Happy Thanksgiving RotoBallers! In this article I will be taking a look at some of my favorite FantasyAces DFS lineups plays for the Week 12 Thanksgiving slate.
These picks are based on a multitude of factors including matchup, talent, recent performance, and pricing on Fantasy Aces. Let's get to the picks!
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Quarterback Plays for Fantasy Aces
Dak Prescott (vs. WAS, $6,700)
Prescott is the second-most expensive quarterback on the slate, behind only Ben Roethlisberger, but for the money, Prescott is the best value. By now it's well-known that Roethlisberger has had his struggles on the road and Prescott has shown he has the upside to outscore Big Ben anyway. Dallas' rookie quarterback has simply gotten better and better as the season has gone on. He has eleven total touchdowns over his past four games and has started to show a real chemistry with star receiver Dez Bryant. This Dallas-Washington game has the highest over/under on the Thanksgiving slate and the Cowboys have the highest projected point total, meaning you are going to want to have some exposure to this game on Turkey Day.
Sam Bradford (@ DET, $5,750)
Bradford should be a safe, high-floor fantasy play for this Thanksgiving slate. He hasn't shown much in the way of upside this year, but he should be able to pay off his salary against a Lions pass defense that is ranked dead last in the league in DVOA according to Football Outsiders. While Indianapolis fill-in quarterback Scott Tolzien at $4,500 may be an enticing option, the Steelers are fresh off an eight-sack game against the Browns. The Colts' offensive line is just as bad as Cleveland's and Tolzien hasn't exactly impressed in his limited NFL playing time, posting a 1:5 touchdown/interception ratio in 91 career pass attempts. Personally, I'll pass on Tolzien for the safer option in Bradford when value hunting at quarterback.
Running Back Plays for Fantasy Aces
Le'Veon Bell (@ IND, $6,550)
It basically comes down to a coin flip between Bell and Ezekiel Elliot on this Thanksgiving slate. If you are making lineups, you are going to want to roster one of these two. Both are great plays with excellent matchups and are separated by just $100 on Aces. With all that being said, Bell's impressive prowess in the passing game makes him my preferred play here. The Colts' run defense is ranked 31st in the league in DVOA according to Football Outsiders. Last week, we saw the Steelers lean heavily on Bell against an over-matched Cleveland Browns team. That should be the case again on Thursday as the Colts will likely be without Andrew Luck, meaning their offense will struggle to score points. Expect the Steelers to call Bell's number early and often.
Theo Riddick (vs. MIN, $4,600)
Riddick remains relatively cheap on Aces and shapes up as a great, cheaper play for your RB2 spot. Riddick didn't do much on the ground last week, but he caught eight passes for 70 yards. While pass-catching running backs aren't usually a great bet to score, Riddick is tied for the team lead with 11 red zone targets this season. The Vikings have a tough defense to run on, but the Lions showed last week that they have no problem abandoning the run and just using short passes to Riddick instead. Frank Gore is a decent play at running back at a price similar to Riddick's, but I'm generally fading the Colts offense if Andrew Luck is out.
Wide Receiver Plays for Fantasy Aces
Antonio Brown (@ IND, $6,300)
Brown is the receiver worth paying up for on the slate. Dez Bryant is expected to draw shadow coverage from top cornerback Josh Norman while the Colts receivers will likely struggle to get much going with Scott Tolzien throwing the ball to them. Indianapolis could be without their top cornerback as Vontae Davis has been dealing with an ankle injury and has been spotted in a walking boot. That ankle injury kept Davis out of Tuesday's practice. Brown is a great play regardless of Davis' status, but if Davis is out then he becomes an elite option.
Stefon Diggs (@ DET, $4,750)
Diggs predictably struggled to beat shadow coverage from Patrick Peterson last weekend, but he is in a prime spot to bounce back on Thursday. Diggs runs most of his routes from the slot which is beneficial for him for two reasons. First, he will avoid Detroit's top cornerback Darius Slay, who rarely ventures into the slot. Second, he will be matched up with Detroit slot corner Quandre Diggs (no relation), who represents an extremely favorable matchup for him. Expect Stefon to get the better of Quandre in this Thanksgiving battle of the Diggs. Just a quick note, Stefon Diggs has missed two practices this week with a knee issue. It is unclear whether the Vikings are just limiting his reps or if he's actually in danger of missing the game, so be sure to check in on his status on Thursday morning.
Tight End Play for Fantasy Aces
Eric Ebron (vs. MIN, $4,300)
This is a great slate for tight ends. Jordan Reed, Jason Witten, Kyle Rudolph, and Ebron are the top four options and each has a fantastic matchup against defenses that have struggled against tight ends this season. Ebron gets the nod here as he's the cheapest of the four while carrying just as much upside. Since he returned from an ankle injury in Week 8, Ebron has caught 17-of-23 targets for 241 yards while adding a rushing touchdown. That solid run includes a seven-catch, 92-yard outing against these same Vikings in Week 9. Price-wise, Ebron is the best bang for your buck at tight end on the slate.
Defense/Special Teams Play for Fantasy Aces
Pittsburgh Steelers (@ IND, $2,900)
If Andrew Luck's concussion indeed keeps him out of action on Thanksgiving, the Steelers defense is a mighty fine play. Pittsburgh's defense came alive against the Browns last week, registering eight sacks, an interception, and one fumble recovery which went for a touchdown. Sure, that came against the hapless Browns, but the Colts will be just as hapless if forced to start Scott Tolzien. Indianapolis' weak offensive line has allowed 35 quarterback sacks this season, second-most in the league. That ranks them behind only, you guessed it, the Browns. If Luck is a surprise active for Week 12, look to pivot to the Vikings.
Good luck on Thursday and have a great Thanksgiving! Be sure to check back on Friday morning for my top Fantasy Aces plays for the main slate.