Fantasy Football Player Notes

With the Bears sitting atop the NFC, dropping both games to the Packers may be detrimental to the Lions' playoff chances. Two games back of the Bears and a game back of the Packers, the Lions have a key matchup against the red-hot Cowboys this week. Coming off two huge wins against the Eagles and Chiefs, the Cowboys' defense is not the easy matchup from earlier this season. Since Week 10, the Cowboys have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to the RB position. Over this stretch, they have allowed fewer than 40 rushing yards per game; the next lowest are the Jaguars with 57 yards per game. The good news is that the Cowboys know how to put up points and should make this a game led by both offenses. Even in a tough matchup, any high-scoring game with the Lions is fantasy gold for Gibbs.

David Montgomery's role has been shrinking in the Detroit offense. Since Week 11, he has averaged only 8.3 touches and 33.2 total yards. In those three games, he has split the red zone work with Jahmyr Gibbs, with both players seeing four red zone rushing attempts. In his last three games, he has averaged a 36.8% snap rate. Overall, among 55 qualifying backs, Montgomery ranks 32nd in explosive run rate and 20th in yards after contact per attempt. Since the acquisition of Quinnen Williams, Dallas has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game, the 13th-lowest yards after contact per attempt, and the sixth-fewest yards before contact per attempt. Montgomery is a flex option better left on the bench this week.

Last week, TeSlaa had an 83.9% route share, a 7.4% target share, 35 receiving yards, 1.35 yards per route run, and a 12.5% first-read share. TeSlaa didn't garner a large portion of the passing offense even with Amon-Ra St. Brown going down. Overall, this season, he has had an 8% target per route run rate with 0.71 yards per route run and a 3.9% first-read share. He has four red zone targets, one deep target, and three touchdowns. He's a deep league flex play this week because of the matchup. Since Week 9, Dallas has allowed the 13th-most PPR points per target and the most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.