Week 7 has arrived, and fantasy football managers are finalizing their lineups ahead of a decisive Sunday slate. The lead-up to Week 7 featured some high-profile injury situations that will shape managers' decisions and separate the winners from the losers.
Let's check in on the Detroit Lions' injury report before their Sunday afternoon game versus the Baltimore Ravens kicks off.
Is David Montgomery playing in Week 7? Should I pick up and start Craig Reynolds in fantasy football? It's time to answer these key questions heading into NFL Sunday.
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Is David Montgomery Playing In Week 7 Against the Ravens?
Montgomery suffered a rib injury in the Lions' Week 6 win over the Buccaneers. The injury forced him to exit Sunday's game early, and he was soon diagnosed with a rib cartilage issue.
We don't know the full extent of Montgomery's injury, but head coach Dan Campbell cautioned that the running back will be out for "a little bit." That includes Week 7 versus Baltimore and could quite possibly include the following Sunday, too, especially with the Lions on bye in Week 9.
Fantasy managers should not be surprised if Montgomery doesn't play again until Week 10 versus the Chargers.
Should I Pick Up And Start Craig Reynolds In Fantasy Football?
As unfortunate as Montgomery's injury is, the good news for the Lions is that they built solid depth behind him and were prepared in the event that he was forced to miss extended time.
Carrying the load for Detroit on Sunday will be rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, whom head coach Dan Campbell hinted might see a very heavy workload in his first game back from a two-week absence due to a hamstring injury.
Next up on the depth chart is Reynolds, who should carve out his fair share of snaps, too. Reynolds rushed just four times when Montgomery was sidelined in Week 3, but at the time, Zonovan Knight was also on the roster and added three carries of his own. Knight has since suffered a season-ending injury, leaving Reynolds in line to see roughly eight to 10 touches this weekend.
Recently, Reynolds found the end zone in Week 5 and totaled 43 scrimmage yards on 12 touches in Week 6.
It's also important to note that Gibbs isn't great in pass protection, which will be a key factor as the Lions face a ferocious Ravens pass rush. At times, Reynolds could be deployed over Gibbs to protect Jared Goff. By earning more snaps, Reynolds also boosts his fantasy value.
Ultimately, although Reynolds is the clear No. 2 option behind Gibbs, he should still carve out a significant role on Sunday. The 27-year-old is a mid-range RB3/FLEX play, especially as managers get desperate for options due to injuries and bye weeks. He's worth picking up and starting if you need help at running back.
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