Week 13 Fantasy Football: Thanksgiving Players To Start & Sit
Fantasy Players To Start/Sit On Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is finally here, which means there is plenty of football games for us fantasy junkies to watch while sitting around the dinner table. It is already Week 13, though, and this week will be huge for anyone with aspiring playoff hopes. So before setting your final lineup this holiday, here are the top fantasy players to start and sit on Thanksgiving.
Thursday's Matchups:
Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions – 12:30 PM ET
Green Bay Stat Leaders:
Aaron Rodgers: 168-251, 2218 yards, 15 TDs
Eddie Lacy: 197 carries, 806 yards, 6 TDs
Jordy Nelson: 61 receptions, 947 yards, 7 TDs
Detroit Stat Leaders:
Matthew Stafford: 274-419, 3495 yards, 24 TDs
Reggie Bush: 160 carries, 737 yards, 2 TDs
Calvin Johnson: 66 receptions, 1198 yards, 11 TDs
Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys – 4:30 PM ET
Oakland Stat Leaders:
Terrelle Pryor: 132-224, 1559 yards, 5 TDs
Rashad Jennings: 109 carries, 553 yards, 2 TDs
Rod Streater: 40 receptions, 600 yards, 2 TDs
Dallas Stat Leaders:
Tony Romo: 262-408, 2915 yards, 23 TDs
DeMarco Murray: 125 carries, 634 yards, 4 TDs
Dez Bryant: 61 receptions, 835 yards, 8 TDs
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens – 8:30 PM ET
Pittsburgh Stat Leaders:
Ben Roethlisberger: 269-417, 3118 yards, 19 TDs
Le’Veon Bell: 143 carries, 455 yards, 4 TDs
Antonio Brown: 80 receptions, 1044 yards, 6 TDs
Baltimore Stat Leaders:
Joe Flacco: 238-403, 2742 yards, 14 TDs
Ray Rice: 156 carries, 450 yards, 4 TDs
Torrey Smith: 48 receptions, 859 yards, 3 TDs
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
START QB Tony Romo
QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys - Romo has been rather productive in recent weeks. He has averaged two touchdowns per game over the last four weeks and has only thrown two picks over that time. Romo luckily gets to face an Oakland secondary that is ranked 25th in the NFL against the pass and is giving up 18.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. The signal caller will shine in Dallas this Thanksgiving and throw at least two touchdowns for fantasy fans.
START RB Rashad Jennings
RB Rashad Jennings, Oakland Raiders - Jennings has been an amazing find over the last couple weeks. In his last four games, the back has averaged an incredible 138.3 all-purpose yards (103.3 rushing yards/35 receiving yards) per game. Starting RB Darren McFadden will once again be limited and fantasy fans can count on Jennings to have another big performance.
START RB Le'Veon Bell
RB Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers - Bell continues to get the majority of the touches out of Pittsburgh’s backfield and he has surprisingly averaged 21.3 touches over the last eight games. He will get a heavy dose of the rock in a cold game in Baltimore and the rookie should easily go over 80 all-purpose yards in the nightcap.
START WR Nate Burleson
WR Nate Burleson, Detroit Lions - Burleson has caught 26 of his 33 targets over the last four contests and has averaged 79 yards a game. He has now hauled in 193 yards with one touchdown over the last two games and he is really starting to fit back into the offense. Expect him to get at least seven targets and finish the afternoon game with 75-85 receiving yards.
START WR Rod Streater
WR Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders - Streater has received 6.7 targets over the past six weeks and the former Temple standout has racked up over 80 receiving yards in three of the last four games. He is receiving the targets of a number one wideout and will have another strong showing against a Dallas secondary that has allowed 25.3 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts this season.
START TE Brandon Pettigrew
TE Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions - Pettigrew has received at least five targets in five straight games and the veteran has once again become a playmaker in Detroit’s high-scoring offense. Pettigrew has caught a touchdown in two of his last five games and odds are he will get a chance to haul one in against the Cheeseheads.
