Lions vs Bills Fantasy Preview: September 17, 2026 | FantasyLineups.com
The Detroit Lions visit the Buffalo Bills at 8:15 p.m. ET to open Week 2. For fantasy managers, the key questions are how Detroit handles its offensive-line injuries and which Buffalo players can turn their opportunities into another productive night.
Here are five players at the center of our Thursday Night Football preview.
Josh Allen — Buffalo Bills
Allen leads our latest Week 2 quarterback rankings. His passing and rushing ability give him multiple paths to fantasy points. Our approach: start him confidently in season-long leagues, then evaluate his DFS salary against the rest of your lineup.
Jahmyr Gibbs — Detroit Lions
Gibbs opened the season with 186 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 34 touches. That workload reinforces his importance, although another 30-plus-touch game should not be the expectation.
Detroit has ruled out offensive linemen Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller. Our read: Gibbs’ receiving involvement becomes especially valuable if those absences make the running game less efficient. He remains a strong fantasy start.
Amon-Ra St. Brown — Detroit Lions
St. Brown scored twice in the opener. For PPR lineups, our focus is his opportunity to collect catches, rather than needing another two-touchdown performance.
His fantasy outlook and his player-prop value are separate decisions. An excellent receiver still needs the right line and price to become an appealing bet.
James Cook — Buffalo Bills
Cook offers a way to benefit from a Buffalo lead. If the Bills move ahead and sustain drives, additional late carries could strengthen his night.
For DFS, decide whether your lineup assumes Buffalo controlling the game or both teams trading scores. That choice should influence how much of your budget goes toward the running game.
Dalton Kincaid — Buffalo Bills
Kincaid’s 130-yard opener puts him firmly on the fantasy radar. Our focus is whether his receiving involvement continues. Treat the big performance as encouragement, while evaluating this week’s projection and price independently.
Before kickoff
Recheck player availability and the Orchard Park weather before locking your lineup. If rain or wind worsens, reassess the affected plays.
Prepare for Thursday—and the rest of Week 2
Compare projections and lines with our Player Prop Analyzer, review the full weekly rankings, and build with our DraftKings and FanDuel optimizers. Members also receive breaking fantasy news and insights powered by RotoBaller.
Join FantasyLineups for $4.99 for your first month with code NFL20. Then $9.99 per month. Cancel anytime.
