Week 3 MNF Fantasy Football Preview : DET @ BAL

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  • By Jon Mosales

    Last Updated on September 22, 2025 12:37 pm by Jon Mosales | Published: September 22, 2025

    MNF – Detroit Lions @ Baltimore Ravens

    Point spread: Lions +4.5 | Ravens -4.5

    Moneyline: Lions +180 | Ravens -200

    Total: Over 53.5 | Under 53.5

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    Overview:

    This is a potential Super Bowl preview as both teams have been banging on the door recently and just need that last push to get to the big game.  Each team lose in Week 1 and then put on a masterclass in Week 2.  This is a fantasy gold mine as both QBs finished in the top-five and each boast a RB that is the crown jewel of anyone’s fantasy team.  With such a high total, something has to give as both defenses excel defending the run, but each team wants to run the ball down it’s opponents throat.  The Ravens are 22-3 in prime time games at home under coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens rushed for 45 yards against Cleveland, their lowest output ever with Jackson at quarterback.  Jackson is truly scary on MNF and has been dialed is so far this season as the Ravens have the most explosive offense in football, ranking No. 1 in explosive play rate at 17.3%.  That’s bad news for a Lions defense giving up big plays at an alarming rate — 28th in explosive play rate allowed (13%).  This game carries the highest total on the Week 3 slate, and it sets up as a shootout as the Ravens will keep the DET defense guessing all night between Derrick Henry and play-action shots downfield.

    Quarterbacks:

    In his two career games against the Lions, Lamar averages 322 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 47 rushing yards, and 0.5 rushing touchdowns.  Jackson is playing the best ball of his career and at home on MNF, he’s as dangerous as anyone who has ever played the game.  The only hope is that you aren’t playing against Jackson this week and if you are, you have a massive cushion otherwise he’s going to ruin your week.  Jackson has been the QB4 in both weeks and could be coming for the number-one spot this week.  Goff is a different place as he was the QB1 last week, but he was at home and he was the QB21 in Week 1 on the road vs. a great defense.  Baltimore has allowed the second-most passing yards per game and is pass-funnel with how their defense stops the run.  Expect the Lions to be playing from behind for most of the game, forcing Goff to drop back to pass often. Goff attempted 39 throws versus the Packers and only 28 against the Bears.  Goff will make his mistakes, but he should be airing it out all night vs. a defense he can attack.

     

    Running Backs:

    It’s not really possible to have a better RB duel, but so far Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry have only been ordinary.  Gibbs has been the RB13 and RB8 and his Week 1 finish was propped up by 10 receptions.  This game should be more like Week 1 than Week 2 in that Gibbs is better suited to his damage through the air than on the ground.  The Ravens have been gashed by James Cook and allowed rookie Quinshon Judkins to carve them up as well so they are very susceptible to RBs through two weeks.  Gibbs should get to over 100 all-purpose yards, but can will he be able to penetrate the goal-line or get vultured by David Montgomery.  Montgomery has 11 rushes in both games and is still a vital cog in the wheel, but his purpose seems more to give Gibbs a breather than really break open the game.  With the Lions fall behind early, expect Gibbs to eat into Montgomery’s snap share and thus Monty isn’t a great play in this one as he’s only averaging 3.7 YPC.  The real question is which Derrick Henry are we getting? The one who RB1 in Week 1 or the one who was RB62 in Week 2.  Now he now faces a Lions team that allowed the fewest rushing yards last season and has held lead backs to under 70 rushing yards in each of their first two games.  Henry is the exception to all rules and he rarely has b2b poor games and almost never at home in primetime.  The Lions might try and limit the Ravens’ downfield passing game and actually give Henry lighter boxes, he could be the lesser of two evils with how great Jackson has been slinging the ball.  Either way, Henry is starting and has a great chance to get 100 rushing yards and multiple TDs due to the possible game script and high point total.

     

    Wide Receivers: 


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    September 22, 2025, 12:37 pm