Sunday Night Football. A heavyweight NFC clash. Detroit Lions versus the Philadelphia Eagles. If you’re not excited for this one, you might want to check your pulse. This isn’t just another game on the schedule; it’s a potential NFC Championship preview, a battle between two teams that have looked like the conference’s elite all season. For fantasy players, this game is an absolute goldmine of talent, but it’s also a DFS minefield.
With stars littering both rosters, navigating the salary cap and finding those unique lineup combinations is going to be the difference between cashing out and tearing up your virtual tickets in disgust. Forget the obvious plays everyone and their brother will be rostering. We’re here to dig deeper, find the leverage, and build a lineup that stands out from the sea of chalk. Let’s get into it.
Lock of the Game: Jalen Hurts
Let’s not overthink this. Sometimes the best answer is the most obvious one, and in a single-game showdown, Jalen Hurts ($10,200 DK, $13,200 FD) is that answer. The man is a walking, talking fantasy point machine. He can beat you with his arm, but more importantly for our purposes, he’s the Eagles’ goal-line back, their short-yardage battering ram, and the maestro of the “Tush Push.” Every time the Eagles get inside the five-yard line, you’re holding your breath for a Hurts touchdown.
That kind of scoring equity is invaluable in a DFS format. While others might get cute and try to fade him at the Captain spot to save a few bucks, rostering Hurts there gives you access to every single touchdown the Eagles score, whether it’s through the air or on the ground. He’s the safest bet on the board to be in the optimal lineup, and frankly, it feels like malpractice to build without him as a cornerstone.
Start ‘Em: A.J. Brown & Jahmyr Gibbs
A.J. Brown ($8,000 DK, $9,200 FD) has been… cranky. He’s been chirping on social media and even told fantasy managers to trade him. You know what that smells like? The classic squeaky wheel narrative. After a quiet Week 10 where he was basically a glorified decoy, you have to believe the Eagles are going to make a concerted effort to get their number one receiver involved early and often.
The Lions’ secondary isn’t exactly the ’85 Bears, and they’ve given up their fair share of points to opposing wideouts. Brown is an explosive playmaker who can turn a simple slant into a 70-yard house call. With his ownership potentially depressed due to recent frustrations, this is the perfect time to zig while others zag and roster a supremely talented player who is due for a massive game.
On the other side of the ball, Jahmyr Gibbs ($10,600 DK, $12,600 FD) is electric. He just put the entire league on notice with a slate-breaking performance last week, and it’s clear the Lions want to get the ball in his hands.
While the Eagles’ run defense is stout on paper, they have shown some vulnerability, giving up 11 touchdowns to running backs this season. Gibbs isn’t just a runner; he’s a dynamic pass-catcher who can create mismatches all over the field. He’s the kind of player that can rack up points in bunches, and in what projects to be a high-scoring affair, you’ll want a piece of that action.
Sit ‘Em: The Defenses and Kickers
I get it. You’re trying to be contrarian. You want to find that one weird play that no one else is on. But rostering a defense or a kicker in this game feels like lighting money on fire. We’re talking about two of the most explosive offenses in the entire league, led by two top-tier quarterbacks.
The game total is set at a healthy 46.5, and honestly, that feels low. This has all the makings of a shootout where both teams march up and down the field. Why would you waste a precious roster spot on a defense that’s likely to get torched or a kicker who might only see a couple of extra-point attempts? There are far too many high-upside skill players to justify getting cute with these positions. Avoid the temptation and load up on players who can actually score touchdowns.
Fade of the Game: David Montgomery
This one hurts a little because David Montgomery ($5,200 DK, $7,400 FD) is a good football player. He’s a tough, between-the-tackles grinder who’s a threat to find the end zone any time the Lions are near the goal line. But this just isn’t his matchup. The Eagles boast one of the best run defenses in the league, ranking 4th in PFF’s run-defense grades.
This is a game that feels tailor-made for Jahmyr Gibbs’ speed and pass-catching ability, not Montgomery’s bruising style. He’s likely to see his snaps and touches limited as the Lions will need to keep pace with the high-flying Eagles offense. While he might vulture a short touchdown, his ceiling is severely capped in this matchup. There are better, higher-upside options to spend your salary on.
