Pass the gravy, y’all. It’s Thanksgiving Week.

Of course, not every IDP manager has something to be thankful for in 2024. Some of us (er, them.) have been relegated to spoiler status. But with just a couple of weeks to go in the regular season, quite a few are either fighting for their postseason lives or angling to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.

That second group? All jerks. The lot of them. Just saying.

In any event, even in a pressure-packed week like this, folks in all those groups find themselves needing to Live the Stream this week. For some, it’s a short-term issue born of injuries to players like San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa. Others have been paddling the boat for a while—replacing a guy out for the year or a draft whiff with matchup plays.

Why they are in the water really isn’t important. All that matters is keeping the boat above water.

Otherwise, the stuffing will get wet. And no one wants soggy stuffing.

That was too far with the Thanksgiving schtick, huh? It felt too far.

IDP Matchup Play: EDGE Dante Fowler Jr., Washington (vs. Tennessee)

The Commanders are struggling of late, but Fowler hasn’t been—his 8.5 sacks for the season are the most since his heyday with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt has coached Fowler in multiple spots over the pair’s professional journey, and he told reporters that he knew all he had to do to unlock the 30-year-old was put him in a position to do what he does best.

"He's a guy that I just knew if you gave him the right opportunities, put him in the right spots, he can produce at a high level," Fowler said. "He’s a guy that has tremendous bend and balance around the corner. The thing that we've talked about going into this year is finishing on the quarterback.”

That Fowler is a top-12 defensive lineman for the season, but sitting on the waiver wire in more than a few leagues speaks to his nature in IDP league—he’s a feast/famine guy. You will either dine on a seven-course meal or have to order Papa John’s to eat—which no sane person wants to do. Against a Titans team leading the league in fantasy points per game given up to defensive ends this year, it’s a juicy Butterball and all the trimmings.

IDP Matchup Play: EDGE Za'Darius Smith, Detroit (vs. Chicago)

When the Lions lost edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson earlier this season, Detroit made a deadline deal to bring in Smith, who spent a chunk of his career in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. When Smith arrived in Detroit, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters he expected the 32-year-old to rapidly become an important piece on Detroit’s defensive front.

"We've played against him, Minnesota, Green Bay. So, we know what that is but he's tough, he's violent and he's got a motor and then we're not even talking about potentially outside or inside, getting in the edge and pass rush, and just helping whether that's straight rush or running the games," Campbell said of Smith. "I just think he's going to be a perfect fit for us."

Smith’s numbers have been limited since he got to Motown—two tackles and half a sack in two games. But his snap share has been north of 70 percent, and on Thanksgiving, he and the Lions will play host to a Chicago Bears team that has surrendered an NFC-high 44 sacks for the season. Gotta have a guy to root for as you break bread, or it ain’t Turkey Day.

IDP Matchup Play: LB Malik Harrison, Baltimore (vs. Philadelphia)

With Roquan Smith on the shelf with a knee injury last week, Harrison was thrust into the starting lineup for the Ravens against the Los Angeles Chargers. The fifth-year pro from Ohio State stepped up in a big way, pacing the Ravens with 13 total tackles and earning praise from Baltimore defensive coordinator Zach Orr.

"It was a different situation, and Malik's a pro," Orr told reporters. "He's been around, and we tell these guys, 'You're one play away to going in there – you never know, so you got to stay ready.' Malik – he was ready. I thought he went in there and did a good job, especially after the first series, he settled down. That's what we expect from him. He's in that room, [and] he knows what to do [and] he knows how to play. He's played a lot of ball for us, so I was pleased with what we did.”

Now, this recommendation could be well and gummed up if Smith is able to play against the Eagles—and with four games before Sunday this week, some IDP managers will need to make an early decision. But Harrison was around the ball constantly last week, and Philadelphia has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points per game to linebackers this season.

IDP Matchup Play: LB Justin Strnad, Denver (vs. Cleveland)

Fantasy managers of Strnad have needed Dramamine to cope with all the ups and downs—from benchwarmer to part-timer to three-down linebacker to all but benched again to part-timer to an 82 percent snap share last week against the Raiders. After spending several seasons as primarily a special-teamer, Strnad told Mike Klis of 9 News in Denver that he’s trying to make the most of this year’s second chance on defense.

“I would say it’s knowing what I’m doing and knowing what’s going on around me,’’ Strnad said. “Back then, I wouldn’t say, one, I knew what was going on around me or what I was doing at the level I am now. I was just a young player. And there were different situations. I don’t want to make excuses, but different circumstances back then, that’s for sure.”

Strnad isn’t an easy player to start in a must-win rate—his snap rates this season have been all over the place. But last week’s number was encouraging, even if his three tackles weren’t. The Broncos host a Browns team Sunday that has given up big points to linebackers all season. And last year. And the season before that.

IDP Matchup Play: S Chuck Clark, NY Jets (vs. Seattle)

The 2024 season has been a nightmare for the New York Jets, and Clark hasn’t been immune—he only recently returned to action after a stint on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. However, despite a 3-8 record, the 29-year-old told reporters that he and his teammates haven’t given up on the season just yet.

"I've been on teams with less talent and have gotten in the playoffs and had a shot," said Clark "With this team, we got a lot of talent, and so it's tough from that standpoint. Y'all wouldn't say we out, anything could happen. It's still six more games, other teams got to play, we still got to play so who knows what could happen."

Someone’s been in the egg nog early. Ain’t time for that yet.

As a team, the Jets are toast. There will be no playoffs, and the Aaron Rodgers fiasco is likely over after the season. But individually, players on that sinking ship can still have value for fantasy managers—say a safety taking on a Seattle Seahawks team that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to safeties this year.

IDP Matchup Play: S Taylor Rapp, Buffalo (vs. San Francisco)

The Bills underwent a lot of major defensive changes this year, including an overhaul at safety. Instead of long-time starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, it has been Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp. That defense took a minute to click, but it has—and the veteran safety told reporters that he’s trying to hold down the back end as well as his predecessors did.

“Like I tell everyone, there will never be another Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde to ever come through Buffalo," Rapp added. "They’re two of the best teammates I’ve ever had, but that has nothing to do with (2024). I’m just trying to be the best version of Taylor Rapp and that’s all I can really do and really control.”

Nationally, the biggest news Rapp made was becoming one of the first NFL starters to wear a Guardian Cap in a regular-season game. But the 26-year-old has quietly been a quality player who has popped at times for IDP managers. Sunday, the Bills host a San Francisco 49ers defense that leads the league in fantasy points per game given up to safeties.

Gary Davenport (“The Godfather of IDP”) is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can’t make him call it X) at @IDPSharks.