Thanksgiving Day: Feast or Famine
November 21st, 2007 | by aaron |Even for those of you who do not enjoy watching football I would be willing to guarantee that you still watch a minute or two of the NFL on Thanksgiving Day. Turkey and football is America’s pastime and in my opinion, Thanksgiving is one of the best days of the year.
With the amount of talent playing on Thursday there are some very interesting match-ups and an overabundance of fantasy value. Anything can happen on Thanksgiving and contrary to popular belief, the Lions and Cowboys do now own this day.
Two of the NFC’s best teams play on Thursday. The Green Bay Packers face the Detroit Lions (6-4) who have lost three consecutive Turkey day games by a combined margin of 69 points with their last win coming in ‘03′ over these Green Bay Packers. The N.Y. Jets (2-8) face the other best team in the NFC, Dallas Cowboys (9-1), and the Indianapolis Colts (8-2) face the struggling 3-7 Atlanta Falcons who won their last Thanksgiving Day game 27-7 in Detroit. How does all of this translate into fantasy production? Three games, three Super Bowl contenders, six teams, and twenty-three fantasy options, some expected to feast while others expected to famine.
Feast!
Quarterbacks
Tony Romo: Romo is simply unstoppable this season and the Cowboys continue to roll as a result of his great play. The Jets don’t do much in terms of rushing the quarterback and giving Romo time to choose his weapons, is worse than allowing a degenerate gambler into a casino. Thursday against a Jets pass defense that has allowed 13 touchdown passes through 10 games and an average of 220 passing yards per game, Romo will feast.
Projected Points: 34
Brett Favre: The Lions defense is not as good as their fantasy points dictate and Favre is as good as his fantasy production dictates. This should be a great divisional match-up between two teams with playoff aspirations. Favre feasts and the Lions defense is headed towards famine.
Projected Points: 28
Peyton Manning: With injuries surrounding him Manning has struggled over his past two weeks with fantasy points of 15 and 4 points respectively. He’s now faces the leagues 8th best pass defense, Atlanta Falcons, but is certain to rebound from such bad performances.
Projected Points: 20
Jon Kitna: Kitna could be in for a long day against a Packers defensive that has recorded 28 sacks and 11 interceptions. However, it’s Turkey day and even though Kitna will be under a ton of pressure, he’ll respond well by throwing at least two touchdowns.
Projected Points: 18
Running Backs
Joseph Addai: Addai is the only Colt that is playing with some sort of consistency. Addai will have a big day against Atlanta’s awful run defense.
Projected Points: 23
Marion Barber: The Jets give up way too many yards on the ground (148 per game) and have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns through 10 games. Barber will feast by finding the endzone this week.
Projected Points: 16
Ryan Grant: Grant has solved the RB issue for the Packers, but Brett Favre’s dominance will limit (to an extent) his production. Eighty rushing yards and a touchdown is enough to make this Packers offense unstoppable.
Projected Points: 14
Warrick Dunn: Dunn has elevated his play by scoring 42 fantasy points over his past three weeks. This week against a banged up Indy defense Dunn should find success.
Projected Points: 12
Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens: Right up there with Moss as the league’s best receiver. I don’t have to go into great detail here so expect Owens to have another big day.
Projected Points: 24
Reggie Wayne: Manning shouldn’t struggle too much against the Falcons and Wayne should find the endzone this week. The only true wide-out target playing in Harrison’s absence.
Projected Points: 18
Donald Driver: Driver has not caught a touchdown pass in God knows when, but he’ll catch one on Thursday, guaranteed.
Projected Points: 15
Roy Williams: Williams went off for 126 yards last Thanksgiving Day and I expect another big performance this year. The only difference is he should find paydirt.
Projected Points: 15
Jericho Cotchery: Someone has to do something on this Jets offense and Cotchery is the only option in the absence of Coles.
Projected Points: 14
Greg Jennings: The Lions/Packers will shoot out and Jennings will have to be a part of that on the road. The Lions can’t cover all of these Packers weapons so Jennings records another good game.
Projected Points: 13
Roddy White: The better of the two options White should make a little noise at home and may even catch a touchdown.
Projected Points: 12
Tight Ends
Jason Witten: “Don’t let T.O. beat us”! That has to be what defenses are saying these days, which should open things up again for Witten. Witten has 5 touchdowns this season but hasn’t caught one in his last two contests.
Projected Points: 14
Dallas Clark: Clark has struggled over his past couple games after suffering a concussion versus San Diego. He should be full-go this week and he should see a few open looks.
Projected Points: 12
Famine!
Kellen Clemens: Clemens is in for a long day. Therefore, expect a few turnovers and maybe one touchdown pass. Definitely not a fantasy option!
Projected Points: 12
Joey Harrington: Harrington is never a fantasy option, but should not have lost his job to Byron Leftwich. It will be tough on Thursday for Harrington so don’t expect any miracles. Never a fantasy option!
Projected Points: 10
Thomas Jones: Jones is coming off of a tough Pittsburgh game where he recorded 117 yards on 30 carries. Thirty carries is a lot when a player only has 3 days of rest. Shut down in “Big D” this week.
Projected Points: 8 or less
Kevin Jones: Once again, Jones has not solved the Lions running game and he’s playing against an extremely stingy Packers defense that has only allowed three rushing touchdowns.
Projected Points: 8
Shaun McDonald: After dropping numerous balls last week and allowing a deep interception, I don’t see how Kitna will keep his confidence with McDonald.
Projected Points: 7
Julius Jones: Jones isn’t getting a sufficient amount of carries to make a difference on an already potent Dallas offense. Sounds fun and it something to write about, but like his brother, this Jones won’t make much of an impact on Thursday.
Projected Points: 6
Brad Smith: Smith is Kellens’ other option with Coles sidelined. On the season Smith has one touchdown and is showing some promise. However, this isn’t the game for the 2nd year pro.
Projected Points: 6
Patrick Crayton: (Doubtful) Crayton has performed well enough to take the focus off of defenses doubling Owens, however, not even that can stop T.O. Crayton’s fantasy production over the last 4 games has totaled 12 points.
Projected Points: 5
Donald Lee: After catching 3 touchdowns in his last two games I don’t expect Favre’s favorite tight-end to catch another this week.
Projected Points: 5
Calvin Johnson: It’s Williams’ day and there are only so many fantasy points to go around this week against the Packers.
Projected Points: 4
Michael Jenkins: Not good enough against a solid Indy defense.
Projected Points: 4
Chris Baker: A free-agent in most fantasy leagues for a reason. Don’t expect too much from a mediocre Tight End.
Projected Points: 2
Laveranues Coles: High ankle sprain and not expected to play on Thursday.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
