Player Outlook
The Lions DST actually amounted to a startable unit over the final 10 weeks of last season, averaging a good 10.0 Fantasy points per week. This year's unit should be better after the team altered its secondary with the additions of cornerbacks C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Cam Sutton, along with rookie picks Jack Campbell at linebacker and Brian Branch at safety and nickel corner. The worry is that even with Aidan Hutchinson coming into his own, the Lions pass rush won't generate enough pressure to force sacks and turnovers. And if that isn't enough to worry you, then their Week 1 matchup at Kansas City will. Detroit does have some appealing matchups after Week 2, so think of them as a mid-September call-up to your roster from waivers and not as a must-draft unit.

Fantasy News

  • Lions' Brian Branch: Avoids serious injury

    Rotowire
    Coach Dan Campbell said Friday that the ankle injury Branch sustained Thursday at Green Bay doesn't appear to be anything too serious, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports. As the negative results of his X-rays would suggest, Branch dodged a severe injury in Week 4. With that being said, it's still not a certainty he'll be ready for Week 5 even with the extended week to prepare.
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  • Lions' Jerry Jacobs: Picks off Love twice Thursday

    Rotowire
    Jacobs had five solo tackles and four passes defensed, including two interceptions, in Thursday's 34-20 win over Green Bay. Jacobs came into Thursday's game with one career interception in 28 NFL games, but he managed to pick off Jordan Love twice. The cornerback returned the first interception 20 yards to Green Bay's seven-yard line in the second quarter, and Detroit punched in a touchdown two plays later to take a commanding 24-3 lead. After his first interception led to points, the second prevented the Packers from scoring, as Jacobs notched the interception on Detroit's four-yard line and returned it 14 yards in the fourth quarter.
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  • Lions' Aidan Hutchinson: Has 3.5 sacks in last two games

    Rotowire
    Hutchinson recorded 1.5 sacks among his three quarterback hits in Thursday's 34-20 win over the Packers. After failing to notch a sack in the first two games of the season, Hutchinson has heated up with 3.5 sacks over the past two games. The second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has been a key contributor for a Detroit team that finds itself in unfamiliar territory, alone atop the NFC North standings at 3-1.
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  • Lions' Brian Branch: Undergoes X-ray

    Rotowire
    X-rays on Branch's ankle returned negative following Thursday's 34-20 win over the Packers, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Branch was forced to exit the game in the first half, though he was ultimately able to return. Both the fact that he returned to the field and the initial imaging suggest the injury isn't overly serious, though more information should emerge in the coming days.
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  • Lions' Brian Branch: Back in game

    Rotowire
    Branch (ankle) returned to Thursday's contest with the Packers, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports. Branch was able to return to the field in the fourth quarter after he was carted off with an ankle injury in the third. The rookie will be back in his starting role at free safety.
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  • Lions' Derrick Barnes: Exits game early

    Rotowire
    Barnes (lower body) is questionable to return to the Lions' contest with the Packers on Thursday night, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. Barnes is dealing with some lower-body cramps and may not be able to re-enter the game. In his absence, Anthony Pittman will likely see an increase in workload.
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  • Lions' Brian Branch: Carted to locker room

    Rotowire
    Branch (ankle) is questionable to return to Thursday's contest with the Packers, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports. Branch suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of the Lions' matchup with Green Bay, ultimately being helped off the field before being carted to the locker room. The defensive back will be replaced by Brandon Joseph for the time being.
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  • Lions' Chase Lucas: Dealing with illness

    Rotowire
    Lucas (illness) is questionable to return to Thursday's contest with the Packers. Lucas exited the game early and it's unclear if he'll return. The cornerback was operating as an extreme depth option, so his absence won't carry much of an impact for Detroit.
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  • Lions' Emmanuel Moseley: Inactive for Thursday night

    Rotowire
    Moseley (knee) is inactive for Thursday night's Week 4 game against the Packers. Moseley is still waiting to make his season debut after suffering a torn ACL last year with the 49ers. Cameron Sutton and Jerry Jacobs will continue to start at cornerback for the Lions.
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  • Lions' Kerby Joseph: Inactive versus Green Bay

    Rotowire
    Joseph (hip) is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Packers. Joseph was listed as questionable with a hip issue he suffered in Week 2. The safety also missed last week's game against the Falcons. With C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pec) already out, the Lions' safety depth is being tested early in the year.
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  • Lions' Emmanuel Moseley: Questionable against Green Bay

