit.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.