DraftKings NFL Week 12 Lineup

Turkey day is here! Happy Thanksgiving! Use the time you usually spend avoiding your family by reading all the information you need to dominate DraftKings Sunday slate.

What a neutered week of games the NFL is giving us on Sunday. To start, there are three games on Thanksgiving that will not be a part of the main contest. Making matters worse the Chiefs and Rams are on their bye weeks. After that Monday night showing, the fantasy community will certainly miss the NFL’s two most explosive offenses.

There is still plenty of good matchups and players on Sunday. If anything, this is the week where taking the time to do the research can really pay off. Here is all you will need to know to hit on some of those lineups in DraftKings.

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady, New England Patriots @ New York Jets – $6500

A position where the bye week and Thanksgiving teams do not have a massive impact is at quarterback. Tom Brady sits atop the pricing chart this week after seeing his price fluctuate in recent weeks. He gets a Jets defense that ranks in the middle of the pack to points allowed to quarterbacks. However over the last four weeks they’ve been one of the league’s best. Unfortunately for them they have not played an offense like New England during that time frame. This may not be the same juggernaut Patriots offense but they should be just fine against the Jets.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts vs Miami Dolphins – $6400

A sneaky MVP candidate this season has got to be Andrew Luck. After returning from injury, with a revamped offensive line, Luck is balling. He’s got two good tight ends, an elite wide receiver and some cast-offs. The former number one overall pick has this offense humming. This is a good week for his success to continue. Miami ranks as a strong team against the pass but that is simply because teams are opting to run. The Colts will throw a lot and leave the Dolphins flummoxed by their unique pass attack.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers vs Seattle Seahawks – $6200

Another former number one overall pick having a strong season is Cam Newton. Last week was a tough loss with Newton sailing the game winning two point conversion. I expect a bounce back week for him at home against a Seattle defense that has struggled in recent weeks. Over the last two weeks Seattle ranks eighth in points allowed to quarterbacks. Keep an eye on the injury report because there is a chance that Newton is missing Devin Funchess and Torrey Smith in this game. That would lower his value just a bit. They are an opportunistic defense so Newton could throw some picks which would hurt. This is an interesting matchup that will have NFC playoff implications.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos – $6100

The Pittsburgh Steelers were finally able to put the Le’Veon Bell saga behind them. They were also able to lead an impressive comeback a week ago in Jacksonville. That was an impressive performance given the team’s struggles on the road. Now they travel to Denver to play a Broncos defense that looked strong as of late. If this game is in Pittsburgh Roethlisberger is a strong play, however on the road use caution. Denver ranks in the bottom half of the league in points allowed to quarterbacks. This could be a sneaky close game.

Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs San Francisco 49ers – $6000

The state of the quarterback position in today’s NFL can be summed up with the fact that Jameis Winston is a top-five priced option on DraftKings. Winston has lost his starting job once already this season and now has regained it. He is a turnover machine but can make all the throws which make him a tough fantasy evaluation. this week he plays a 49ers defense that can get pressure on him up the middle, Winston’s biggest weakness. However, San Francisco is a mediocre pass defense so there will be yards to be had. Winston is a risk-reward play just like his play style on the field.

Value Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs Oakland Raiders – $5700

What an interesting first career start for first round pick Lamar Jackson. In Joe Flacco’s absence, the former Heisman winner was electric on the ground. The team did not ask him to throw much but he looked like we expected in his first career start. With another week of practice as the starter under his belt, expect more wrinkles and a more friendly Jackson passing attack. His rushing will keep him relevant but he needs to throw to be a good fantasy option. He plays a Raiders defense that has given up the second most touchdown passes to quarterback on the season. Jackson is a safe play if you want to load up on skill position players.

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals – $5500

From the last pick of the first round to the first. Baker Mayfield is not an elite quarterback yet but he has the tools that should make Cleveland very excited. This week Mayfield, coming off of a bye, gets to play the Bengals. The AFC North rivals will play twice from now until the season ends. Mayfield should be licking his chops as no defense in the league has look as lost against the pass as the Bengals. Over the last four weeks they are the second friendliest defense to quarterbacks. Mayfield, like Jackson, is a solid play to save some money.