NFL Player News

A former five-star recruit who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a true junior, Epenesa (6’5/275) lacks an explosive first step on tape but buoyed his physicality and heavy hands into high-end production at the collegiate level, finishing his career as the first Hawkeye with back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks since Matt Roth (2003-04). As The Athletic’s Dane Brugler notes, Epenesa actually averaged less than 50 percent of Iowa’s snaps in his first two years before becoming a full-time starter (90.1%) in 2019. Unfortunately, his sluggish 18th-percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism coupled with an unimpressive 40 (5.04) and median 32.5-inch vertical (63rd-percentile) means his team fit will be crucial in ensuring his impact as an EDGE rusher to begin his career. Don’t be surprised if he’s kicked inside if struggling out the gates. Even so, his upside remains that of a double-digit sack artist and Pro-Bowler.

St. Brown led the team in targets with 10 but finished third in receiving behind Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta. He did contribute to another highlight play in the second quarter when he caught a short pass from quarterback jared Goff, pitched the football to Jameson Williams on a hook-and-ladder trick play, which Williams took to the house from 41 yards out. Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters his team would approach this game like any other regardless of it being meaningless in the standings in the conference, and the team did not disappoint with another 40-point effort. St. Brown is sure to be busy again in Week 18 when the Lions play for the No. 1 seed at home against the Vikings.

LaPorta caught the second of three touchdown passes from quarterback Jared Goff as the Lions kept momentum heading into their conference-deciding home matchup with the division rival Vikings in Week 18. The touchdown pushes his season total to seven, all of which have come in the previous 11 games. Expect LaPorta to remain busy against the pass-funnel Vikings next week.

Williams got the Lions on the board with a three-yard touchdown carry in the first quarter before scoring on a hook-and-ladder trick play from a ball thrown to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who then pitched the football to Williams for a 41-yard receiving score in the second quarter. Williams tied with tight end Sam LaPorta for second on the team in targets behind the 10 of St. Brown, but led the team in receiving. Williams is sure to be busy in Week 18 when the Lions host the Vikings to decide the NFC champion.

Gibbs again operated as the clear lead back against the 49ers, although he did cede seven carries and two targets to Craig Reynolds and three carries to Jermar Jefferson. Even so, he returned yet another elite fantasy score in the absence of David Montgomery, the latter of whom was not sent to injured reserve as he attempts to come back in the playoffs. The Lions head into a Week 18 home matchup with the 14-2 Vikings to decide the winner of the NFC Conference and recipient of the lone playoff bye out of the NFC. Gibbs should be busy once again in the winner-take-all affair.

Goff and the Lions fell behind early and took a 21-13 deficit into the half, eventually asserting their dominance after the break. His first touchdown pass of the evening came on a hook-and-ladder trick play, with a completed pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown who pitched the football to Jameson Williams for the score. He then threw second half touchdowns to tight end Sam LaPorta and alpha wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to lead the Lions to their first road victory of the 49ers since 1975. The win sends the Lions to a 14-2 record, tied with the Vikings ahead of the two teams meeting in Week 18 to decide the winner of the NFC Conference and recipient of the conference’s only playoff bye.

Samuel saw three early carries that resulted in 16 yards but managed just one target following the team’s first possession, taking a significant backseat to rookie Ricky Pearsall, who set a career high with 141 yards and a touchdown, George Kittle, who went for 112 yards, and Jauan Jennings, who tied for the team lead with 10 targets. For Samuel to be so little involved when quarterback Brock Purdy set his own career high with 377 pass yards speaks volumes to Samuel’s pedestrian season this year. Further complicating matters for Deebo was the departure of Purdy with a throwing arm injury with under a minute to play, something that could force backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs to start in the team’s season finale against the Cardinals.

Jennings tied for the team lead in targets with 10 but was vastly overshadowed by rookie Ricky Pearsall, who set a career high with 141 yards and a score, and tight end George Kittle, who caught all eight of his targets for 112 yards. Further complicating matters for Jennings heading into a Week 18 divisional tilt against the Cardinals was the departure of starting quarterback Brock Purdy with a throwing arm injury with under a minute to play. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs was Jennings’ teammate in college, something that could influence target dispersal should Dobbs start against the Cardinals.

Kittle remained Mr. Consistency as he caught all eight targets thrown his way, seven of which were thrown by starting quarterback Brock Purdy and one of which was thrown from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs following Purdy’s departure with a throwing arm injury late in the fourth quarter. The nature of the injury and timing, with the team playing on Monday night, could lead to Dobbs starting under center in Week 18 when the 49ers take on the Cardinals. Dobbs has been known to target tight ends frequently throughout his career, something that late-season gamers would do well to take note of should he start next week.

Pearsall served as the team’s top option through the air throughout, scoring his touchdown on the team’s first possession on a three-yard strike from Brock Purdy. He would then see consistent usage the rest of the way en route to a career-high game, which coincided with a career-high night from Purdy in pass yards with 377. Pearsall could see one more game of featured usage in Week 18 against the Cardinals, although it could come with Joshua Dobbs throwing him the football after Purdy went down with an injury to his throwing arm with under a minute left to play against the Lions.

It was never overly likely that Guerendo would find much room on the ground against the stout Detroit defensive front, but he more than overcame those shortcomings with a solid receiving line through the air. Guerendo entered the season as the third running back behind Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, starting three games in his rookie season after the top two options experienced season-ending injuries. He performed well when called upon, most notably showcasing his receiving chops after converting from wide receiver in college. Guerendo should get one more start under his belt to end the regular season against the Cardinals in Week 18.