Boom or Bench: Thanksgiving week start/sit fantasy tips

Boom or Bench provides insight and analysis to help you handle your difficult fantasy football starting lineup decisions every week.

🦃 = Thanksgiving Day game

QB: Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence at Titans

Despite recording three interceptions against the Cardinals, Lawrence delivered one of his best fantasy performances of the season. The 26-year-old finished as QB7, throwing for 256 yards and a trio of touchdowns in a resiliant showing.

Lawrence has a more advantageous matchup this week against a Titans defense that has allowed almost as many yards, surrendered one more touchdown, and has forced fewer turnovers than Arizona. Tennessee is also giving up more points per game, meaning Lawrence has a good chance to turn in another solid fantasy performance.

Projection: 233 passing yards, 2 TDs, 41 rushing yards

Other QBs primed to boom:

• Broncos' Bo Nix at Commanders

• Cardinals' Jacoby Brissett at Buccaneers

RB: Chiefs' Kareem Hunt at Cowboys 🦃

Hunt has received a big uptick in snaps and usage over the last three games, playing at least 71% of the offensive snaps and earning a minimum of 13 touches in each contest. The increased volume has boosted his fantasy value. The veteran tailback produced his best fantasy outing of the year in the Chiefs' overtime win over the Colts on Sunday, scoring 18.5 half-PPR points.

The Cowboys rank around the middle of the pack in rushing yards allowed to tailbacks this season, but they've struggled at containing running backs as receivers. Only two teams are conceding more receiving yards to the position, and just five have allowed fewer receiving scores. That should give Hunt the chance to have a balanced but impactful Thanksgiving.

Projection: 69 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards, 3 receptions, TD

RB: Broncos' RJ Harvey at Commanders

Harvey had an underwhelming outing in Week 11, his first week as the Broncos' top running back following J.K. Dobbins' injury. However, he should bounce back in the upcoming matchup. Washington has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and 11th-most receiving yards to tailbacks this campaign. The Commanders have also conceded 11 scrimmage touchdowns to opposing backs.

Plus, Harvey has already shown he can produce explosive games. He posted 23.6 half-PPR points against the Cowboys, and he had two other double-digit performances while sharing the backfield with Dobbins earlier this year.

Projection: 80 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards, 2 receptions, TD

Other RBs primed to boom:

• Steelers' Jaylen Warren vs. Bills

• Bears' Kyle Monangai at Eagles

WR: Giants' Wan'Dale Robinson at Patriots

You would be forgiven for thinking it was Bijan and not Wan'Dale Robinson who scored 26.1 fantasy points versus the Lions. The former second-rounder tallied 156 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions in his most recent outing, finishing as one of the top fantasy wide receivers for the week.

Considering only the Cowboys have surrendered more receiving touchdowns to wide receivers this season than the Patriots, Robinson has a good shot of posting another strong line. The 24-year-old has also been a focal point of the Giants' offense recently, drawing at least nine targets in five of his last six games. A similar target volume should lead Robinson to find the end zone.

Projection: 87 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD

WR: Packers' Christian Watson at Lions 🦃

Watson is arguably the Packers player with the best opportunity to contribute significant fantasy points to your team this week. The Lions sit tied with the Patriots near the bottom of the league in touchdowns allowed to wide receivers this season, making this a favorable matchup for him. Additionally, Watson has been one of Green Bay's better scoring threats in recent weeks.

Watson has a good opportunity not only to score a touchdown but also to rack up major yardage. Detroit's secondary has struggled to stay healthy this season, resulting in plenty of snaps for the backups and the Lions allowing the 12th-most receiving yards to wideouts.

Projection: 91 receiving yards, 5 receptions, TD

Other WRs primed to boom:

• Cardinals' Michael Wilson at Buccaneers

• Jaguars' Parker Washington at Titans

TE: Ravens' Mark Andrews vs. Bengals 🦃

Five teams have allowed seven touchdowns to tight ends this year, the second-highest total in the league. The Bengals, however, stand alone at the bottom, having surrendered 13 scores to the position in 11 contests. Andrews has found the end zone in three of his last four games, including twice against the Dolphins. He's well-positioned to add to his tally on Thanksgiving.

Andrews could also be set up for one of his biggest yardage performances of the year, with Cincinnati giving up 163 more yards to tight ends than the next closest team. Lamar Jackson has thrown for at least 290 yards and four touchdowns in his last two outings against the Bengals, and we could see a similar outing Thursday.