START K Dan Bailey
K Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys - Bailey is fresh off a game-winning 35-yard field goal against the New York Giants last week and the kicker has been putting up decent numbers this year. He should be good for a field goal and three extra points in this interconference game.
START Dallas Defense
Dallas Cowboys DEF/ST - Dallas has tallied five sacks and four turnovers in the last three games and the team is finally starting to generate a pass rush. Fortunately, Dallas will get to face an Oakland offense without QB Terrelle Pryor and RB Darren McFadden. Big D should rack up a couple sacks and turnovers for fantasy fans against an offense that is missing most of their playmakers.
START DL Nick Fairley
DL Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions - Fairley has racked up two sacks in his last three games. The defensive lineman is very athletic for a 300-pounder and he will wear out the interior of Green Bay’s line all afternoon. It will only be a matter of time until the former first round pick makes a play on Thursday.
SIT QB Joe Flacco
QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens - Flacco has averaged a very mediocre 208 passing yards and 1.4 touchdowns over his last five games. He is having another forgettable fantasy season and has never played well against his division foe. Flacco has averaged a meager 189 yards against the Steelers in his last three games and has only thrown two total touchdowns.
SIT RB DeMarco Murray
RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys - Murray is healthy for the first time in weeks, but the team has been very conservative with the back lately. Over his last six games, Murray has averaged just 11.6 carries per week. Oakland has also been particularly strong against the run and has allowed just two rushing touchdowns over the last 21 quarters of football. Murray will have a tough time finding running lanes all afternoon.
SIT RB Ray Rice
RB Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore’s offensive line hasn’t been able to open up any running lanes for Rice to fit through this season, which is surprising considering the back’s size. Rice ripped off 131 yards in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears and many thought it would be the end of his horrible skid. However, he racked up just 30 yards on 16 carries last week and once again was in the fantasy doghouse. Rice hasn’t shown that he deserves to be a starter at all this year, so continue to leave him on the bench.
SIT WR Terrence Williams
WR Terrence Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Williams has been a pleasant surprise this fantasy season, as the rookie has already hauled in five touchdown passes. The speedster has only averaged 21.3 yards over the last three contests, though, and he will get even fewer targets with the return of WR Miles Austin.
SIT WR Jerricho Cotchery
WR Jerricho Cotchery, Pittsburgh Steelers - Cotchery incredibly caught five touchdown passes between Weeks 9-11, but he didn’t have a single reception last weekend and only received one total target. After his brief hot-streak, Cotchery has cooled down significantly and has become another bench receiver.
SIT TE Dallas Clark
TE Dallas Clark, Baltimore Ravens - Clark has been a rather decent plugin option at times this fantasy season, but they have been too far and between. Even worse, Clark only played nine total snaps last week and his role in the offense is being quickly diminished. Don’t look for the tight end to do much of anything this Turkey Day.
SIT K Mason Crosby
K Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers - Green Bay’s faith in Crosby is as streaky as his field goal accuracy. He missed 12 field goals last season and literally cost the team games. He has only missed four this season, but that is mostly because the team would rather go for it on fourth down then have the inaccurate kicker trot out there. Crosby may have been an attractive option when QB Aaron Rodgers was under center, but now that he is on the sideline, Crosby is a worst-case scenario only.
SIT Green Bay Defense
Green Bay Packers DEF/ST - Green Bay will likely rack up a couple sacks and picks in the game, but Detroit’s offense is too talented to contain. The Lions will definitely score touchdowns this Thursday and the Pack's defense will likely go over the point limit in most fantasy formats.
SIT DL Haloti Ngata
DL Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens - Ngata has finished with five sacks or more in the three previous seasons, but he has been rather disappointing, as he has only totaled 1.5 sacks this year. The lineman has struggled with a knee injury recently and won’t be playing at 100% this Thanksgiving, so IDP owners would be better to look elsewhere for a lineman on Thursday.
