Thanksgiving Day Football Fantasy Versus | Holiday Edition 

Need help finalizing your fantasy football roster for week 12, but aren’t sure if you should or shouldn’t plug in some of your Thanksgiving Day options? Maybe that, or you’re extra stressed because family is knocking on the door and you have about five minutes before you have to shut the computer down for good.

If for whatever reason you’re stressing over which fantasy options to use or leave alone on the holiday, we’re here to help. Here are the big names battling it out, with a winner at each position:

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers (Packers) vs. Matthew Stafford (Lions)

I think both will go off today, but Rodgers is the top quarterback in fantasy football, and lives up to that label just about every week. It’ll be a high-scoring affair, but Rodgers should come out on top (just like the Packers).

Tony Romo (Cowboys) vs. Joe Flacco (Ravens)

Romo comes in third behind Rodgers and Stafford, and I like him quite a bit more than Flacco and the other options for Thursday, as well. Flacco will have to throw against San Francisco, to be sure, but Romo is hot and is at home. He rarely plays poorly on Thanksgiving Day.

Matt Moore (Dolphins) vs. Alex Smith (Ravens)

Moore has been on a roll, and although I don’t think he wins today, I think he has better odds with his matchup to post reliable numbers this week than Smith does. If only by a hair, I’ll take Moore over Smith.

Running Backs

Ray Rice (Ravens) vs. Frank Gore (49er) vs. DeMarco Murray (Cowboys)

Both Rice and Gore have brutal run defense matchups this week, so if you have another elite back to pair with Murray, I’d take Murray of the bunch. However, Baltimore bends a lot more against the run than the 49ers do, so Gore beats Rice out if you have that option.

In terms of expected production, they rank like this for week 12: Murray, Gore, Rice.

Reggie Bush (Dolphins) vs. Ryan Grant (Packers) vs. Kevin Smith (Lions)

I’m not high on Grant, but with James Starks likely out, he’s a better play than usual against a weak Lions run defense. I still like Reggie Bush more, though, and you certainly can’t ignore Smith after an insane week 11.

However, I don’t think Smith blows up for the second week in a row, so I’ll go Bush, Smith, Grant.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Johnson (Lions) vs. Greg Jennings (Packers)

I like Jennings to have a big week, but Megatron can go off on anyone and the Packers let Josh Freeman throw for 340+ yards last week. Johnson should be huge at home in a shootout. I still like Jennings over any other options, however.

Anquan Boldin (Ravens) vs. Brandon Marshall (Dolphins) vs. Jordy Nelson (Packers)

Boldin’s offense will have to pass in this one and Marshall should do a lot better than his one catch for five yards in week 11. I think both of these guys get going this week, but I think Nelson is actually the more reliable option. His name isn’t as big so it’s a tough sell, but the Packers will be throwing a lot, and Rodgers loves Nelson. In terms of reliability and matchup this week, I’ll go Nelson, Boldin, Marshall.

Torrey Smith (Ravens) vs. Michael Crabtree (49ers) vs. Laurent Robinson (Cowboys) vs. Nate Burleson (Lions)

All of these guys had very good games last week, but I’m only in love with two this week: Smith and Robinson. Romo is loving Robinson’s deep speed, and you can certainly say the same for Smith and Flacco in Baltimore. I think Robinson is slightly more reliable, but both have the potential for huge days. I’m rolling in this order at receiver out of these four: Robinson, Smith, Crabtree, Burleson.

Tight Ends

Jermichael Finley (Packers) vs. Jason Witten (Cowboys)

I love Witten for pretty much any week, but my gut tells me the quiet Finley is about to blow it up in a shootout. I think he scores a couple touchdowns in this one and has a better day than Witten.

Brandon Pettigrew (Lions) vs. Vernon Davis (49ers)

I like Pettigrew for solid numbers today, but Davis is the call with a touchdown in back-to-back weeks. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he scored again this week.

Anthony Fasano (Dolphins) vs. Ed Dickson (Ravens)

I know Fasano has done better with Moore under center, but I can’t bring myself to trust him. Dickson carries more potential, too, and his team will almost certainly have to pass against a stiff 49ers run defense.

 

Kickers

Kickers are a crap-shoot no matter which way you look at it, but I think the Packers put the most points on the board, so I’d assume Mason Crosby is the safest play. After Crosby, I rank the fantasy kickers for Turkey Day like this: Jason Hanson, Dan Bailey, Billy Cundiff, David Akers, and Shayne Graham.

Team Defenses

If you can help it, I’d avoid using the Lions or Packers this week, while the Dolphins should prove fruitless, as well. I’ll rank them Ravens, 49ers, Cowboys, Packers, Lions, and Dolphins for Thursday’s games.