Patriots vs. Lions in Munich Preview: Rhamondre Stevenson Is Out for Weeks, Corey Kiner Takes Over and Detroit's Secondary Is Banged Up

The NFL heads to Germany on Sunday, and the New England Patriots will play the Detroit Lions short-handed in the backfield. Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to miss multiple weeks with an injury to the plantaris tendon behind his knee, and TreVeyon Henderson is also out. That leaves Corey Kiner and Lan Larison as New England's healthy running backs for a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff at Allianz Arena, the home of FC Bayern Munich. FOX has the broadcast, and the Patriots are the designated home team.

The offensive line is also thin. Head coach Mike Vrabel said guard Ben Brown "won't make it this week," so Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor are expected to start at guard. Receiver A.J. Brown is still questionable, though Vrabel said he expects Brown to make the trip.

On Detroit's side, the injury issues are in the secondary. Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are both dealing with injuries, and Joseph is listed as questionable. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo and linebacker DJ Wonnum are also questionable.

The early-game wrinkle

Munich games kick off before the normal Sunday window, which creates a lineup-lock issue for fantasy managers. On most platforms, players in the 9:30 a.m. ET game lock at kickoff, so you'll need to make decisions on Patriots and Lions players before inactives for the 1 p.m. games are released. If you're waiting on a Patriots running back or A.J. Brown, plan your backup options before Sunday morning.

International games also bring unusual travel. Both teams will spend most of the week adjusting to a six-hour time difference. That's a small factor for betting, but it's one reason Munich games have sometimes been sloppier than their totals implied.

The Patriots backfield after Stevenson

Corey Kiner is now the most important add in this backfield. He was one of the top waiver-wire targets heading into Week 10, and he becomes the likely early-down and goal-line back while Stevenson and Henderson are out. Expect a heavy share of carries, especially if New England keeps the game close.

Lan Larison is the No. 2. He'll probably handle some passing-down work and give Kiner a break, which limits Kiner's PPR ceiling a bit. If you're in a deep league and need a running back, Larison is worth a roster spot because one more injury would make him the starter.

The line is the bigger concern. Playing two backup-level guards against Detroit's front makes it harder to run up the middle and puts more pressure on Drake Maye in the pocket. That keeps Kiner's efficiency in check even if his volume is good. Treat him as a volume-driven RB2 or flex, not a breakout candidate.

Drake Maye and the passing game

Maye had a rough Week 9 by fantasy standards, and the matchup is more complicated this week. Detroit's injuries at safety could open up the middle of the field, which helps a quarterback who throws well in the intermediate range. The guard injuries cut the other way, since pressure up the middle is a quarterback's biggest problem.

If A.J. Brown plays, he's a WR2 in a game with one of the higher totals of the week. Detroit's banged-up secondary makes him an appealing start, but his questionable tag and the early lock make him risky. Have a backup ready from the 1 p.m. games. If Brown is ruled out, Maye's ceiling drops, and New England's other pass catchers get a small bump in volume.

Maye stays a QB1 because of his rushing and this matchup. It isn't a must-start spot, but it's better than his Week 9 line suggests.

Lions outlook

Detroit's offense should be able to move the ball against a Patriots defense that will be on the field a lot if New England's run game stalls. The Lions' usual fantasy starters are in good shape for this game, and none of their key offensive players appeared on the early injury reports. Start the Detroit regulars as usual.

The question for Detroit is defensive. If Joseph and Branch both miss the game, the Lions will start backups at safety, which is the one area where the Patriots' passing game could find room.

Betting angle

Most books have the Lions as 1.5-point favorites, with totals between 48.5 and 49.5. The SI betting preview had Detroit at -2.5 with the Patriots at even money. Moneylines are around Lions -125 and Patriots +105.

Three things point toward the under: New England's backfield and guard injuries, the early kickoff and the long trip. Detroit's secondary injuries point the other way, toward more points from the Patriots' passing game. This is a total to wait on until Friday's injury reports. If both Lions safeties are ruled out, the over gets more attractive. If A.J. Brown is out, the Patriots' side of the total drops.

For the Verdexed model's take, check the weekly picks page at /blog/nfl-week-10-picks-2026 and the live board at /nfl/predictions.

What's next

Expect Vrabel to give updates on A.J. Brown and the backfield during the week, and Detroit's Wednesday report will show where Joseph and Branch stand. The final call on both teams' questionable players comes Friday.

For lineups, start Kiner as a volume-based RB2, keep Maye in QB1 range, have a backup plan for A.J. Brown because of the early lock, and start your usual Lions. In deep leagues, Larison is the speculative add.