Cracking FanDuel Thanksgiving

Quarterback

Rank

Player

FBG Projection

Salary

Comment

1

Dak Prescott

22.48

8500

Dak is the safest play on the board by a wide margin this week. At $8,500 he's expensive, but in a cash game setting to get that high floor against a Washington team that is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks is too good not to pass up. In a GPP setting, you could fade him, as he will be popular this week, and the savings you could get from other players could allow for more unique lineups on the chance that Prescott struggles as we've seen volatility from the Cowboys passing attack even in blowout wins this season.

2

Geno Smih

15.4

6600

All indications are that Geno Smith is going to play this week. At $6,600 the value that you get and the savings opportunity for saving the $1,900 compared to Prescott is a tremendous value especially in a GPP format. At $6,600, what we realistically need is a game similar to the one Smith had against Cleveland which is 250 and 2 touchdowns which is a similar stat line to what Smith had against the 49ers the last time that these teams met. If we can get 18-20 points from Smith, at $6,600 it opens up the opportunity for so much more upside at the other positions, especially if Dak Prescott has a bad week.

Running Back

Rank

Player

FBG Projection

Salary

Comment

1

Zach Charbonnet

12.1

5800

With Kenneth Walker out, this price just is not high enough at the moment. On a slate where there are multiple committee backfields (Washington, Detroit), as well as just some low quality running backs (Green Bay), to get a guy sub 6k who was on the field for 85% of the snaps last week at $5,800 is a no brainer. He should be nearly 100% rostered in cash as he had 21 touches last week including 6 receptions. The matchup is not ideal going up against San Francisco, but on a 3 game slate, you aren't always going to be able to get ideal matchups as half the teams have very good defenses in Detroit, San Francisco, and Dallas.

2

Christian McCaffrey

20.5

9800

The only question with McCaffrey is whether you can build a team around him that is good enough to win, as he is the clear-cut top option on this running back slate this week. The question you'll need to answer is whether you want to go with CeeDee Lamb or Christian McCaffrey, as getting both will be almost impossible without downgrading off of Lamb

3

Tony Pollard

13.7

7200

Look, Pollard has been bad as of late, but on a slate where there are just three games, we are getting a running back on a team that is a big favorite for just $7,200. He is one of the most likely running backs to score a touchdown just based on touchdown probabilities and opportunity.

4

Brian Robinson Jr

11.6

6700

Robinson has been tremendous since Antonio Gibson has been out. With Gibson expected to return, his 13 receptions over the last two games will likely decrease. However, if we get word that Gibson is out, Robinson vaults up close to a must start this week ahead of McCaffrey and Pollard.

Wide Receiver

Rank

Player

FBG Projection

Salary

Comment

1

Amon-Ra St. Brown

16.3

8500

The question between Amon-Ra St. Brown and CeeDee Lamb is really about volatility. St. Brown over his last 8 games has topped 100-yards or scored a touchdown in all 8 of his games. Regardless of who is in the lineup, what running backs are active, he continues to produce. While the Packers have a significantly better pass defense than Washington does, the Lions have less receiving options than what Dallas has. If these two were identical prices, Lamb likely is the better play, so if you can find a way to fit Lamb in, go with him just based on the elite upside, but since there is a $700 price difference St. Brown barely gets the top spot this week.

2

CeeDee Lamb

19.6

9200

CeeDee Lamb is a matchup nightmare for any defense but should be in a great opportunity against Washington this week. Lamb is facing the defense that is allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, while Benjamin St-Juste is allowing the 2nd most yards in coverage, while Emmanuel Forbes is allowing the 11th most yards in coverage. The Commanders historically have not had Kendall Fuller shadow opposing wide receivers, so this would be quite the change if he did this week, when Lamb lines up out of the slot, he should be in a premiere matchup this matchup this week. Lamb is also dealing with an ankle injury which he said "I'll be out there Thursday" which does not give us tremendous confidence in the health of the wide receiver.

3

Brandin Cooks

7.7

5700

Brandin Cooks has had more yardage than Lamb in each of the last two games. At just $5,700, he is a highly volatile receiver, but he does have tremendous upside here in a similarly great machup against Washington this week.

4

Brandon Aiyuk

12.7

7800

At $7,800, Aiyuk is the only player who realistically has the upside to compete with St. Brown or Lamb this week. Aiyuk is coming off of a 5 reception 156 yard and a touchdown performance against the Buccaneers last week, and while the matchup is not nearly as great as that one this week, we have seen him top 100-yards in 5 of his 9 games so far this season which is the same as CeeDee Lamb.

5

Terry McLaurin

10.5

6500

For the Commanders to have any chance this week, Terry McLaurin will need to step up in a game that we know the Commanders will keep throwing as Sam Howell leads the NFL in pass attempts by a wide margin as he has 60 more pass attempts than the next closest quarterback. For McLaurin he has 7 or more targets in each of his last six games which at $6,500 makes for a cheap value play especialy if you're stacking this game.

6

DK Metcalf

11.3

7000

DK Metcalf quietly has 90 yard or more in each of his last two games. While we haven't seen an explosive game from the receiver this season, the last time these two teams took the field Metcalf had 10 receptions for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns. He's the type of player that could very easily win you a 3 game slate, which ultimately is what we are looking for on a highly volatile week.

7

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

7.4

5400

At $5,400 you're getting a first-round rookie receiver who has 5 or more targets in each of his last three games, and has 40 yards or more in 5 of his last 6 games. His upside is not yet there, but at this price, all we are looking for is 7-8 points and if he can find the end-zone that is the gravy on top this week. Excellent cash game play, not a great GPP play just because of the lack of upside.

7

Jameson Williams

5.6

5300

This is a deep shot GPP special this week. Jameson Williams has seen his role grow and is up to 65% snap share last week. The 2022 first-round pick has dealt with some adversity during his short tenure in the NFL with injuries and suspensions, but if the Lions are going to make a deep run into the playoffs, they need to get a second wide receiver going and Williams has big play upside. At just $5,300 all it takes is one long catch and he could very easily have a breakout game this week.

Tight End

Rank

Player

FBG Projection

Salary

Comment

1

Tucker Kraft

4.5

4300

With Luke Musgrave out, Tucker Kraft is going to get a majority of the snaps this week. There are not a lot of great tight ends here, so consider taking the savings here and just spend the salary on players who are going to

2

Logan Thomas

8.1

5200

Thomas is another tight end who is just a little bit too cheap compared to his recent production. With Sam Howell throwing the ball more than any other quarterback in the NFL this season, Thomas has four or more receptions in each of his last four games. If you can afford to go up to him over Kraft, he makes for a better play, it is just the versatility that you get by punting the position could be the difference in getting another player who has elite upside this week which ultimately is what we are chasing.

Team Defense

Rank

Player

FBG Projection

Salary

Comment

1

Detroit Lions

10.7

4000

The Lions are a better defense than the price is indicating here. Jordan Love is coming off of his best game in the NFL, but that was against the league's worst defense in the Chargers. On the road against this Detroit defense should be a much more difficult spot. With no Aaron Jones, the Packers are going to be forced to throw the ball more than they are used to especially against the Lions elite run defense this week.

2

Dallas Cowboys

11.7

5000

At $5,000, we are getting a Cowboys defense who has an elite pass rush against a Commanders team that has allowed the second-most sacks, and is throwing the ball more than any other team in the NFL which has led to 12 interceptions on the year for Sam Howell. Look for the Cowboys to give up some points, but should be able to get 4-5 sacks and 1-2 interceptions with an opportunity for a defensive score this week.