GAME CAPSULES & PLAYER PROJECTIONS FOR WEEK 12 THANKSGIVING GAMES. Matt Wilson FantasySharks.com Senior Writer

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1 GAME CAPSULES & PROJECTIONS FOR WEEK 12 THANKSGIVING GAMES By Matt Wilson FantasySharks.com Senior Writer

2 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-2) DETROIT LIONS (6-4) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23 R D 12 :3 0 PM E T F O R D F I E L D D E T R O I T, M I L I N E : M I N 3. 0 O V E R / U N D E R : 44.5 TEAM OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIV E MATCHUPS UNIT RANK SCOR. PTS/ RANK GM RANK YPG RANK YPG M I N N E S O T A O F F E N S E D E T R O I T DEFENSE D E T R O I T OFFENSE M I N N E S O T A D E F E N S E INJURIES TO MONITOR: None BYE: Week 9 MINNESOTA VIKINGS Did you get a sense of déjà vu when you saw Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions listed as the first Thanksgiving Day matchup? That s because the Vikings and Lions clashed at Ford Field last season, too. Minnesota is bringing a little more offensive firepower this time thanks to Case Keenum playing the best football of his career. In Keenum s last three starts, he passed for at least 280 yards and amassed seven scoring strikes. The Lions rank 13th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, so Keenum looks like a decent play. His go-to guy, the must-start Adam Thielen, who has racked up at 98 yards and one scoring grab in three straight, is a strong start versus a Detroit defense that ranks 14th in fantasy points allowed to wideouts. Thielen should have a nice outing since the Lions top cornerback, Darius Slay, likely will shadow Stefon Diggs. You can expect moderate production from Kyle Rudolph against a Detroit defense that ranks 20th in fantasy points and fifth in receiving yards ceded to tight ends. Rudolph has amaased at least five receptions in six consecutive outings. Since the Lions have surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to enemy tailbacks, Latavius Murray, who has scored three times in the last two weeks, is a solid start. Detroit has been getting gashed by running backs in the passing game (seventh-most receptions ceded to the position), so Jerick McKinnon deserves

3 flex consideration. The Vikings team defense is a decent start against a Lions offense that has surrendered the third-most sacks. QB Case Keenum RB Jerick McKinnon RB Latavius Murray WR Stefon Diggs WR Adam Thielen WR Laquon Treadwell TE Kyle Rudolph PK Kai Forbath P/A SK INT FUM DT Vikings Regular Season Week 4 The Vikings lost to the Lions 14-7 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Case Keenum passed for 219 scoreless yards. Dalvin Cook (ACL) amassed a rushing line and a receiving line. Jerick McKinnon compiled zero total yards on two touches in a limited backup role. Stefon Diggs made five grabs for 98 yards. Adam Thielen logged five receptions for 59 yards. Kyle Rudolph caught two passes for 34 yards. INJURIES TO MONITOR: None BYE: Week 7 DETROIT LIONS As noted in my Minnesota Vikings fantasy writeup, the Detroit Lions are kicking off the Thansgiving Day slate of games by hosting the Vikings for the second year in a row. Stopping the pass is the strength of the elite Minnesota defense. The Vikings have yielded the 10th-fewest

4 fantasy points to quarterbacks, so look for a moderate-at-best outing from Matthew Stafford. He passed for 209 scoreless yards against the Vikings back in Week 4. Minnesota also ranks 11th in fantasy points allowed to enemy wideouts. Their best cornerback, Xavier Rhodes, isn t expected to matchup on Golden Tate in the slot very often, but Rhodes likely will shadow Marvin Jones more times than not. Since Detroit has been using Kenny Golladay and T.J. Jones in a rotation, neither player is a reliable option right now. Eric Ebron and Darren Fells also operate in a rotation, but neither deserves starting consideration. The Vikings have allowed the seventhfewest fantasy points to the tight end position. Ebron has scored just once in his last eight outings, and Fells has compiled just three catches in the last month. Even though Minnesota has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs, I d still roll with Ameer Abdullah. During his Week 4 clash with the Vikings, Abdullah toted the rock 20 times for 94 yards and found the end zone, and I like his chances for a score in this rematch. Theo Riddick has been stuck on 40 to 50 combo yards per game and has scored just once since Week 1. The Lions team defense is a weak play against a Vikings offense that has allowed the fewest sacks. QB Matthew Stafford RB Ameer Abdullah RB Theo Riddick WR Golden Tate WR Marvin Jones WR Kenny Golladay WR T.J. Jones TE Eric Ebron TE Darren Fells PK Matt Prater P/A SK INT FUM DT Lions Regular Season Week 4 The Lions throttled the Vikings 14-7 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Matthew Stafford passed for 209 scoreless yards. Ameer Abdullah compiled a rushing line and a receiving line. Golden Tate logged three receptions for 29 yards. Marvin Jones made two grabs for 42 yards.

