Cowboys D/ST or Lions D/ST: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start the Lions — the lineup-share and opponent scoring edges are too wide to ignore.

Lions D/ST is started in more leagues (started rank 14 to 25) and faces the lower-scoring offense (22.3 implied points to 25.0). the Cowboys's edge is opponent giveaways, 3.3 sacks allowed to 2.3. The gap is wide.

Cowboys D/ST

D/STDALvs HOU

Projected Points

Sit

Lions D/ST

D/STDETvs CAR

Projected Points

Sit
DAL@
HOUSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
DET@
CARSun, Oct 4, 8:20 PM ETView the game →

Why Cowboys D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 22): Vegas has HOU at 25 points, and 4.4 pts projected vs HOU.

  • HOU's offense gives up 3.3 sacks and 0.7 turnovers a game, near league average.
  • Vegas has HOU at 25 points as 2.5-point favorites.
  • Under-started: only 3% of leagues have them in, 25th among defenses, against a No. 22 matchup.

Why Lions D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 21): 4.6 pts projected vs CAR.

  • CAR's offense gives up 2.3 sacks and 1.3 turnovers a game, near league average.
  • Vegas has CAR at 22.3 points as 3-point dogs.
  • Over-started: 31% of leagues have them in, 14th among defenses, against a No. 21 matchup.

Head-to-head stats

MetricCowboys D/STLions D/ST
Projected points
Projection rankProj.DST22Proj.DST21
Started in3% of leagues31% of leagues
Opponent sacks allowed / game3.32.3
Opponent turnovers / game0.71.3
Opponent implied total25.022.3
Home / awayAwayAway
Start/Sit record2–01–0

Recent form

Cowboys D/ST — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs BAL
Week 2vs WSH
Week 1vs NYG

Lions D/ST — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs NYJ
Week 2vs BUF
Week 1vs NO

Signal breakdown

  • 4.4 vs 4.6 projected PPR pointsLions D/ST +
  • Started rank 25 vs 14 (3% vs 31% of leagues)Lions D/ST +
  • 3.3 sacks / 0.7 TO vs 2.3 sacks / 1.3 TO per game allowedCowboys D/ST +
  • Opponent implied 25.0 vs 22.3 pointsLions D/ST +
  • Away vs Awayeven

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