The Thursday Night Football showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions brings plenty of intrigue for fantasy managers in Week 14. The Cowboys head into Detroit riding a three-game win streak with an improved defense; meanwhile, the Lions will likely be without their best receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is currently listed as a gametime decision. This game is pivotal for the NFC playoff picture, and the loser will likely miss the playoffs. Below, I’ll explain who you can trust in your lineups, who should stay on the bench, and which players fall into that tricky gray area for Thursday night.
Lock Them into Your Lineup
- Jahmyr Gibbs RB (DET)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown WR (DET) – If he plays
- CeeDee Lamb WR (DAL)
- George Pickens WR (DAL)
Strong Starts
Jared Goff QB (DET)
Jared Goff draws a dream matchup against a Dallas defense that has fallen apart against the pass, allowing the most passing yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Four of the last five QBs against them have scored over 23 fantasy points, and the last two both cleared 29. Goff has topped 21.2 fantasy points in three straight home games and continues to perform at his best inside Ford Field. Even with Amon-Ra St. Brown likely out and Sam LaPorta on IR, Detroit’s offensive structure should keep Goff throwing at a high rate. Dallas’ improved run defense since adding Quinnen Williams further encourages a pass-heavy game plan. This matchup carries shootout potential with both teams coming off full rest after Thanksgiving.
Goff is a strong start in fantasy football due to the juicy matchup and high scoring potential of this matchup. The floor is relatively high as well, with only one quarterback all season has failed to reach at least 18 fantasy points against Dallas, making Goff one of the safest options on the slate. Even without his top target, he still has enough weapons in Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Jahmyr Gibbs to support a top-10 finish. Detroit is likely to throw early and often, especially if they fall behind with their defensive struggles. With elite home splits and a defense that funnels production to quarterbacks, Goff belongs in all lineups. For fantasy football managers debating between fringe starters, he is a clear top-tier start.
Dak Prescott QB (DAL)
Dak Prescott enters this matchup as one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league, scoring 20-plus fantasy points in three straight games and seven of his last nine. Since Week 4, only Matthew Stafford has thrown more touchdown passes, and Prescott leads the NFL in yards against man coverage. That’s important because Detroit plays man at the highest rate in the league and just lost CB Terrion Arnold for the season. The Lions have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and recently gave up four touchdowns to Jordan Love. Dallas continues to lean heavily on Prescott’s arm, and his 3,261 passing yards lead the entire NFL. This matchup indoors at Ford Field sets up perfectly for continued success.
Prescott is a must-start in fantasy football this week because the matchup aligns perfectly with his strengths and Detroit’s weaknesses. The Lions have allowed 17 or more fantasy points to eight different quarterbacks, making this another strong spot for Prescott’s passing volume. With CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens dominating man coverage looks, Prescott’s ceiling remains elite in this matchup. This game projects to be one of the highest-scoring matchups of the week, further boosting his fantasy outlook. Fantasy football managers should treat Prescott as a locked-in start across all formats.
Jameson Williams WR (DET)
Jameson Williams steps into a massive opportunity with Amon-Ra St. Brown trending toward missing this week, and his Week 13 usage spike supports a potential breakout. He played 94 percent of snaps, saw 10 targets, and turned them into 144 yards and a touchdown. Dallas has allowed the most fantasy points, the most touchdowns, and the third-most yards to opposing wide receivers. The Cowboys are also the worst team in the league at defending deep passes, an area where Williams thrives. Detroit’s game script will likely lean toward high passing volume again, especially if they’re chasing points. Even if St. Brown ends up playing, Williams’ matchup-specific upside is too strong to overlook.
Williams is a strong start in fantasy football because Dallas has allowed 13 receivers to score 14-plus points and 15 receivers to score at least 12 this season. His speed and big-play ability align perfectly with the Cowboys’ secondary, which consistently gives up explosive downfield plays. If St. Brown sits, Williams becomes the unquestioned WR1 and a near-must start. Even with St. Brown active, Williams holds top-20 upside and should remain in most lineups. Detroit’s need for chunk plays makes him one of the highest-ceiling receivers of the week. For fantasy football managers searching for upside, Williams is an easy start.
Players to Sit
David Montgomery RB (DET)
David Montgomery’s role has shrunk as Jahmyr Gibbs continues to take over the backfield, with Montgomery playing 39 percent or fewer snaps in four of his last five games. He has only two touchdowns since Week 5 and has not reached 60 rushing yards in more than a month. Detroit continues to use him primarily as a short-yardage and goal-line specialist rather than a full workload runner. The Cowboys’ run defense has dramatically improved since adding Quinnen Williams, allowing 3.3 yards per carry over the last four games. Montgomery’s 10 touches last week produced just 48 yards, further highlighting his limited upside. This matchup is particularly tough, as Dallas ranks No. 1 in fewest fantasy points allowed to RBs over the past month.
