One of the best football days of the year has arrived! This year’s Thanksgiving day slate will feature three matchups, starting with Lions-Bears, followed by Cowboys-Giants, concluding with Packers-Dolphins. With so many games on this slate, it’s crucial to start your fantasy week off strong with the playoffs around the corner.
Let’s break down my Thanksgiving day start ’em, sit ’em fantasy football picks.
Thanksgiving Fantasy Football Must-Starts:
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- David Montgomery (if active)
- CeeDee Lamb
- Tyreek Hill
- Josh Jacobs
- De’Von Achane
Start ‘Em: Jonnu Smith (Dolphins) at Packers
Jonnu Smith emerging as a top five fantasy tight end wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card… but here we are!
Over Miami’s last two games, Smith saw 19 targets, hauling in 15 of them for 188 yards and three touchdowns, racking up a combined 55.8 fantasy points. The Dolphins’ offense has finally begun to look like last year’s elite unit, and Smith has been the main beneficiary thus far.
He should remain heavily involved against a Packers team that ranks in the bottom half of the league against fantasy tight ends.
Sit ‘Em: D’Andre Swift (Bears) at Lions
After a stellar few weeks as Chicago’s lead back, Swift has come back down to earth as of late.
The 25-year-old has failed to hit the double-digit fantasy point mark in two of his last three outings. In the Bears’ heartbreaking loss to Minnesota, Swift received his fewest carries in a game since Week 3, and he could be forced out of offensive attack early due to game script against Detroit.
The Lions allow the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing backfields. Swift should make his way back into your starting lineup at some point down the road, but not on Thursday.
Start ‘Em: Rico Dowdle (Cowboys) vs. Giants
Don’t look now, but the Cooper Rush Cowboys are… competent offensively?!
Dallas pulled off the shocking upset over Washington last week, and Dowdle played a large role in it. The 26-year-old paced his team on the ground, rushing 19 times for 86 yards, also hauling in three receptions. It wasn’t the strongest fantasy day, but it was a solid outing. Dowdle should keep the positive momentum rolling on Thursday against a Giants team that allows the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing backfields.
Check out my full Week 13 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Sit ‘Em: Jayden Reed (Packers) vs. Dolphins
For the second straight time, Reed is my sit of the week at receiver.
Despite holding the PPR WR13 spot on the season, Green Bay’s speedster has been infuriatingly inconsistent as of late. Reed has scored double-digit points just once over his last five outings, and is now tasked with beating a Dolphins secondary that allows the second-fewest fantasy points to receiving corps. While the big play upside will always be there, I’m not trusting Reed until he shows some consistent production.
Start ‘Em: D.J. Moore (Bears) at Lions
Don’t look now, but D.J Moore may be… fantasy relevant again?!
After an immensely frustrating start to the season, Chicago’s most-talented receiver has put it all together over the last two weeks. Moore was especially productive in his last outing against the Vikings, racking up 26.9 PPR points on seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdowns.
While the matchup looks tough on paper for Chicago, the Lions actually allow the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Fire up Moore as a WR2.
Sit ‘Em: Jared Goff (Lions) vs. Bears
Goff either delivers unbelievable stat lines, or looks like he wasn’t involved whatsoever in the game. To be fair, sometimes that is the case, as Detroit’s rushing attack is a nightmare for defenses.
Ben Johnson wants to run the ball. Then run it again. Then run it again… you get where I’m going with this.
The 30-year-old is capable of producing elite fantasy numbers, but he’s failed to eclipse the 13-point mark in three of his last four contests. While it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with his individual “success”, I would sit Goff against a Bears defense that allows the second-fewest points to quarterbacks.
Those are my start ’em, sit ’em Thanksgiving day picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice later this week.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
