DraftKings core players for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here! I assume you are all preparing to gorge yourself to the edge of what most humans would call acceptable. I will eat 10-20 deviled eggs and get sick before the actual meal is ready, so I have that to look forward to on this blessed holiday.

Below, I have some players I like for your Thanksgiving DFS slate. After the games, I hope you’ll give me thanks instead of cussing me. Cussgiving is only my third favorite holiday.

Quarterback

Drew Brees ($6,800)

The Saints want this game to secure an NFC South title and to keep their hopes alive for a No. 1 seed. The Falcons shut Brees down in their first game, but I expect Sean Payton will learn from that loss and get his team set up for success this week.

Dak Prescott ($5,700)

Prescott’s price reflects a tough matchup with the Bills, but the Cowboys have a good enough offense to win matchups in the secondary, and Prescott has upside near the goal line as a rusher.

Mitch Trubisky ($5,300)

Trubisky isn’t good, but he did have three touchdown passes against this team in Week 10, and he rushed for a touchdown last week, as he ran seven times, the most he’s run all season. My faith in him is low, but he’s the cheapest play at the position, and there is some reason for optimism.

Running Back

Ezekiel Elliott ($7,400)

Elliott is the top running back play against a middling Bills run defense, and his price is low for the matchup and his usage. He hasn’t been fantastic of late, but the matchup and a national audience should get him going. He’s still consistently getting 20 touches a game, so he’s likely the top back as far as touches on Thursday.

Alvin Kamara ($8,100)

Kamara can’t buy a touchdown, but he’s had no trouble catching passes, as he has 27 in his last three games. A huge game lurks underneath, and it would be nice to have him rostered when that happens.

Tarik Cohen ($5,000)

The Saints have the highest implied total of all the teams going today, and I see no reason to go after their studs in your lineup. But that means we’ll need to find some value plays and Cohen is my favorite. His usage has gone up of late with five receptions per game since the Bears bye week, which in itself is a good enough reason to play him at his price.

Wide Receiver

Michael Thomas ($9,100)

Thomas is the Christian McCaffrey of wide receivers, and on DraftKings, it’s hard to get away from his high upside consistency, even at a hefty price. He hasn’t dipped below 25 DK points since Week 6 and averages 25.8 on the season. Amari Cooper sits second in DK points per game for Thanksgiving with an 18.1 DK point average. Thomas already scored 31.2 against this Falcons defense in Week 10, and that’s a game the Saints lost 26-9. He’s the safest play going on Thursday.

Michael Gallup ($5,500)

Gallup will be a popular play due to Tre’Davious White likely shadowing Amari Cooper. The Bills still have an all-around good pass defense, but Gallup should see a few extra targets his way, and his upside is high.

Anthony Miller ($3,900)

Miller has seen 11 and 9 targets in his last two games and caught six passes in each. Right there is enough to look at him for his bargain-basement price, but add in the absence of Taylor Gabriel due to a concussion, and Miller should see plenty of targets this week. And if you’re feeling frisky, Javon Wims is at the bare minimum price and will take over for Gabriel.

Tight End

Jared Cook ($4,800)

Everybody and their grandma will have Cook rostered in their Thanksgiving DFS lineups because there aren’t any tight ends that compare to his recent production. If Dawson Knox could just see a few more targets, he’d split the ownership some, but he doesn’t and will be a risky prospect. Cook has averaged 15 DK points over his last five games and hasn’t dipped below 11 in that stretch. I don’t think a dart throw is worth it on this slate.

D/ST

Chicago Bears ($2,500)

With David Blough getting the start, it’s tough not to go with the Bears at their cheap price. The Lions, Bills, and Saints are all worth throwing into GPPs, but I’ll stick with the Bears for the majority of my lineups. .