There are times in fantasy football where you look at your roster, see your injuries, assess the lack of waiver wire options, and just know it’s going to be a tough week.

With all of the COVID issues, injuries, and unexpected players last week, it was one of those weeks in the NFL and especially for the Detroit Lions.

Fantastic focus of the Lions against the Cardinals

After a tough game last week in Denver where they were forced to play backup saves in many positions, the Lions must regroup quickly to face a powerful team from the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have one of the best records in the NFC, but have just learned that they will be without star receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

The Lions are still not sure if they will have some of their best fantastic players in D’Andre Swift and TJ Hockenson. Other actors like Craig Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and Brock Wright have been asked to step in and fill the void.

That game is at Ford Field, but an angry Arizona team that just lost a crucial clash against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams last week arrives. Expect them to throw it all over the pitch against the Lions and put some fantastic nice stats up in this one. The Lions will need to have a few tricks up their sleeve and try to make their own way if they are to achieve a big, life-changing victory.

To start up

• Tom Brady vs. Saints
• Dalvin Cook at Bears
• Ja’Marr Chase at the Broncos
• Zach Ertz at Lions

Sit

• Cam Newton at Bills
• James Robinson vs. the Texans
• DK Metcalf at Rams
• Tyler Higbee vs. the Seahawks

Top 3 players screened by position

Quarterbacks

• Josh Allen vs. the Panthers
• Lamar Jackson vs. Packers
• Tom Brady vs. Saints

Ball carriers

• Jonathan Taylor vs. the Patriots
• Dalvin Cook at Bears
• Nick Chubb vs. Raiders

Wide receivers

• Cooper Kupp vs. Seahawks
• Davante Adams at the Ravens
• Justin Jefferson at Bears

Tight ends

• Travis Kelce at Chargers
• Mark Andrews vs. Packers
• Rob Gronkowski vs. Saints

Team defenses

• Dolphins vs. Jets
• Cowboys at Giants
• Cardinals at Lions

Kicking

• Nick Folk at Colts
• Justin Tucker vs. Packers
• Matt Gay vs. the Seahawks

Waiver wire options

• PJ Walker (QB Panthers)
• Case Keenum (QB Browns)
• Craig Reynolds (RB Lions)
• Royce Freeman (RB Texans)
• Anthony Schwartz (WR Browns)
• Dee Eskridge (WR Seahawks)
• Harrison Bryant (TE Browns)
• Nick Vannett (TE Saints)

Intriguing games and players in week 15

(Week 15 Weeks of exemption: none)

Kansas City at LA Chargers, Thursday, 8:20 p.m. EST

• KC: Travis Kelce (TE), Patrick Mahomes (QB)
• LAC: Justin Herbert (QB), Keenan Allen (WR)

Las Vegas to Cleveland, Saturday 4:30 p.m. EST

• LVR: Josh Jacobs (RB), Darren Waller (TE)
• KEY: Nick Chubb (RB), Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR)

New England in Indianapolis, Saturday 8:20 p.m. EST

• NE: Mac Jones (QB), Damien Harris (RB)
• IND: Michael Pittman Jr (WR), Johnathan Taylor (RB)

Arizona in Detroit, Sunday 1:00 p.m. EST

• AZ: Kyler Murray (QB), Rondale Moore (WR)
• DET: Craig Reynolds (RB), Josh Reynolds (WR)

Cincinnati to Denver, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST

• CIN: Joe Burrow (QB), Joe Mixon (RB)
• DEN: Javonte Williams (RB), Jerry Jeudy (WR)

Seattle at LA Rams, Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST

• SEA: Russell Wilson (QB), Rashad Penny (RB)
• LAR: Matthew Stafford (QB), Sony Michel (RB)

New Orleans to Tampa Bay, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST

• NO: Alvin Kamara (RB), Taysom Hill (QB)
• CT: Tom Brady (QB), Ronald Jones (RB)

Minnesota to Chicago, Monday 8:15 p.m. EST

• MIN: Justin Jefferson (WR), Dalvin Cook (RB)
• CHI: Allen Robinson (WR), David Montgomery (RB)

Final result

Even in the times when you look at your list and feel that there is no path to victory – there is. Sometimes you have to work hard to find it. The Lions are trying to do this with all of their key injuries and current COVID-19 cases.

Most fantasy owners are now in the fantasy playoffs or maybe have a week to go. Even if your composition has question marks on it and the final score projections don’t look pretty to begin with, you still have a chance to win. Add in sneaky depth players who might get the football or find the end zone, cover your positions where you have potential injuries that player might not be able to play that week, and put your best foot forward. line-up before kick-off. Anything can happen in the NFL, for the Lions, and especially in fantasy football.