Fantasy Football Thanksgiving Edition Start and Sit Advice: Get Patrick Mahomes and Rico Dowdle in your Lineup

The Playoffs are only two weeks away in fantasy football and start/sit decisions are more important than ever. With a loaded slate of Thanksgiving games ahead in the coming days, we put together a special edition of the start and sit list for the games. Players mentioned in Blitz Sports Media’s start and sit articles are borderline picks for many rosters. Let’s take a look at all of the players that made this special edition of the start and sit list.

Quarterbacks

Start

Patrick Mahomes (KC): Mahomes is starting to turn the corner with 3 touchdowns in three of his last four games. Since the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, Mahomes has a passer rating over 100 and has 12 touchdowns to 3 interceptions in five games played. He will continue his hot streak on Black Friday against the Raiders who have struggled against opposing quarterbacks. The Raiders have allowed four straight quarterbacks to go over 20 points and one of those quarterbacks was Mahomes. Expect Mahomes to have back-to-back 20-point performances for the first time this season.

Sit

Jared Goff (DET): After his monster performance last week, Goff regressed posting his fourth outing lower than 16 fantasy points in his last five weeks. During those five weeks, Goff had favorable matchups indoors and failed to produce as many as expected. This week he faces the Bears who are the 2nd toughest matchup to opposing quarterbacks and have only allowed two passers to throw for more than 1 touchdown pass. With Goff’s inconsistencies and the tough 

Jordan Love (GB): Continuing the trend of sitting NFC North QBs, stay away from Love this week. Love has only one 20+ point performance since Week 7 and the Packers have reduced his volume in the recent weeks. Although I expect the Packers to move the ball well, the Dolphins are the 4th toughest matchup for opposing quarterbacks this season. Leave Love on your bench to avoid another quarterback performance below 20 points.

Running Backs

Start

Rico Dowdle (DAL): In his first matchup against the Giants, Dowdle dropped 13.1 in a smaller role which produced his third-best point total of the season. Now at a 65% snap share and dominating on early down work, Dowdle had 22 touches last week against the Commanders. Last week we saw how much the Buccaneers bullied the Giants’ run defense and I expect Dowdle to be in for a big game making him a must-start.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG): Tracy is the riskiest play of the starts this week due to his benching last week against the Bucs. Tracy fumbled in two straight contests forcing Brian Daboll to turn the Giants’ running back room into a three-headed committee. I trust the talent and the matchup to prevail this week. The Cowboys this season are allowing over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown per game. With Tracy averaging over 5 yards per carry this season, he will turn in a good outing after a disappointing performance last week. 

Sit

D’Andre Swift (CHI): Chicago is starting to roll out a committee approach for the RB position. Last week against Minnesota, Swift had 55% of snaps, while Roschon Johnson received 38%. Although Swift still has the volume to produce with his role on early downs, he is losing out on valuable touches on third down and on the goal line. This week he has a tough matchup in the Lions who are allowing under 4 yards per carry and only allow 11.5 Half-PPR points per game to running backs. 

Ameer Abdullah (LV): Abdullah was featured as a Blitz Sports Media streamer last week for emergency purposes and produced a 17.5-point game on 14 touches. Proceed with caution against a Chiefs defense that excels against the run and has been a matchup nightmare for opposing running backs. While Abdullah produced in fantasy football, he only averaged 3.5 yards per carry potentially leading to a smaller role on early downs. Avoid him this week in your starting lineups.

Wide Receivers

Start

Jakobi Meyers (LV): Myers has been on a heater since the Davante Adams trade with three performances over 17 points in a four-game stretch. In the first matchup against the Chiefs, he finished with 6 catches for 52 yards and a touchdown with Trent McDuffie shadowing Brock Bowers. The Chiefs’ defense has not been as imposing to receivers as of late allowing Meyers the opportunity to hit that 17-point mark once again. 

