This is our Monday Night Football DFS strategy breakdown for the Detroit Lions vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Detroit.
Baker Mayfield continues to withstand whatever gets thrown at him and the 5-1 Buccaneers, with challenging injuries facing them every week of the season so far. Injuries haven't exactly been kind to the Lions (4-2), who have played two weeks without standout left tackle Taylor Decker and without their starting cornerback duo, but they get Decker back for this game. What's less clear is whether the Buccaneers will have Mike Evans or Emeka Egbuka at receiver – the assumption is Evans has a good chance to play, while Egbuka might be more of a last-second call.
The over/under is at 53.0 with the home-team Lions favored by 6.0.
QUARTERBACK
Baker Mayfield ($10600 DK, $12000 FD) has rather easily fielded the curve balls thrown his way so far in 2025, so even if the worst-case scenario happens with Evans and Egbuka it's still plenty justifiable to pick Mayfield on this slate, particularly with the Detroit secondary a mess. If Evans or/and Egbuka are in then the case only gets stronger. Mayfield might be somewhat chalky given the obviousness of these observations, but a good pick is a good pick.
Jared Goff ($10000 DK, $11200 FD) could be a good pick himself on the other side, especially if the game trends to the over. Goff often posts excellent box scores at home, including in some challenging matchups. With that said, the Tampa defense is very likely more challenging than the Detroit one at the moment, and unlike Mayfield there's very little chance Goff will run for much.
RUNNING BACK
Jahmyr Gibbs ($10400 DK, $13000 FD) and David Montgomery ($7400 DK, $9200 FD) are unlikely to find much room for interior running with Vita Vea on the other side, but the return of Taylor Decker is reassuring for off-tackle running. Off-tackle running better suits Gibbs than Montgomery, but Montgomery isn't a zero in that application. The real issue for Montgomery is that Gibbs has a way of playing more the more competitive the game is. The over/under here says there might be opportunity for Montgomery even as the RB2 for Detroit, but it's possible that more points are scored through the air given how tough the two run defenses are. This isn't to say Gibbs will be a great pick, just that the circumstances seem more favorable to Gibbs than Montgomery.
Rachaad White ($8800 DK, $9600 FD) has three rushing touchdowns in the last two weeks despite tough sledding (106 yards on 31 carries), so the fact that he's unlikely to run for much yardage here apparently doesn't preclude the possibility of short-yardage touchdowns. If Mayfield can take advantage of Detroit's weak secondary then the Buccaneers could find themselves in scoring range even if White does little as a runner up to that point. Meanwhile, White is a legitimately excellent pass catcher by running back standards. Sean Tucker ($2800 DK, $4600 FD) has played only 25 snaps over the last two weeks, making him a punt play as a rushing specialist in a game where Tampa probably won't run for much.
WIDE RECEIVER + TIGHT END
Mike Evans ($9600 DK, $10400 FD) is loosely expected to play through his hamstring injury, while Emeka Egbuka ($10200 DK, $9000 FD) appears more of a true game-time call. Neither player needs a case made for them, and if they're both active it makes sense to pick both even on the same ticket. Evans is arguably the one to prioritize more, if only because Egbuka seems likely to play fewer snaps.
If Egbuka and especially if Evans is surprisingly out then it would quickly raise the projection of tight end Cade Otton ($5600 DK, $6800 FD), who is normally a humble blocker for the Buccaneers but is capable of transforming into a team-leading pass catcher when injuries strike the receiver position. If Evans and Egbuka are active, though, then Otton's prominence from scrimmage certainly fades.
Tez Johnson ($4600 DK, $5400 FD) would be an interesting and popular sleeper if Egbuka is out, because as the Buccaneer's third-ranking boundary receiver behind Evans and Egbuka there is a chance for Johnson to see extensive opportunity against this weak secondary. Sterling Shepard ($6400 DK, $7400 FD) is locked in to around 30 snaps per week – his playing time is surprisingly not subject to the availability of Evans or Egbuka. In the event that both Evans and Egbuka are out, Kameron Johnson ($3600 DK, $8200 FD) appears capable too. Payne Durham is a blocking specialist punt play at tight end.
Amon-Ra St. Brown ($11200 DK, $11800 FD) is never a fun fade, and in this case the only reason to consider it would be for pricing. St. Brown costs more than Goff, but it's not impossible to imagine Jameson Williams ($8000 DK, $7600 FD) and Sam LaPorta ($6800 DK, $7000 FD) posting strong enough numbers to carry Goff even if St. Brown has a modest game by his own standards. St. Brown normally offers more floor than ceiling, and for the price it's probably not as much upside as you'd prefer.
The more the game trends to a shootout the more you might see Isaac TeSlaa ($2000 DK, $2800 FD) play snaps as a tempting bargain play. The basic tension is TeSlaa only plays in three-wide sets, so if TE2 Brock Wright ($1600 DK, $2200 FD) is on the field TeSlaa likely is not. Wright plays starter-like snap counts when Detroit is winning or/and their run game is rolling, but as a receiver he is rarely used and is best understood as a punt play.
KICKER
After two elite seasons in a row, Chase McLaughlin ($5000 DK, $6200 FD) has struggled a bit in 2025, uncharacteristically missing four of his 13 kicks from beneath 50 yards. He's made all four of his kicks from beyond 50, though, and if McLaughlin can snap back into last year's form then he's always a double-digit fantasy point threat on a single-game slate.
Jake Bates ($5400 DK, $6400 FD) has fallen off a bit in 2025, as well, and with only nine field goal attempts in six games he's not a name that jumps out in this slate.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
Neither defense is all that advisable in this game. The Buccaneers ($3400 DK, $6000 FD) are the better group, yet they're in a difficult spot to face the Lions in Detroit in a game with a high over/under. The Lions ($4000 DK, $6600 FD) are likely less advisable yet, because their pass defense has to be one of the worst in the league at the moment.
