This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
Below are picks for both the Thursday Thanksgiving contests and the Sunday/Monday contests on FanDuel.
QUARTERBACK
Kirk Cousins, WAS vs. NYG ($8,200): The Giants have more or less quit on the season given how poorly they've played and have to go on the road Turkey night to face a divisional opponent. Cousins played lights-out last week in New Orleans and has scored at least 20 fantasy points in six of his last eight games. Fortunately, the Terrelle Pryor experiment is over, and quietly Cousins has three rushing touchdowns this season. The Giants allow the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks (19.5 per game) and have allowed 20 passing touchdowns, tied for the fourth most in the league.
RUNNING BACK
Orleans Darkwa, NYG at WAS ($6,200): Darkwa has established himself as the Giants lead back and has 20, 14, nine, 21 and 16 carries in his last five games. He averages an elite 4.8 yards per carry and will handle the goal-line work for New York. Darkwa will add a few extra fantasy points catching the ball out of the backfield and the Giants may have to lean heavily on the running game without Odell Beckham, Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard.
Tevin Coleman, ATL vs. TB ($6,200): This pick is solely based on the availability of Devonta Freeman who, as of Wednesday, hadn't practiced this week. Without Freeman in the lineup, Coleman has had 20 carries in each of his last two games and has scored in three consecutive games. A similar volume would be expected this week if Freeman is out again. The matchup against Tampa Bay is good as the the Bucs have given up the 13th most fantasy points to running backs this season.
WIDE RECEIVER
Mike Wallace, BAL vs. HOU ($5.600): This is a dirt cheap price for a player who still is one of the fastest in the league and has shown big-play ability throughout his career. He has touchdowns in consecutive games and has a plus matchup at home against the Texans. Houston has been terrible on defense since the loss of Whitney Mercilus and J.J. Watt, giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Including the Chiefs' game where both of those players were lost, the Texans have averaged 29 points allowed per game, including a six-game low 17 points to the Browns. Look for the Ravens to have their way in this one.
DeVante Parker, MIA at NE ($6,400): The Patriots have been terrible against the pass this season, and there's a strong argument that the move from Jay Cutler to Matt Moore helps the Miami passing attack. Cutler hasn't been ruled out yet, but for Parker this is all about the matchup. The Dolphins have enough weapons to keep Parker in one-on-one situations, and New England has given up the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers. This game should have plenty of scoring and in the second half the Dolphins should be throwing a lot playing from behind.
TIGHT END
Vernon Davis WAS vs. NYG ($6,500): It was recommended last week to continue fading the Giants when picking a tight end, and while Kansas City's Travis Kelce didn't find the end zone he did finish with eight catches for 109 yards (14.9 fantasy points). Every other Giants opponent has scored a touchdown with a tight end, which bodes well for Davis. Jordan Reed is out, so there's virtually no competition at the position for Davis.
KICKER
Harrison Butker, KC vs. BUF ($5,000): Butker has been fantastic for the Chiefs since taking over kicker duties, averaging 12.9 fantasy points per game, second among kickers. He's 22 for 23 on field-goal attempts and Kansas City should have no trouble moving the ball at home against the Bills. Butker is the only kicker this season to have two 21-fantasy point performances.
DEFENSE
Oakland Raiders D/ST vs. DEN ($4,400): It's easy to point to the Jaguars against Blaine Gabbert or the Bengals against the winless Browns, so going with the Raiders is definitely a contrarian play. However, this is about the matchup as Paxton Lynch will be under center. It's not often a team voluntarily goes through three quarterbacks in a season, and there's a reason that Lynch started the season last on the depth chart. The firing of defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. should help shake things up for Oakland, which has been dismal on defense all season.
