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Erickson: NFL Week 12 fantasy football start 'em or sit 'em Thanksgiving edition

Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12 of the fantasy football season presents us with a treat — and, no, it’s the sweet potato casserole grandma made. We’ve got a three-game slate of football action queued up for Turkey Day with a variety of different matchups.

Editor's note: This article was published before the cancellation of the Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Be sure to stay on top of fantasy football Week 12 by checking out PFF Fantasy's rankingsprojections, strength of schedule toolWR/CB matchup charts and DFS lineup optimizer!

The Houston Texans and Detroit Lions look prime to be a shootout; the Washington Football Team and Dallas Cowboys are going head-to-head for cashing the division lead; and it’s all topped off with the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers looking to stay unbeaten against the Baltimore Ravens

The hours leading up to kickoff are sure to be busy, so I've crafted a special edition of the start ‘em or sit ‘em column just for the Thursday games that will highlight the day's start/sit decisions and offer a few DFS takes. Here’s hoping my recommendations “gobble gobble” all the touchdowns scores. 

So, without further ado, prepare for the first edition of the PFF fantasy football start ‘em or sit ‘em: Thanksgiving edition. 

QUARTERBACKS

START: MATTHEW STAFFORD, DETROIT LIONS

Deshaun Watson should be the priority option at quarterback to play in DFS, but he's the most expensive quarterback on DraftKings ($7,400) because he is in such a great spot. 

Matthew Stafford ($5,800) is the perfect salary saver — he gets a fantastic matchup versus the Houston Texans’ defense. The last five quarterbacks they have played — excluding Week 10’s extreme weather game in Cleveland — have averaged 323 passing yards and 29.8 fantasy points.

Stafford’s prospects diminish if Kenny Golladay can’t play, but even without his alpha wideout in Week 10, the Lions’ quarterback was still able to throw for 276 yards and three touchdowns. 

He’s also been great in games at home all season — he's thrown for three touchdowns in each of his last three starts in Detroit.

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