5 Eric Ebron reeled in two passes for 27 yards. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4-6) DALLAS COWBOYS (5-5) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23 R D 4:30 P M E T A T & T S T A D I U M A R L I N G T O N, T X L I N E : L. A O V E R / U N D E R : 48.0 TEAM OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIV E MATCHUPS UNIT RANK SCOR. PTS/ RANK GM RANK YPG RANK YPG L O S ANGELES OFFENSE D A L L A S DEFENSE D A L L A S OFFENSE L O S ANGELES DEFENSE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS INJURIES TO MONITOR: Travis Benjamin (abdomen), Mike Williams (knee) BYE: Week 9 For the second week in a row, the Los Angeles Chargers offense draws a matchup against an opponent that s struggling versus the run. The Dallas Cowboys defense has coughed up the 10thmost fantasy points to enemy tailbacks, and the Philadelphia Eagles gashed them for 202 rushing yards last week. The Cowboys also aren t expected to have the services of linebackers Sean Lee and Anthony Hitchens. Last week Melvin Gordon silenced the Austin-Ekeler-is-going-to-start talk with a workmanlike 20-carry effort for 80 yards and one score, and Gordon is a strong play in this nice matchup. During the last two weeks, Ekeler averaged 12.5 touches per contest and scored three times. He deserves flex consideration based on the matchup. Since the Gordon/Ekeler duo will do a lot of the heavy lifting, I m looking for just a moderate outing from Philip Rivers. Lead wideout Keenan Allen should build on his Week 11 eruption performance against a Dallas defense that has hemorrhaged the ninth-most fantasy points to enemy wideouts. Tyrell Williams hasn t topped the 50-yard mark since Week 4. While rookie Mike Williams was targeted eight times last week, most of the looks came in garbage time. The Cowboys have

6 been vulnerable to tight ends, but the usage of Hunter Henry has been uneven, which makes him a risky play as usual. The Chargers team defense is a decent play with upside if Dallas left tackle Tyron Smith sits out again. QB Philip Rivers RB Melvin Gordon RB Austin Ekeler WR Keenan Allen WR Tyrell Williams WR Travis Benjamin WR Mike Williams TE Hunter Henry TE Antonio Gates PK Nick Novak P/A SK INT FUM DT Chargers Regular Season The Chargers throttled the Cowboys in San Diego (Qualcomm Stadium). INJURIES TO MONITOR: None BYE: Week 6 DALLAS COW BOYS A Dallas Cowboys offense that s missing Ezekiel Elliott (suspended) and left tackle Tyron Smith (groin) has played shockingly poorly two weeks in a row, generating seven points and nine points, respectively. Smith is expected to return for what s a must-win game for the Cowboys, and his presence will give Alfred Morris an extra boost against a Los Angeles Chargers defense that has hemorrhaged the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. Morris, who racked up 91

7 yards on the ground last week, has been running well. Anything less than 80 yards and one touchdown here would be a huge disappointment. The return of Smith also will help the struggling Dak Prescott, who has been sacked 12 times in the last two weeks. However, stopping the pass is the strength of the Los Angeles defense. The Chargers have yielded the ninth-fewest fantasy points to enemy quarterbacks and the eighth-fewest passing yards, which is why I like Prescott s chances for a rushing score. Los Angeles has been stingy to perimeter wideouts most weeks. Even though Dez Bryant hasn t scored since Week 7, he deserves a start because of anticipated target volume. Cole Beasley draws a plus matchup against Los Angeles rookie slot cornerback Desmond King, which is why the touchdown-dependent Beasley is the favorite for a scoring grab. However, I don t have strong confidence in the touchdown projected for Beasley. The Chargers have yielded the second-fewest fantasy points to enemy tight ends, so look for a quiet outing from Jason Witten. The Cowboys team defense is a weak play. QB Dak Prescott RB Ezekiel Elliott (Suspended) RB Alfred Morris RB Rod Smith WR Dez Bryant WR Terrance Williams WR Cole Beasley TE Jason Witten PK Mike Nugent P/A SK INT FUM DT Cowboys Regular Season The Cowboys lost to the Chargers in San Diego (Qualcomm Stadium).

