Week 12 kicks off with a Thanksgiving tripleheader and an enhanced opportunity for more NFL DFS action. Our FanDuel lineup for Thursday's slate features a veteran signal-caller looking to bounce back after a rough performance, a couple of high-quality tight ends, and two running backs with favorable matchups.
Before we break down all of our picks and strategy, here are the most notable scoring rules for FanDuel contests: four-point passing TDs and half-point PPR.
MORE THANKSGIVING DFS: DK lineup
FanDuel Picks Week 12: Thanksgiving NFL DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Thursday main slate, $60,000 budget
QB Kirk Cousins, Vikings vs. Patriots ($7,400). Cousins had a horrible performance last week against the Cowboys, scoring a season-low 2.2 FanDuel points in a 40-3 blowout loss. It doesn't get any easier on Thanksgiving night against a Patriots' defense allowing the 12th-fewest FanDuel points per game to QBs. However, Cousins had posted at least 16.5 points in his previous four games, including 17.5 against Buffalo's stout defense in Week 10. As long as the Vikings can protect him, he should post a solid line, as he has the weapons around him to have a big performance. He'll likely be low owned, so we'll take the chance on him.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Vikings ($7,200). The second-year running back needs to be in your FanDuel lineup for Thanksgiving. Stevenson is averaging 14.3 FanDuel points per game and has gone over his season average in five out of his past six games. The young running back did not have a lot of success on the ground last week against the Jets (26 yards on 15 carries), but he still scored 11.2 FanDuel points thanks to six receptions and 56 receiving yards. Stevenson should thrive in this matchup against the Vikings' defense, who got torched by Tony Pollard last week and have allowed the 10th-most FanDuel points per game to RBs (21.6) this season.
SINGLE-GAME DFS: Bills-Lions | Giants-Cowboys | Pats-Vikings
RB Devin Singletary, Bills @ Lions ($6,900). Singletary is one of my favorite plays on the Thanksgiving slate. He's turned in back-to-back double-digit performances and scored three rushing touchdowns in that span. In last week's game against the Browns, Singletary ran for a season-high 86 yards and scored a touchdown on 18 carries. We should expect to see more of the same from him against the Lions, who allow the ninth-most FanDuel points per game to RBs (21.6).
WEEK 12 DFS: Best values
WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys vs. Giants ($7,900). Lamb did not do a ton in the Cowboys' 40-3 blowout win last week, scoring just seven FanDuel points. However, that should not deter DFS players from playing him on Thanksgiving. In Dallas' first meeting against the Giants in Week 3, Lamb posted 18.7 FanDuel points (eight receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown) with Cooper Rush under center. On Thanksgiving, Lamb will catch passes from Dak Prescott, who has made an effort to get him the ball. The Giants' defense has been solid this season, only allowing the fifth-fewest FanDuel points per game to WRs (22.7) this season. However, with Adoree Jackson not in the lineup, it would not be a surprise to see the Cowboys attack that side of the field with Lamb.
WEEK 12 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
WR Gabriel Davis, Bills @ Lions ($7,200). Davis is a big-play machine in the Bills' offense and has a great matchup this week. The young wide receiver has put together solid back-to-back outings after starting November with 4.3 FanDuel points against the Jets. Last week against the Browns, Davis scored 9.3 FanDuel points and the previous week had 18.3 FanDuel points and a TD vs. the Vikings. He now gets to see a Detroit defense that has allowed the fourth-most yards to WRs and the fifth-most FanDuel points per game to WRs this season. Stefon Diggs will be the top option in this matchup, but don't forget about Davis, who doesn't need a ton of volume to put up points.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
WR Darius Slayton, Giants @ Cowboys ($6,400). With Wan'Dale Robinson (knee) out, Slayton should get the majority of the targets on Thanksgiving. Slayton has scored double-digit FanDuel points three times and produced at least 50 receiving yards in four-straight games. Dallas allows the 14th-fewest FanDuel points per game to WRs this season. However, it's also given up 10 touchdowns to WRs, so Slayton can still produce, making him a solid value at his price.
TE T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Pats ($6,300). Hockenson has the highest salary among TEs on Thursday's slate, which makes sense given his favorable matchup against the Patriots. The Patriots allow the second-most touchdowns (7) and the eighth-most FanDuel points per game to TEs (10.6) this year. It's a great spot for the veteran tight end, who is looking to bounce back after scoring 5.9 FanDuel points last week to the Cowboys.
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
FLEX Dalton Schultz, Cowboys vs. Giants ($5,800). At flex, we considered D'Andre Swift, Adam Thielen, and Michael Gallup in this price range, but they've all had low floors lately. Instead, we opted for Schultz, who is averaging 6.3 targets per game and becoming the Cowboys' No. 2 receiving option behind Lamb. The vet tight end has produced 10 or more FanDuel points in two out of his past four games and has performed considerably better with Dak Prescott under center. He will look to add to that against a Giants' defense that has allowed 9.4 FanDuel points per game to TEs this season (16th most). It's not the perfect matchup for Schultz, but with the amount of attention that Lamb and Tony Pollard get in the passing game, Schultz could make some noise in the middle of the field.
DEF Patriots @ Vikings ($3,000). The Bills' defense has had its share of injuries this season, but somehow, it still finds a way to be a factor in NFL DFS. They should have a better performance on Thanksgiving, as Lions QB Jared Goff has thrown seven interceptions this season, with three coming at home.
