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Thursday Night Football Matchup Analysis (Week 13)

Thursday Night Football starts/sits and matchups analysis for Week 13 of the NFL season. Which Redskins and Cowboys to start or sit for fantasy football lineups.

Greetings fellow Rotoballers, I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend!

In order to attempt to try and sum up all of the Thanksgiving football action, I'll present my key fantasy takeaways from each game in one sentence. Adam Thielen is a stud with six-plus reception and over 80 yards in his last three games, plug and play him with confidence for the remainder of the 2017 season. Philip Rivers will be playoff gold with an incredibly soft schedule, while Dak Prescott is on a downward spiral. Samaje Perine looks like the volume-based workhorse many hoped he would be this last offseason, receiving no less than 23 carries in his two starts and accumulating over 100 rushing yards in each.

Two NFC East teams with the exact same record are going to but heads in this week's iteration of Thursday Night Football when the Washington Redskins head to Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys. If Ezekiel Elliott was still available, I would expect this game to be much more of a high-scoring affair. However, the Cowboys look like a shadow of their former selves without the Ohio State-product after going through three consecutive losses. On the other side, the Redskins are coming off of a key victory at home and will look to continue their offensive momentum with a rejuvenated commitment to the ground game.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys

Date and Start Time: Thursday, November 30 at 8:25 PM ET

Notable Injuries and Status:

  • Jordan Reed (TE, WAS) - Hamstring - Doubtful
  • Morgan Moses (OL, WAS) - Knee/Ankle - Questionable
  • Brandon Sheriff (OL, WAS) - Knee - Questionable
  • Trent Williams (OL, WAS) - Knee - Questionable
  • Zach Brown (LB, WAS) - Shoulder/Achilles - Out
  • Zach Martin (OL, DAL) - Concussion - Questionable
  • Tyron Smith (OL, DAL) - Back/Groin - Questionable
  • Sean Lee (LB, DAL) - Hamstring - Out

 

Offensive and Defensive Rankings (2017):

Redskins Cowboys
Passing Yards 11th 27th
Rushing Yards 18th 4th
Pass Defense 19th 21st
Run  Defense 15th 17th

 
 

Must Starts

Top Performers That Have To Be In Your Lineup

Kirk Cousins (QB, WAS)

Cousins dropped a major dud last Thursday compared to expectations against a struggling New York Giants defense, completing 19 passes for 242 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. However, I fully trust him to reward fantasy owners against the Cowboys, who have allowed top-six quarterback finishes to Carson Wentz and Philip Rivers without starting linebacker Sean Lee while allowing Cousins to average 22.6 fantasy points against them this season.

Jamison Crowder (WR, WAS)

The man to own in the Washington wide receiver core is Crowder, who seems to have finally ingratiated himself back into the offense as a go-to target in recent weeks. He has scored 22-plus PPR points in two of his last four games while seeing a 21.6 percent target per snap rate and should be able to build upon that success against a vulnerable Dallas secondary. As a last bit of reassurance, Crowder managed to put up 133 yards on nine receptions the last time these two teams faced off.

 

Must Sits

Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup

Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)

Washington may have allowed 50 or more rushing yards to three different quarterbacks on the year, but Prescott is simply impossible to trust given his track record without star runner Ezekiel Elliott. He has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in four of his past five games and faces a Redskins' secondary that can take away his favorite options with cornerback Josh Norman.

Alfred Morris/Rod Smith (RB, DAL)

Even if one of these Cowboy running backs could be proven to have the lion's share of the rushing workload, the lack of scoring plays will hinder either from producing above average flex numbers. Dallas has scored on a league-low five of 31 drives (16.1 percent) over the past three weeks and put up single-digit points in those games. The best case scenario is an early lead that can allow Dallas runners to milk the clock, but don't expect the rolling Washington offense to be down for too long.

Other Notable Must Sits: Terrance Williams (WR, DAL), Byron Marshall (RB, WAS), Ryan Grant (WR, WAS)

 

Solid Options/Sleepers

Which Players Will Have Solid Games and Which Could Surprise?

Solid Option: Samaje Perine (RB, WAS)

There is a lot to love about the former Oklahoma Sooner. His touch totals of 24 and 27 over the previous two weeks have enabled him to grind out over 100 rushing yards in those games. The Cowboys are also likely to be without stalwart linebacker Sean Lee in Week 13, opening up the door for plenty of big-play runs. Add into the equation that he is also getting a decent amount of receiving work ahead of backfield-mate Byron Marshall (giving him a nice floor in PPR formats) and you get a very startable fantasy asset.

Solid Option: Vernon Davis (TE, WAS)

With Jordan Reed likely to be out for another week, Davis makes for a great streaming option at the tight end position. I'm not ecstatic about his one target last week against the New York Giants who have been particularly susceptible to tight ends all season, but I can't imagine Davis not being a part of the game plan against a Dallas defense that is vulnerable over the middle.

Sleeper: Dez Bryant (WR, DAL)

It may seem odd to categorize Bryant in the sleeper category, but it has become all but obvious that fantasy owners should not be expecting the same WR1 levels of production from him when Ezekiel Elliott isn't on the field. Bryant hasn't caught a touchdown in his last five games (which includes time before the Eliott suspension) and offers little in the way of a safe floor given how few the number of pass completions Dallas averages per game. Cornerback Josh Norman has also had a history of winning their one-on-one matchups, but Bryant is certainly the type of player to rise to the occasion in a revenge game.

Sleeper: Jason Witten (TE, DAL)

Witten is a curious fantasy tight end given his inconsistency on the season, but he’s been a top-10 scorer in two of his last three games Washington is currently ranked in the bottom-three for receptions allowed per game to tight ends. Quarterback Dak Prescott will likely be forced to depend on his short and mid-range options more in this game without an effective ground attack, meaning the door for Witten to post a solid outing is higher than usual.

Other Notable Sleepers: Cole Beasley (WR, DAL), Josh Doctson (WR, WAS)

 

More Week 13 Lineup Prep




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Deandre Ayton

May Skip Meeting With Jazz
Cole Anthony

Iffy for Thursday's Action
AJ Green

at Risk of Missing Another Game
Peyton Watson

Questionable for Thursday
Kyle Kuzma

Questionable for Thursday Due to Illness
Tim Hardaway Jr.

Questionable With Illness
Lauri Markkanen

Picks Up Questionable Tag Ahead of Thursday
Tristan da Silva

Questionable for Thursday
Pelle Larsson

Misses Second Straight Game
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Unavailable Against Nets
Pat Spencer

Ruled Out for Thursday
Norman Powell

Misses Practice, Uncertain for Thursday
Jakob Poeltl

Listed as Probable for Thursday
Al Horford

Ruled Out for Thursday, Nearing Return
Tim Hardaway Jr.

Battling Illness, Questionable for Thursday
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
Brandon Williams

Questionable with Achilles Issue
D'Angelo Russell

Questionable for Thursday
Mitchell Robinson

Tagged as Questionable for Thursday
Josh Hart

Uncertain for Thursday
Brandon Clarke

Active Against Timberwolves
Isaiah Hartenstein

Resting on Thursday Night
Davante Adams

Doubtful to Play Thursday Night
Matthew Tkachuk

Status Uncertain for Winter Classic
Tyson Foerster

Ruled Out for Five Months
Quinton Byfield

Back From One-Game Absence Wednesday
Gustav Forsling

Available Against Kings
Pavel Dorofeyev

Good to Go Wednesday
Shea Theodore

Out Against Devils
Jack Eichel

Misses First Game of the Season Wednesday
Brett Pesce

Back in Action Wednesday
Devin Neal

Ruled Out for Sunday
Christian Watson

"Should be Good" to Face the Bears on Saturday
Geno Smith

has "a Good Chance" to Return in Week 16
Saquon Barkley

Back at Practice on Wednesday
Brady Cook

Will Start Again in Week 16
Patrick Mahomes

Rehabbing ACL, LCL Tears
Rashee Rice

Won't Practice Due to Concussion
Marvin Harrison Jr.

to Take Part in Wednesday's Walkthrough Practice
Drake London

Day-to-Day, Will Practice on Wednesday
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
Quinn Ewers

Making First Career Start in Week 16
Tua Tagovailoa

Being Benched by Dolphins
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal
Jeremy Ruckert

Jets, Jeremy Ruckert Agree to a Two-Year Extension
Thatcher Demko

Shuts Out Rangers With 23 Saves
Macklin Celebrini

Notches Four Points in Tuesday's Win
Leon Draisaitl

Reaches Special Milestone During Four-Point Night
Shea Theodore

Questionable for Wednesday Night
Jack Eichel

Battling Illness
Darcy Kuemper

Placed on Injured Reserve
Brandon Montour

Hurt on Tuesday
Mike Trout

Angels Open to Mike Trout Playing Center Field in 2026
Saquon Barkley

Misses Practice With Stinger
RJ Harvey

Dealing With Rib Injury
Josh Jacobs

Intends to Play Against Bears on Saturday
Zach Bogosian

Misses Tuesday's Game
Marcus Johansson

Unavailable Tuesday
Artyom Levshunov

Scratched for Tuesday
Mathew Barzal

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Joseph Woll

Returns to Action Tuesday
Mike Matheson

Won't Play on Tuesday
Bam Knight

Cardinals Place Bam Knight on Injured Reserve
CFB

Kansas State's Jayce Brown Intends to Transfer
CFB

Nation's Leading Passer Drew Mestemaker to Enter Transfer Portal
Justin Crawford

Phillies Planning to Start Justin Crawford in Center Field
CFB

Jayden Maiava Signs New Deal to Return to USC
CFB

Aidan Mizell Won't Return to Florida, Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

East Carolina Targeting Jordan Davis as Next Offensive Coordinator
Patrick Mahomes

Targeting Week 1 Return in 2026
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
CFB

Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff
Darren Waller

Hauls in Two Touchdowns in Monday Night Loss
Rome Odunze

Considered Week-to-Week With Foot Injury
Davante Adams

Considered Week-to-Week With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Dylan Raiola Entering His Name into Transfer Portal
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Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby Plans to Transfer When Portal Opens
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia, Phillies Finalizing One-Year Deal on Monday
Brandon Royval

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
CFB

Baylor, LSU, Miami Among Potential Suitors for DJ Lagway
CFB

Aidan Chiles Will Enter Transfer Portal
Manel Kape

Shines At UFC Vegas 112
Kevin Vallejos

Gets Second-Round Knockout Win
Giga Chikadze

Suffers His First Career Knockout Loss
CFB

Quarterback DJ Lagway Entering Transfer Portal
Cesar Almeida

Gets Dominated
Cezary Oleksiejczuk

Wins Sixth Fight In A Row
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Melquizael Costa

Gets First-Round Knockout Win
Marcus Buchecha

Still Winless In The UFC
Kennedy Nzechukwu

And Marcus Buchecha Fight To Draw
Lance Gibson jr

Lance Gibson Jr. Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
King Green

Gets Back In The Win Column
Kenley Jansen

Agrees to One-Year Deal With Tigers
Merrill Kelly

Returns to Diamondbacks on Two-Year Deal
Jorge Polanco

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Mets
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Return to South Carolina in 2026
CFB

Washington State Expected to Hire Kirby Moore as Next Head Coach
CFB

Kyle Whittingham Stepping Down as Utah Head Coach
Manel Kape

Set For UFC Vegas 112 Main Event
Brandon Royval

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 112
Kevin Vallejos

Set For His Third UFC Fight
Giga Chikadze

In Dire Need Of Victory
Cesar Almeida

Set To Welcome Cezary Oleksiejczuk To The UFC
Cezary Oleksiejczuk

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Maikel Garcia

Royals Agree on Five-Year Extension
Melquizael Costa

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Looks to Win Second Consecutive Fights
Marcus Buchecha

Looks To Bounce Back
CFB

Sherrone Moore Charged with Home Invasion, Among Other Charges
CFB

Freddie Kitchens Fired from North Carolina Coaching Staff

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP