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Thanksgiving Day Football is a tradition loved by many, myself included. We have a few games to tide us over until the 12-game main slate for Black Friday. This is an interesting slate with a unique variety of teams that include potential shootouts as well as some rock fights.

In this breakdown, I will highlight my favorite plays at each position as well as giving you a three-man core for both DraftKings and FanDuel.

With this being the final week of regular season games, we will see teams experiment with their depth charts or give normal starters an extended rest. Be aware of teams that have nothing to play for or have locked up conference championship spots. The best way to stay on top of the news is to be in our CFB DFS Discord where we will report all updates in real time. Let’s dive in and light up the chat with green screens!

Vegas Odds

Team	Odds	Team	Odds	Total
Kansas State	+130	Texas	-150 (-3)	52.5
Ohio	-240 (-6)	Bowling Green	+195	48
EMU	+260	CMU	-335 (-8.5)	64
Boise State	-135 (-2.5)	SDSU	+115	44.5
Utah State	-760 (-15.5)	New Mexico	+525	49.5
Iowa	-105	Nebraska	-115 (-1)	41
Missouri	+460	Arkansas	-650 (-14.5)	62.5
USF	+650	UCF	-1000 (-18.5)	62
Cincy	-630 (-14)	ECU	+450	57
UNLV	+650	Air Force	-1000 (-18)	49.5
Colorado	+1100	Utah	-2200 (-24)	51.5
TCU	+475	Iowa State	-675 (-15)	59

Quarterbacks

KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

($7.9k DK/$9.8k FD)

Facing off against Missouri is a dream matchup for a dual-threat QB, and KJ Jefferson is easily my top play of the slate. He should honestly be priced up around $9k for this game, so we are getting a tasty discount overall. The Tigers are giving up 235.3 yards per game on the ground and have been gashed repeatedly by anyone with a pulse. Jefferson has thrown for over 2,300 yards and 20 TDs while also rushing for 496 yards/5 scores. I have no issues playing Jefferson with one of his RBs today either because there will be plenty of fantasy goodness to go around in this matchup.

Ben Bryant, Eastern Michigan

($6.3k DK/$8.4k FD)

Bryant is way too cheap going up against a Central Michigan Chippewas defense that is giving up around 266 passing yards per game. This game carries the highest total on the slate, so getting as many pieces as possible will be crucial to your success. Rocky Lombardi (320 yards/3 TDs), Dustin Crum (322 yards/2 TDs) and Max Johnson (372 yards/5 TDs) are amongst the QBs that have shredded this CMU defense this year. Bryant’s main weapons are finally healthy, and I think we are looking at a ceiling game for the former Bearcat.

Also Consider

Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

($9.7k DK/$11k FD)

Ridder finally had that slate-shattering game that we had been expecting, as he destroyed SMU to the tune of 274 passing yards and 4 total TDs (3 passing/1 rushing). His price has shot up to nearly $10k, which makes him an ideal tournament play on this slate because I don’t think many people will be able to find the room to fit him into their build. This is an elite running back slate so most people, myself included, will be paying up at the position. However, I’ll be looking to get exposure to Ridder in my alt builds with sub 20% ownership expected. With the Bearcats now ranked 4th by the CFP committee, I expect them to come out with some serious swagger and put on a show against lowly ECU.

Additional GPP/MME targets

Will Howard, QB, Kansas State – With Skylar Thompson expected to be out, Howard is likely to step into the starting QB role once again. Howard played in 9 games last year after Thompson went out with a different injury and threw for over 1,000 yards with 8 TDs but was picked off 10 times. He did rush for 364 yards and 3 TDs, which is where most of his value comes from. He has rushed for 102 yards and 3 TDs in parts of four games this year. He is in play against that fantasy friendly Texas Longhorns defense and could end up on the optimal lineup due to his rushing upside.

Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State – Consistent 20 fppg each and every week. It hasn’t been a big year for him, but he rarely has rock-bottom floor games. Has thrown for over 2,700 yards and 16 TDs through 11 games.

Cameron Rising, QB, Utah – I would rather target the Utes’ rushers in this matchup against Colorado, but with the Buffs’ defense being so atrocious we could very easily see Rising pick them apart as well. He has also has rushing upside, as he has amassed 329 yards and 5 TDs on the ground.

Max Duggan, QB, TCU – The Horned Frogs want to protect Chandler Morris’ redshirt status, and since he has hit the four-game limit, Max Duggan is back in as the starter. Duggan is a lower-end option this week but in the low $6k range he is in consideration. He has thrown for over 1,800 yards and 14 TDs to 5 INTs this season.

Running backs

Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State

($9.1k DK/$10k FD)

The Deuce will be loose as he is next up against this atrocious Texas rush defense. I would have been willing to pay $10k+ for him in this matchup so $9.1k feels like a bargain. He has rushed for 1,103 yards and 14 TDs on 190 carries. He is active in the passing game as well with 45 catches for 464 yards and 3 TDs. He leads the team in targets with 62. You have to go back to Week 4 to find the last time the Longhorns didn’t give up 100+ rushing yards to a single RB. I’m all in on our guy Deuce,

Lew Nichols, Central Michigan

($10k DK/$11.2k FD)

My top two RBs are going to cost you almost $20k, but trust me when I tell you that they’re well worth it. Nichols has been getting a massive workload week in and week out. He has rushed for 1,514 yards on a whopping 267 carries, which means he has a ton of wear and tear, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. He has 16 total TDs (14 rushing/2 receiving) as well. He is active in the passing game with 36 catches on 42 targets for 261 yards. The EMU rush defense is giving up over 190 yards per game, so Nichols could theoretically go over the 200-yard mark again with 28+ carries.

