2017 Thanksgiving Edition: Sit/Start

Thanksgiving Edition Sit/Start

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. I am thankful to all of you that take the time to read my articles. Thanksgiving football is Thursday night football on steroids. We get three games to give us plenty of action all day. Since there are so many games I decided to do a sit start for each game and later in the week I will have my normal sit start article. If you have questions about how to start in their place, be sure to check out my sit and starts to help make those crucial decisions before game time. Remember if you have any other sit start questions you can hit me up in my Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on twitter @MikeKelleyDLP Good luck this week.

Game 1 Vikings at Lions

Case Keenum (MIN) – One of Keenum worst games of the year game against the Lions in week four. I know he has been playing well lately but on a short week I am staying away from Keenum if I can. SIT

Latavius Murray (MIN) – The last time the Vikes played the Lions Dalvin Cook started at running back and was tearing it up, pun intended. It has been six games since Murray took over the starting job and after a slow start three of the last four weeks Murray has been playing very well. The Lions like to give up yards on the ground so I expect Murray will get his share. START

Jerick McKinnon (MIN) – With Murray producing lately McKinnon has dropped off slightly. McKinnon is still the back used in the passing game allowing him to maintain his value even if his rushing attempts are dropping. McKinnon should still have plenty of opportunities to score on Thanksgiving. START

Stefon Diggs (MIN) – Diggs has not been the same since coming back from injury. His first four games Diggs line was 22/391/4 and in the three games he has been back its 16/137/1. Diggs looks healthy to me so I am not sure why there is a drop off. My guess would be when Diggs went down Thielen got red hot and they are just going to continue to feed him until he cools off. Once teams start shifting coverage to Thielen things should open back up for Diggs, but unfortunately until then Diggs is a risky start. SIT if you can.

Adam Thielen (MIN) – As I already stated Thielen is red hot. Three straight game with a touchdown and 98 or more yards. Averaging over double digit targets in the last five games and just under seven catches a game in that span. So if you have him, continue to ride the hot hand. START

Kyle Rudolph (MIN) – I am not sure if you can get more consistent than Rudolph has been in the last 6 weeks. Problem is he is consistently not finding the end zone. He is getting the looks just not getting any big plays. He is basicly averaging five receptions for 42 yards lately. Good enough to start, but without a touchdown probably not good enough to make a difference. START

Matthew Stafford (DET) – Staffords worst game of the year was against the Vikings, while I am not expecting as bad of a game, I am expecting only slight improvement for him. Stafford has been turning the ball over lately and the Vikings should be able to take advantage of that. SIT if you can.

Ameer Abdullah (DET) – Abdullah had is best game and only game over 100 total yards against the Vikings back in week four. Unfortunately since that game he has not done much. He does have a three game touchdown streak right now, but even with that in PPR leagues he is only averaging 11.2 points per game. Meaning more than half his points have come on those three touchdowns. SIT

Theo Riddick (DET) – In years past Riddick had been a PPR monster, and this year not so much. Without those receptions Riddick has barely been in a flex play in deeper leagues. He struggles against the Vikings last time and I am not expecting anything different this time. SIT

Golden Tate (DET) – Tate is another guy that has relied on volume to hold value. So far this year he has been able to do that. Tate’s biggest problem is if he can’t turn one of those quick outs into a long gain his yardage suffers. I am not expecting him to be able to turn one loose, but his recpetions should be enough to carry him to at least FLEX value. START

Marvin Jones (DET) – Jones looked well on his way to becoming Stafford’s deep ball guy, and while he is still getting his shots down the field, he seems to be getting less of them since Golladay has returned from injury. Resulting in making Jones touchdown dependent. Despite being touchdown dependent I still think he is worth sending out as a flex option especially in deeper leagues. START with boom or bust expectations.

Kenny Golladay (DET) – I like this kid a lot, but he is still being eased back into the game. This is not the week to count on him. Anything is possible, but it is too risky for me to roll with him. SIT

Eric Ebron (DET) – Just when it looked like his time in Detroit was over he pulls us back in with just enough to hang around. Well I am not buying what Ebron is selling. SIT

Game 2 Chargers at Cowboys

Philip Rivers (LAC) – I like Rivers a lot heading down the stretch here. He is a low end QB1 to high end QB2 year after year, and looking a head he can easily produce as the high end QB1 the rest of the way, including this week against a struggling Cowboys team. I am expecting a big day from him. START

Melvin Gordon (LAC) – Gordon is quietly producing this year. He has over 600 rushing yards, 35 receptions and nine total touchdowns in 10 games. He does have his duds, but most weeks he is giving his owners RB1 numbers and this week should be no exception. START

