Fantasy Football Previews - Week 1 - St. Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions

St. Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions
Fantasy Football Game Preview
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Dome Stadium

Rams

Though Detroit was a tough run defense last year, Steven Jackson's workload cements him in fantasy lineups.

Sam Bradford still needs more time to adjust to Brian Schottenheimer's offense. Make sure the third-year slinger is merely holding your clipboard.

For scrapers at wideout, Danny Amendola isn't a bad PPR play. Lance Kendricks ranks as borderline. Don't worry about anyone else.

Lions

You drafted Matthew Stafford strongly for a reason. No reason to sit him yet. Ditto on Calvin Johnson, Madden be damned.

Kevin Smith will only have to deal with Keiland Williams in spell work and has a ripe opportunity for statistics of an RB2 or better.

When his owners consider his matchups, Titus Young will draw hems and haws many weeks. This should not be one of them. Brandon Pettigrew is a TE1, as well, and Nate Burleson deserves desperation attention this week.

(Such generosity with fantasy recommendations typically comes for Rams opponents.)

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Rams fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
19	1 or bench	Sam Bradford
10	1 or 2	Steven Jackson
53	Bench	Isaiah Pead
59	Bench	Daryl Richardson
49	Flex or bench	Danny Amendola
69	Bench	Brian Quick
79	Bench	Chris Givens
82	Bench	Steve Smith
90	Bench	Brandon Gibson
101	Bench	Austin Pettis
26	Flex or bench	Lance Kendricks

Lions fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
5	1	Matthew Stafford
22	2 or flex	Kevin Smith
--	SUSP	Mikel Leshoure
--	PUP	Jahvid Best
1	1	Calvin Johnson
29	2 or 3	Titus Young
57	Flex or bench	Nate Burleson
20	Flex or bench	Brandon Pettigrew
38	Bench	Tony Scheffler

Access all of this week's fantasy football player rankings and cheat sheets.

Have a starting lineup question? Poll other KFFLians and get the answers you need through our Who do I start? tool.

Rams latest news and notes

Rams | Matt Giordano contract details

St. Louis Rams FS Matt Giordano agreed to a contract that pays $840,000 in salary, with no guaranteed money.

Rams | Brian Quick tumbling down depth chart?

St. Louis Rams WR Brian Quick reportedly had a disappointing spring, and he tumbled down the unofficial depth chart, working as the No. 4 receiver as organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp ended. However, it is believed the rookie Tavon Austin, Chris Givens and Austin Pettis just had better practices, as offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer had good words for Quick. "(Quick's) doing a lot better. He's stepped up this year. He's just much more comfortable," Schottenheimer said.

Rams | Tavon Austin works as starter

St. Louis Rams WR Tavon Austin was working as the starting slot receiver at the end of spring practices.

Rams | Two finish as starting WRs after spring

St. Louis Rams WRs Austin Pettis and Chris Givens were working as the starting outside wide receivers as spring practices wound down.

Rams | Several expected to compete for LG job

St. Louis OGs Shelley Smith and Chris Williams split reps with the first-team offense at left guard during offseason workouts and will compete for the job during training camp. OG Rokevious Watkins and C Barrett Jones could also be part of the competition for the job.

Want more? Access our St. Louis Rams news, injuries and rumors....

Lions latest news and notes

Lions | Dominique Curry cut

The Detroit Lions have released TE Dominique Curry.

Lions | Ryan Broyles expected to be No. 3 WR

Detroit Lions WR Ryan Broyles (knee) is expected to be the No. 3 wide receiver behind WRs Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson this season.

Lions | Matt Veldman signed

The Detroit Lions have signed free-agent TE Matt Veldman (Jaguars). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Lions | Ryan Broyles expects to start on time

Detroit Lions WR Ryan Broyles (knee) expects to be ready for the 2013 season as he continues rehabbing the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He participated fully in all three days he was active for Detroit's minicamp last week. Broyles said he learned how to take more care this time because he had experience in tearing his left knee back in 2011 at Oklahoma.