    Rotowire
    Moseley (knee) is questionable for Detroit's matchup with the Packers on Thursday, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports. Moseley has yet to make his season debut as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last season. The 27-year-old has a chance to play Thursday after logging three consecutive limited practices and could see time behind starters Cameron Sutton and Jerry Jacobs.
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  • Lions' Kerby Joseph: Questionable for Thursday

    Rotowire
    Joseph (hip) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Packers, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports. Joseph missed last week's win against Atlanta but will have a chance to play Thursday after being limited in practice all week. If the 22-year-old is unable to go however, Brian Branch will likely start again.
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  • Lions' Jack Campbell: Notches first career sack

    Rotowire
    Campbell tallied six tackles (three solo), including a sack, against the Falcons in a Week 3 win Sunday. Campbell saw his most playing time as a pro, logging 57 percent of Detroit's defensive snaps in the contest. He finished with six total tackles for the second straight game and picked up his first NFL sack when he brought down Desmond Ridder on the final play of the first half. The No. 18 pick in this year's draft appears to already be growing into a significant role in the Lions' defensive scheme.
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  • Lions' Aidan Hutchinson: Disruptive on defense Week 3

    Rotowire
    Hutchinson notched four tackles (three solo), including two sacks, and added a forced fumble (which he recovered himself) along with two pass defenses in Sunday's 20-6 win over Atlanta. Hutchinson was particularly impactful in the second half, twice sacking Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder. His second takedown came just before the two-minute warning and resulted in a Ridder fumble, which Hutchinson recovered himself to end any hopes of an Atlanta comeback. The sacks were the first two of campaign for Hutchinson, who notched 9.5 sacks as a rookie last season.
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  • Lions' Emmanuel Moseley: Limited on estimated injury report

    Rotowire
    Moseley (knee) was estimated as a limited participant at Detroit's walkthrough Monday. Moseley has still yet to make his 2023 debut, but Monday's estimation is a step in the right direction ahead of Thursday at the Packers. The Lions' injury reports Tuesday and Wednesday will serve as better indicators of whether he'll be ready to go for Week 4.
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  • Lions' Kerby Joseph: Estimated as limited Monday

    Rotowire
    Joseph (hip) was estimated as a limited participant at the Lions' walkthrough Monday. After he sat out of Detroit's win versus Atlanta in Week 3, the estimation is a positive signal for Joseph's potential availability for Thursday at Green Bay. He'll get two more chances to get back to full participation before then.
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  • Lions' Jerry Jacobs: Totals seven tackles

    Rotowire
    Jacobs recorded seven solo tackles during Sunday's 20-6 win over Atlanta. Again logging almost every defensive snap while starting opposite Cameron Sutton, Jacobs bounced back from a forgettable (but productive) Week 2 performance and now ranks sixth among cornerbacks in tackles through three games. While Jacobs could see a reduction in snaps once Emmanuel Moseley (knee) is up to speed, Jacobs should receive all of the playing time he can handle in the meantime.
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  • Lions' Brian Branch: Shines in first start

    Rotowire
    Branch totaled 11 tackles, including three tackles for loss, and two pass breakups in Sunday's 20-6 win over Atlanta. Making his first career start with C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) and Kerby Joseph (hip) on the shelf, Branch logged every defensive snap and turned heads while doing so. While the rookie did commit a pair of 15-yard personal fouls along the way -- including a highly debatable unnecessary roughness call for a helmet-jarring tackle of Falcons running back Bijan Robinson -- the good far outweighed the bad. With Gardner-Johnson set to miss at least the next three weeks on injured reserve and Joseph yet to practice since his Week 2 injury, Branch could remain an every-down player for the foreseeable future.
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  • Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Starting Sunday

    Rotowire
    Melifonwu will start Sunday against the Falcons, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports. The third-year pro is getting the nod with starting safeties Kerby Joseph (hip) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) out with injuries. Melifonwu, a 2021 third-round pick, started five games over his first two seasons and recorded 29 tackles.
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  • Lions' Tracy Walker: Starting Sunday

    Rotowire
    Walker will start Sunday against the Falcons, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports. The sixth-year pro is getting the nod with starting safeties Kerby Joseph (hip) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) out with injuries. Walker started 37 games for Detroit between 2019 and 2022 but lost his starting spot in training camp when Brian Branch emerged as the nickel cornerback and Gardner-Johnson moved to safety. The 2018 third-round pick recorded more than 100 tackles in each of the two seasons, 2019 and 2021, in which he started at least 12 games.
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