This article is part of our Moving the Chains series.
It all started a few years back when RotoWire staffers hanging around town for the holiday assembled for a Thanksgiving dinner. We decided to make things interesting. Rather than watch the Lions get blown out, Dallas disappoint (again), and curse our TV provider for refusing to pick up the NFL Network (we still curse our provider, but at least they've added NFL Network in the years since), we decided to increase our stake in the action by having a one-day fantasy league to cover the three games on the slate.Now, it's an annual tradition and I've created the sixth annual RotoWire Thanksgiving Day Value Meter.
Find a few of your favorite friends or relatives that you'll be spending the holiday with. Before the start of the Chicago-Detroit game, figure out a draft order and set up a three-to-six-team fantasy league just for the three games on Thursday. Keep it simple: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB/WR/TE flex, 1 K, 1 D/ST and use a very basic scoring system as well (20 pass yards = 1 pt, Pass TD = 4 pts, 10 rush/rec yards = 1 pt, Rush/Rec TD = 6 pts, FG = 3 pts, PAT = 1 pt, 2 pt Conv = 2 pts. For your team D, go with 1 pt for sacks, 2 pts for INT, 2 for safeties and 6 pts for a TD – including kickoff/punt returns).
**Hint: Add a second flex that allows the use of another quarterback if you have a three- or four-team league. I also recommend using PPR in those small scenarios as well.
**Pro Tip: Establish scoring settings that match one of your season-long leagues, and compile player scores from your league page. These leagues can be easily scored within a Google doc, or on paper.
Even if you're just playing for a small prize (i.e. $10/entry, winner take all; last place drives your craziest relative home, last place gets force-fed the sweet potato pie that nobody wants), there's something to be said for having that extra little investment in games that you may otherwise find meaningless.
Below, I've compiled the initial set of rankings for the Thanksgiving Day games. An update will be made to the rankings Wednesday if unexpected information comes from the official injury reports.
In addition to the positional rankings, there are two tables below that display each team's generosity to opposing players at each position thus far.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. - DVR
Quarterbacks
1. Tony Romo, DAL (v. PHI) **Playing better with a fractured back than when he's healthy?**
2. Matthew Stafford, DET (v. CHI)
3. Russell Wilson, SEA (@ SF)
4. Mark Sanchez, PHI (@ DAL)
5. Jay Cutler, CHI (@ DET)
6. Colin Kaepernick, SF (v. SEA)
Running Backs
1. DeMarco Murray, DAL (v. PHI)
2. Matt Forte, CHI (@ DET)
3. LeSean McCoy, PHI (@ DAL)
4. Marshawn Lynch, SEA (@ SF) **Should be ready to roll despite back injury.**
5. Frank Gore, SF (v. SEA) **Knee injury – limited Monday, expected to play.**
6. Joique Bell, DET (v. CHI)
7. Darren Sproles, PHI (@ DAL)
8. Carlos Hyde, SF (v. SEA)
9. Theo Riddick, DET (v. CHI)
10. Reggie Bush, DET (v. CHI) **Limited Tuesday with ankle and back injuries.**
11. Chris Polk, PHI (@ DAL)
12. Robert Turbin, SEA (@ SF)
13. Ka'Deem Carey, CHI (@ DET)
14. Joseph Randle, DAL (v. PHI)
15. Lance Dunbar, DAL (v. PHI)
16. Christine Michael, SEA (@ SF)
Wide Receivers
1. Dez Bryant, DAL (v. PHI)
2. Calvin Johnson, DET (v. CHI) **Limited Tuesday with ankle injury; should be fine.**
3. Jeremy Maclin, PHI (@ DAL)
4. Alshon Jeffery, CHI (@ DET)
5. Brandon Marshall, CHI (@ DET) **Team did not practice Tuesday, Marshall (ankle) was listed as limited anyway.**
6. Golden Tate, DET (v. CHI)
7. Jordan Matthews, PHI (@ DAL) **(Knee) Fully participated in Tuesday's practice.**
8. Anquan Boldin, SF (v. SEA)
9. Michael Crabtree, SF (v. SEA)
10. Doug Baldwin, SEA (@ SF)
11. Terrance Williams, DAL (v. PHI) **Broke the tip of his index finger; likely playing through it.**
12. Jermaine Kearse, SEA (@ SF) **Limited by an ankle injury Monday.**
13. Cole Beasley, DAL (v. PHI)
14. Riley Cooper, PHI (@ DAL)
15. Steve Johnson, SF (v. SEA)
16. Paul Richardson, SEA (@ SF)
17. Brandon Lloyd, SF (v. SEA)
18. Jeremy Ross, DET (v. CHI)
19. Marquess Wilson, CHI (@ DET)
20. Josh Huff, PHI (@ DAL)
21. Ricardo Lockette, SEA (@ SF)
Tight Ends
1. Jason Witten, DAL (v. PHI)
2. Martellus Bennett, CHI (@ DET)
3. Zach Ertz, PHI (@ DAL) **Fully practiced Tuesday despite an oblique injury.**
4. Brent Celek, PHI (@ DAL)
5. Vernon Davis, SF (v. SEA)
6. Luke Willson, SEA (@ SF)
7. Cooper Helfet, SEA (@ SF) **Out with ankle injury**
8. Joseph Fauria, DET (V. CHI)
9. Eric Ebron, DET (v. CHI)
Kickers
1. Cody Parkey, PHI (@ DAL)
2. Dan Bailey, DAL (v. PHI)
3. Phil Dawson, SF (v. SEA)
4. Steven Hauschka, SEA (@ SF)
5. Matt Prater, DET (v. CHI)
6. Robbie Gould, CHI (@ DET)
Fantasy Points Allowed (per game) To Opposition (Season)
| Team | QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST |
| Chicago | 25.1 (2nd) | 16.1 (22nd) | 24.0 (12th) | 11.9 (1st) | 6.1 (7th) |
| Detroit | 18.0 (31st) | 16.0 (23rd) | 18.0 (30th) | 8.4 (16th) | 4.5 (19th) |
| Philadelphia | 25.2 (1st) | 19.7 (13th) | 28.5 (1st) | 6.4 (23rd) | 6.2 (6th) |
| Dallas | 20.6 (17th) | 17.9 (19th) | 19.8 (27th) | 11.5 (2nd) | 4.7 (17th) |
| Seattle | 16.9 (32nd) | 16.7 (21st) | 15.7 (32nd) | 9.4 (8th) | 4.0 (23rd) |
| San Francisco | 18.1 (30th) | 14.0 (29th) | 21.9 (21st) | 7.7 (17th) | 5.5 (9th) |
Fantasy Points Allowed (per game) To Opposition (Last Five Weeks)
| Team | QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST |
| Chicago | 28.3 (2nd) | 14.3 (28th) | 26.8 (9th) | 17.2 (1st) | 7.5 (7th) |
| Detroit | 20.7 (18th) | 17.3 (17th) | 20.6 (23rd) | 10.9 (4th) | 3.3 (25th) |
| Philadelphia | 25.9 (5th) | 18.8 (12th) | 30.5 (3rd) | 7.0 (17th) | 9.4 (3rd) |
| Dallas | 22.6 (11th) | 23.6 (4th) | 23.8 (16th) | 7.7 (16th) | 3.8 (21st) |
| Seattle | 12.6 (32nd) | 16.7 (20th) | 12.0 (32nd) | 5.8 (22nd) | 3.6 (22nd) |
| San Francisco | 15.5 (30th) | 14.0 (29th) | 15.7 (31st) | 8.9 (14th) | 5.5 (12th) |
