It's Thanksgiving. It's family. It's football.
There may be no other holiday like Thanksgiving, and much like the first celebration in 1621 there will be three, count ‘em three, days of football to tickle your senses as you stuff yourself full of Thanksgiving delights, and enjoy the company of family and friends.
WEEK 12 FANTASY HEROES AND VILLAINS
Thanksgiving dishes edition
Heroes
Aaron Rodgers (pecan pie) -- Who cares that the whole pie is roughly 4,000 calories? Like Rodgers as a fantasy starter against the Lions on Thursday, it's one of those Thanksgiving treats that is way too good to pass up. The Lions defense leads the league in passing yards allowed (2,857), and touchdowns (24) and Rodgers is averaging 278.8 passing yards and 1.9 air touchdowns per game. You can't go wrong unless, of course, you're allergic to pecans.
Marion Barber III (sausage stuffing) -- As you can see from above, sausage stuffing seems to be a favorite, and the same should be said about the Cowboys' hard-nosed runner this Thanksgiving. Barber should feast on a Raiders defense that's allowed a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns and an average of 157.7 rushing yards per game, especially if the Cowboys offense wants to get back on the productive track.
Chad Ochocinco (cranberry sauce) -- The season couldn't get any worse for the Browns, but it can get better for the Bengals star wideout, just like a Thanksgiving dinner gets better with the addition of sweet cranberry sauce. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford recorded the best game of his rookie season last week when he threw for 422 yards and five touchdowns in the Lions' comeback victory. Last time against the Browns, Ochocinco caught two touchdown passes and over the course of his career, he's averaged 4.9 receptions, and 69 yards per game to go along with 11 touchdown receptions against the Bengals' divisional and in-state rival. There may be no sweeter receiver this week than the flamboyant Ochocinco.
Villains
Mark Sanchez (turkey) -- In the last two weeks, Sanchez has averaged just 174 yards per game and has thrown six interceptions to just two touchdowns; light fantasy numbers, to say the least. The Jets' 4-6 record is a clear reflection of Sanchez' flavorless production. He's like the dry white meat that needs gravy (a running game and defense) to have any flavor; something that he won't have this week against a Panthers defense desperate for a win. The odds are stacked against Sanchez this week; odds that thus far he hasn't shown he can overcome when it counts the most. Unfortunately this turkey will prove to be dry.
Jamaal Charles (beets) -- Since Larry Johnson has departed, Charles hasn't missed a beat and coach Todd Haley seems hungry to see more out of him. After averaging just over four carries per game in his first seven appearances this season, Charles has eaten a healthier dose of 17.5 per game in the past two weeks. This week, though, Charles should be held in check by a red-hot San Diego defense. In fact, the Chargers have allowed just 56.6 rushing yards per game to opposing lead runners in the last five games; all of which resulted in victories. If the Chargers go up early like they have in each the past five games, the Chiefs will be airing it out and Charles may be seeing four instead of 17.5. He's light, yet still red, with no fantasy filling.
Santana Moss (squash) -- Moss could be the lock sit of the week. The Redskins offense has quickly faded and could be depending on a third-string special teams star as their primary running back. Moss himself has averaged 4.5 receptions and just over 41 yards per game and hasn't seen even a glimpse of the end-zone in the past four games. To make matters worse, in his nine career games against the Eagles -- this week's opponent -- Moss has averaged 55.6 receiving yards per game and has scored just one touchdown. Clearly, Moss and his Washington teammates will not be abused by the Eagles, they'll be squashed. And in this case, the squash will be so bad fantasy owners will be hesitant to even try Moss again moving forward.
FANTASY QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Rapiddraft.com writers Eric Huber, Matt Schauf, and Frank Mazzola tackle a few burning questions heading in to Week 12.
Within the six teams playing this Thursday who will get the fantasy football version of the gobbler award? Explain.
Huber: The Dallas Cowboys offense is my prime candidate to gobble up the Raiders vulnerable defense. In the last three Thanksgiving appearances the Cowboys are 3-0, have scored 34 or more points in each game, and quarterback Tony Romo has averaged 277.3 passing yards and 3.3 touchdown passes per.
Schauf: Everyone who suits up for the Packers on Thursday will be worth a look in fantasy. There are so many things one can say about how favorable a matchup the Lions present, but I'll stick with these two: 1) Brady Quinn threw four touchdown passes against them last week (he had three in his career before that), and 2) a Green Bay defense that had allowed 78 points in its three previous outings shut out Detroit in the first meeting.
Mazzola: I think Detroit is the most viable candidate to get gobbled ... period. They'll likely be without Matthew Stafford (and possibly Calvin Johnson) so, even though they're playing a Packers defense that has been ravaged by injury, it's hard to see them doing all that much on Thursday.
If Brian Westbrook continues to struggle to stay on the field will rookie Lesean McCoy continue to produce solid numbers for fantasy owners as the season marches towards the fantasy playoffs?
Huber: The last two weeks have exposed two weaknesses when it comes to McCoy's fantasy value. The first was evident in Week 10 against the Chargers in that if the Eagles aren't ahead in games McCoy won't get the rock. The second was magnified last week against the Bears when the Eagles refused to utilize McCoy as a pass catcher out of the backfield, shutting him out. Cause for concern? Maybe, but remember that McCoy is just a rookie and as the season progresses and Westbrook continues to warm the bench he will get more opportunities to produce. Most importantly though, the Eagles have three games on the east coast in December; the one month of the season that the running game becomes a staple of most good offenses, even those with a west coast mentality.
Schauf: McCoy is certainly worth starting consideration the rest of the way in the backfield for one of the league's most high-powered offenses. McCoy has scored in three of the past four games that Westbrook has missed. The rookie's fantasy value does take a bit of a hit because the Eagles can't be counted on to run as regularly as most other times, but that's mitigated a bit by the looks he'll get as a receiver. Overall, McCoy is a solid starting option that should be part of your lineup decision each week. He'll get a boost this week if Washington is again without DT Albert Haynesworth. Dallas went for 4.5 yards per rush against a Haynesworth-less defense on Sunday.
Mazzola: Yes, McCoy has been an excellent addition to the Philadelphia offense (as the team knew he would be when they drafted him.) His pass catching ability gives them an added dimension that they normally don;t have without Westbrook in the lineup and he should be a decent start for the rest of the year.
Was Terrell Owens' Week 11 performance a fluke, or will he continue on his scoring rampage in Week 12 against the Dolphins at home?
Huber: It's the typical TO hot streak. Over the course of his career, Owens has been notorious of going on these big scoring rampages at least three or four weeks during the season only to vanish in all the rest. In fact, it doesn't surprise me that Owens has recorded 12 receptions and 282 receiving yards in the last two weeks, after all November has been historically one of Owens' best months of his career. He has averaged a career high 84.8 yards per game, and has scored 40 touchdowns in 52 career November games. Owens may stay hot for at least one more week, but if history repeats itself Owens will fade in December.
Schauf: Will he be a good bet for nine catches or 197 yards in any other game this season? No way. If Buffalo keeps looking his way so predominantly, though, it wouldn't take much for him to become a regular point-per-reception starter the rest of the way. Owens saw about three times as many targets as anyone else on his team Sunday. Of course, Jacksonville presents about as favorable a passing matchup as one can get -- especially without top corner Rashean Mathis. Miami and the Jets present much tougher matchups the next two weeks, and Kansas City looks like the only easy call to start Owens the rest of the way. For the Dolphins game, something like four or five catches for 60-70 yards is probably the best we should hope for.
Mazzola: Fluke. It will take more than one game to convince me that he's back to being the T.O of old. Don't buy into the hype until you see him do it at least twice.
Name your best and bust picks for Week 12 (QB, RB, WR, TE).
Huber: QB -- Best: Carson Palmer, Bust: Jason Campbell RB - Best: Chris Johnson, Bust: Matt Forte WR -- Best: Andre Johnson, Bust: Steve Smith (Carolina), TE - Best: Dallas Clark, Bust: Heath Miller
Schauf: QB -- Best: Aaron Rodgers, Bust: Tony Romo RB -- Best: Ricky Williams, Bust: Kevin Smith WR -- Best: Reggie Wayne, Bust: Steve Smith (Carolina) TE -- Greg Olsen, Bust: Heath Miller
Mazzola: QB -- Best: Tom Brady, Bust: Joe Flacco RB -- Best: Ryan Grant, Bust: Matt Forte WR -- Best: Reggie Wayne, Bust: Marques Colston TE -- Best: Tony Gonzalez, Bust: Dustin Keller.
GAME 11 FANTASY BREAKDOWN
(Green Bay vs. Detroit)
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: Ten games, 2788 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions, 242 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. In three career games against the Lions Rodgers has thrown for 994 yards, and eight touchdowns.
Daunte Culpepper: Three games, 384 passing yards, one touchdown pass, two interceptions, and 44 rushing yards. In his career against the Packers, Culpepper has played in 11 games, and has thrown for 2521 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Fantasy Advantage: Rodgers.
Running backs
Ryan Grant: Ten games, 829 rushing yards, 20 receptions, 148 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns. The Lions defense is allowing 116.2 rushing yards per game this season.
Kevin Smith: Ten games, 560 rushing yards, 33 receptions, 321 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns. The Packers defense is allowing just 90.7 rushing yards per game this season.
Fantasy Advantage: Grant.
Wide Receiver
Greg Jennings: Ten games, 43 receptions, 669 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.
Donald Driver: Ten games, 46 receptions, 703 receiving yards, and four touchdowns.
The Lions defense is allowing a league high 30.1 points per game, is surrendering 275.3 passing yards per game, has given up eleven 40+ yard passes to opponents this season, and leads the NFL in yards allowed per reception (8.1).
Calvin Johnson: Eight games, 39 receptions, 597 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Bryant Johnson: Ten games, 24 receptions, 316 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
The Packers defense is allowing the second lowest completion percentage in the NFL (54.3), is allowing just 191.8 passing yards per game, has picked off 14 passes, and has surrendered just 20 touchdowns via air. They will be without Al Harris though.
Fantasy Advantage: Jennings and Driver.
Tight End
Jermichael Finley: Seven games, 24 receptions, 314 receiving yards, and one touchdown. As if it couldn't get any worse, Detroit as a team defense has allowed a league high 142 first downs and are getting scorched by opposing quarterbacks to the tune of a season high 110.3 passer rating.
Brandon Pettigrew: Ten games, 29 receptions, 334 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Pettigrew has recorded at least 6 receptions for 70+ yards in two of the Lions last three games.
Fantasy Advantage: Pettigrew.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since the 1951 season, the Packers are 6-11-1 against the Lions on Thanksgiving day, but are 2-1 during this decade.
