This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
We get a nice three-game slate with the Bears traveling to Detroit, the Bills going to Dallas and the Saints venturing to Atlanta. Enjoy the three-game slate and make sure to eat a lot!
QUARTERBACKS
The main targets for cash should be quarterbacks in the nightcap: Matt Ryan ($7,700) and Drew Brees ($8,500). Josh Allen ($7,800) and Dak Prescott ($8,200) are both great tournaments plays because they both have upside. However, the Bills and Cowboys are in the top-8 for allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. Drew Brees will likely be the chalkiest quarterback in cash as the quarterback leading the offense with the highest expected total. It's unlikely either Mitchell Trubisky ($6,800) or Jeff Driskel ($7,000, hamstring) end up on a winning GPP lineup, but their prices are attractive. With only six starting quarterbacks on the slate, it's worth taking a shot with each one in six different lineups, knowing you'll get that one position right.
RUNNING BACKS
It'll be hard to fade Ezekiel Elliott ($8,500) and Alvin Kamara ($8,400) given they're both almost a lock to have a floor of double-digit fantasy points. The next two most attractive options are the Bills' Devin Singletary ($6,600) and the Lions' Bo Scarbrough ($6,100). Both have double-digit fantasy point potential and are considerably cheaper than Zeke and Kamara. Surprisingly given their linebackers, the Cowboys and Bears are only league-average when it comes to giving up fantasy points to running backs. David Montgomery ($5,900) should be on everyone's radar given that the Lions allow the second-most fantasy points to running backs. If was just a few weeks ago Montgomery put together back-to-back 20-fantasy point performances, so the upside is there for GPPs. The Atlanta running back situation is tough to read; the Saints are strong against the run, and it's tough to know how many touches Devonta Freeman will get in his first game back after being sidelined the last two games. Qadree Ollison has touchdowns in each of the last two and might get any goal-line work, and with all the uncertainty, I'd avoid it altogether.
WIDE RECEIVERS
So let's discuss the main pieces of a cash game lineup. Michael Thomas ($9,200) has been as consistent as Christian McCaffrey or Lamar Jackson at their respective positions, and he's the only one playing on this slate. He needs to be played in cash, but there could be the weird bad game here, so fading him in tournaments isn't a terrible idea. Using Brees, Kamara, Elliott, and Thomas seems like core plays that a cash game lineup should be built around. Even better, it's possible to use Scarbrough or Singletary or Montgomery in the flex spot and still have viable options elsewhere who are really cheap. One of my favorite plays for Turkey Day is Michael Gallup ($6,800) because Tre'Davious White has been a shutdown corner and should be locked onto Amari Cooper. Gallup has tremendous upside and could be in line for more targets if Prescott is looking away from Cooper in this one. Don't hesitate to use Cooper in GPP lineups though; think about what Marquise Brown did Monday night with the Jalen Ramsey matchup that seemed bad. Long-shot receivers to use if fitting in the higher priced players at other positions include Russell Gage ($5,400), Ted Ginn ($5,200) -- especially if you use Brees -- Anthony Miller ($5,300), Cole Beasley ($5,800) --revenge game! -- and Danny Amendola ($5,400). Long shot of the week at the position? The Bears' Javon Wims ($4,500). The attraction here is that he's 6-foot-2, 221 pounds and runs a 4.53 40; if Taylor Gabriel (concussion) is out, Wims will get a couple of chances.
TIGHT ENDS
I totally understand using Jared Cook ($6,700), especially if one was to use a Saints stack with Brees, Thomas and Cook (and leaving out Kamara). However, you'll need to look elsewhere if you use the higher-priced players at the other positions. The player who sticks out the most is the Bills' Dawson Knox ($4,500) who is very cheap and has a matchup against the team allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends. The other option is to monitor the situation with the Lions. The Bears have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends, so T.J. Hockenson ($4,700), who is dealing with a shoulder injury, or Logan Thomas ($4,700) might be worth using.
DEFENSES
I'm not opposed to using an Atlanta defense/special teams priced at a low $3,200. That'll open up a lot of salary cap for other spots and they just put up 10 fantasy point two weeks ago against these same Saints. And you can use Saints' players along with the Atlanta defense. However, I'd think that either the Bears ($5,000) or Lions ($4,400) have the best day.
