What pairs better with a three-game slate of crucial NFL action than a turkey leg?
As matchups gain significance with the postseason rapidly approaching, Thanksgiving provides the perfect backdrop for a pivotal day of football. Fill your plate and glass, sit back, and enjoy this cheat sheet to sound like an expert at the dinner table.
Three players are like the stuffing — whether you like it or not, you can’t leave them out of your lineup. They cost a premium, but this trio of guys are must-starts for these special Week 13 showdowns.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Thanksgiving Millionaire [$1M to 1st] (Thu)
Must-Start Thanksgiving Plays
Josh Jacobs ($7,000) vs. Miami Dolphins
The story of 2024 has been elite running backs flourishing in new, better situations.
Josh Jacobs avoided the sinking ship in Las Vegas and took his talents to Green Bay to be the focal point of one of the league’s premier offenses. He spearheads one of only 11 ground attacks with a positive EPA per rush and is proving he can still withstand a bell cow workload.
Jacobs is coming off his best showing in green and gold, running for 106 yards and scoring three touchdowns. He’s scored 20+ fantasy points four times in five weeks and is starting to heat up as the weather plummets in Wisconsin. At home against a team used to the sunshine, I like Jacobs to get going early and often and continue this scorching-hot stretch.
Jared Goff ($6,500) vs. Chicago Bears
Jared Goff is generating warranted MVP buzz after Detroit’s incredible 10-1 start. The former first-overall pick has never quite cracked the top tier of signal-callers, but with the proper infrastructure, he can lead a terrifying passing game. With more weapons than the National Guard, Goff is stuffing the stat sheet.
Most pure pocket passers have limited fantasy upside, but Goff is consistent enough to warrant starter consideration. He’s had a bit of a downturn in the last month, but he’s talented enough to shake it off and get back on track.
Detroit will use its pair of Pro Bowl backs to wear out the Chicago front seven to unlock the play-action pass game, assuming David Montgomery (shoulder) is healthy. Either way, this unit can move the rock against anyone, and in a meaningful matchup in front of America, Goff will shine on primetime.
Jaylen Waddle ($5,400) at Green Bay Packers
After falling to obscurity, Jaylen Waddle bounced back in a major way Sunday. He crossed the century mark for the first time since the season opener, reeling in eight receptions for 144 yards and a score. The speedster finally found his form, burning New England on in-breaking routes and doing the bulk of his work after the catch.
Miami has gone away from constantly launching deep shots downfield, but Waddle is lethal with the rock in his hands. He’s more than a complementary piece and can be a DFS gem until he produces a few more viable outings. Buy low now against a Green Bay secondary that has looked a bit suspect against high-end pass-catching groups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Thanksgiving Millionaire [$1M to 1st] (Thu)
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is xaiver-aguiar) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