Lions | Jason Jones likes being under the radar

Detroit Lions DE Jason Jones is perfectly fine with flying under the radar of the media.

"Yeah, that's cool with me," said Jones. "I try to stay out of it. I don't really like the spotlight too much. I know I'm a good player, so none of that stuff really affects me, whether or not they're talking (about me) or not. I like staying low, under the radar, and just go out there and work. I came here to make plays for our defense."

Want more? Access our Detroit Lions news, injuries and rumors....

Rams - Week 1 injury report

OUT	DL Darell Scott (knee), DL Michael Brockers (ankle), DL Matt Conrath (knee)
INJURED RESERVE	DL Trevor Laws (knee)

Lions - Week 1 injury report

DOUBTFUL	FS Louis Delmas (knee), CB Chris Houston (ankle)
PUP	RB Jahvid Best (concussion), CB Chris Greenwood (abdomen)
INJURED RESERVE	OT Jonathan Scott (knee), C Bill Nagy (ankle)
NFI	RB Jerome Harrison (illness)

Rams fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Bradford, Sam	QB	258.00	3702	21	37	127	1	0	0	0
Jackson, Steven	RB	110.00	0	0	190	763	4	20	169	0
Gibson, Brandon	WR	93.00	0	0	0	0	0	51	691	5
Givens, Chris	WR	85.00	0	0	3	12	0	42	698	3
Amendola, Danny	WR	82.00	0	0	2	8	0	63	666	3
Kendricks, Lance	TE	67.00	0	0	0	0	0	39	486	4
Richardson, Daryl	RB	52.00	0	0	98	475	0	24	163	0
Pettis, Austin	WR	45.00	0	0	0	0	0	30	261	4
Quick, Brian	WR	23.00	0	0	0	0	0	10	155	2
Mulligan, Matthew	TE	12.00	0	0	0	0	0	8	84	1
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Lions fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Stafford, Matthew	QB	321.00	4967	20	35	126	4	1	3	0
Johnson, Calvin	WR	220.00	0	0	0	0	0	122	1964	5
Leshoure, Mikel	RB	145.00	0	0	215	798	9	34	214	0
Bell, Joique	RB	95.00	0	0	82	414	3	52	485	0
Pettigrew, Brandon	TE	69.00	0	0	0	0	0	59	567	3
Young, Titus	WR	60.00	0	0	2	16	0	33	383	4
Scheffler, Tony	TE	51.00	0	0	0	0	0	42	504	1
Broyles, Ryan	WR	40.00	0	0	0	0	0	22	310	2
Burleson, Nate	WR	37.00	0	0	8	48	0	27	240	2
Smith, Kevin	RB	27.00	0	0	37	134	1	10	79	1
Access more fantasy football and NFL statistics in our Statistics Analyzer...

Rams depth chart

QB	RB	FB	WR (Left)	WR (Right)	TE	PK
Sam Bradford	Daryl Richardson	Lance Kendricks	Brian Quick	Tavon Austin	Jared Cook	Greg Zuerlein
Austin Davis	Isaiah Pead	Mike McNeill	Chris Givens	Austin Pettis	Cory Harkey
Kellen Clemens	Zac Stacy		Nick Johnson	Stedman Bailey	Cameron Graham
	Terrance Ganaway		Raymond Radway	C.J. Akins

Lions depth chart

QB	RB	FB	WR (Left)	WR (Right)	TE	PK
Matthew Stafford	Reggie Bush		Nate Burleson	Calvin Johnson	Brandon Pettigrew	David Akers
Shaun Hill	Mikel Leshoure		Mike Thomas	Ryan Broyles	Tony Scheffler	Havard Rugland
Kellen Moore	Joique Bell		Brian Robiskie	Kris Durham	Michael Williams
Thaddeus Lewis	Theo Reddick		Devin Thomas	Corey Fuller