Gobble, gobble. It’s the Thanksgiving slate. With no Jaylen Waddle? I just took off my shirt, ready to squabble. I kid, I kid. That would be a debacle because I’ve got two kids, making me a role model. I will now slink to the corner and down a non-alcoholic bottle while checking all the projection models. Which players will supercharge our lineups and throttle us to glory? Which players will topple our hopes and dreams like a Jenga tower? If we can see into that future, then we must channel our inner Peyton Manning and “Omaha! Omaha” audible.
No teams have a bye this week.
We’ve got three games on this Thanksgiving slate. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, DET is -2.5 at home over GB with the total at 48.5. KC is -3.5 on the road over DAL with the total at 52.5. BAL is -7 over CIN at home with the total at 52.5.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Thanksgiving Millionaire [$1M to 1st] (Thu).
Quarterback
Stud
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($6,800) – Jackson has been poor from a fantasy perspective, posting single-digit FPTS in each of the last two games. One of those was in poor weather against a great Browns defense and the other was against an overmatched Jets team, so Jackson wasn’t needed to do much. We could see vintage Jackson in this one because Joe Burrow is expected to be back for the Bengals, which could make this an up-and-down affair. If so, Jackson could flourish because the Bengals have posted the worst EPA per dropback on defense, allowing a league-leading 26 passing touchdowns. And we know what Jackson can do with his legs.
Other Options – Patrick Mahomes ($6,500), Dak Prescott ($6,300)
Value
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens ($6,000) – Burrow hasn’t played since Week 2 but is expected to be back for this one. There could be rust and it may take some time to get back into the flow of things. That said, Baltimore will likely be scoring points in this one, so Burrow will be forced to get up to speed quickly. In addition, the Ravens pass defense hasn’t been good, posting the 13th-highest EPA per dropback. Baltimore is only 22nd in pressure rate and the 18 sacks are fourth-fewest.
Other Options – Jared Goff ($5,800), Jordan Love ($5,500)
Running Back
Stud
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($7,300) – I think Baltimore scores a ton of points, and I’d like to try and get a piece of all of them. Henry opened the season with 33.2 FPTS. Then he failed to put up at least 20 FPTS in eight straight, with three of those under 10 FPTS. In the last two games, though, Henry has gone for over 20 FPTS in both games. There’s a good chance it’s three in a row because the Bengals have allowed 5.1 yards per carry on the season, 12 rushing touchdowns and the third-highest EPA per carry.
Other Options – Jahmyr Gibbs ($8,800), Chase Brown ($6,500), Javonte Williams ($6,300)
Value
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys ($5,300) – Isiah Pacheco has missed the last three games due to an MCL injury. Over that span, Hunt has garnered 70 to 80 percent of the snaps and scored double-digit FPTS in all. Last week, he carried a whopping 30 times for 104 yards and a touchdown while catching all three targets for 26 yards. If Pacheco does return, that dings some of the ceiling outcome for Hunt, but I still think he can be effective, especially since Dallas has allowed the second-highest EPA per carry, 4.6 yards per carry and 13 rushing touchdowns. There should be plenty of opportunities to score fantasy goodies.
Other Options – Emanuel Wilson ($5,800), Justice Hill ($4,000)
Wide Receiver
Stud
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens ($8,000) – Chase missed last week due to suspension. He still leads the NFL in targets with 117, eight more than second place. Now he likely gets Joe Burrow back under center with Tee Higgins out and against a Ravens secondary that hasn’t been great in a game that could be a back-and-forth affair. Whew.
Other Options – Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,800), Rashee Rice ($7,500), George Pickens ($7,000), CeeDee Lamb ($6,900), Zay Flowers ($6,100)
Value
Mitchell Tinsley, Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens ($3,500) – With Chase out last week, Tinsley was in on 74% of the snaps and garnered six targets. Chase is back but now Tee Higgins is out. Tinsley will more than likely be on the field for 70 to 80 percent of the snaps again. Whether he gets the targets is unknown with the return of Burrow, but he’s cheap and will be out there in a potentially juicy game environment.
Other Options – Jameson Williams ($4,800), Christian Watson ($4,700), Andrei Iosivas ($4,300)
Tight End
Stud
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($3,600) – The Bengals defense has been eviscerated by tight ends this season, allowing the most FPTS on average, the most receptions, the most yards, the most targets, and the 13 touchdowns allowed are the most by a significant margin. What else needs to be said?
Other Options – Jake Ferguson ($5,100), Travis Kelce ($5,000), Mike Gesicki ($3,100)
Value
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($2,600) –I could tell you to scroll up a few inches but I’m a man of the people, so I will just copy and paste. “The Bengals defense has been eviscerated by tight ends this season, allowing the most FPTS on average, the most receptions, the most yards, the most targets, and the 13 touchdowns allowed are the most by a significant margin. What else needs to be said?” The snaps at tight end are almost split down the middle, with a slight lean towards Andrews. Both Andrews and Likely received three targets last week.
Other Options – Brock Wright ($2,800) if he plays, Luke Musgrave ($2,700), Ross Dwelley ($2,500) if Brock Wright is out
Defense/Special Teams
Stud
Lions DST vs. Green Bay Packers ($3,200) – I’m not crazy about this recommendation because Green Bay is conservative and rarely turns the ball over. When these teams met in Week 1, the Lions DST put up a bagel. That game was in Green Bay, though, while this game is in Detroit. The Lions offense plays better at home and they could put up points in this one, forcing Green Bay out of their shell. In addition, Jordan Love is dealing with a left shoulder injury. The offensive line isn’t great for Green Bay and Detroit has 32 sacks on the season, good for seventh-most.
Other Options – NA
Value
Chiefs DST at Dallas Cowboys ($2,800) – I’m not a fan of this recommendation either, but I have the utmost respect for Steve Spagnuolo and Kansas City has some havoc-makers on the defensive line. In addition, the Chiefs offense could put up some points against a porous Cowboys defense.
Other Options – NA
