DraftKings NFL: Thanksgiving Day DFS fantasy football values

DraftKings NFL picks for the Thanksgiving DFS slate, especially after Ravens-Steelers being postponed.

More than ever, we look forward to sitting down and giving thanks for the good in life, football included — and DraftKings DFS fantasy football just as much so. Our tables may have fewer chairs around them this year, but we’re filled with gratitude for three two Thanksgiving Day games to enjoy before, during, and after our courses of turkey and pies.

COVID-19 is also limiting the number of football games we’ll see this Thanksgiving. We kick off our Thanksgiving breakdown by recommending replacements from the other two games on the DraftKings NFL Thanksgiving slate in order to help those with existing lineups escape their quagmire.

First, we start with the game that won’t be played until Sunday.

Ravens at Steelers (Postponed) — DraftKings Thanksgiving replacements

This week’s game in Pittsburgh between the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens has been postponed until Sunday afternoon at 1PM due to at least 10 positive coronavirus cases up and down the Ravens’ roster. If you already set your DraftKings lineup, be sure to take out all Ravens and Steelers.

DraftKings has published the following note on entries that were submitted prior to the postponement:

"“POSTPONED GAME: The Ravens vs. Steelers game has been postponed. Players will NOT receive fantasy points in Thursday (11/26) MAIN and TIERS contests, please check your lineups!”"

We understand the decision, as another late-breaking cancellation would leave DraftKings managers high and dry, unable to backfill those dead lineup spots. Those hoping to capitalize on great values in the form of Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Diontae Johnson, and others will have to pursue other options, especially with the Steelers and Ravens game omitted from the Sunday or Sunday/Monday slates.

We make the best of the situation and give thanks for the two games we do get to watch. We start with our replacement recommendations, then break down each of those games and highlight our picks for the best bargains and values.

At quarterback, those who planned to start Lamar Jackson ($6,800) or Ben Roethlisberger ($6,600) should consider paying up for Deshaun Watson (HOU at DET, $7,400). Those who also had Mark Andrews, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, or even JuJu Smith-Schuster in their lineups can easily find some extra cash to do so; see our relevant replacement recommendations for those players below.

Running back Gus Edwards ($4,000) was a great target after JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram tested positive; many DraftKings enthusiasts took a chance on Justice Hill, but many more surely hopped on the Gus Bus. Time to get off at the next stop on the Bargainville Line: Tony Pollard (DAL vs. WAS, $4,000) is an inferior play, but he offers upside as long as Ezekiel Elliott continues to play on a hamstring that’s less than 100 percent.

James Conner ($6,200) was a bit of a bold play at his price but was clearly the best option of the five available Steelers running backs. We recommend swapping Antonio Gibson (WAS at DAL, $6,000) in for Conner, or Duke Johnson (HOU at DET, $5,700) if the rookie from Memphis is already in your lineup.

Those who started Diontae Johnson ($6,200), Chase Claypool ($6,100), and JuJu Smith-Schuster ($5,900) can pay up for Will Fuller (HOU at DET, $6,400), especially if it means changing out the Steelers defense for any other unit. Those who started any of these three and the Ravens defense can likewise free up cash by downgrading at the position; any option except the Washington Football Team will do the trick.

Alternatively, Brandin Cooks (HOU at DET, $5,300) makes a ton of sense at his price. Those who started Marquise Brown ($4,700), Willie Snead ($4,300), Devin Duvernay , or Miles Boykin ($3,000) should consider Michael Gallup (WAS at DAL, $3,500), Steven Sims, Jr. (WAS at DAL, $3,200), or Quintez Cephus (DET vs. HOU, $3,100).

Unfortunately, the Ravens/Steelers postponement also robs DraftKings fanatics of the slate’s top two tight end values. Those with Mark Andrews ($5,200) or Eric Ebron ($4,100) could take a chance on the dinged-up T.J. Hockenson (DET vs. HOU, $4,700), but we’d rather free up cash by taking Dalton Schultz (DAL vs. WAS, $3,800) or Logan Thomas (WAS at DAL, $3,500) and pay up elsewhere.

We break down the other two games to help you field a winning lineup from the best of what’s left. We start with the first game: the Houston Texans at Detroit Lions, which kicks off at 12:30 PM EST.