Christmas might be the favorite holiday for a lot of people, but I think Thanksgiving blows it clear out of the water. I don’t even like my family that much (only in small doses), but something about an entire day devoted to food, appreciation, and food appreciation is right up my alley. Most of my loved ones don’t appreciate spicy food as much as I do, but rest assured, we season our Thanksgiving feast with authority. I still sneak in a few dashes of hot sauce in the bechamel of my famous southern mac and cheese.

That’s my place: the kitchen. I have made it my life’s mission to amplify the flavor and spice in everything I touch. The umami Midas, if you will. Last week’s hot takes weren’t all bad, although Tyler Allgeier fell victim to a suspiciously high Falcons pass rate and didn’t do much. Baker Mayfield was atrocious again, even in a great matchup. He just lost his job to Sam Darnold, for crying out loud. Antonio Gibson was okay versus the Texans, but the Commanders ended up becoming the first team to struggle to run the ball effectively on them this season.

My crown prince from last week was Wan’Dale Robinson. He piled up over 19 PPR points on the Lions, but tragically tore his ACL in the Giants’ loss. Not to say the Lions weren’t going to win anyway, but a lot of people successfully started Robinson last week because of my prediction.

As you guzzle gravy down your gullet on Thursday, I hope you follow along with these spicy Week 12 predictions. Feel at liberty to shout me out on Twitter, even if only to QT how stupid my takes are. There is no such thing as bad press in our business, just wins and losses. Take a “nature walk” with your cousins for me and pass the mashed potatoes.

Check out the rest of our weekly fantasy football advice

A Rejuvenated (And Ticked Off) D’Andre Swift Explodes for 25+ PPR Points in 65-point Thanksgiving Scoring Feast Between Lions and Bills

Unless you just love rostering RBs who offer nothing for fantasy except vulturing touchdowns, you’re probably frustrated to no end about D’Andre Swift‘s usage. There is nothing wrong with Jamaal Williams or Justin Jackson, but they are mere mortals on the field compared to Swift. Dan Campbell can give Williams all the goal line snaps to bludgeon his opponents into submission, but this offense is much more explosive with Swift in the backfield. I expect a big bump in usage on Thanksgiving for the superstar back from Georgia, especially in the receiving game. If Buffalo gets their offense ticking on the Lions awful defense, Swift will be called upon to do what he does best: make big plays. I can’t wait to spit turkey bits with swollen ankles when this game turns into an exciting shootout. It’s the most American thing possible.

Elijah Moore Pours One Out for the Departed Zach Wilson by Cracking WR1 Territory in Jets’ Resounding Victory Over Da Bears

Most fantasy managers dropped Elijah Moore from their rosters a long time ago, but I never did. Zach Wilson‘s staggering ineptitude crushed the value of every Jets receiver, but especially Moore’s. The tape was horribly damning. Everyone was wide open against New England last week, yet Wilson missed them every single time. His benching is a drought-quenching rain for Garrett Wilson managers, but it frees Elijah Moore to dominate from the slot with either Mike White or Joe Flacco running the show. I am giddy. This is my moment. Moore is back on the radar as a league-winning asset in this most fortuitously timed course correction for the Jets.

Geno Smith is the QB1 for Week 12; Sea Turkeys Roast the Raiders by Two Touchdowns

The stark contrast between Russell Wilson‘s Broncos and Geno Smith‘s Seahawks will be felt on Sunday. It still feels weird to write that. Las Vegas still sports one of the league’s worst defenses, and Geno has had a whale of a 2022 season in Seattle. Fire up DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. This is a ceiling week for them, as well as for Kenneth Walker III. I am envisioning three touchdown passes on over 300 yards for Geno this week, along with about 40 more yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown to put the cherry on top. The Raiders are terrible. They can’t even afford to pay an interim head coach if they justifiably fire Josh McDaniels. This year’s most improved player is going to light that Vegas defense up.

AJ Dillon Awakens as the Cold Miser With Multiple Touchdowns in Philly; Packers Upset Eagles on Game-Winning Drive by Aaron Rodgers

I’ll admit it. I loved AJ Dillon coming into the season. So far, that vision hasn’t remotely come to light. At the same time, I always maintained that his second half schedule had the potential to vault him into the conversation as a league-winning RB. No defensive players want to tackle a 250-pound battering ram when it’s freezing outside. It will be chilly in Philly on Sunday night, and the first place Eagles haven’t exactly responded well to physical rushing teams. Green Bay’s offense is most effective when they go run-heavy with Dillon and Aaron Jones, followed by play action passes from Aaron Rodgers. I see multiple avenues for Dillon to have his best game of the season at the Linc. Philadelphians never give up, and AJ Dillon managers shouldn’t, either. His time to shine (and coerce business decisions) is now.