DJ Moore (CHI): Moore is trending in the right direction in the last two weeks with 14 catches for 168 yards and 1 touchdown while only earning his second 20-point game of the season. I expect Moore and other Bears’ wide receivers to continue their momentum against the Lions this week. The Lions are allowing over 30 PPR points per game to wide receivers this season providing Moore with the opportunity to continue his hot streak.

Sit

Jaylen Waddle (MIA): Some may be high on Waddle after his breakout 20-point performance last week, but don’t buy it quite yet. It was only Waddle’s second performance in double figures of the year, and the first since the season’s opening week. Waddle continues to rank fourth on the team in target share since the return of Tua and has a tough matchup this week against the Packers.

Jayden Reed (GB): Reed had a hot start to the season, but since Week 5 has scored in double figures just once. Despite ranking 4th among receivers in EPA and 1st in fantasy points per target, the volume has not been there. He ranks 57th among receivers in target share while ranking 78th in air yards share. With a lack of opportunities and a stingy secondary, I am avoiding Reed in my starting lineups this week.

Jameson Williams (DET) Williams has received 5 or more targets in each game since returning from suspension, with 13 in the last two weeks. Despite the volume, Williams has only finished in the Top 30 once since Week 7. The concerns for Williams this week come from his matchup against all-pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson who has blanketed perimeter receivers all season. I would avoid starting Williams to prevent a dud to begin your fantasy week.

Tight Ends

Start

Jonnu Smith (MIA): Smith has been brought to life in Mike McDaniel’s offense ever since the return of Tua. three of his six games since the Bye week have yielded 15+ point games, including an average of 18.4 per game over his last two. During that stretch, Jonnu has been the TE2 making him a must-start every week. Make sure you do not leave him on your bench ahead of Thanksgiving. 

Sit

Cole Kmet (CHI): Like Moore, Kmet has had an increased role since Thomas Brown took over as the offensive coordinator. Kmet has played over 90% of snaps in back-to-back games and finished with 7 catches for 64 yards last week. The increased role is encouraging in favorable matchups, but the Bears face the Lions this week who are only allowing 6.2 PPR points to tight ends per game. Leave Kmet on your bench this week. 

DEF

Start

Kansas City Chiefs: Since that Raiders matchup in Week 8, the Chiefs’ defense has failed to match their point total in that matchup. Their defense has struggled from a lack of pressure while also struggling against the pass. This week the matchup plays into their hands with Aidan O’Connell or Desmond Ridder starting for the Raiders. Despite their struggles as of late, find a way to stream the Chiefs’ defense. 

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys have not been a startable defense for the majority of the season but put up a dominant 24-point performance against the Commanders last week. This week they have the Giants with Tommy DeVito under center who were just held to seven points in a blowout loss. The Cowboys’ defense now has generated six turnovers over their last three games and will have another good performance this week. 

Sit

Chicago Bears: Since starting the season as one of the best options in fantasy football, the Bears have failed to score over 6 points since their bye week in week seven. Their defense is trending in the wrong direction and has their hands full against the Lions this week. The Lions are the third best at limiting opposing defenses only allowing them to average 5.6 points per game. Avoid starting the Bears’ defense on Thanksgiving.

Kickers

Start

Spencer Shrader / Matthew Wright (KC): Schrader is dealing with a hamstring injury ahead of the matchup against the Raiders putting his status for Week 13 in jeopardy. Last week Shrader capitalized on the favorable matchup finishing with 13 fantasy points proving whoever lines up at kicker for the Chiefs holds value. Whether that will be Schrader or Wright this week, they will be in for a good day against the Raiders who allow an average of 11.2 points per game to kickers.

Sit

Jason Sanders (MIA): The return of Tua has benefited Sanders with him now scoring double-digit points in three of his last four games. The Dolphins’ offense has historically stalled out in the cold with Tua under center leading to fewer opportunities for the veteran kicker. The Packers this season are also 5th best in the NFL at limiting opposing kickers holding them to 6.5 points per game.

Check out this video for all of your start and sit advice ahead of the Thanksgiving matchups!