Week 4: Five Detroit Lions Players To Watch vs The New Orleans Saints

1. LT Taylor Decker

Decker has flown under the radar this year in a great way. So far this season in his three games of work he has allowed zero sacks, only seven pressures, and 2 quarterbacks hits.

Pro Football Focus ranks Decker as the sixth best offensive tackle in the league so far this year. He almost made a few studs list for me but there just have been others that stood out as well.

2. RG Jonah Jackson

The Lions rookie Jackson has been nothing short of amazing in his first three games in his NFL career. He has only allowed four pressures in his 120 pass blocking snaps this year and has allowed no sacks. He also has made a hole or two for his running backs each game. I understand some criticism for GM Bob Quinn, but he finds some great players in mid rounds like Jackson or wide receiver Kenny Golladay.

3. TE TJ Hockenson

The Saints defense has been Swiss cheese for opposing tight ends this season and I don"t believe Sunday will be any different. Lions fans are very aware of what a defense that can"t cover tight ends looks like and the Saints have so far been even worse than Detroit.

I expect Hockenson to have a career day on Sunday with maybe around seven receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Keep an eye on 88.

4. CB Desmond Trufant

Trufant has missed the last two games this year after tweaking his hamstring in week one vs the Chicago Bears. This forced rookie Jeff Okudah into action faster than the Lions would have liked; but it seems to have gotten the rookie a lot more experience and better prepared for action. He has made noticeable improvements, and now with Trufant back, will slide over to cover the teams #2 receiver. This allows Trufant to come in and take over the lead role that he was brought in to do.

5. WR Danny Amendola

The Saints will be missing both of their starting corner backs, so this should open the field for Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr and Hockenson. With all of this being said that leaves the defense to focus on all three of the aforementioned players. While they figure that out, Amendola will be doing his thing in the slot, making the defense pay for ignoring him. He only had one catch last game but it went for 18 yards, but he is very capable to being a go to target for the Lions.

GAME PREDICTION:

The Lions riding the momentum from their win last week, and also will be getting some of their starters back like Trufant,. The Saints will be missing five starters, so I"m going with the lions to take the win and improve to 2-2 heading into the bye week. Prediction: Lions 31- Saints 27

I hope you enjoyed my five Lions to watch, follow me on Twitter for more great content @Gullett_James

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