🏈 Turkey Bowls

Good morning & happy Thanksgiving to our American Amigos! I like ya’ll! Enjoy the day and make the best of it (by this I mean start the proper players, like Brandin Cooks).

Plus we have multiple football games throughout the day, on a weekday. As if we all need an excuse for a few beers. We can also celebrate only 36 days left in 2020; things can only get better. Right?!! Right?

Before we get into a full breakdown of each thanksgiving game, some quick news:

R.I.P. to Cowboys strength coach Markus Paul

Sad news from Dallas as strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul passed away Wednesday after suffering a medical emergency Tuesday at the team's headquarters. He was 54 years old. You can read Mike McCarthy’s message here.

Now, like most of you, I didn’t know much about Paul. So in his memory, I did some digging for three interesting points about the late coach:

• Paul had been a mainstay in NFL locker rooms for decades ... he played for the Chicago Bears from 1989 to 1993 and had a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in '93 as well.

• Paul won five Super Bowls as a strength coach for the Patriots and Giants.

• Ron Rivera was teammates with Paul back in the day with the Chicago Bears.

Is it that time in Philly?

After the Eagles selected Jalen Hurts in the second round of the NFL draft, we all had a gut feeling it was a matter of time before calls to start Hurts began. While we didn’t foresee this bad of a season for Wentz, it’s about that time.

When asked whether Hurts may start next week, Eagles coach Doug Pederson had this to say:

It is that time in Chicago, apparently

Uh oh. Sorry Bears fans.

But the Bengals won’t be outdone!

The THANKSGIVING SLATE BABY!

You’re gonna love this

Texans at Lions

The Texans head to Detroit as 3-point favourites in a game but should win easily. The fantasy implications?

The Lions are missing D’Andre Swift (likely out with a concussion) and Kenny Golladay (out), as well as first-round CB Jeff Okudah. Matthew Stafford has been a mess since Golladay got hurt and should only be started where necessary. He also has some sort of torn ligament in his thumb, which must hurt. T.J. Hockenson accounted for 36.8% of the Lion’s offensive yardage against the Panthers in Week 11 and is the only Lions skill-player you want to start.

Deshaun Watson is playing about as well as any quarterback in the league right now and is a lock for 20+. Randy Johnson Jr. (Duke Johnson) has been disappointing since given the starting opportunity, but if there’s any get-right matchup, it’s Detroit. The Lions have given up 11+ points above average to RBs in the past 5 weeks. Pencil Randy in for 13 touches, 69 total yards, and 1 TD. You decide if that’s worth starting.

Will Fuller has gone two weeks since last scoring a TD and, after watching the tape, it was clear Watson is looking to spread the ball around in the red zone. During the early weeks, Watson was locked onto Fuller. This isn’t a great sign, but Fuller will still be startable and could explode any-given-Sunday.

Brandin Cooks has over 80 yards and/or 6+ catches in each of his last six games, a streak that should continue in Week 12. No one has benefitted more from Bob’s firing than Cooks (except Texans fans). Keekee Coutee and Jordan Atkins are starters in deep leagues only and will be TD or bust. After getting crushed by Panthers WRs with a backup at quarterback last week, Cooks and Fuller are amazing WR2 plays with WR1 upside on Thanksgiving.

Lock of the Game: Deshaun Watson

Washington at Dallas

The Football Team enters this week as three-point road underdogs against a Cowboys team that actually looked decent last week.

While the Dallas defense looks better since the return of Leighton Vander Esch, better really isn’t saying much: The Cowboys allowed 300+ yards and three TDs to Kirk Cousins and Ben Roethlisberger in each of their last two games.

This should be a bounce-back blow-up game for Alex Smith, so expect a break-out game of 13+ fantasy points. Terry McLaurin posted 7/90/1 receiving on 11 targets in this matchup in Week 7 and is a lock for double-digit fantasy points regardless of the matchup. A weak Cowboys secondary offers a matchup McLaurin could break the 20+ mark against.

J.D. McKissic had a quiet day with reduced volume last week, posting just 3/26 receiving on four targets after seeing 29 targets in his previous two games with negative game scripts. As underdogs this week, McKissic should see more volume and be back in lineups.

Antonio Gibson is the positive game script back topping 60+ rushing yards twice this season, both in victories. The rookie posted 20/128/1 rushing last time these teams met, but I’m expecting a small regression this week in a negative game script.

As a Bengals fan, I watched Andy Dalton play more games than I care to admit. One thing Dalton struggles with is pressure. And that’s the Washington specialty. Not a recipe for success. This combination of pressure mixed with the strong Washinton secondary render all Cowboys WRs as very risky starts this week.

Ezekiel Elliott topped 100+ rushing yards for the first time last week but only put up 54 yards the last time these teams faced off. He’s a borderline RB1 from volume alone, but keep an eye on Tony Pollard. The explosive backup might be the most talented RB2 in the league and is impressing the coaching staff with every touch.

Lock of the Game: J.D. McKissic (bounce-back)

Ravens v Steelers

BONUS

• FantasyPoints Podcasts are a personal favourite of mine - I can’t recommend their DFS insights enough. I was pumped to see them offer a FREE Thanksgiving Slate DFS Podcast for all! Check it.

Thank you all - have a great, happy, and safe Thanksgiving with you and yours. Enjoy the day and most importantly enjoy the football!