Fantasy Players To Start/Sit On Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is finally here, which means there is plenty of football games for us fantasy junkies to watch while sitting around the dinner table. It is already Week 13, though, and this week will be huge for anyone with aspiring playoff hopes. So before setting your final lineup this holiday, here are the top fantasy players to start and sit on Thanksgiving.
Thursday's Matchups:
Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions – 12:30 PM ET
Green Bay Stat Leaders:
Aaron Rodgers: 168-251, 2218 yards, 15 TDs
Eddie Lacy: 197 carries, 806 yards, 6 TDs
Jordy Nelson: 61 receptions, 947 yards, 7 TDs
Detroit Stat Leaders:
Matthew Stafford: 274-419, 3495 yards, 24 TDs
Reggie Bush: 160 carries, 737 yards, 2 TDs
Calvin Johnson: 66 receptions, 1198 yards, 11 TDs
Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys – 4:30 PM ET
Oakland Stat Leaders:
Terrelle Pryor: 132-224, 1559 yards, 5 TDs
Rashad Jennings: 109 carries, 553 yards, 2 TDs
Rod Streater: 40 receptions, 600 yards, 2 TDs
Dallas Stat Leaders:
Tony Romo: 262-408, 2915 yards, 23 TDs
DeMarco Murray: 125 carries, 634 yards, 4 TDs
Dez Bryant: 61 receptions, 835 yards, 8 TDs
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens – 8:30 PM ET
Pittsburgh Stat Leaders:
Ben Roethlisberger: 269-417, 3118 yards, 19 TDs
Le’Veon Bell: 143 carries, 455 yards, 4 TDs
Antonio Brown: 80 receptions, 1044 yards, 6 TDs
Baltimore Stat Leaders:
Joe Flacco: 238-403, 2742 yards, 14 TDs
Ray Rice: 156 carries, 450 yards, 4 TDs
Torrey Smith: 48 receptions, 859 yards, 3 TDs
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
START QB Tony Romo
QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys - Romo has been rather productive in recent weeks. He has averaged two touchdowns per game over the last four weeks and has only thrown two picks over that time. Romo luckily gets to face an Oakland secondary that is ranked 25th in the NFL against the pass and is giving up 18.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. The signal caller will shine in Dallas this Thanksgiving and throw at least two touchdowns for fantasy fans.
START RB Rashad Jennings
RB Rashad Jennings, Oakland Raiders - Jennings has been an amazing find over the last couple weeks. In his last four games, the back has averaged an incredible 138.3 all-purpose yards (103.3 rushing yards/35 receiving yards) per game. Starting RB Darren McFadden will once again be limited and fantasy fans can count on Jennings to have another big performance.
START RB Le'Veon Bell
RB Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers - Bell continues to get the majority of the touches out of Pittsburgh’s backfield and he has surprisingly averaged 21.3 touches over the last eight games. He will get a heavy dose of the rock in a cold game in Baltimore and the rookie should easily go over 80 all-purpose yards in the nightcap.
START WR Nate Burleson
WR Nate Burleson, Detroit Lions - Burleson has caught 26 of his 33 targets over the last four contests and has averaged 79 yards a game. He has now hauled in 193 yards with one touchdown over the last two games and he is really starting to fit back into the offense. Expect him to get at least seven targets and finish the afternoon game with 75-85 receiving yards.
START WR Rod Streater
WR Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders - Streater has received 6.7 targets over the past six weeks and the former Temple standout has racked up over 80 receiving yards in three of the last four games. He is receiving the targets of a number one wideout and will have another strong showing against a Dallas secondary that has allowed 25.3 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts this season.
START TE Brandon Pettigrew
TE Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions - Pettigrew has received at least five targets in five straight games and the veteran has once again become a playmaker in Detroit’s high-scoring offense. Pettigrew has caught a touchdown in two of his last five games and odds are he will get a chance to haul one in against the Cheeseheads.