Montgomery is a sit this week because his value is almost entirely touchdown-dependent, and this is one of the worst matchups for scoring opportunities. Dallas has held Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, and Kareem Hunt to a combined 87 rushing yards on 30 attempts over their last three games. With Gibbs dominating receiving work, Montgomery’s floor is extremely low in games where touchdowns are unlikely. He still holds flex appeal only in deeper leagues, but the matchup makes him a poor starting option this week. Detroit will likely be forced into a pass-heavy script, limiting Montgomery’s chances even further. For fantasy football purposes, Montgomery is better left on the bench unless you’re desperate.
Jake Ferguson TE (DAL)
The Lions have quietly clamped down on tight ends, allowing just one TE to record four catches over the last four weeks and no touchdowns in that span despite ranking middle of the pack in overall points allowed to the position. Jake Ferguson has cooled off significantly, posting five straight games under 10 points after previously delivering six consecutive double-digit outings. Even in last week’s TE18 finish, he managed a solid five receptions, marking his ninth game this season with five or more catches. His usage remains steady—he ran routes on over 79% of Dak Prescott’s dropbacks in Week 13 and maintains a 19% target share on the season. However, the efficiency has dipped, as he has averaged fewer than 8 yards per catch in four of his last five games. Detroit has held two of the last three opposing TE1s under 25 yards and two receptions, showing this matchup is particularly unfavorable.
Ferguson is a risky start this week due to declining efficiency, limited scoring upside, and the Lions’ recent dominance against the position. Detroit ranks 12th in fewest PPR points allowed to tight ends, and their recent trend of suppressing volume amplifies the risk of starting him. Ferguson still carries touchdown potential, but his red-zone target share has dropped to just 13% over the last month. With five straight finishes outside the top 15, he profiles more like a sit in Week 14 rather than a dependable fantasy football option. The floor remains intact because of the reception volume, but the ceiling has vanished in this matchup. Unless you’re desperate, leaving him on the bench is the correct sit call for Thursday night.
On the Fence
Isaac TeSlaa WR (DET)
Isaac TeSlaa stepped into an expanded role after Amon-Ra St. Brown exited early on Thanksgiving, playing a season-high 92% of snaps and immediately functioning as Detroit’s WR2. He turned his two targets into two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown, showcasing strong efficiency and red-zone usage. For the season, he has just six receptions, but three of them have been touchdowns, giving him a 50% TD rate on his catches. Detroit’s injuries to St. Brown and Kalif Raymond create a clear path to volume, as TeSlaa’s route participation jumped to 86% in Week 13. His average depth of target has increased as well, positioning him as a perimeter threat opposite Jameson Williams. If St. Brown misses time, TeSlaa becomes one of the biggest opportunity-based risers of Week 14.
From a fantasy perspective, TeSlaa remains on the fence because his value hinges entirely on Detroit’s injury report. If St. Brown sits, TeSlaa becomes a viable flex start against a Dallas defense that has allowed several splash plays to boundary receivers. His touchdown efficiency and increased snap share would make him an intriguing start in deeper formats. If St. Brown plays, however, TeSlaa becomes a sit, as his route rate would fall back to where it was, and his weekly fantasy football value disappears. Managers should monitor the game-time decision closely, as TeSlaa becomes a solid start if Detroit’s top wideout is ruled out. In short, he is a conditional player who can swing from sit to start depending on injury news.
Javonte Williams RB (DAL)
Javonte Williams has one of the most predictable workloads in the league, playing exactly 78% of snaps in three straight games while handling 20 to 23 touches in each contest. His production has been steady, as he has recorded either a touchdown or at least 87 total yards in each of those matchups. Williams sits sixth in the NFL in rushing yards with 955 and ranks as the RB8 on the season, already surpassing his career highs across major categories. Despite this, his recent efficiency has dipped as he hasn’t topped 100 rushing yards since Week 7 and hasn’t scored on the ground since Week 8. His passing-game involvement has also stalled, with three or fewer receptions in every game since Week 6. Detroit presents a tough challenge, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs and limiting explosive plays all season.
From a fantasy perspective, Williams lands firmly on the fence this week because his elite volume keeps him in start consideration, while the matchup pushes him toward a possible sit. His consistent snap share makes him difficult to bench, but Detroit’s defensive profile lowers his ceiling dramatically. Managers can still start him in most formats, but expectations should be tempered given the Lions’ success against running backs. With the fantasy football regular season closing this week, his guaranteed workload provides stability, yet his recent efficiency makes him less of a slam-dunk option. If your roster has stronger matchups available, Williams can be a sit, but most teams will still rely on his volume. He ultimately profiles as a high-floor, low-ceiling play who can reasonably go either way depending on roster construction.
