NFL DFS Lineup Week 12 - FanDuel $1M Thanksgiving Million
FanDuel is serving up a slow-roasted, stuffing-laden Thanksgiving contest for the three-pack of NFL games this Thursday. These NFC division matchups will span about 11 hours from start to finish, with some breaks in between for dinner and dessert, and the Thanksgiving Million will award $200k to the contest winner.
We hope to be among those leaving with more than they brought this Thanksgiving, and it starts with our lineup picks for these midweek matchups.
Quarterback: Jordan Love ($7,200)
Love was a top-ten quarterback in Week 11 for the first time since late September and attempted 40+ passes for the third time in four weeks during Green Bay's home win against the Chargers.
He has 611 passing yards and four touchdowns in his last two starts and faces a team he's already had success against this season. Love scored 19.64 fantasy points against the Lions on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, scoring both through the air and on the ground.
We would be happy if he reached 15+ points again this week.
RB: David Montgomery ($7,800) & Brian Robinson Jr. ($6,700)
Montgomery is averaging a touchdown per game this season and has racked up 192 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries since returning from a rib injury. The Packers allow the 6th-most fantasy points to running backs this season, and Montgomery will look to extend his scoring trend after posting three TDs against Green Bay in Week 4.
For a player who’s relied on touchdowns to buoy his numbers this season, Robinson impressed in Week 11 while not finding painted grass. He’s now hauled in 13 passes in his last two games for 177 yards and has taken on the role of a complete back while Antonio Gibson has been hampered by injury.
With Sam Howell facing a vicious Dallas pass rush, it could be another high-target afternoon for Robinson.
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8,500), Brandon Aiyuk ($7,800) & Brandin Cooks ($5,700)
St. Brown has been elite in per-game stats among receivers this season, ranking second in catches, third in targets, and sixth in receiving yards. The Lions have benefited from a top-five rushing attack in both yards per carry and touchdowns scored, and St. Brown has been a beneficiary. With Detroit's expected success on the ground this week, we like St. Brown to improve on the 14.1 points he scored against Green Bay in Week 4.
Aiyuk has found the endzone the last two weeks after a six-game scoring drought and is third in the NFL in yards per target among qualified players this season, while his snap rate has been above 85% during four of his last five appearances. He'll test his progress against a stingy Seahawks' secondary for the first of two matchups in the next three weeks.
Cooks had his breakout game as a Cowboy against the Giants in Week 10, and another NFC East rival could provide an opportunity for him to repeat that on Thursday. Washington's pass defense allows the sixth-most yards per attempt in the NFL and is dead last in passing yards and touchdowns allowed overall. Cooks could get loose once or twice in this game and prove to be our Thanksgiving lineup gamebreaker.
Tight End: Logan Thomas ($5,200)
Thomas is a top-ten tight end in terms of targets, yards, and touchdowns this season for a Washington offense that leads the NFL in pass attempts and completions.
The former college QB has drawn 5+ targets in five consecutive games and will serve as a dropoff option for Howell, like Robinson, if the Cowboys' pocket pressure forces a quick throw.
Flex: Tyler Lockett ($6,600)
In Lockett's last five meetings with San Francisco, the veteran has averaged 7.8 catches, 71.4 yards, and 0.6 touchdowns per game. That amounts to 14.6 fantasy points per game against one of the more challenging defensive units in the league.
He's the team leader in receiving touchdowns and receptions, and we like his value at this cap number against a familiar opponent.
Defense: San Francisco 49ers ($4,500)
It's tricky to compile a lineup that avoids conflicts of interest when there are only three games to choose from. Given that, we like the 49ers despite Lockett's presence on our roster.
Seattle's players, like Lockett, can still have productive days while the Niners outperform them as a team. San Francisco has posted nine sacks and six takeaways since acquiring Chase Young during their bye, and Seattle has a banged-up starting quarterback and running back ahead of a short practice week.