Keenan Allen (LAC) – Coming off his best game of the year and clearly Rivers favorite target, I have nothing to say but… START

Travis Benjamin (LAC) – Coming off an injury that knocked him out of last weeks game on a short week are not usually good signs. Plus he has not produced enough that even had he been healthy I would probably be avoiding him anyway. SIT

Mike Williams (LAC) – This one gets a little tricky for me. If Benjamin sits it makes Williams a much better play. If the Chargers go up early, which is possible, it could mean more playing time for Williams. That is more if’s than I care for so, if you have decent options stay away, but if you its between Williams and some other team WR3 he might be worth the start. START only if you have limited options.

Hunter Henry (LAC) – Henry is a talented tight end, but if you name is not Allen, you are just one of the many options that Rivers has and he is spreading the ball out among those players. SIT

Dak Prescott (DAL) – You are going to see a recurring theme here when it comes to which Cowboys to play. Without Zeke, Dak has looked pretty bad. With a struggling offensive line and no stud running back Dak is off limits for me. At least while he is playing defenses that are at least half way good and the Chargers are better than half way. SIT

Alfred Morris (DAL) – With no real use in the passing game Morris is really only startable in standard leagues. He should struggle to find the end zone and running room this week. SIT

Dez Bryant (DAL) – Dez might be the only Cowboy I am willing start while Zeke is out. Not that his numbers will be great, but he should be able to maintain a decent amount of receptions with decent yards making him low WR2 value. I know that is not great based on what you would expect, but it is still startable. START

Terrance Williams (DAL) – Another no Zeke no start guy for me. He might have a good game here or there without Zeke, but for the most part you can’t count on him now. SIT

Cole Beasley (DAL) – See above. SIT

Jason Witten (DAL) – I would see above again, but if you don’t have better tight end options there will be worse than Witten to start. START if he is the best on your team.

Game 3 Giants at Redskins

Eli Manning (NYG) – In the grand scheme of things Manning is not having a bad year considering how banged up his receiving corp is. He is on pace for 3,700 yards, 23 touchdowns, less than 10 interceptions and completing 64% of his passes. Certainly not what were expecting from him this year, but can you blame him? All that aside if Shepard plays on Thanksgiving Manning could be a solid QB2 or Superflex play. Or if you are dealing with an IR QB he could fill in this week as a QB1. That said if Shepard sits he is hard to trust. START if Shep plays

Orleans Darkwa (NYG) – The current Giants coaching staff seems to like Darkwa. He has gone over 70 yards in three straight games and added a couple receptions as well. I would like to see more touchdowns, but I the team as a whole would like to see more touchdowns. Anyway I would fell good about using Darkwa as a RB2 in deep leagues or even a flex in smaller one. START

Sterling Shepard (NYG) – If he plays, use him. Manning will get him the ball. The offense needs Shep in order to help open up the secondary. Without Shep the only receiver worth anything is Engram and he can’t do it by himself. START

Roger Lewis and Tavarres King (NYG) – There is just not enough proof here for me to start either of these guys regardless of what Shep does this week. SIT

Evan Engram (NYG) – This is another one that if Shep plays it changes his value. If Shep does not play though I still think you start him, but don’t be surprised if he has a stinker. START

Kirk Cousins (WAS) – With only one bad week this year, a game against Seattle that he still won, Kirk is a must start here. Back to back 300 yards games and four touchdowns. I know the Giants just won against a good opponent, but they still look crappy to me. START

Samaje Perine (WAS) – With no Fat Rob or Chris Thompson, Perine is the guy for the Skins. I expect a heavy load and even some work in the passing game. Coming off his best game of the year he could be in line to top it. START

Josh Doctson (WAS) – Doctson is finally moving in that deep threat role that everyone has been waiting for. With Doctson stretching the field they way DJax used to, it is helping make space for Crowder. Also with Terrelle Pryor getting placed on IR it alows Doctson to take that role all to himself. START

Jamison Crowder (WAS) – With the emergance of Doctson and Grant on the outside, Crowder is finally after a slow start, finding some wholes to operate in the middle of the field. As long as he maintains those targets he will hold his value. This week against a Giants team that has given up plenty of yards is a good match up for him. START

Ryan Grant (WAS) – I like what he is doint, but I just don’t think he is getting enough looks to make a difference for fantasy football owners. He is just a compliment at this point and without getting a touchdown he value is too low. SIT

Vernon Davis (WAS) – Simple put as long as Reed is out, you start Davis. START

Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.

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