8 NEW YORK GIANTS (2-8) WASHINGTON (4-6) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23 R D 8:30 P M E T F E D E X F I E L D L A N D O V E R, M D L I N E : W A S 7. 0 O V E R / U N D E R : 45.0 TEAM OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIV E MATCHUPS UNIT RANK SCOR. PTS/ RANK GM RANK YPG RANK YPG N E W Y O R K OFFENSE W A S H I N G T O N D E F E N S E W A S H I N G T O N O F F E N S E N E W Y O R K DEFENSE NEW YORK GIANTS INJURIES TO MONITOR: Sterling Shepard (migraines), Orleans Darkwa (hamstring) BYE: Week 8 While the New York Giants deserve props for their Week 11 upset victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, a Big Blue offense that racked up just 21 points against the San Francisco 49ers (Week 10) and just 12 points last week has shown no improvement. A banged up Washington defense has been struggling mightily in all phases during the last couple of weeks, but it s hard to see a talent-depleted New York offense doing a ton of damage in this matchup. Sterling Shepard, the team s best wideout, wasn t expected to play. In addition, the Giants offensive line won t have the services of right guard D.J. Fluker (toe) and right tackle Justin Pugh (back), which obviously hurts early-down thumper Orleans Darkwa. He has racked up 70-plus rushing yards three weeks in a row and scored for just the second time this season last week against Kansas City. Since Darkwa doesn t see much action in passing situations and Washington is expected to jump out to a huge lead, he s a risky start obviously because of volume concerns. Wayne Gallman and Shane Vereen usually receive a fantasy irrelevant single-digit number of touches most weeks. Even if Shepard sits (the slot wideout is a storng play if he suits up), Eli Manning and his

9 ametuer receiver corps should hold their own against a Washington defense that has allowed at least 297 passing yards and multiple touchdown passes three weeks in a row. Evan Engram will rebound from his Week 11 dud since Washington has been gashed by tight ends two weeks in a row. Roger Lewis, who scored two weeks ago and racked up a season-best 55 yards last week, seems to be emerging as the next-best wideout behind Shepard, but Lewis is a very risky play. The Giants team defense is a weak start. QB Eli Manning RB Orleans Darkwa RB Wayne Gallman RB Shane Vereen WR Sterling Shepard WR Roger Lewis WR Tavarres King WR Travis Rudolph TE Evan Engram PK Aldrick Rosas P/A SK INT FUM DT Giants Regular Season Week 17 New York outdueled Washington at FedEx Field. Eli Manning passed for 180 scoreless yards. Rashad Jennings (free agent) compiled an rushing line and a receiving line. Sterling Shepard made three grabs for 30 yards. INJURIES TO MONITOR: Jordan Reed BYE: Week 5 WASHINGTON

10 Last week the much-maligned New York Giants defense put up an unexpected fight against the Kansas City Chiefs, limiting them to just nine points. However, that outcome had more to do with poor play from Kansas City than suddenly stellar play from a struggling-in-all-areas Big Blue defensive unit, so your Washington fantasy stars. Even though Kirk Cousins won t have favorite target Jordan Reed available, Cousins still has plenty of capable targets and looks like a strong play versus a New York defense that has coughed up the fourth-most passing yards and the fifth-most touchdown passes. Big Blue s ineptness against tight ends continues the Giants have surrendered the most fantasy points to the position so Vernon Davis is a strong start. Jamison Crowder has been on a roll, amassing 70-plus yards in three straight, but temper your expectations for the slot wideout since he ll face coverage from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Ryan Grant is expected to face Janoris Jenkins more times than not, which would free up the improving Josh Doctson, who is the team s top big-play guy right now since Terrelle Pryor landed on injured reserve. Doctson, who has been targeted seven times in two straight and racked up a career-high 81 yards last week, seems very close to a breakout game, but I won t make any promises. In the rushing department, the backfield clearly belongs to Samaje Perine. He s coming off a career-best rushing effort, and Perine is a strong play in a workhorse role versus a New York defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to running backs. The injury depleted Washington defense is a risky play here against a struggling Giants offense. QB Kirk Cousins RB Samaje Perine RB Byron Marshall WR Jamison Crowder WR Josh Doctson WR Ryan Grant TE Jordan Reed TE Vernon Davis TE Jeremy Sprinkle PK Nick Rose P/A SK INT FUM DT Washington Regular Season Week 17 Washington lost to New York at FedEx Field.

11 Kirk Cousins passed for 287 yards and one touchdown. Rob Kelley amassed a rushing line and a receiving line. Jamison Crowder made two grabs for 16 yards. Jordan Reed caught five passes for 40 yards and one touchdown.