When it comes to Thanksgiving Day NFL DFS RBs, there isn’t much wiggle room when deciding who to include in your DFS lineups, considering you only have six teams’ rosters to choose from. However, we can all make informed decisions that will help us win some cash ahead of Black Friday.

As has been the case all season long, potential injuries to NFL DFS RBs will influence our NFL DFS lineup construction. The good news is that there certainly are a few Week 13 NFL DFS RBs playing on Thanksgiving Day who can help you build a competitive NFL DFS lineup this week. Have a great Thanksgiving, and I hope it’s a profitable one! 

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Top Picks For Thanksgiving Day

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions - DraftKings: $8,800 | FanDuel: $9,500 

Gibbs has sure enjoyed feasting on Thanksgiving Day home-cooked meals at Detroit’s Ford Field during his short career. He’s averaged 7.05 YPC over the past two Thanksgivings. While he’s enjoyed success wherever he plays, Gibbs does especially enjoy playing at home. He averages 6.28 career YPC when playing at home, and 5.07 YPC when playing on the road. His home (8.31 YPC) and road (4.44 YPC) splits have been even more pronounced this season. Gibbs takes on the Green Bay Packers, who kept him in check in Week 1, but he scored a TD in each of his two meetings against the Pack last season. 

Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens - DraftKings: $7,300 | FanDuel: $8,800 

Henry’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals doesn’t start until 8:20 PM EST, so he should be able to sneak in an early afternoon Thanksgiving Day meal. However, I hope he leaves room for a huge Thanksgiving night feast because the Bengals have been setting bountiful tables filled with huge helpings of rushing yards and rushing TDs for NFL DFS RBs all season long. The Bengals have given up the highest PPR fantasy points per game average and the second most rushing yards to NFL DFS RBs this season. Henry has scored three rushing TDs in his last two games, and with the Bengals giving up 5.13 YPC, he should be able to gobble up plenty of rushing yards and fantasy points. Henry should have a huge game against the Bengals and will likely ultimately and appropriately show much gratitude to the Bengals' defense if all goes according to plan.

Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals - DraftKings: $6,500 | FanDuel: $7,200 

Brown has been on a tear of late, averaging 5.8 YPC and just under four catches per game over his last six matchups. He takes on a Baltimore Ravens team that had trouble stopping the run earlier this season. However, over their last five games, they’ve given up the fourth fewest average PPR fantasy points to NFL DFS RBs. On a positive note, Brown has scored a touchdown (1 receiving, 1 rushing) in each of his last two meetings against the Ravens. The volume will be there, but whether Brown can stop the Ravens’ recent trend of limiting NFL DFS RB production remains to be seen. Putting Brown in your DFS lineup comes with some risk, but that is built into his relatively affordable DFS salary.

Javonte Williams RB, Dallas Cowboys - DraftKings: $6,300 | FanDuel: $7,800 

Like Brown, using Williams in DFS comes with some risk, and a case can be made for both using and avoiding him in DFS on Thanksgiving Day. As with Brown, and on a positive note, you’ll get plenty of volume from Williams, and he averages just over 22 more rushing yards per game when playing at home. Sadly, he takes on the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day, and for all of the problems they’ve had this season, the Chiefs have been very tough on NFL DFS RBs. They’ve given up the third fewest rushing yards (806) and the third fewest rushing TDs (5) to NFL DFS RBs this season. Williams did shine against a very good Denver Broncos run defense in Week 8, scoring over 17 fantasy points on both the DraftKings and FanDuel platforms, but despite rushing for a very respectable 4.6 YPC, he hasn’t scored a TD in his last three games. Williams’ floor is fairly low, but his ceiling for Week 13 is pretty high. Whether or not you start him in Week 13 depends on your risk tolerance and level of optimism. 

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Thanksgiving Day Fades & Turkeys 

Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers - DraftKings: $6,800 | FanDuel: $8,500

Jacobs was inactive in Week 12 due to a knee injury but is expected to play on Thanksgiving Day. He’ll be facing a very tough Detroit Lions run defense that has been very stingy to NFL DFS RBs all season long. The Lions have given up the second-fewest average PPR fantasy points per game and the third-fewest rushing TDs (5). They also haven’t given up a single receiving TD to an NFL DFS RB this season. Emanuel Wilson did a great job filling in for Jacobs in Week 12 (107 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs), and there is a concern that he and Jacobs might split carries in Week 13 if Jacobs’ recent health woes won’t allow him to take on a full load on Thanksgiving Day.

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs - DraftKings: $5,000 | FanDuel: $5,500

Pacheco will see his first game action since Week 8. From a human standpoint, I’m happy that his knee has healed to the point where he’ll be active on Thanksgiving, but as someone who’s constructing an NFL DFS lineup, I wish Kareem Hunt had another chance at being the Chiefs’ lead back. It’s been a tough year for Pacheco. He does have a respectable 4.2 YPC average for the season, but he’s only had one rushing TD and one receiving TD.  Pacheco has only had two games in which he’s scored double-digit fantasy points on both the DraftKings and FanDuel platforms. Hunt, on the other hand, is riding a four-game TD and double-digit fantasy point scoring streak. We’re not sure if Pacheco will be on a snap count on Thanksgiving, but Week 13 will likely be a tough one for any Chiefs NFL DFS RB. The Cowboys have been very tough against the run of late, allowing just 2.26 YPC to NFL DFS RBs over the past two weeks.
 

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