Detroit Lions: Week 4 Boom or Bust Players

Week 3 boom: D’Andre Swift – MISS
Week 3 bust: Amani Oruwariye – HIT

Although at a record of 1-2, the Detroit Lions have shown major signs of improvement from last season. They have competed in each of their three games and seem to have lifted themselves from the bottom of the league where they frequently sit. The Seattle Seahawks pose interesting matchups for two Lions who have surprisingly emerged to start the season.

Boom: Jared Goff

Jared Goff has supplied the Lions with a higher quality of play than most expected to start the season. In fact, in his last seven games, Goff has posted 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions, a ratio typically seen from the league’s top quarterbacks. If Goff can continue to put up these numbers, he would have MVP caliber statistics. While Goff is clearly not an elite quarterback, he can expose poor defenses like the Seahawks’. Seattle has allowed an unpleasantly high 8.4 yards per receptions, which is worst in the league though three games. With a cornerback room consisting of Mike Jackosn and rookies Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant, the Seahawks may be torched by the seemingly more confident Goff. Goff’s recent success is paralleled with the emergence of Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is questionable to play Sunday. But if he does, Goff is likely to go off.

Bust: Jeff Okudah

The former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah had the game of his career in Week 3, when he limited Justin Jefferson to three receptions for 14 yards. So why would Okudah be a bust candidate when it seems he is finally breaking out? Okudah’s emergence has been impressive, but now sets new standards for his level of play. Not to mention his success has been aided by the way in which the rest of the defense has provided him help. With no intention of discrediting Okudah, he has rarely had one-on-one reps against Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, and Devonta Smith, his primary matchups this year. The receiver who has given Okudah the most trouble this year was A.J. Brown, who he only encountered on a few snaps. This week, Okudah is likely to matchup against Brown’s former college teammate D.K. Metcalf, whose similar stature could be problematic for the third-year corner. With Tyler Lockett on the other side of Metcalf, double teams directed at Metcalf are less likely, which will force Okudah to be at his best. Only time will tell if his break out will continue in Week 4.