QB
Dak Prescott - QB - Dallas Cowboys (Draftkings $6,300)
This is an easy decision ladies and gents. Dak continues to prove that despite overwhelming doubt and pressure, he can and will step up to the plate and deliver the performance an NFL Quarterback should be able to deliver. Dak will be under-center for The Boys this Thursday at 1530 in Dallas against a #23-ranked Washington Defense. The Dallas Cowboys are 9-1 right now and despite the common "alright they will screw it up this week" opinion... The Boys are 6-1 against Washington on Thanksgiving Day and that's a fact. Regardless of the outcome of this game itself, Dak is going to ball out. You can take that to the bank! Averaging 21.3 points-a-game, Dak will be sure to provide a low-risk-high-reward QB start.
RB
Le'Veon Bell - RB Pittsburgh Steelers (Draftkings $9,000)
COME ON!! If you haven't started this man at RB yet, then you probably should not be playing Fantasy Football of any kind... 37.1 points on Draftkings last week, 579 yards this season while averaging 82.7 a week, and 25.5 points-per-game on average. Put all of that together versus a #30-ranked Indianapolis Defense, you're looking at some pretty phenomenal points towards your lineups. My guess, he puts up about 28 points in total; Draftkings projects 25.5, right at his average. If you are still holding out for Elliott, relax and read my second RB start.
RB
Ezekiel Elliott - RB Dallas Cowboys (Draftkings $8,500)
Yet again, another no-brainer in choosing to start Zeke in your fantasy lineups this Thanksgiving. Against the #1 RB-Opposition in the entire league, Zeke managed 97-Yards on the ground and another 30-yards through the air. Forget the urge to save money by starting Rob Kelly of Washington and I'll tell you why... Zeke will be running behind the #1-ranked offensive line in the NFL and running over the #22-ranked Washington Run Defense. Consistent RB's, at this point in the season, are very few and far between. Injuries across the league have plagued the RB position in fantasy. Zeke is averaging 23.4-yards-a-game and going into a favorable Redskin matchup at home, this man is as consistent as it can possibly get. Look for a Redskin hurdled, and another trucked, as Zeke provides a monster game this Thursday.
WR
Jamison Crowder - WR Washington Redskins (Draftkings $5,800)
Crowder has become a bright shining light in what looked like a 'Jackson-Reed-Only' Redskin-Offense this season. Crowder sports a 34:32 Home-Away targeting ratio going into this Thursday's matchup. Last week, Crowder hauled in 3/3 catches for 102-yards and a TD against the Packers on Sunday Night Football. Due to injuries, the Dallas Cowboys are relying on a 'little engine that could' secondary right now... Look for Crowder and company to exploit that weakness as much as possible Thursday evening. Averaging 16.2-points per-game this season with no signs of stopping. Thursday there's going to be an offensive shootout in Dallas, and I firmly believe Crowder owners will reap the benefits of it.
WR
Eli Rogers - WR Pittsburgh Steelers (Draftkings $4,500)
Rogers figures to be vulture #1 in Fantasy Football this week. The Indianapolis passing defense is among the worst in the league ranked at #32 right now, with no uptick anytime soon. Antonio Brown will be one of the highest started this week and that bodes well for Rogers' believers; So long as the sleeper performs as such... Sammie Coates is still recovering from broken fingers at the moment, and with the recent injury to AJ Green looming about, I figure Sumlin to look to Eli to take a lot more pressure off of Brown as we draw closer to the postseason. Bottom line is this: if this was a home game, then I'd say no doubt bench Rogers. However, this is an away game, against a very below-average Colt's Defense. As per usual, Big Ben away in Indianapolis, will continue to favor #17 this Thursday for sure.
WR
Adam Thielen - WR Minnesota Vikings (Draftkings $4,000)
This guy is without-a-doubt a wide receiver: MUST START on Thursday. Thielen brought in 17.5-points last week off of 65-yards receiving, and an absolutely gorgeous TD catch, to bring home the win in Arizona. To be 100% honest, I am a little biased towards the little guy. He was a practice team standout, that finally got a chance to start, and never looked back. He continues to impress every single week, despite subpar performances from Bradford under-center no-less. The Vikings are finally starting to figure things out again after breaking a losing streak that overshadowed their astonishing start to the season. Thielen is a student of the game. He respects it, studies it, and more than anything, he will do anything to keep that hard-earned starting spot in Minnesota. All of that being said, when Adam Thielen is given the opportunity, he performs. More often than not, Stephon Diggs has been Bradford's favorite target this season. However, Diggs will not be suiting up this Thursday. Look for Thielen to have a MONSTER game, as Bradford will have no choice other than to finally favor #19 down the field against Detroit.
TE
Kyle Rudolph - TE Minnesota Vikings (Draftkings $3,700)
Yet again another PPR Fantasy starter that will benefit from the absence of Stephon Diggs Thanksgiving Day in Minnesota. Kyle Rudolph is finally going to have the game that we have all been waiting for. The Detroit Lions hold a #17-ranked passing defense and #19-ranked overall defense in the NFL right now. Rudolph is targeted literally double at away matchups as opposed to home matchups, with a 13:26 Home-Away targeting ratio. The Vikings and Lions are both vying for a run in the postseason this year and will need a big fat W this Thursday at all costs. Diggs is out. Diggs is out. Diggs is: 100%, beyond any reasonable doubt, in every sense of the word... OUT! Diggs will be wearing sweats and sneakers Thursday, and in-turn, Rudolph will be wearing a crown while sitting atop the TE performances in PPR Fantasy Football this Thanksgiving in Minnesota.
FLEX
Frank Gore - RB Indianapolis Colts (Draftkings $5,200)
All of the Frank Gore haters throughout the Fantasy Football world are probably very quiet this week... Andrew Luck is undergoing concussion protocol this very moment and will be OUT this Thursday vs. the Steelers. If you know even a little bit about football, especially Indianapolis offensive strategy, the Quarterback is EVERYTHING to them... With Luck sitting this week out and Indy needing the W to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Colts will look to the veteran: Frank Gore. The Steelers are ranked #9 in the league in rushing defense right now and will surely look to rely on that this Thursday in Indianapolis. However...Indianapolis fans be thankful though...Mr. Frank Gore, will put the team on his back, and exploit the Pittsburgh rushing defense in ways that only an NFL-veteran could. Gore is averaging 15.7-points-per-game right now, but I think we will see way more than 15+ Thursday night in the absence of Andrew Luck.
DST
Detroit Lions - Defense/ Special Teams (Draftkings $3,000)
Bear with me here... This Thursday's DST choices are VERY limited. That being said, I am looking for the best middle-ground that I can possibly muster. The Lions have 20 sacks this season to date. Given Bradford's very limited mobility in the pocket, I think we will see a Lion defense that will literally eat Bradford up. Minnesota will be missing their best receiver hands down and if Rudolph, Thielen, or both fail to step up to the plate; The Lions are going to eat. Regardless, this matchup will surely be a relatively low-scoring matchup, maybe even a battle of the Kickers... With Diggs out, Bradford still wondering how the heck he even landed in Minnesota to begin with, and the Lion Pride coming off a season high performance last week against the Jags; I imagine the Lions DST will be a reasonably solid start this Thursday in Fantasy Football.