DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football Helper: The Thanksgiving Slate

Contrarian

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions ($5,700)

Quarterback ownership is kind of a fickle thing where it doesn't really matter on a large slate, but in a condensed three-game slate, it could be a unique way to leverage against your opponents. Matthew Stafford hasn't cleared 20-plus fantasy points since Week 6 and draws a tough matchup on paper here.

The Vikings rank third in schedule-adjusted Defensive Passing NEP and haven't allowed a single quarterback to score 20-plus fantasy points against them. They're allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points and seventh-fewest touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks. So why am I interested in Stafford this week? Projected game script.

Vegas has Detroit as 2.5-point home favorites in essentially a pick-em. Detroit's running game is near non-existent -- they have the third-fewest rushing attempts in the league, but own the eighth-highest pass play percentage. If Detroit's going to win this game as expected, they'll have to do it via Stafford's arm. Stafford has all his weapons as healthy as they've been in weeks and has the benefit of playing at home.

This is certainly a difficult matchup for Stafford, but if looking for a lower-owned quarterback to roster, Stafford's an intriguing GPP play.

Chris Thompson, RB, Washington Redskins ($3,600)

Over the last four weeks, Chris Thompson has 19, 12, 7, and 3 touches. Those 7- and 3-touch games were both wins, and with Vegas projecting the Redskins to be seven-point underdogs on the road, we could be in line for a more volume-heavy Thompson week. Rob Kelley has just one reception for negative yards since taking over the lead back duties two weeks ago, leaving Thompson as the primary beneficiary in the receiving back role.

Thompson has a questionable floor, but if Dallas gets out to an early lead, we could see a lot of snaps for Thompson with Washington in catch-up mode. Dallas has allowed the 12th-most receptions to running backs and their three biggest games were to receiving-type running backs in Darren Sproles, Giovani Bernard, and Le'Veon Bell.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Detroit Lions ($3,300)

If trying to save some money and start a player who has some upside in his potential range of outcomes, Anquan Boldin may be your man. Boldin has three touchdowns in his last five games and leads all Detroit skill players in touchdowns inside the opponent's 10-yard line. He'll run most of his routes out of the slot where he'll line up against Captain Munnerlyn. Munnerlyn looks like the weak link of the Minnesota starting secondary, allowing 0.27 fantasy points per route defended, per ProFootballFocus. Boldin is coming off a nine-target game and could be one of Stafford's most heavily-targeted receivers again this week given his plus matchup.

Good luck this week!