This article is part of our Fanball Fantasy Football series.
For Week 12, Fanball will run three-game (Vikings-Lions, Chargers-Cowboys, Giants-Redskins) Thanksgiving Thursday contests starting at 12:30 p.m. Eastern in addition to Sunday contests encompassing a 12-game slate beginning at 1 p.m.
The first player listed at each position below is for the Thursday contest, followed by Sunday picks.
The Fanball format calls for a QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, FLEX WR/TE, FLEX RB/WR/TE, D/ST lineup with a $55,000 salary cap. The players below can fit into lineups regardless of strategy, as they all offer strong value relative to price.
QUARTERBACK
Kirk Cousins, WAS vs. NYG ($6,500): Cousins has topped 300 yards five times this season, including each of his last two games. Thanks to those gaudy yardage totals and a 17:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio through 10 games, Washington's signal-caller is averaging 22.0 fantasy points per game. That total is the highest among quarterbacks playing on Thanksgiving, but Cousins is priced below four alternatives in that slate despite a favorable matchup with the Giants. New York picked off Alex Smith twice last week in an inspired home effort but still allows the fourth-most passing yards per game at 263.9.
Tom Brady, NE vs. MIA ($7,600): Brady and coach Bill Belichick aren't exactly known for going easy on struggling opponents, so this one could get ugly for a Dolphins team that's dropped four straight and has a season point differential of minus-97 that's ahead of only the Browns and Colts. While New England's individual receiving weapons can be inconsistent from week to week due to the team's embarrassment of riches, Brady has been a consistently elite fantasy contributor with an average of 315 passing yards per game and 22:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His elite floor and ceiling make Brady worth his lofty price this week.
RUNNING BACK
Alfred Morris, DAL vs. LAC ($5,800): Morris has been effective in two games without the suspended Ezekiel Elliott, racking up 144 yards on 28 carries for a robust average of 5.1 yards per carry. His workload has been limited by game flow with the Cowboys getting down big early against a pair of tough birds of prey in the Falcons and Eagles, but a home Thanksgiving date against the 4-6 Chargers is unlikely to turn into a blowout loss. Los Angeles surrenders a league-high 138.9 yards per game on the ground, so look for Morris to put on his best Elliott impression this week.
LeSean McCoy, BUF at KC ($8,400): Owners who fired up McCoy came away happy even though his team lost by 30 points last week, and a similar scenario could occur this week. Kansas City allows the fourth-most rushing yards per game at 129.2, and McCoy's involvement as a receiver out of the backfield helps him produce even when his team gets down big and abandons the run. The shifty running back's 42 catches are 17 more than any teammate, and he's 33 yards from the team lead in receiving yardage. McCoy should provide plenty of fantasy value regardless of game flow, and Buffalo's recent slide actually helps his PPR outlook.
Tevin Coleman, ATL vs. TB ($6,900): With Devonta Freeman still in the concussion protocol, Coleman could be in line to play the bellcow role once again after receiving 21 touches in last week's win at Seattle. While the Seahawks kept him contained, Coleman's explosiveness as both a runner and receiver should shine through better at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where he's averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Add the high likelihood of goal-line looks in Atlanta's high-flying offense, and you could even talk yourself into Coleman at this price if Freeman does suit up.
WIDE RECEIVER
Adam Thielen, MIN at DET ($7,600): The only receiver with at least five catches in every game has been much more than just a possession guy lately, racking up an incredible 387 yards the last three weeks while also scoring a touchdown in every game during that stretch. Thielen's recent hot streak gives him a high ceiling to go with the high floor he's consistently shown throughout this campaign, and he'll be a handful Thursday for a Lions defense that's been more generous than league average both from a pass defense and scoring perspective.
A.J. Green, CIN vs. CLE ($8,700): Green posted 63 yards and a touchdown against this opponent on the road in Week 4, and should do even better in this home rematch. If he can find the end zone in this one, the talented wide receiver would have his second three-game touchdown streak of the season, and it's tough to bet against him doing so, considering Green posted 169 yards and a touchdown while catching all eight of his targets when the Browns came to town last season.
Corey Davis, TEN at IND ($4,700): This is a terrific buy-low opportunity. A hamstring injury has limited the fifth overall pick most of his rookie year, but he's finally healthy and has garnered 17 targets the last two weeks. Davis is too talented to stay quiet much longer while seeing so much volume, and this matchup with a Colts defense that allows the third-most passing yards per game and released top cornerback Vontae Davis prior to Week 10 sets the stage perfectly for Corey's breakout performance.
TIGHT END
Vernon Davis, WAS vs. NYG ($5,600): Fellow tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring) is out, which means Davis should have a near monopoly on tight-end targets, and this is the perfect matchup for turning those targets into fantasy points. New York kept an opponent's tight ends out of the end zone for the first time all season last week against the Chiefs, but Travis Kelce owners weren't exactly disappointed with Kelce's eight catches for 109 yards. Davis has provided a high floor with at least 60 yards in six of his last seven games, and his ceiling gets a nice boost thanks to a favorable matchup.
Jared Cook, OAK vs. DEN ($5,700): Cook has had an up-and-down season, but he does have a pair of 100-yard performances in his last four games and should benefit from facing a Denver defense that forces quarterbacks to divert targets to tight ends and running backs by covering wide receivers well. Tight ends have gotten into the end zone against the Broncos in four consecutive weeks and seven times overall this year, so Cook's a threat to score despite his underwhelming season total of one touchdown.
DEFENSE
Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT vs. GB ($3,100): The return of the Steel Curtain will be featured in primetime this week, as a Pittsburgh defense that allows the third-fewest passing yards (190.0) and second-fewest points (16.5) per game plays host to a struggling Packers offense on Sunday Night Football. Green Bay quarterback Brett Hundley has a 2:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio in five games played since taking over for an injured Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's beat up at running back. Chief among Hundley's shortcomings has been his tendency to hold onto the ball too long, which should lead to plenty of sack opportunities for a unit that ranks second in that category with 34.0.
Jacksonville Jaguars, JAC at ARI ($3,300): It's tough to turn this dominant unit down at just $3,300, especially given the appetizing matchup. Jacksonville's defense has been the stingiest in the league in terms of both passing yards allowed (162.0) and points allowed (14.1) per game. In addition to those feats, the Jaguars also have scored two pick-sixes and taken three fumbles to the house. If they can just bottle up a 32-year-old Adrian Peterson who averages 3.0 yards per carry, including 1.6 in the last two weeks, the Jaguars will have plenty of chances to pile up fantasy points with ex-Jacksonville bust Blaine Gabbert under center for the hosts.
