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NFL Thursday Night Football: FanDuel Single Game Contest Preview and Player Picks

By Hans Geevers

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 17: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball during the third quarter of a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 17: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball during the third quarter of a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Thursday Night Football presents the DFS/FanDuel community with a NFC divisional battle between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints! Let’s take a look at this game from a fantasy football perspective!

Before I get into my FanDuel player selections for Thursday night’s game, let’s take a look at the key DFS injuries, briefly review the rules for the FanDuel single game contest, and discuss my fantasy analysis of this football game.

Key DFS Injuries

New Orleans Saints: Questionable: Deonte Harris, WR.

Atlanta Falcons: Questionable: Julius Jones, WR: Out: Austin Hooper, TE

Now let’s briefly discuss the rules for the FanDuel single game contest. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your MVP. The FanDuel MVP accumulates 1.5 times the standard FanDuel points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard FanDuel point value. Having stated that, it is imperative that you identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to take down a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the FanDuel single game contest, I recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

Let’s now discuss how I see this NFC clash playing out on Thanksgiving. Frankly, I see a high scoring affair. As of this writing, the Action Network notes that the over/under for this game is 49 points. I think this game easily goes over 49 total points.

You may recall that the Saints were upset by the Falcons earlier this season. I can assure you that New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton recalls that loss to Atlanta! I can say with absolute confidence that Payton will have the Saints ready to roll from an offensive perspective on Thursday night. I fully expect New Orleans to score a high number of points in this football game.

Let’s now transition to what I love doing the most! Here are my player selections for the FanDuel single game contest.

MVP-Michael Thomas $15,000

Thomas has arguably been the most consistent fantasy football player in 2019. Regardless if the Saints win or lose, he still finds a way to get his fantasy points. That is what I love to hear from a fantasy perspective!

How consistent a fantasy play has Thomas been this season? Well, he has been off the charts with regard to reliability and production from a fantasy standpoint. Over the course of the Saints last seven games, Thomas has been targeted by Saints quarterback Drew Brees an unbelievable 82 times! Additionally, he has averaged 21.74 FanDuel points a game in that seven-game span.

Enough said. I won’t waste anymore of your time on Thomas. In my opinion, he is the clear choice for MVP.

Flex Plays

Alvin Kamara $14,000

Yes, I know. Kamara is an obvious flex play on this single game slate. Kamara is far too involved in this New Orleans each and every week for me to fade him.

It has to be said that I love the fact that Kamara is used by the Saints’ offensive coaches as a runner and a receiver. In the Saints’ last three football games, Kamara has 29 receptions and 145 receiving yards. Additionally, in that same three-game span, he has 27 rushing attempts. In my opinion, the vast majority of FanDuel winning lineups for this single game contest will have Kamara. No doubt in my mind on that!

Calvin Ridley $12,500

Atlanta wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been targeted eight or more times in seven of the 27 games he has played in his NFL career. Additionally, in those seven games where Calvin has had at least eight targets, he has posted over 70 receiving yards in all of them.

Where am I am going with my statement regarding Ridley’s previous games with high target numbers? Well, let’s look at Ridley’s statistics in the Falcons last two football games. Over the last two games, Calvin Ridley has been targeted by Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan 22 times. Additionally, in that same two game span, Ridley had 14 receptions and 228 receiving yards.

I should also note that Falcons tight end Austin Hooper was out of the Atlanta lineup the last two weeks due to injury. I think that Ridley clearly has significantly benefited from Hooper’s absence from a fantasy perspective.

Now that Austin Hooper has been officially been ruled out by Atlanta, Ridley is a definitive lock for most of my single game contest lineups. Just one more quick note on Ridley. I think Ridley is a very interesting contrarian MVP play if you are looking to pivot away from the rest of the field in a GPP (guaranteed prize pool) contest. It really just depends on your risk tolerance.

Will Lutz $9,500

I generally am not one to go with kickers on a single game slate. However, for this game I am making an exception and going with New Orleans Saints kicker Will Lutz as one of my flex plays.

I mentioned earlier in this article that I expect the Saints to score a high number of points in this game. Having stated that, I think Lutz will have an abundance of opportunities to kick field goals and extra points on Thursday night.

Additionally, I love the fact that Lutz has illustrated recently that he has the ability to score a decent number of fantasy points on a consistent basis. An example of that consistent fantasy production is Will Lutz’s performance in his last three games. Over his last three games, Lutz has averaged 10.66 FanDuel points a game.

Russell Gauge $8,500

For my final flex play selection I am taking a chance on Atlanta wide receiver Russell Gauge. I expect the Falcons to be playing from behind the majority of Thursday night’s game. My belief regarding the game script makes all Atlanta receivers potential flex plays for my single game contest lineup. For me, Gauge is the best option among the Atlanta wide receivers at his price point.

I should also note that Gauge has shown that he can produce from a fantasy perspective. Last week’s game Russell clearly showed that he can be a reliable wide receiver for Matt Ryan. Gauge finished last week’s game with eight receptions and 76 receiving yards. I like his chances to continue his quality fantasy production on Thanksgiving.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me on Twitter at @geeversgolf.

As always, good luck in your FanDuel contests! Happy Thanksgiving!