Projection: 88 receiving yards, 7 receptions, TD

Other TEs primed to boom:

• Giants' Theo Johnson at Patriots

• Texans' Dalton Schultz at Colts

QB: Seahawks' Sam Darnold vs. Vikings

The Vikings have been great at keeping quarterbacks in check all season, ranking seventh in passing yards allowed per game (186.1) and tied for ninth in passing touchdowns conceded (14). Minnesota is also tied for 12th in team sacks with 27.

Darnold, meanwhile, is having an up-and-down fantasy season that's been largely reliant on favorable matchups. In the past four weeks, he's posted QB5 and QB11 finishes against poor defenses but dropped to QB26 and QB25 versus stronger units. We're more likely to see another disappointing performance in Week 13.

Projection: 203 passing yards, TD, INT

Other QBs to bench:

• Colts' Daniel Jones vs. Texans

• Panthers' Bryce Young vs. Rams

RB: Packers' Emanuel Wilson at Lions 🦃

Wilson had an excellent Week 12, finishing as fantasy's RB2 after a 125-yard, two-touchdown outing with Josh Jacobs sidelined. Jacobs opened this week as a limited participant in practice and could find his way back into the lineup, but fantasy managers should bench Wilson regardless.

When Jacobs has played, Wilson hasn't finished better than RB21 this season. If Jacobs remains sidelined, though, Wilson will be facing a Lions defense that's been excellent at limiting running backs. Detroit ranks in the top 10 in fewest rushing yards, touchdowns, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns allowed to running backs in 2025.

Projection: 36 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards, 2 receptions

RB: Vikings' Aaron Jones at Seahawks

I'd also shy away from Jones' running mate Jordan Mason this week. The Seahawks rank fourth in fewest rushing yards allowed per game, second in rushing yards surrendered to tailbacks, and only two teams have given up fewer rushing scores to the position.

Given J.J. McCarthy's recent struggles, Seattle will likely dedicate even more resources to stopping the run than usual. McCarthy has thrown two interceptions in each of the last two games and has failed to surpass 150 yards in three of his previous four outings. With the Vikings' aerial attack sputtering, expect the Seahawks to aggressively defend the run to force McCarthy to win the game through the air.

Projection: 37 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, 3 receptions

Other RBs to bench:

• Titans' Tony Pollard/Tyjae Spears vs. Jaguars

• Panthers' Chuba Hubbard vs. Rams

WR: Saints' Chris Olave at Dolphins

Olave may still warrant flex consideration based on sheer volume, but I'm not convinced he'll achieve even that threshold against the Dolphins. Miami has allowed the fewest receiving yards to wide receivers, and only two teams have given up fewer receptions to opposing wideouts.

And while the Dolphins have been solid against receivers, they've been atrocious at stopping opposing ground attacks. Only three teams have conceded more rushing yards per game than the Dolphins. As a result, I expect Devin Neal - and Alvin Kamara, if he's healthy - to get a lot of work in this one.

Projection: 61 receiving yards, 5 receptions

WR: 49ers' Jauan Jennings at Browns

Taking on the Browns, Jennings faces his most challenging matchup since his 6.5-point half-PPR game against the Texans in Week 8. Cleveland's defense has given up the second-fewest receptions and the third-fewest receiving yards to wideouts.

Jennings hasn't been especially great this year, either. The 28-year-old has gone over 50 yards just twice, and he's failed to reach double-digit half-PPR points in any game where he hasn't scored a touchdown. To make matters worse, Myles Garrett will be ready to make Brock Purdy's day a nightmare.

Projection: 39 receiving yards, 4 receptions

Other WRs to bench:

• Seahawks' Rashid Shaheed vs. Vikings

• Raiders' Tre Tucker at Chargers

TE: Chargers' Oronde Gadsden vs. Raiders

Gadsden started to cool down before the Chargers' Week 12 bye, despite facing some of the league's softer defenses when it comes to preventing tight ends from scoring fantasy points. He combined for just 54 yards on five receptions over his last two games.

Now, the rookie faces a Raiders team that's among the best in the NFL at shutting down tight ends. Las Vegas' defense has allowed the fifth-fewest yards, the fourth-fewest receptions, and is tied for the fifth-fewest touchdowns surrendered to the position.

Projection: 33 receiving yards, 2 receptions

Other TEs to bench:

• Commanders' Zach Ertz vs. Broncos

• Jets' Mason Taylor vs. Falcons

Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.