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It's the best day of the year, Thanksgiving, a holiday filled with food, naps, and the National Football League. As season-long leagues begin to wind down, the DFS circuit continues to offer hope to those whose year is already over. The three-game slate starts with an old classic, the Bears versus the Lions. Both clubs, who will meet on Thanksgiving for the 19th time, have a combined 3-16-1 record, so this game won't offer much of anything outside of nostalgic value.
On the menu next, Las Vegas will travel to Texas for a showdown against the Cowboys. Dallas, another Turkey Day staple, will be without Amari Cooper, who tested positive for COVID-19. Things could get even worse for "America's Team" if CeeDee Lamb can't play after sustaining a head injury against the Chiefs. And for dessert, the Bills will attempt to get back on track against the Saints. Buffalo got smoked by the Colts in Week 11 and will undoubtedly be ready to go on Thursday Night Football.
In this article, I will be providing you with my Thanksgiving daily fantasy football lineup picks for FanDuel’s “Main Slate.” These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Be sure to also check out our weekly DraftKings DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Also, feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen.
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FanDuel Quarterbacks - Thanksgiving DFS Lineup Picks
Josh Allen, QB - @ NO ($8,800)
With a pool filled with limited options, Allen is, without a doubt, the safest option on Thanksgiving. His Vegas prop bet odds would support this claim, as they are more favorable than anyone else's. Granted, Dak Prescott is always capable of getting things done on the fantasy end. Yet, not having Amari Cooper and potentially CeeDee Lamb would naturally make anyone less optimistic. Nonetheless, the Buffalo signal-caller is a lock for both cash and tournament formats alike against a Saints defense that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in the last month.
Derek Carr, QB - @ DAL ($7,400)
For those not convinced about Josh Allen's potential for an efficient outing against New Orleans, mainly since he's had some surprising uneventful performances this year, Carr has a lot of things going for him in Week 12. His rostering cost is far more generous, and while he doesn't have Henry Ruggs III anymore after the team released him, he does have one of the best tight ends in the league, Darren Waller, at his disposal. Keep in mind, Carr is far riskier in cash DFS formats, but he has a worthwhile upside against the Cowboys in GPP setups.
Also Consider: Dak Prescott ($8,200)
FanDuel Running Backs - Thanksgiving DFS Lineup Picks
Ezekiel Elliott, RB - vs. LV ($8,400)
The Raiders defense has yielded a fourth-worst 132.1 rushing yards per game during the 2021 campaign. It allowed Joe Mixon to compile 123 yards and two scores in Week 11, and before that, it gave up some less-than-ideal numbers on the ground against the Chiefs and Eagles. We have already beaten the Cowboys' injuries to death, so it doesn't bear repeating. While Elliott was banged up against Cincinnati and made an appearance on the practice report, he managed to participate fully on Tuesday, which is good news regarding his availability against Las Vegas. Nonetheless, Zeke could have a prominent role on Thanksgiving, at least more so than usual, and with an excellent matchup and lack of options, Tony Pollard may join in on the fun, especially on the receiving end.
D'Andre Swift, RB - vs. CHI ($8,000)
Jared Goff didn't play against the Browns last Sunday because of an oblique issue, opening the door for Tim Boyle to make the first start of his career. However, things didn't go well for the 27-year-old, as expected, as he went on to finish with only 77 passing yards while adding two interceptions for good measure. Fortunately, Swift was around to soften the blow and compiled 136 yards and a touchdown off 14 attempts. It's safe to say that Cleveland likely would have won by a wider margin had the sophomore back not been in the picture, so regardless of who is under center against the Bears, Swift may continue to serve as the safety net.
Also Consider: Josh Jacobs ($6,700), Tony Pollard ($5,900)
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Thanksgiving DFS Lineup Picks
Stefon Diggs, WR - @ NO ($8,300)
If Allen is going to have any success on Thursday evening against the Saints, Diggs will have to remain a pivotal part of the offense. The former Minnesota Viking didn't have the best start to the year. However, he has picked things up by scoring at least one touchdown in four of his last five games. At this rate, there's no reason why he can't keep playing well, so fantasy managers need to make some room for him in the lineup.
Michael Gallup, WR - vs. LV ($6,500)
Gallup is in line to serve as the Cowboys' No. 1 wideout in Week 12. The 25-year-old missed most of the year with a calf injury, which is unfortunate considering how well he played over the last few seasons. He had his best game in a while during the loss to the Chiefs, and although he only caught five balls, his 10 targets led the team. Yes, Dallas was forced to throw more than usual after being down by 13 heading into the second half. However, Vegas could keep this one closer than expected, so Gallup should have plenty of room to stay involved, even if CeeDee Lamb suits up.
Also Consider: Hunter Renfrow ($6,200), Cedrick Wilson ($5,600)
FanDuel Tight Ends - Thanksgiving DFS Lineup Picks
Dalton Schultz, TE - vs. LV ($6,000)
Sure, Darren Waller is a safer option in Week 12. Yet, Schultz may get more looks from Dak Prescott against the Raiders. Even when the team is at full-strength, the former Stanford Cardinal has been a semi-serviceable fantasy option throughout the season. Schultz tied a season-high by pulling in six grabs against Kansas City, and considering his ceiling, he warrants some consideration on Thursday, although Waller is the safer cash option, by far.
Also Consider: Darren Waller ($7,300), Dawson Knox ($5,900)
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