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Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the Thanksgiving Day Slate (November 2024). His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings DFS contests.
Hello, RotoBallers, thanks for joining us! It's hard to believe we've already reached one of the most fun NFL DFS days of the year, but here we are...the Thanksgiving Day slate! I hope you all have a great holiday filled with friends, family, great food, and plenty of football!
The Thanksgiving Day slate is a unique animal, as we can often see lots of duplicate lineups with just three games to choose from. Being unique in your roster construction can certainly be a bit risky, but it can also be very profitable in this type of environment. As a result, this article's write-ups will touch not only on strong plays but also on options that might be a bit contrarian.
In other words, you probably know just how good the Lions' offense can be and probably don't need me to spend a lot of time talking about those popular options. Also, be sure to check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE in 2024! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this special slate together!
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Thanksgiving Day DFS Picks
Caleb Williams - CHI at DET ($5,300)
It's an understatement to say that Williams' rookie campaign has been uneven, as the Bears enter this Thanksgiving Day matchup in Detroit the losers of five straight and two weeks removed from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron being fired. While the lion's share of the blame for Chicago's ineffective offense probably does fall on Waldron's shoulders, Williams has been far from perfect.
6 INSANE throws from Caleb Williams in week 12! pic.twitter.com/fGDQ7VHAPS
— Tim Jenkins (@TJenkinsElite) November 25, 2024
However, there have been enough flashes - including last week's 340-yard, two-TD performance against Minnesota - for me to have DFS interest in this compressed Thanksgiving slate. In two games with Thomas Brown calling the plays for Chicago, Williams has thrown for 571 yards and two TDs with zero interceptions while also picking up 103 yards on the ground on 15 attempts.
While the Lions are one of the NFL's best teams, there are some legitimate reasons to like Williams here, as he'll likely be playing catch-up in a domed environment. Detroit is not only one of the league's most prominent pass-funnel defenses (they've allowed the NFL's fourth-fewest rushing yards and seventh-most passing yards), but they are dealing with injuries to top cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold.
Cooper Rush - NYG at DAL ($4,800)
Rostering the Cowboys' second-stringer serves some purpose, as Rush provides both salary relief and a contrarian slant to help us avoid duplicated lineups on a three-game slate. Dallas hasn't shied away from letting Rush sling the ball in Dak Prescott's absence... he's attempted a whopping 87 passes in his two games as the Cowboys' starter and converted that high volume into DraftKings totals of 20.4 and 18.0.
In the Giants, Rush draws a defense that's relinquished a laughable 12:1 TD-to-INT ratio to the quarterback position this season. New York has allowed opposing signal callers to average 7.75 yards per attempt in 2024—the NFL's fifth-highest mark.
DraftKings Running Backs - Thanksgiving Day DFS Picks
De'Von Achane - MIA at GB ($7,700)
There aren't many ways to get cute at the RB position on Thanksgiving, as this three-game slate is packed with backfield studs. I look for ownership to be relatively evenly distributed among the top names, so I'll be sure to grab plenty of exposure to the back that possesses the most upside: Miami's De'Von Achane.
The second year back has cooked since Tua Tagovailoa's return to the Dolphins lineup in Week 8. His 20.6-DK point outing last week marked the sixth time in seven games with Tua in the lineup he's topped the 20-point threshold.
A true dual-threat, Achane has been targeted 29 times in the passing game since Week 8. He'll square off against a Packers defensive unit that's allowed the NFL's tenth-most receiving yards (417) to the running back position this season.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - NYG at DAL ($5,800)
If there is such a thing as a leverage spot at the RB position on this slate, it's probably Giants back Tyrone Tracy. The rookie's price tag and ownership come in below the top-tier options, even though he's been dynamic when given opportunities this season and draws a plus matchup against a Dallas Cowboys defense that's allowed the league's second-most TDs (13) to the RB position.
How can you not love Tyrone Tracy?!?! pic.twitter.com/x8NvGBqszS
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) November 24, 2024
Tracy has been extremely efficient en route to wrestling New York's RB1 job away from Devin Singletary. The Purdue product is averaging an impressive 5.3 yards per touch in his first year as a pro and has tallied three games with 100+ rushing yards. However, Tracy has now lost a fumble in two straight games, something which could negatively impact his role and will keep his ownership in check.
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Thanksgiving Day DFS Picks
CeeDee Lamb - NYG at DAL ($7,300)
It's tough to argue that Lamb's training camp holdout hasn't hurt his performance in 2024. But despite Lamb starting the season in rusty form and the Cowboys' dumpster-fire performance, he still somehow leads the NFL in targets (118) and receptions (77), while standing third in receiving yards (841).
#Cowboys CeeDee Lamb leads the NFL with 77 receptions. He joins Jarvis Landry as the only two players in NFL history to have at least 70 receptions across their first five seasons.@_CeeDeeThree keeps being special.
(stat via @ dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/cueogUeUPf
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) November 26, 2024
His numbers in Cooper Rush's two starts aren't mind-blowing: 160 yards on 18 total targets but are encouraging enough to think there's at least the potential of a monster outing brewing for the explosive Lamb. The G-Men have allowed the league's second-highest catch rate (69.9%) to the WR position, while also coughing up a chunky 8.69 yards per target.
Jayden Reed - MIA at GB ($5,700)
We probably won't sneak up on anybody with Jayden Reed, but the volatile Packers wideout possesses the type of upside that can help you win a GPP. His 2024 production has been erratic, but he's shown he possesses a real DFS ceiling with two outbursts of over 30 DK points this season.
Reed's path to volume is a bit clearer this week, as we can expect Romeo Doubs to be sidelined with a concussion. With one less mouth to feed in the talented Green Bay receiving corps, the explosive Reed should see an uptick in targets against the Dolphins.
DraftKings Tight Ends - Thanksgiving Day DFS Picks
Jonnu Smith - MIA at GB ($4,300)
Some Thanksgiving slates in the past have been absolutely brutal at the TE position, but this year we actually have some strong options to choose from. My exposure will start at the top with Jonnu Smith, a player who's been on fire in recent weeks.
If I were to show one play to describe the main element Jonnu Smith brings to this offense, it’s this. Most guys go down around the 50 yard line, but with how physical and strong he is with the ball in his hands, he gets to the 45. That adds up over the course of a game, and it’s… pic.twitter.com/3xJ7YC4x4j
— FinsCentral (@finscentral) November 25, 2024
Since Tua Tagovailoa's return to the Miami lineup in Week 8, Smith has logged 279 yards and three TDs on 23 catches. He trails only Brock Bowers and Trey McBride in DraftKings points scored across the last four weeks.
His Turkey Day matchup against Green Bay isn't one to fear, as the Packers have allowed an eye-popping 80% catch rate to the TE position while relinquishing 8.43 yards per target and four TDs to enemy tight ends.
Cole Kmet - CHI at DET ($3,600)
Maybe Chicago is finally starting to figure out that they're a more effective offense when Kmet is involved. He's rarely come off the field since former Bears OC Shane Waldron was fired. Kmet earned his second-most targets of the season last week against Minnesota with Caleb Williams looking his way 10 times. Since Waldorn's departure, he's recorded 10 catches for 106 yards.
If you're looking for a clear-cut smash spot you won't find it here, as Detroit is one of the league's stingiest units against the TE position. However, that difficult matchup will drastically reduce Kmet's ownership. I expect him to be the third - or perhaps even fourth - most-owned TE on the Thanksgiving Day slate. I'll take my chances on a spike week by betting on Kmet's talent if that's the case.
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