This is purely my memory at work, and is fairly meaningless regardless, but no matchup is as interesting, year-in year-out, as the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. Sunday marks the first such matchup of 2014, with the two teams facing off in Detroit at 1 p.m. ET. And as it always does, the matchup carries with it some fantasy intrigue:
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 3: Packers vs. Lions
This NFC North matchup is always exciting and interesting, and Sunday shouldn’t be any different.
Gregory Shamus
Packers
Start in every league: Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby
Start if you’re desperate: ...
Bench: James Starks, Davante Adams, Andrew Quarless, Defense/special teams
No middle ground here. After a disastrous Week 1 at Seattle, Rodgers bounced back with a great Week 2, and he’s right back where he belongs. ... I’m still in on Lacy, who has struggled through two games against two of the league’s best run defenses. Detroit’s is also good, but still, Lacy is fine. Buy low. ... If you’re wondering about Nelson and/or Cobb, you haven’t been paying attention. ... Crosby is one of the top tier of kickers.
And then it's all a bunch of no's. If Lacy is struggling, Starks will, too, because Lacy is better than Starks. ... Adams has already surpassed Jarrett Boykin, and his stock is rising, but he's not a fantasy-useful player yet. ... Quarless is just a stand-in for "all Green Bay tight ends." ... The Packers' defense isn't particularly adept at this football thing.
Lions
Start in every league: Matthew Stafford, Joique Bell, Calvin Johnson
Start if you're desperate: Reggie Bush
Bench: Golden Tate, Joseph Fauria, Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, Nate Freese, Defense/special teams
He struggled a little in Week 2, but Stafford is still a clear starter. ... Bell has very obviously supplanted Bush in the Lions’ plans, and he’s an easy RB2 this week. ... Not that you needed the encouragement, but Johnson absolutely destroys Green Bay in his career, with 12 touchdowns in 12 games and six different 100-yard games, peaking with a 244-yarder.
I’m definitely not using Bush this week, but he’s at least a possible flex play for his owners.
Tate has offered very little to his fantasy owners so far. He’s still a nice No. 2 for Johnson, but in fantasy he’s less exciting. ... The Detroit tight ends -- Fauria, Ebron, Pettigrew -- have combined for nine fantasy points in two games. Yuck. ... Freese has missed more field goals than he’s made so far this season. ... The Lions’ defense is good, but using them against Green Bay is probably a bridge too far.
