Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates. Happy random Thursday to everyone else. And happy football day to all of you, because surely we can all agree on that.
Three games on the docket today, and I think each will be more entertaining than the last. Let's run through the major fantasy implications and recommended start/sits for each. And in the Comments, do not hesitate to do the usual thing: Ask any question, and we'll give you our two cents. And if any of you like to answer each others' questions, keep it up.
Lions vs. Bears . . .
I like the Bears in this one, which isn't a shocking prediction. But the player I like most is David Montgomery. Believe this will be more of a grind-it-out, low-scoring game. You almost have to start Darnell Mooney assuming Allen Robinson sits. For the second straight week I'm recommending Marquise Goodwin as a streamer. Cole Kmet is a decent enough top-16 TE with upside if things break right. Andy Dalton probably will finish with about 180 yards and a score, maybe two if Montgomery catches one of them. As for the Bears' franchise RB, I'm eyeing 120+ total yards and at least one score. They're 3-7. Lose, and their season is basically officially over. Montgomery is (I believe) their most talented healthy asset. He needs to be utilized, and I'm betting he will be.
As for the Lions, we all know the offense runs through D'Andre Swift. With word that Jared Goff will return, that should help T.J. Hockenson and perhaps Amon-Ra St. Brown, but only barely. Hock and Swift remain Detroit's only reliable (or in Hock's case, semi-reliable) fantasy options. Note that Swift has averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry in seven of 10 games, but is a locked-in RB1 thanks to a league-leading 53 receptions.
Cowboys vs. Raiders . . .
I've been writing a lot about the Cowboys recently on Pro Football Network's website and have pieces coming out later this morning on Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard. Interesting stat: when Dallas is leading, Zeke has earned 54 carries compared to 50 for Pollard. So if you believe as I do that Dallas wll win fairly comfortably today, Pollard becomes an intriguing starter. He's already the 28th highest scoring fantasy RB, so advising folks to start him isn't a stretch. But I think he'll be an RB2 today.
Also, as of late Wednesday night we still don't know CeeDee Lamb's status. If he's a go, he and Michael Gallup should be obvious starts, though of course some managers might be wary of Lamb exiting early on a bad hit. Hey, anything can happen. But I'd start him. If he sits, Cedrick Wilson would become an interesting streamer, and Dalton Schultz would obviously remain a must-start. And Dak Prescott should get at least three touchdowns against a beatable Raiders defense.
For the Raiders, I can trust only Darren Waller. Derek Carr has been just north of adequate this year and hasn't looked better as the season has progressed. And if you start Josh Jacobs, you're hoping for 4+ receptions, which he's secured in each of his last three games. Still, we shouldn't be surprised if he gets single-digit points. Game script could usher in more Kenyan Drake. I'm not trusting Jacobs as a top-20 RB.
Saints vs. Bills . . .
Just like Las Vegas, New Orleans has lost three straight. So they're in must-win territory these days and once again will be without Alvin Kamara. Mark Ingram is questionable, leaving Tony Jones as an intriguing waiver add and starter if Ingram can't go. But the opposing Bills have the best pass defense in 12 years based on opposing QB rating. Ascending TE Adam Trautman is out for 4-6 weeks. That leaves Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris, and Tre'Quan Smith. In other words, is anyone starting a Saint in fantasy, besides Ingram if healthy?
For Buffalo, nine guys could have an impact: Josh Allen, Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, Matt Breida, Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley, Gabriel Davis, and Dawson Knox. The seemingly obvious starts are Singletary and Diggs. I'm still not sold on Knox in a crowded receiving corps. And Breida has come out of nowhere to (potentially) claim a lead-back role. Tonight could dictate which way this backfield goes.
We look forward to responding to as many comments as possible, and good luck today.
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- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy
Three games on the docket today, and I think each will be more entertaining than the last. Let's run through the major fantasy implications and recommended start/sits for each. And in the Comments, do not hesitate to do the usual thing: Ask any question, and we'll give you our two cents. And if any of you like to answer each others' questions, keep it up.
Lions vs. Bears . . .
I like the Bears in this one, which isn't a shocking prediction. But the player I like most is David Montgomery. Believe this will be more of a grind-it-out, low-scoring game. You almost have to start Darnell Mooney assuming Allen Robinson sits. For the second straight week I'm recommending Marquise Goodwin as a streamer. Cole Kmet is a decent enough top-16 TE with upside if things break right. Andy Dalton probably will finish with about 180 yards and a score, maybe two if Montgomery catches one of them. As for the Bears' franchise RB, I'm eyeing 120+ total yards and at least one score. They're 3-7. Lose, and their season is basically officially over. Montgomery is (I believe) their most talented healthy asset. He needs to be utilized, and I'm betting he will be.
As for the Lions, we all know the offense runs through D'Andre Swift. With word that Jared Goff will return, that should help T.J. Hockenson and perhaps Amon-Ra St. Brown, but only barely. Hock and Swift remain Detroit's only reliable (or in Hock's case, semi-reliable) fantasy options. Note that Swift has averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry in seven of 10 games, but is a locked-in RB1 thanks to a league-leading 53 receptions.
Cowboys vs. Raiders . . .
I've been writing a lot about the Cowboys recently on Pro Football Network's website and have pieces coming out later this morning on Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard. Interesting stat: when Dallas is leading, Zeke has earned 54 carries compared to 50 for Pollard. So if you believe as I do that Dallas wll win fairly comfortably today, Pollard becomes an intriguing starter. He's already the 28th highest scoring fantasy RB, so advising folks to start him isn't a stretch. But I think he'll be an RB2 today.
Also, as of late Wednesday night we still don't know CeeDee Lamb's status. If he's a go, he and Michael Gallup should be obvious starts, though of course some managers might be wary of Lamb exiting early on a bad hit. Hey, anything can happen. But I'd start him. If he sits, Cedrick Wilson would become an interesting streamer, and Dalton Schultz would obviously remain a must-start. And Dak Prescott should get at least three touchdowns against a beatable Raiders defense.
For the Raiders, I can trust only Darren Waller. Derek Carr has been just north of adequate this year and hasn't looked better as the season has progressed. And if you start Josh Jacobs, you're hoping for 4+ receptions, which he's secured in each of his last three games. Still, we shouldn't be surprised if he gets single-digit points. Game script could usher in more Kenyan Drake. I'm not trusting Jacobs as a top-20 RB.
Saints vs. Bills . . .
Just like Las Vegas, New Orleans has lost three straight. So they're in must-win territory these days and once again will be without Alvin Kamara. Mark Ingram is questionable, leaving Tony Jones as an intriguing waiver add and starter if Ingram can't go. But the opposing Bills have the best pass defense in 12 years based on opposing QB rating. Ascending TE Adam Trautman is out for 4-6 weeks. That leaves Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris, and Tre'Quan Smith. In other words, is anyone starting a Saint in fantasy, besides Ingram if healthy?
For Buffalo, nine guys could have an impact: Josh Allen, Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, Matt Breida, Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley, Gabriel Davis, and Dawson Knox. The seemingly obvious starts are Singletary and Diggs. I'm still not sold on Knox in a crowded receiving corps. And Breida has come out of nowhere to (potentially) claim a lead-back role. Tonight could dictate which way this backfield goes.
We look forward to responding to as many comments as possible, and good luck today.
---
- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy