Best Day of The Year

The football gods are good. I know this because each year football fans across the country are given a special treat on the last Thursday in November. As if Thanksgiving was not already an incredible holiday - with incredible food, family and relaxation - the geniuses at the NFL graciously bring us three Thanksgiving Day games. It’s as if they decided to bring early gifts to football fans everywhere that kicks-off the season of giving (how else would you explain Black Friday existing on the day after three football games?). This year happens to also feature some outstanding matchups, and everyone who has said “why do the Lions get to host every year on Thanksgiving” will finally shut-the-gobble-up…the football gods are most good indeed (click here to understand why the Lions and Cowboys always host).

For fantasy football owners this is almost like having two Sundays in one week, with the three games on turkey day and then a full slate on Sunday. So, let’s deep dive into Thursday’s matchups with a Thanksgiving Fantasy Focus:

Packers at Lions (Kick-off: 12:30 PM EST)

Of the three games scheduled, this one probably will be the most fantasy relevant. Two of the top 5 scoring QB’s will face off in what should be a high scoring affair. Green Bay’s pass defense gives up an average of 23.5 points to opposing QB’s, and is ranked 30^th in points given up to QB’s. This should mean plenty of opportunity for Matthew Stafford to find his targets, and expect a HUGE day from Calvin Johnson because Green Bay’s defense is ranked 31^st in points allowed to WR’s. There should also be a few rushing opportunities, and catches out of the backfield, for the suddenly-relevant-again Kevin Smith. Smith had a huge game last week with a pair of TD’s and over 200 yards in total offense. Offensively, the Packers are no slouches. Aaron Rodgers, the league’s highest scoring QB, will be expected once again to carry the offensive load for the Packers (with James Starks banged up and Ryan Grant being very ineffective running the ball). Get all your Lions/Packers into the lineup because this game will end up being a Turkey Shootout. Final score has the Lions giving the Packers their first loss of the year, 41-35.

Dolphins at Cowboys (Kick-off: 4:15 PM EST)

It is a good thing that the new Cowboys stadium has a retractable roof, so if snow is in the forecast it will not mean a repeat of this Thanksgiving Day classic rematch from 1993. Don’t you remember? The Cowboys were leading the Dolphins 14-13 with fifteen seconds left in the game. Miami attempted a field goal and their kicker slipped causing the ball to land well short of the goal post and the game was over. But it wasn’t because, in the clearest sports example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, Leon Lett decided to try and belly-flop on the ball. Well, he did a successful belly-flop but ended up fumbling the ball back to the Dolphins who went on to kick the game winning field goal. Anyway, this year’s meeting should be a higher scoring match than that “snow bowl” in ’93. The Dolphins come into the game riding the high of a three game win streak (basically killing any chances of getting Andrew Luck, but that’s a conversation for another day) and the Cowboys coming off of a thrilling OT win over the Redskins last week in D.C. If Dallas is going to put up points it will have to be with Tony Romo in the air, as the Fins are 23^rd in points given up to QB’s but 2^nd against RB’s. While I generally would not recommend any Dolphins to start on your fantasy team, this game should have some defensive lapses with both teams coming off a short week. Matt Moore (3 TD passes last week) and Brandon Marshall (with a Dallas D giving up almost 20 points a week to WR’s) are worth gambles if you’re in a pinch. Final score has the Dolphins making Cowboy fans lose their appetite, 30-24.

49ers at Ravens (Kick-off: 8:20 PM EST)

The Har-Bowl should provide decent evening drama, as two head coach brothers face-off against one another for the first time in NFL history. These teams also happen to be two of the more defensively sound units in all of football (49ers D is ranked 1^st and Ravens D is ranked 4^th), so don’t expect a high scoring affair. Add to the tough defenses that Frank Gore is banged up, and you should only be excited about this game if you have either kicker participating. Alex Smith and Joe Flacco will both do nothing, therefore their receivers will do nothing, and Frank Gore and Ray Rice will have plenty of chances to hug the opposing linebackers in their own backfield. Good storyline for the NFL, but REALLY ugly fantasy matchup. Everyone goes into their turkey-induced comas during the second quarter as older brother John and the Ravens gain family bragging rights over Jim and the 49ers, 10-6.

Check out this great article by Brad Evans, of Yahoo.com, on this season’s “All-Turkey Team” (click here).

Also, follow my useless ramblings on twitter @joshuabrier

The Happy Thankless-giving Fantasy Team

It’s November, the month of turkey and pumpkin pie. The month of falling leaves and crisp fall air. The month of the greatest American holiday…Thanksgiving! A day in which you can stuff yourself with an array of wonderful foods, give gifts to no one and watch several games of professional football…what is more American than that? November is also for being thankful. Thankful for the things we do, or do not, have. Friends and family, for the things we are grateful to have, and Ebola or the Bird Flu, for the things we are grateful not to have. But every year there are things and individuals who do not get the “thanks” that they deserve. Things like the refrigerator, which keeps your food cold and fresh and is an afterthought (unless you happen to live in New England where a freak October snow storm claimed your electricity for a week, and you are well aware of how wonderful a job the refrigerator does when working). This same “thankless” moniker can be placed on some NFL players, who have had pretty stellar seasons to this point, but for some reason are not getting any stuffing or mashed potatoes from fantasy owners. Here’s to you…the Mid-Season All Thankless Team:

RB-Marshawn Lynch (398 rushing yards, 4.1 YPC, 91 receiving yards and 4 TD’s)

Number one on our list is the only player I have ever known to cause an earthquake (click here), and he is quietly having a very solid season. More importantly he has scored a touchdown in his last four games, so he is starting to get comfortable in an improving Seattle Seahawks offense. Keep in mind that he missed one game this season (so the stats should be a little better), and he is on track to set a career high in rushing touchdowns. Small chance he is available on the waiver wire after the last four weeks performances with TDs, but he is a very solid number two RB option for the rest of the season if you can get him.

TE-Jake Ballard (395 receiving yards and 3 TD’s)

Hate Eli Manning all you want, and say he doesn’t belong in the “elite” category with Tom Brady, but this guy loves his tight-ends. And year-over-year he brings an unknown tight-end into fantasy relevance when most people hadn’t heard their name to start the season (a la Kevin Boss in 2010). Ballard fits this mold perfectly, as he graduated from Ohio State in 2009 but didn’t catch on in the NFL in 2010. In his first season now in 2011 he is off to a great start with an outside shot at 1,000 yards receiving and 6 TD’s. That would put him in the top 10 TE ranks for any season. ESPN.com has him listed as available in almost 75 percent of leagues, so get to your waiver wire as he is in the top 10 for receiving yards and TD’s amongst tight-ends.

QB- Andy Dalton (1,696 passing yards, 12 TD’s and 7 INT’s)

Coming into the NFL this season, evaluators questioned Dalton’s ability to make all of the NFL throws. Through the first half of the season the only thing that is left to be questioned is “will he lead the Bengals to the playoffs”? Dalton has been mighty impressive thus far and it only makes sense that he will get better. He has the weapons (A.J. Green, Cedric Benson and Jermaine Gresham) and is gaining crucial experience and reps each week. Who would have thought through the first half of the season that he would have a better QB rating than Jay Cutler, Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Joe Flacco and Josh Freeman? Oh, and he’s available in over 75 percent of ESPN.com leagues…

Check out this great article by Eric Mack, of SI.com, on players who look to rebound in the second half (click here).

Also, follow my useless ramblings on twitter @joshuabrier.