There are two games left in the regular season and points forced are starting to matter a whole lot more. You are now starting to feel bad about benching your defense Week 2 in order to lock up the win, even though they went off for 17 points. It is crunch time and every second of football counts. Thursday marks the day of giving thanks for everything you have in life, and 3 games of back-to-back-to-back football is just a side note of how good you have it. Set your lineups NOW! Thursday will approach quick with last minute items of work and travel popping up. Enjoy the holiday. Watch some football. Be thankful for all.
Key Waiver Pickups
Derek Carr – QB, LV (48.7% Rostered)
Carr looked magnificent Sunday night against the Chiefs and finished with 275 yards for 3 touchdowns. Carr also will face Atlanta and the New York Jets in the next two weeks and is a viable option for the final two weeks of the fantasy season to help boost your team into the playoffs. If you have a QB with a late bye week or ailing injury (Brigewater, Murray), Carr is a great streaming option.
Gus Edwards – RB, BAL (14.0% Rostered)
On a short week leading up to a divisional clash with the Steelers on Thanksgiving night, the Ravens will be down their top two rushing options JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram due to COVID. Edwards will earn the start, but will face an extremely tough matchup against the Steelers behind a broken down offensive line. Edwards may be worth a roster spot, but is not the best streamer option unless you are desperate this week and need volume.
Wayne Gallman – RB, NYG (55.0% Rostered)
Gallman has been on here before, but saw his ownership dip due to the Giants bye week. He is an emerging young star on a team that is getting hot and will be playing in meaningful games down the stretch. The Giants may be getting Freeman back soon, but Gallman has done everything he needs to do to retain the starting role. He is still available in 45% of leagues and is a worthy flex starter this week against the Bengals.
Michael Pittman Jr. – WR, IND (41.9% Rostered)
Just like Jakobi Meyers last week, Pittman is a name we will keep on this list as his ownership still remains below 50%. Pittman followed up his breakout performance with another solid outing with 16 points. He has taken over the WR1 position in the Colts offense and will remain a solid flex start for the remainder of the season.
Fax or Fiction
Taysom Hill is a worthy starting QB
Fiction. He looked great on Sunday, but I still would never have started him outside of the TE/Flex position. His rushing volume was great and took 2 TDs to the house, but I want to see another couple of performances before crowing him a fantasy starter. Keep Hill on the bench for a week or two and remember he only beat the Falcons.
Gus Edwards is a must start with Dobbins/Ingram out
Fiction. As mentioned above, the Ravens face the best Front 7 in football and have a banged up offensive line. Edwards will get the volume, but the Steelers are undefeated for a reason and are only giving up 103 rushing yards per game and 17 points (and has faced the Hunt, Henry, Elliott and Robinson). Edwards will see volume, but also will face one of the toughest matchups of his career.
Ryan Finley is worth a roster spot in dynasty
Fax. I mean, why not? Yea, he started a few games last year. Yea, he was terrible. No, there wasn’t any upside. However, there have been crazier things that have happened in the past. Young QBs have so much value in a Dynasty League and who know…maybe he finds a hot streak to end the year and Burrow will miss time in 2021. Finley then would have at least some sort of value heading into 2021 and could even win you over a late round draft pick. Don’t overspend the rest of your FAAB budget, but Finley is at least worth a bench spot.
Colts RBs belong on the bench
Fiction. Even a casual football viewer could tell you that at least two of the Colts RBs have a lot of talent. Hines and Taylor have been taking turns as the lead back in Indy, which has done nothing but ignite the Colts. They have been playing amazing team football and have transformed into the team to beat. Although this is great news for Colts fans, it is something that worries the fantasy owners of those two guys. Both have shown they are more than capable to score a decent outing and probably can salvage 7 or 8 points at least. Keep either of them in your flex if you need someone with high upside.
Start ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Cam Newton vs ARI
Derek Carr @ ATL
Tom Brady vs KC
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt @ JAX
Mike Davis @ MIN
D’Andre Swift vs HOU
Receivers
Tyler Boyd vs NYG
Justin Jefferson vs CAR
DJ Moore @ MIN
Sit ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Taysom Hill @ DEN
Ryan Tannehill @ IND
Jared Goff vs SF
Running Backs
Chris Carson @ PHI
Miles Sanders vs SEA
Ronald Jones II vs KC
Receivers
CeeDee Lamb vs WAS
Marquise Brown @ PIT
Curtis Samuel @ MIN
Injury News
Christian McCaffrey – RB, CAR (Ankle)
Things are looking doubtful for Christian McCaffrey to return this week, who originally was said to be week-to-week with a shoulder injury. With the Week 13 bye, it is likely that if he returns it will be in the first round of the playoffs.
Chris Carson – RB, SEA (Foot)
As are all foot injuries, Chris Carson is in an unpredictable situation. Pete Carroll has kept fantasy owners optimistic regarding his star RB, but we will keep a close eye on Carson’s practice schedule.
Joe Mixon – RB, CIN (Foot)
Mixon was placed on IR Sunday which adds a minimum of 3 weeks inactive. Mixon likely will have little to no fantasy relevance until the late playoffs, if ever.
Kenny Golladay – WR, DET (Hip)
Golladay remains sidelined and could miss another week. It is clear that Detroit is in no rush to hurry their young star receiver back into the lineup.
Deebo Samuel – WR, SF (Hamstring)
All news points to Samuel making his return to action this week against the Rams.
Raheem Mostert – RB, SF (Ankle)
Mostert’s availability is up in the air for a Week 12 return against the Rams, but if he does he is a high flex option. Keep an eye on his practice availability this week.
Drew Brees – QB, NO (Ribs, Lung)
Brees has been placed on IR and will miss a minimum of 3 games. The Saints will continue to rely on Taysom Hill in his absence.
Tyler Lockett – WR, SEA (Knee)
Lockett played Thursday night and had a great showing with 21 points. All concerns with Lockett’s knee can be forgotten.
Teddy Bridgewater – QB, CAR (Knee)
Bridgewater was a game time decision Sunday against the Rams, but was made inactive after initially being activated early in the morning. This gives us confidence that Bridgewater truly was a game time decision, however, PJ Walker looked good in his place and a Week 12 bye looms around the corner. Keep a close eye on Bridgewater this week, but if he starts he is a top 10 play this week against the Vikings.
Joe Burrow – QB, CIN (Knee)
Burrow went down with a gruesome knee injury and will miss the remainder of the season after an MRI revealed an ACL and MCL tear along with structural damage.
Austin Ekeler – RB, LAC (Hamstring)
Ekeler may be getting closer to a return, however, this will need to be monitored closely. The Chargers are not in position for a playoff run and Kalen Ballage has looked fine in his absence.
Rex Burkhead – RB, NE (Knee)
Burkhead looks to be out for the season with a knee injury. Sony Michel should be rostered due to his prior success on the Patriots.
Julio Jones – WR, ATL (Hamstring)
Julio seems to have tweaked his hamstring and could miss some time, or possibly even be shut down for the season.
D’Andre Swift – RB, DET (Concussion)
Swift faced an impossible timeline to return from concussion protocol last week, as he entered midweek. It is unclear where he sustained a concussion, but he likely will be back in action this week.
Myles Gaskin – RB, MIA (Knee)
The Dolphins are hopeful for a Gaskin return, however, it is unclear how the snap share will even out after his return. Salvon Ahmed has taken a commanding lead over the backfield and should continue to see snaps, however, Flores has been a bit unpredictable this season.
David Johnson – RB, HOU (Concussion)
Johnson, who is on short term IR, must miss at least one more game before returning.
Kyler Murray – QB, ARI (Shoulder)
Murray sustained a shoulder injury last Thursday and will take advantage of the long week to recover. No news is good news and he likely will be back in action this week against the Patriots on Sunday.
How’d We Do Last Week?
Start ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Cam Newton @ HOU – 19 pts
Ben Roethlisberger @ JAX – 16 pts
Jameis Winston vs ATL (benched) – Matthew Stafford @ CAR – 7 pts
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift @ CAR (Doubtful) – Salvon Ahmed @ DEN – 9 pts
Kareem Hunt @ PHI – 8 pts
Kalen Ballage vs NYJ – 10 pts
Receivers
Michael Thomas vs ATL – 14 pts
Adam Thielen vs DAL – 28 pts
AJ Brown @ BAL – 14 pts
Sit ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady vs LAR – 12 pts
Tua Tagovailoa @ DEN – 7 pts
Jared Goff @ TB – 23 pts
Running Backs
Melvin Gordon III vs MIA – 18 pts
Miles Sanders @ CLE – 7 pts
Antonio Gibson vs CIN – 16 pts
Receivers
Jarvis Landry vs PHI – 3 pts
Antonio Brown vs LAR – 9 pts
Marvin Jones Jr @ CAR – 7 pts
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