Also consider

Arkansas RBs

The Missouri rush defense is terrible, you know this and you don’t need me to harp about it. Dom Johnson had a price increase from $3k finally but is still way too cheap at only $4.7k on DK. He has gotten the bulk of the work over the last few weeks, and even if a senior day Trelon Smith cuts into his production, he should be able to do enough damage to pay off his tag. He has rushed for 479 yards and 7 TDs but has only been the lead back for a couple of weeks. Trelon Smith is your gpp play, as there is a chance he sees more work than usual due to being a senior. We touched on this during the SuperShow, but the threat of him playing more isn’t enough to push me off of Dom Johnson. Smith has rushed for 555 yards and 4 TDs. I say this a lot but allow me to reiterate it. Ten carries against Missouri is like 25 carries against anyone else. Get exposure to this backfield in every lineup.

Additional GPP/MME targets

Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State – TCU rush defense is surrendering 216.9 yards per game, so I would expect a heavy dose of Breece Hall all game long for the Cyclones. Hall is one of those guys we don’t hype up enough, but it goes without saying that if you can afford him, you play him. Finding the room for Hall with Lew and Deuce on the slate won’t be easy but it’s certainly possible.

Brad Roberts, RB, Air Force – The high-volume back thrives in the triple option and is an excellent GPP play with everyone looking to spend up at the position. He has rushed for over 1,100 yards and 11 TDs this season.

Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri – Elite tournament play with a slate-shattering ceiling. He has rushed for almost 1,400 yards and 13 TDs while also catching 53 passes for 335 yards and 4 more scores.

Utah RBs – Tavion Thomas has a whopping 13 TDs in his last four games and is in for another big day against a soft Colorado Buffs defense. With a blowout looming, he could sit for a lot of the second half but he has scored 2+ TDs in the first quarter in two of his last three games. He could potentially have 30 fps by halftime in this matchup. TJ Pledger should see double-digit carries as well, but his price is above $5k now so he isn’t the supreme value that he was before.

Johnny Richardson, RB, UCF – If Isaiah Bowser is ruled out I will be rolling Richardson in my main lineup and possibly changing to a 1-QB build. The Bulls are giving up 210 rushing yards per game, and Richardson is the type of runner who could devastate them. He flashed his upside last week when he rushed for 147 yards on just 14 carries while also scoring 2 TDs (1 rushing/1 receiving.)

Texas RBs – The prices are up for both Roschon Johnson and Keilan Robinson, but they’re both in play for large-field gpp formats. Robinson has major home-run hitting ability, while Roschon will get the tough yardage.

Wide receivers

Eastern Michigan WRs

Stacking up the EMU passing game is a power move this week as it’s reasonably affordable and we are expecting a lot of fantasy goodness. Tanner Knue has been back for three games now and has already been targeted 27 times. He has 21 catches for 237 yards and a TD during that stretch as well. He is clearly one of Bryant’s trusted wideouts and a terrific PPR option on DK. Hassan Beydoun (77-849-4, 100 targets) and Dylan Drummond (55-628-6, 84 targets) are both strong plays and can be used liberally in all formats.

Treylon Burks, Arkansas

As you can see, I’m stacking up players from EMU and Arkansas. Burks is the #1 wideout for the Hogs, and even though I expect the team to run the ball a ton, he should get plenty of work to pay off his price. Burks gets carries as well, which could lead to a big day for him if he is able to break a big touchdown. He has been targeted 58 times and has a stat line of 58-971-10.

Also consider

Central Michigan WRs

The Chippewas passing game has major TD equity even though they rely heavily on Lew Nichols. Kalil Pimpleton (55-873-3, 92 targets), Jacorey Sullivan (39-576-8, 60 targets), Dallas Dixon (43-669-8, 67 targets) and Joel Wilson (28-326-5, 41 targets) are all solid tournament plays and decent run backs in gamestack lineups.

Additional GPP/MME targets

Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah – Stone min price. He has 19 catches for 346 yards and a touchdown. He struggled against Oregon but was targeted 15 times in the previous three games

Keke Chism, WR, Missouri – Sub $4k price tag on DK. 33-412-2 stat line on 55 targets.

Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State – Thompkins is a stud, plain and simple. He is a luxury play but gives you amazing leverage over the field if you decide to go this route. Has been targeted a whopping 130 times and has a stat line of 84-1526-9.

Ryan O’Keefe, WR, UCF – Has 96 targets on the season, 74 catches for 697 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also is a dangerous runner and has 162 yards on only 11 carries.

DraftKings core

KJ Jefferson
Deuce Vaughn
Lew Nichols

FanDuel core

KJ Jefferson
Lew Nichols
Tanner Knue

PrizePicks plays

KJ Jefferson OVER 30.5 rushing yards
Desmond Ridder OVER 34.5 rushing yards
Deuce Vaughn OVER 104.5 rushing yards
Samori Toure UNDER 83.5 receiving yards
Devin Leary OVER 292.5 passing yards