Welcome to the NFL DFS Playbook for Thanksgiving Day!
With regard to the Thanksgiving Day games, we've got quite the slate in front of us. Some might scoff at the appetizer – Lions/Bears – but I have a feeling this game pops a little more than many expect. Your midday classic between the Cowboys and Raiders should be interesting as Dallas needs a rebound game again while the Raiders need to stop the bleeding as they've lost three in a row and could be spiraling out of control. And then, of course, there's the nightcap – Bills/Saints. Buffalo is also in need of another bounce-back game while the Saints are still waiting to find out if they even have a backfield as both Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram are dealing with knee issues. There's a lot going in in each of the three games, so hopefully, we don't have any duds and the action stays exciting throughout the day.
With the slate being just three games, let me remind you that I do not play cash games on short slates. There is too much overlap of players which ultimately raises the paylines. You'll see more lineup trains than ever and it becomes extremely difficult to cash. GPP tournaments are a different story. I love playing tournaments on Thanksgiving Day! If you are not a big GPP player, then this is your time to have some fun. You don't have to, nor should you, play too heavy with your bankroll, but having some skin in all three games always makes it a little more exciting while you're scarfing down Aunt Susie's Jell-O mold or your grandma's famous candied yams.
Before we get to the Playbook players, allow me to remind you what you should be doing leading up this step in your research.
Step 1: Check out the DFS Position Coaches
QB Coach – Jon Impemba (@jimpemba777)
RB Coach -- Justin Vreeland (@JustinVreeland)
WR Coach -- Colby Conway (@colbyrconway)
TE Coach -- Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco)
D/ST Coach -- Dan Malin (@RealDANlanta)
Step 2: Check out the rest of the relevant DFS content
In addition to the positional coaching pieces, you also have things like the DFS Watch List, where I provide you with a list of players I am looking at throughout the week. We have the NFL DFS Podcast with me and Jon Impemba, who also does the Contrarian Corner video and check out the DFS Bargains from our newest #FAmily member Tera Roberts (@ItsTeraTime).
Also, our Master of Tools, Matt Selz (@theselzman), supplies you data junkies with the Weekly Match-Up Report and everyone should also be checking out the WR/CB Match-Up Report from Ryan Hallam (@fightingchance).
Step 3: Make your own list of players
It's real easy to just sit and wait for the Playbook, but as you are doing your research throughout the week, it is important to make notes and list the players who interest you the most. Maybe they end up in the Playbook and maybe they don't. If they're there, then great, it should mean we are honing in on the same things that make him a strong play. If not, maybe you're onto something else that someone overlooked. We aren't perfect and if you uncover something different, maybe you're right. I would be careful of routine groupthink and hype from beat writers, but often times someone will tell me something they saw about their local team that I missed and I am always looking to investigate more if its there. If you do, then say something in our Fantasy Alarm Discord Chat,. Talk it out and see what the rest of the #FAmily thinks. That's why the chat is there, isn't it?
With those three steps complete and discussions are in progress, you are ready to look at the Playbook players, make comparisons and finalize your list for lineups, so let's get to it.
How about one final step before we actually begin?
CHECK FOR LATE CHANGES TO THE PLAYBOOK
Every now and again, we throw in a late add to the Playbook. More often than not, a late add is done for cash game play as we are seeing higher-than-expected ownership on a bargain player. These can, often times, become a “free square." If the ownership is high, it won't matter if the players succeeds or not. It's about keeping pace with the masses and watching out for lineup trains. We won't recommend if we don't believe in the player, so if you see one, understand the major reasoning behind it.
Also, keep in mind, because we are playing only GPP tournaments, there will be no Dart Board for this slate. The players in the Playbook will cover all of the pricing tiers and these will be the only players I will use for my lineups.
OK. Now we're ready? Let's get to it…
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