To start my Thanksgiving Week article, I’d like to say thank you to my readers. Maybe there are three of you; maybe there are 500K. All I know is that there’s no in-between, and I appreciate all of you coming back to keep reading each week, even when I steer you wrong.
In all seriousness, should some people read my column every week, thank you. That’s awesome, and I hope you continue to enjoy what I have to say.
Now, that being said, if I’m wrong about any players this week, it’s not my fault—it’s your fault for listening to me.
So, without further adieu:
Running Back
Frank Gore, New York Jets (available in 77% of Yahoo! leagues)
What way could one possibly kick off a Thanksgiving article other than with a player who we’re thankful for? Gore has been in the league for close to thirty years at this point, and whereas he’s not the star he once was, he’ll have a safe enough floor as he’s really the only back left on the roster. He won’t put up crazy numbers, but why not give Old Franky one last go as a thank you-type play? He’s a lock for double-digit carries, and if the Jets can get the ball to the goal line, maybe he even scores one for you.
Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons (available in 89% of Yahoo! leagues)
Hill has graced this column before, but this time it’s surprising to me that he’s still available. Todd Gurley, who has been used as a featured back, hasn’t been practicing this week and is in danger of missing Sunday’s contest. Should he be healthy enough to play, a week of missed practice likely alludes to a reduced workload for him? If Gurley is at all limited on Sunday, Hill is an excellent play. He hasn’t reached the endzone since Week 3, but in a potentially high-scoring tilt with the Raiders, he may very well end that drought.
Wide Receiver
Damiere Byrd, New England Patriots (available in 95% of Yahoo! leagues)
What if last week wasn’t a fluke? What if, and hear me out on this, Byrd’s 132-yard outburst was the starting point for a very solid fantasy playoff run for the guy? It’s entirely possible. I wrote about Byrd earlier in the year, back when he saw 8-10 targets every week. That volume dipped when everyone on the Patriots dipped. Now that Cam Newton is getting back to a higher level of play, and they’ve stopped trying to make N’Keal Harry happen, Byrd sees that volume again. On top of this, Byrd used to play for Arizona, who he happens to be playing this week. This is the week Damiere Byrd shows the Cardinals they should’ve chosen him over DeAndre Hopkins…
Andy Isabella, Arizona Cardinals (available in 99% of Yahoo! leagues)
We’ll keep it in the Cardinals-Patriots game with this one. Unfortunately, Larry Fitzgerald, The GOAT, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be unavailable for this game. Fitz, to this point, has seen close to six targets per game. In the high-powered Arizona offense, those looks have to go somewhere. Isabella has already seen a baseline of targets, albeit a shallow one, but targets nonetheless. With the aforementioned Hopkins and breakout Christian Kirk already entrenched in their roles, look for Andy Isabella to take some of Fitz’s work. Playing Isabella also gives the bonus of hoping for a 90-yard touchdown. The guy ran a 4.31. 4.31! Kyler Murray loves taking shots, and Isabella could be on the receiving end of a few this week.
Tight End
Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears (available in 63% of Yahoo! leagues)
One bad game followed by a bye week has made people forget that Jimmy Graham is having himself a season. He’s currently the TE10 in standard leagues. The TE10 being available in 63% of leagues means that in a ton of 12+ team leagues, people consciously choose to play worse tight ends weekly. That makes no sense. He’s been targeted 5+ times in ten games already this year and has found the endzone five times. He may not get the yards he did with the Saints, but much like Frank Gore, he’s still putting up a solid enough floor. Tight Ends are hard to come by. Don’t start someone worse just because you think Jimmy Graham is old.
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