Evan Silva’s Matchups: Rams at Lions

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Sunday Night Football

L.A. Rams @ Detroit

Team Totals: Lions 28.5, Rams 24

The Rams’ offense feels at risk of early-season collapse with LT Alaric Jackson opening the year on a two-game suspension, C Jonah Jackson (shoulder) having missed all of training camp, and RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) in question for Week 1. 36-year-old Matthew Stafford dealt with hamstring tightness in August, while Puka Nacua (knee) was rarely seen. Detroit’s defense is loaded up front with power-pig NT D.J. Reader added next to gap-shooter Alim McNeil. They’re flanked by DPOY candidate Aidan Hutchinson and talented reclamation project Marcus Davenport. … The extent of third-round rookie Blake Corum’s offensive role will reveal itself eventually, but for now I’m viewing him as a handcuff and breather back only behind HC Sean McVay heartthrob Kyren Williams. I’m counting on 15+ touches from Williams in the highest-totaled game of Week 1. He’s a surefire RB1.

The Lions went hard on offseason secondary upgrades, trading for former Bucs No. 1 CB Carlton Davis, then drafting Alabama CB Terrion Arnold in the first round and Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw in the second. They also signed ex-Raiders CB Amik Robertson to cover the slot, moving stud sophomore DB Brian Branch to safety. Matchups and supporting cast don’t support monster Week 1 projections for Nacua or Cooper Kupp, but this game’s shootout potential and indoor setting render both quality WR2 plays in one of the NFL’s most narrowly distributed passing attacks. … Colby Parkinson is a single-game DFS sleeper slated to play nearly 100% of L.A.’s offensive snaps in McVay’s three-receiver, one-tight end offense. At a towering 6-foot-7, 252, Parkinson can be an inviting end-zone target.

I’m expecting a Lions offensive explosion at home beneath Ford Field’s dome against a Rams defense that lost Hall-of-Fame DT Aaron Donald and talent-maximizing DC Raheem Morris (Falcons) this offseason, then traded away team captain ILB Ernest Jones (Titans) and placed starting CB Darious Williams (hamstring) on I.R. at the end of training camp. This is a high-floor, high-ceiling spot for Jared Goff. … Even after missing two weeks of camp, Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) resumed practicing in full and wasn’t even listed on Week 1’s injury report. Including playoffs, Gibbs has scored 14 TDs over his last 14 games. He’s an elite RB1 play against the Rams. … Brandon Thorn pegged Detroit’s offensive line as the NFL’s best, while David Montgomery finished 2023 with the NFL’s fourth-most red-zone carries (50). In Sunday night’s projected shootout, Montgomery is a strong bet to score.

Amon-Ra St. Brown tagged the Rams for 7/110/0 receiving in last January’s playoffs and should have no trouble carving up L.A.’s secondary again. Old and slow on the backend, the Rams placed starting CB Darious Williams (hamstring) on I.R. at the end of camp. … L.A.’s green-dot replacement for Jones is expected to be 30-year-old scrub Troy Reeder, who belongs on special teams. … As a 2023 rookie, Sam LaPorta ranked fifth among tight ends in targets (120), fourth in catches (86), fifth in yards (889), and first in TDs (10). Leaning on Reeder, special teams type ILB Christian Rozeboom, and physical but sluggish SS Kamren Curl to patrol the middle of the field, the Rams appear likely to stay vulnerable to tight ends all year. … The Lions cleared the deck for Jameson Williams to assume No. 2 WR duties, most notably allowing Josh Reynolds (Broncos) to flee without a fight. They even went so far as to keep just four wide receivers on their final 53-man roster. Against a talent-deficient Rams defense with Goff set up for success, Williams projects as an upside WR3 candidate. … Lions No. 3 WR Kalif Raymond is a single-game DFS sleeper in a scoring-friendly game.

Score Prediction: Lions 34, Rams 23