Thanksgiving Thursday Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Jameson Williams, Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, Zay Flowers, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dak Prescott, David Montgomery, Kareem Hunt, more

November 26, 2025

Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em and lineup advice for all Thanksgiving Thursday slate games in Week 13 (2025). Detailed player breakdowns and matchup analysis.

Happy Thanksgiving, and welcome to the RotoBaller Thanksgiving Thursday start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 13! Many - including myself - believe Thanksgiving is the single best football day of the year, and 2025 gives us three compelling matchups (including five teams in playoff contention) to fill us up all day long. That is, of course, if the turkey and stuffing haven't done that already.

Thanksgiving Thursday will bring us three games, so there will be lots of fantasy football start/sit and lineup decisions to be made. First, on Thursday, the Green Bay Packers visit the Detroit Lions in a key NFC North divisional matchup with playoff implications. Following this game, we have the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Dallas Cowboys, who are coming off a big comeback win.  To end the day, we have the Cincinnati Bengals (and maybe Joe Burrow) in a game against a divisional foe, the Baltimore Ravens.

Each week, I will be bringing you Thursday Night Football analysis, focusing on who to definitely start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench. With an oversized three-game slate on this holiday Thursday and the fantasy playoffs just two weeks away, there are plenty of start/sit decisions to make.

Four out of five days with 🏈 pic.twitter.com/hWEubLBIjr

— NFL (@NFL) November 25, 2025

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions - 1:00 PM ET

Be sure to also check out our Actives/Inactives Report for notable injuries:

• Matthew Golden (WR, GB) - Questionable - Shoulder/wrist
• Jayden Reed (WR, GB) - OUT/On IR - Foot/shoulder
• Sam LaPorta (TE, DET) - OUT - Back
• Isaac TeSlaa (WR, DET) - Questionable - Hand

Must-Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Josh Jacobs OR Emanuel Wilson (RBs, DET)

As of Tuesday, Josh Jacobs was limited in practice and unsure to play in Thursday's opening game. If he does play, you likely don't have a better, more bellcow-ish option than Jacobs, so he will need to be in starting lineups. Jacobs frequently plays 70%-80% of snaps when he starts.

Emanuel Wilson filled in admirably for Jacobs on Sunday, rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 18 yards through the air. He would take the vast majority of the work in the backfield if Jacobs is out, and would be a must-start for the second week in a row in that scenario.

UPDATE: Jacobs is ACTIVE for Week 13

Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, DET)

Every once in a while, you are going to get a line like Amon-Ra St. Brown had in Week 11 (two catches for 42 yards), but those are the extreme outliers. St. Brown has had at least a touchdown or 97 yards in the other four games since Week 8.

Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, DET)

The best fantasy score by any player in the entire season wasn't enough reason to convince you? How about this: Jahmyr Gibbs has fewer than 17 touches one time since Week 6 and has 143.3 fantasy points (Half-PPR) since Week 7. That trails only Christian McCaffrey (145.6), but CMC has one more game played than Gibbs in that span.

Solid Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Christian Watson (WR, GB)

Christian Watson now has three straight weeks with at least 75% of snaps played, as he continues his comeback from ACL surgery. Watson also led the team with seven targets in Week 12, more than any two players combined from Green Bay.

Romeo Doubs (WR, GB)

Don't let his three targets in Week 12 fool you. Romeo Doubs had at least six targets in six of seven games before Week 12, and continues to be Jordan Love's first look in the passing tree. Doubs also leads the Packers with 10 red zone targets in 2025.

Jameson Williams (WR, DET)

What do we do with this guy? From Weeks 8-11, he was fourth in fantasy points per game among all wide receivers (17.7). In Week 12, he goes for zero catches for zero yards in a game that had over 1,000 yards of offense between the two teams. The Packers can be thrown on, so let's hope the Lions try to make this a get-right game for Williams.

Jared Goff (QB, DET)

Jared Goff has double-digit fantasy points in each of his last five games, so he is unlikely to tank your lineup. However, he also has over 19 fantasy points just once in that timeframe, so he is also unlikely to win your matchup from the quarterback spot. He is a safe 14-18 fantasy points every week.

Consider Sitting for Fantasy Football Lineups

Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden (WRs, GB)

Each of these three wide receivers for the Packers is dealing with various levels of injury. The Packers also rotate these receivers into the game with Doubs and Watson, so it's always a crapshoot as to who might be on the field when the big throw comes. The Lions have allowed the second-most receiving touchdowns on the year, but good luck guessing which guy is going to get it in this game.

Packers Not Ruling Jayden Reed Out for Thursday's Game https://t.co/KyvdcpZkzW

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) November 26, 2025

Jordan Love (QB, GB)

Green Bay is now 28th in the NFL in passing play percentage, as they have really emphasized the running game this season. Love has just one game with more than 17 fantasy points in the last six weeks, and on the road in Detroit is a tough place to play.

Brock Wright (TE, DET)

Brock Wright is not a one-for-one replacement for Sam LaPorta and has no more than three catches or 29 yards in each of the last five games. Even in the tough tight end position, you can find a better option.

David Montgomery (RB, DET)

As disappointing as it might be to his fantasy managers, David Montgomery is RB40 over the last six weeks, with just 6.4 fantasy points per game. Gibbs has just been so good; it's been impossible for the Lions to take him off the field. Montgomery isn't even getting all the goal-line opportunities anymore.

Kirksey’s Thanksgiving Picks

Current Spread: DET -2.5, TOTAL: 48.5

Picks: DET -2.5, OVER 48.5

Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys - 4:30 PM ET

Be sure to also check out our Actives/Inactives Report for notable injuries:

• Noah Gray (TE, KC) - OUT - Concussion

Must-Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)

Even with two relatively mediocre weeks in his last two games, Patrick Mahomes is still the QB2 in fantasy points per game this season. This game is in a dome, against a weak defense, and has a 52.5 implied total. There is no reason to second-guess playing Mahomes.

Rashee Rice (WR, KC)

Rashee Rice, with 12 targets and 141 receiving yards, was exactly what fantasy managers needed to see from the Chiefs' WR1. Since joining the Chiefs after his six-game suspension, he has had nine targets in four of five games and has more red zone targets than any wide receiver or tight end despite missing half of the year so far.

George Pickens (WR, DAL)

George Pickens is the WR4 overall in half-PPR formats this year, so he has moved into must-start territory for the Dallas Cowboys. After a tumultuous tenure in Pittsburgh, Pickens has been elevated to elite status in Dallas. Pickens is 11th in targets and second in receiving yards this season.

Dak Prescott’s QBR when throwing to George Pickens is 98.1 — highest in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/3R1okNizo5

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) November 23, 2025

CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL)

Now somewhat overshadowed by Pickens and having to answer questions about recent drops, CeeDee Lamb remains a must-start as well. He has double-digit targets in three of his last four games and has four red-zone targets over the last two games.

Jake Ferguson (TE, DAL)

Jake Ferguson has at least four receptions in three straight games and continues to be a strong third option in the high-powered Dallas passing attack. Even with Lamb and Pickens healthy, he can be a TE1 considering his red-zone role.

Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)

Dak Prescott now has seven total touchdowns across his last two games while throwing for 250 yards or more in five of his last six games this season. The Chiefs will put up points, which is exactly what Prescott needs to be at his best for fantasy managers.

Solid Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Travis Kelce (TE, KC)

Kelce caught four of six targets for 43 yards in Sunday's 23-20 overtime win over Indianapolis. The 43 yards were his lowest since the first month of the season, but Kelce did record at least four receptions for the fourth straight game. After two in his last four games combined, Kelce also saw two red zone targets in Week 12.

Xavier Worthy (WR, KC)

Xavier Worthy saw eight targets in Week 12, which was an encouraging sign in an otherwise shaky, up-and-down year for Worthy. Now he gets the Dallas secondary, which is one of the worst teams at giving up big plays to wide receivers.

Kareem Hunt (RB, KC)

Kareem Hunt compiled 30 rushes for 104 yards and a touchdown and caught all three of his targets for 26 yards in Sunday's 23-20 overtime win over the Colts. The 30 carries were a new career high for Hunt, who will likely have the feature role on Thanksgiving, even with Isiah Pacheco coming back into the lineup.

Javonte Williams (RB, DAL)

Javonte Williams has now totaled more than 100 yards in five games this season and keeps getting heavy usage inside the 20s when the Cowboys are close to scoring. He is a prototypical RB2 at this point, who will rarely get below 10 points.

Consider Sitting for Fantasy Football Lineups

Isiah Pacheco (RB, KC)

If Isiah Pacheco is able to go in this one, he may be doing so with a right knee brace. The knee injury for Pacheco may not be fully healed, but he is likely to give it his best shot. His workload could be limited, considering Hunt has taken over the workhorse role during Pacheco's absence over the last three games.

Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster (WRs, KC)

Even though he actually leads all Chiefs' wide receivers in targets, Hollywood Brown had one target in Week 12, while Worthy and Rice combined for 20. Smith-Schuster has just three targets over the last three games.

Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Tolbert (WRs, DAL)

With Lamb and Pickens healthy, Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Tolbert have three combined targets over the last two games. Look elsewhere if you are desperate for a volume-based wide receiver dart throw.

Kirksey’s Thanksgiving Picks

Current Spread: KC -3, TOTAL: 52.5

Picks: KC - 3, OVER 52.5

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens - 8:20 PM ET

Be sure to also check out our Actives/Inactives Report for notable injuries:

• Tee Higgins (WR, CIN) - OUT - Concussion

Must-Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Ja'Marr Chase (WR, CIN)

The last time Ja'Marr Chase played a game without Tee Higgins was against Baltimore in 2024. All he did in that game was put up 264 yards and three touchdowns. We can only dream about a performance like that again, but Chase is a must-start after his Spit-induced suspension.

Chase Brown (RB, CIN) 

When Samaje Perine was injured, Chase Brown has played 96%, 82%, and 89% of the Bengals' snaps in the last three games. Brown has at least 19 touches and 110 total yards in each of those games. Even with Perine back in action, Brown should continue to see a prominent role in the offense and carry high-end RB2 status.

Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL)

Lamar Jackson may be coming off the first time he has failed to score a touchdown in back-to-back games in his career, but that's no reason not to start him. These are the Cincinnati Bengals, after all, who allow the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and have given up 23 passing touchdowns in 11 games.

Lamar Jackson Returns to Practice https://t.co/g0rfISBNV5

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) November 25, 2025

Derrick Henry (RB, BAL)

That's now six straight games with at least 20 touches for Derrick Henry. His efficiency may be slipping, but he is still getting it done at the goal line. He had two touchdowns last week and has been the beneficiary of Jackson struggling with his arms and legs.

Solid Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Andrei Iosivas (WR, CIN)

With Chase out last week, Andrei Iosivas had seven targets. That's more than either Higgins or Chase Brown had in Week 12. When one of the big two receivers is out, Iosivas takes on a major role in the passing game, and this matchup could have offensive fireworks.

Joe Burrow (QB, CIN)

Cincinnati throws at the highest rate in the league (67%), so if the Bengals throw Joe Burrow out there after missing more than two months, we have to trust that they think he is ready to lead the high-powered passing attack. The Bengals are going to need the best of Burrow to keep up with Baltimore in this one.

Zay Flowers (WR, BAL)

Zay Flowers' 77 targets are over 40 more than any other wide receiver and 30 more than Mark Andrews. He hasn't found the end zone since Week 1, but his usage is increasing, and it's just a matter of time before he breaks out for another big game.

Mark Andrews (TE, BAL)

Mark Andrews has turned into a touchdown-or-bust tight end this season, but he gets so much work in the red zone and near the end zone that he is always a candidate for the top 10 tight ends. His 13 red zone targets are more than any other wide receiver or tight end on the roster.

Consider Sitting for Fantasy Football Lineups

Mike Gesicki (TE, CIN)

Mike Gesicki did come back from injury to draw six targets in Week 12. But that amounted to just 35 yards. The Ravens are a top-10 team against tight ends, allowing just 6.1 points per game.

Rashod Bateman (WR, BAL)

Rashod Bateman missed the last two games with an injury and totaled just 23 yards in the two games combined before that. He also hasn't had more than four targets in a game since Week 3. This offense is flowing through Henry, Flowers, and Andrews right now.

Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell (RBs, BAL)

Henry getting so much work means there has been very little in the backfield to go around for Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell. In Week 12, they combined for three touches. In games where the Ravens are trailing by multiple scores, Hill gets a lot of passing work, but with Baltimore as seven-point favorites, that's not projected to happen this week.

Kirksey’s Thanksgiving Picks

Current Spread: BAL -7, TOTAL: 52.5

Picks: CIN +7, UNDER 52.5

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