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Thanksgiving Day
I wish we had some better games for Thanksgiving Day, but that’s why ThriveFantasy was created to make slates like these way more entertaining! Let’s start with some sides and go with David Montgomery (Chi) over 65.5 rushing yards (100 pts). Montgomery had his best game of the season with 23/106/2 rushing against the Lions in Week 4, and the Lions are giving up the fourth-most rushing yards per game (114.7) to RBs. For my main dish, I’m going with Dak Prescott (Dal) under 295.5 passing yards (105 pts). Dak averaged just 5.6 YPA with Amari Cooper (COVID) out and CeeDee Lamb (concussion) missing the second half last week, and the Raiders are giving up the eighth-fewest receiving yards per game (232.0). And for my post-meal dessert, I’m taking Zack Moss (Buf) under 40.5 rushing yards (95 pts). Moss managed just 3/5 scrimmage against the Colts while losing snaps to Devin Singletary and Matt Breida. Moss saw just a 29% snap share and he’s now posted just 29/81/1 rushing (2.8 YPC) over his last five games behind a struggling Bills’ O-line. Good luck and enjoy the holiday! — Tom Brolley
Sunday Football
Fun fact for my first Thrive play - the ESPN fantasy app noted that Justin Herbert became the third player in NFL history with 350 passing yards and 75 rushing yards in a game last week, joining Mike Vick (2011) and Russell Wilson (2020). Although a tough matchup with Denver, the volume and the ceiling are there for Herbert who has had 50% of his games this season with 337+ passing yards, and only two games under 38 passing attempts. Given Herbert can use his legs for additional yards, I am picking a bolder but realistic Justin Herbert over 307.5 passing yards (105 pts). My second selection for Thrive will be Diontae Johnson under 8.5 total receptions (85 pts). Diontae Johnson is the clear volume receiver nearing 100 targets on the season with seven games of 10+ targets. Johnson has hit nine catches in three of his nine games this year, and seeing Big Ben have Najee Harris, Chase Claypool and Pat Freiermuth to also use vs. the Bengals I do not feel he will hit this mark today. A good 6-8 catch day for the Steelers’ WR1 seems more realistic in this one.
- Nick Skrip
I hope everyone has had ample enough time to recover from all the eating and drinking from Thanksgiving Day, and you’re ready for more NFL action. The Bengals and Steelers will square off in an important AFC North matchup today, and I like Ja’Marr Chase (Cin) over 67.5 receiving yards. The rookie has finished with fewer than 50 receiving yards in three straight games, but he has a great spot this week against a Steelers secondary that will be without top CB Joe Haden this week. Pittsburgh’s undermanned secondary gave up a combined 209 receiving yards to Mike Williams and Keenan Allen last week. I’m turning to Evan Engram (NYG) over 39.5 receiving yards for my second prop. The Eagles have been the friendliest matchup for TEs (19.8 FPG) all season, and nine different TEs have reached double-digit FP in the last six games. It doesn’t hurt that primary slot WRs Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney will miss this week. For my final prop, I’m going to the best game of the day and the best WR in the league and taking Cooper Kupp (LAR) over 94.5 receiving yards. The Football Nerd has topped 95+ yards in 8-of-10 games this season and in five straight contests. The Packers just allowed their biggest WR performance of the season to Justin Jefferson last week, who scored 37.2 FP on 8/169/2 receiving, and Kupp will look to top it in Week 12. Good luck! — Tom Brolley
Monday Night Football
We close out the week with a matchup of two NFC playoff teams who are on the outside looking in this season. Washington could be getting some reinforcements back this week, and I’m looking toward Logan Thomas (Was) over 30.5 receiving yards (90 pts) in his first game back since Week 4. Thomas posted 9.5+ FP in each of his first three games and he ran a route on 93% of Washington’s dropbacks. Zach Ertz ripped the Seahawks for 8/88/2 receiving last week, and Seattle is now giving up the eighth-most FPG (14.6) to TEs. I’m taking Alex Collins (Sea) under 42.5 rushing yards (100 pts) for my second prop. Collins has fallen below 42 rushing yards in three of his last four games, and Washington is giving up the third-fewest rushing yards per game (69.5) and just 3.7 YPC to RBs this season. Good luck! — Tom Brolley