START K Dan Bailey
K Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys - Bailey is fresh off a game-winning 35-yard field goal against the New York Giants last week and the kicker has been putting up decent numbers this year. He should be good for a field goal and three extra points in this interconference game.
START Dallas Defense
Dallas Cowboys DEF/ST - Dallas has tallied five sacks and four turnovers in the last three games and the team is finally starting to generate a pass rush. Fortunately, Dallas will get to face an Oakland offense without QB Terrelle Pryor and RB Darren McFadden. Big D should rack up a couple sacks and turnovers for fantasy fans against an offense that is missing most of their playmakers.
START DL Nick Fairley
DL Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions - Fairley has racked up two sacks in his last three games. The defensive lineman is very athletic for a 300-pounder and he will wear out the interior of Green Bay’s line all afternoon. It will only be a matter of time until the former first round pick makes a play on Thursday.
SIT QB Joe Flacco
QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens - Flacco has averaged a very mediocre 208 passing yards and 1.4 touchdowns over his last five games. He is having another forgettable fantasy season and has never played well against his division foe. Flacco has averaged a meager 189 yards against the Steelers in his last three games and has only thrown two total touchdowns.
SIT RB DeMarco Murray
RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys - Murray is healthy for the first time in weeks, but the team has been very conservative with the back lately. Over his last six games, Murray has averaged just 11.6 carries per week. Oakland has also been particularly strong against the run and has allowed just two rushing touchdowns over the last 21 quarters of football. Murray will have a tough time finding running lanes all afternoon.
SIT RB Ray Rice
RB Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore’s offensive line hasn’t been able to open up any running lanes for Rice to fit through this season, which is surprising considering the back’s size. Rice ripped off 131 yards in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears and many thought it would be the end of his horrible skid. However, he racked up just 30 yards on 16 carries last week and once again was in the fantasy doghouse. Rice hasn’t shown that he deserves to be a starter at all this year, so continue to leave him on the bench.
SIT WR Terrence Williams
WR Terrence Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Williams has been a pleasant surprise this fantasy season, as the rookie has already hauled in five touchdown passes. The speedster has only averaged 21.3 yards over the last three contests, though, and he will get even fewer targets with the return of WR Miles Austin.
SIT WR Jerricho Cotchery
WR Jerricho Cotchery, Pittsburgh Steelers - Cotchery incredibly caught five touchdown passes between Weeks 9-11, but he didn’t have a single reception last weekend and only received one total target. After his brief hot-streak, Cotchery has cooled down significantly and has become another bench receiver.
SIT TE Dallas Clark
TE Dallas Clark, Baltimore Ravens - Clark has been a rather decent plugin option at times this fantasy season, but they have been too far and between. Even worse, Clark only played nine total snaps last week and his role in the offense is being quickly diminished. Don’t look for the tight end to do much of anything this Turkey Day.
SIT K Mason Crosby
K Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers - Green Bay’s faith in Crosby is as streaky as his field goal accuracy. He missed 12 field goals last season and literally cost the team games. He has only missed four this season, but that is mostly because the team would rather go for it on fourth down then have the inaccurate kicker trot out there. Crosby may have been an attractive option when QB Aaron Rodgers was under center, but now that he is on the sideline, Crosby is a worst-case scenario only.
SIT Green Bay Defense
Green Bay Packers DEF/ST - Green Bay will likely rack up a couple sacks and picks in the game, but Detroit’s offense is too talented to contain. The Lions will definitely score touchdowns this Thursday and the Pack's defense will likely go over the point limit in most fantasy formats.
SIT DL Haloti Ngata
DL Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens - Ngata has finished with five sacks or more in the three previous seasons, but he has been rather disappointing, as he has only totaled 1.5 sacks this year. The lineman has struggled with a knee injury recently and won’t be playing at 100% this Thanksgiving, so IDP owners would be better to look elsewhere for a lineman on Thursday.
