This Thursday, we will load up on carbs and football, as the Thanksgiving slate gives us something to be thankful for in the fantasy football and DFS community. We can fill up our plates and wallets with this small slate.
Today, we will break down some stacks that will help you take down the entire thing while you shovel that last slice of pumpkin pie into your face. Let’s begin with “America’s team.”
NFL DFS Thanksgiving Day Stacking Advice
Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys
We begin our stacks with this massive setup from the Cowboys game, as they welcome the Commanders into their Thanksgiving tradition. Whenever we can face the Commanders’ defense, we set it and forget it, as they have been one of the worst defenses in 2023. The Commanders have allowed the second-most receiving yards with the third-highest receiving yards per game to their opponents.
This Thursday, we will load up on carbs and football, as the Thanksgiving slate gives us something to be thankful for in the fantasy football and DFS community. We can fill up our plates and wallets with this small slate.
Today, we will break down some stacks that will help you take down the entire thing while you shovel that last slice of pumpkin pie into your face. Let’s begin with “America’s team.”
NFL DFS Thanksgiving Day Stacking Advice
Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys
We begin our stacks with this massive setup from the Cowboys game, as they welcome the Commanders into their Thanksgiving tradition. Whenever we can face the Commanders’ defense, we set it and forget it, as they have been one of the worst defenses in 2023. The Commanders have allowed the second-most receiving yards with the third-highest receiving yards per game to their opponents.
The Commanders also allow for a safe floor to their opponents as they have relinquished the sixth-highest number of NFL receptions. Receivers against this team run the sixth-highest yards per route run (YPRR) and have produced the sixth-highest amount of endzone touchdowns. Everywhere you look, the Commanders need help against any pass catchers.
The Commanders are in Dallas at the worst point because the Cowboys have been on fire this past month. On a short slate like this, when you can build in the safety of this potent Dallas offense while they face one of the worst passing offenses, you must insert them into your lineup.
You begin this stack with Dak under center, as he has provided five straight games of 20-plus fantasy points. We add in Lamb coming off a weaker performance, which helped keep his salary down and we remember he has five total touchdowns in his last four games. We then throw in a pair of Cowboys receivers with Cooks and Tolbert. With Cooks, we have seen his production reach its potential lately, as he’s averaging 14.8 fantasy points in his last five games.
Finally, we land with our dart throw of Tolbert. Tolbert enters the lineup having 3x his salary twice this season and covering the golden rule of dart throws: Can he receive five-plus targets?” Tolbert checks that box with five targets in each of his last three games.
Let’s discuss the bring-back option with Logan Thomas. First, this game has the highest implied total on the Thanksgiving slate. Usually, if the teams can reach their shootout potential in those games, they can drag the tight end to fantasy success. With Sam Howell leading the NFL in passing yards and the Cowboys tied for most touchdowns to the tight end position, Thomas can flourish in your lineups and shine like stuffing on Thanksgiving day.
Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions
Last week, we couldn’t get enough of Love and the matchup. This week, proceed with caution on this stack. We are leaning into Love because he will likely have to play from behind against a Lions team that lets you move the ball through the air against their defense.
We stack Love with one of his favorite options in the offense. Doubs is a consistent ball player who provides that ” Big Body” game for Love, especially within the red zone. With the Packers’ wide receivers core all dealing with injuries, we could see a higher target share for Doubs this week, especially with the Lions allowing the second most touchdowns to the wide receivers.
We combine Love with Kraft as well. Usually, we lean into Luke Musgrave, but he is dealing with an abdominal injury that is trending toward him missing this game on Thursday. You can attack the Lions with tight ends. They have allowed the 11th most receptions, 12th most yards and tied for third most touchdowns to the position. This season, the Packers are the 11th easiest matchup (FPPG) for tight ends in the NFL.
Usually, I never suggest playing both running backs. However, these unique builds allow you to build leverage against your opponents on a small slate. The Packers’ rushing defense is average on its best day. They allow the seventh-most rushing yards in 2023. The Packers are also tied for fifth with eight rushing touchdowns allowed. This defense also struggles against running backs in the playing game.
Running backs have recorded the 11th-highest receptions against the Packers defense this season. All this has made the Packers the 11th easiest matchup for running backs in 2023.
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
My final build is pretty simple, as the build is based on volume. First, McCaffrey (CMC) is ALWAYS a volume monster. This week, he will be joined by Charbonnet due to Kenneth Walker‘s oblique injury.
CMC leads the NFL in rushing with 825 yards and is always the top priority of his offense, so he is a lock. Charbonnet will have a more challenging time producing this Thursday, but this is what the Seattle Seahawks drafted him for in the second round of this past NFL draft. With his draft capital, talent, Geno Smith‘s injury, and opportunity, don’t be surprised if the Seahawks load Charbonnet’s plate with 20-25 total touches within this game.
We finally paid up for a defense with the 49ers defense. We usually pay down and find value. However, when a defense follows the fantasy point equation (Pressures + Sacks = Turnovers) and gets to face either an injured Geno Smith or Drew Lock, We MUST USE THEM. The 49ers defense can put a 20-point performance on the board in this Thanksgiving finale on Thursday.
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Remember to peruse all the fantastic work here at FantasyPros, and feel free to contact me on Twitter at @jpep20. Remember these stacks and the rules of DFS we have discussed over these past several weeks, and good luck in Week 12!