DraftKings

DraftKings Thanksgiving DFS Picks

By Doug

Posted on November 23, 2022

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DraftKings Thanksgiving DFS Picks

Hey gang, I’ve decided for Thanksgiving this year, I’m going to win the DraftKings $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire contest. I’m going to tell you how I’ll do it and I’ll even give you my lineup, but you have to promise not to use it. I’d rather not split the one million dollars with anyone.

I’m looking for high implied points totals when I’m considering quarterbacks. Buffalo is projected to score 32 points and Dallas is projected for 27.5. Both quarterbacks are great options this week. Josh Allen has a fantastic matchup against Detroit, who is giving up 303 passing yards to opponents at home. There’s a very good chance Allen gets the three-point bonus on DK. Dak Prescott also has a good matchup and is priced $1800 cheaper than Allen. But this spot is too good to fade Allen and I think the Cowboys will have a more balanced approach offensively against the Giants. I’m not really interested in any of the other quarterbacks, so I’m going to pay up for Allen.

I like to choose running backs from teams that are favored to win, although it’s not a hard rule of mine. Opportunity is just as important as a positive game script and Saquon Barkley, Jamaal Williams and Rhamondre Stevenson are getting plenty of carries, so I have to consider them, as well. In fact, outside of Tony Pollard, none of the favored team’s running backs have much appeal. I really like Stevenson this week, but I think his ownership will be through the roof. I prefer to roster Pollard for only $200 more and probably half the ownership. The wide receivers are so good on this slate, I’m tempted to roster another cheap RB instead of going with Barkley or Dalvin Cook. It’s hard to ignore what Jamaal Williams is doing at the goal line, but I need to differentiate my lineup and I think D’Andre Swift offers a nice balance between value and upside.

Before we look at wide receiver, I want to get my tight end and defense set. The two best options at tight end are Dalton Schultz and Dawson Knox. Knox has the better matchup and costs $300 less, but I think he’s a bit too chalky for my lineup, so I’m going with the lower-owned Schultz. As for defense, I really like Dallas, but once again, I’m looking to save a few bucks and go with the cheaper option in New England.

This is where it gets difficult. I know I want to stack the Bills-Lions game, so Amon-Ra St. Brown is a lock since he’s the only Lions receiver I’m interested in. At this point, as much as I’ve tried to pay down at running back, choosing Josh Allen at his salary is making it difficult to construct the roster I want. I have two more WR slots to fill and I really want Stefon Diggs, but if I roster him, I’ll be forced to take a chance on a super-cheap receiver for the salary relief. I like Gabe Davis at $5300 and it gives me another piece of the Bills for my game stack. The problem is that leaves me with only $3100 for the FLEX. So, I’m going to pivot from Davis and add a different Bills receiver, Isaiah McKenzie, for $4000.

I have $4400 left and that leaves just enough room for James Cook. I don’t love it, but he had 11 carries last week and Buffalo could run the ball more than usual this week if the game script goes as expected. I’m actually going to switch Cook and Pollard so that Pollard is in the FLEX because of his game’s later start time.

So, there you have it, my $1,000,000 lineup that you promised at the beginning you wouldn’t use for yourself. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and good luck with your lineups!