You’ve survived the opening salvo of the holiday season. You had the meal. Remnants are everywhere: mashed potatoes drying to the sides of a serving bowl, a skeletonized turkey carcass missing the wishbone, a single piece of pie sideways in the foil tin because no one wants to be That Guy, dribbles of gravy on every surface. There’s a gigantic pile of dishes in the kitchen for someone else to do. Join Uncle Harvey in the living room for the second leg of the NFL’s first annual “John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration.” The Thanksgiving late game on FOX features the New York Giants headed to JerryWorld to face the Cowboys. The winner keeps pace in the NFC East, while the loser could find themselves behind in the playoff race. So grab a cold one with Harv, and let’s graze on the NFL’s second offering of the day.

Note: All point totals and rankings are PPR unless otherwise noted. Odds and betting information are courtesy Quarter4.

Thanksgiving Late Game Preview: Giants’ Offense

Since winning six of their first seven games, the Giants have now lost two of three. They’re coming off a costly loss at home to the Detroit Lions in Week 11. Although Daniel Jones cleared 300 passing yards for the first time this season and ran for a score, injuries and an ineffective offensive line stymied the run game and limited the damage to mostly yardage as opposed to points. The Giants nevertheless come into the Thanksgiving late game with one of the NFC’s best records. They have everything still to play for this season. And although the going looks to be rough, there may be some hope for fantasy managers of Big Blue as well.

Here’s perhaps the biggest problem facing the Giants:

Check out this clip from @RealCaptainLou ft. @SttChaseFFB from @BellyUpFantasy as they talk #OnePride domination of the New York Giants pic.twitter.com/rR7R5OCyNR

— Belly Up Media (@BellyUpMedia) November 23, 2022

The Giants’ wide receiver room is a mess of injuries and attitudes. Kadarius Toney was traded to Kansas City at the deadline. Sterling Shepard, Collin Johnson, and Wan’Dale Robinson are all on IR. Kenny Golladay may still be employed by the New York Football Giants, but he no longer plays “for” them, if you catch my drift. On top of that, the offensive line is facing about the same level of injury devastation as the wideouts are. So, Chase, where is this “hope” of which you speak (type?) Where can it be found in the Thanksgiving late game? Glad you asked.

Giants’ Offense Big Question

I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. And I’m saying it now. Daniel Jones is a very good running quarterback. He’s in the top-five of every quarterback rushing category this season and is coming off a 50-yard, one touchdown performance against Detroit. The injuries along the line aren’t good for him; he’s going to be under duress from a Dallas defense that leads the league in pressure rate and sacks. But he’s also uniquely qualified to evade that pass rush. I expect the Giants to trail in this game, and with a banged-up line failing to give Saquon Barkley many running lanes, New York is going to throw. Jones should see a good number of pass attempts, and will undoubtedly have to run in this one. I have Jones as a low-end QB1/high QB2 this week, albeit a risky one.

And from the ashes of the dumpster fire in the wide receiver room, Darius Slayton has risen like a phoenix. Despite every effort by the Giants to make Slayton a career non-factor, he’s emerged as their top receiving option. While it’s partly because he’s literally the last one standing, it’s also due to increased quality of play. Slayton has hit double-digit fantasy scores in five of his last six games and scored touchdowns in two of his last four. I have him as a WR4/FLEX play this week, but I like him as a cheap DFS option the rest of the season, especially in more favorable matchups than this one. Outside Barkley (my RB3; they have to pass to him more eventually, don’t they?) and Graham Gano (don’t let last week fool you, he’s a starting fantasy kicker), Slayton is the only useable non-QB fantasy piece for New York here.

Thanksgiving Late Game Preview: Cowboys’ Offense

When you’re hot, you’re hot. After a narrow overtime loss to the lowly Packers (it’s still weird to say that), the Cowboys came out last week and put a Texas-sized whoopin’ on the Minnesota Vikings. When the dust and smoke finally cleared, the Cowboys rode out of US Bank Stadium with the largest road win in franchise history. The ‘Boys sacked Kirk Cousins seven times, held Minnesota to just 1-11 on third downs, and surrendered less than 200 total yards. Tony Pollard had a big day, sharing rush attempts equally with Ezekiel Elliott but outgaining him almost two-to-one, and catching all six of his targets for 109 yards and a pair of long scores. Elliott got his, however, scoring two rushing touchdowns for the second straight game (“straight” with a month between games played for Zeke, but still…)

Cowboys’ Offense Big Question

The Giants are not a good defense, which means they’re a good defense from a fantasy standpoint when you’re playing against them. The Giants are 24th and 29th against opposing fantasy quarterbacks and wide receivers, respectively. Starting Giants’ cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is out, and a host of safeties are questionable or out. Dak Prescott should be able to find CeeDee Lamb, Dalton Schultz, Pollard, et.al. for plenty of success through the air. I have Dak as my QB9 this week as he should carve up the Giants like a turkey (gratuitous holiday simile for you, there. #EnglishDegree) Lamb and Schultz are both top-10 plays. Pollard should continue to have success on the ground and in the air, and should continue to out-snap Elliott. I have Pollard as a borderline RB1 this week, while Zeke checks in as a FLEX play. He can’t score twice in every game, after all.

Betting Lines (Courtesy of Quarter4):

Favorite: Cowboys (-8.5)

Over/Under: 47.5

Notable Props: Trevon Diggs passes defended (1.3); Saquon Barkley rush attempts (18.6); Barkley receptions (2.6)

Challenge Chase!

Ever wonder how you stack up against the experts? Now’s your chance to find out! You can use teams you’ve already drafted to take me on for weekly bragging rights with Flex Fantasy. Visit https://www.flex.fan/bellyup to sign up and challenge me, as I’ll be using lineups from my own home leagues. You can play for fun, play for money, or play for both! Look for SttChaseFFB’s teams in the Flex Fantasy Arena and sign up today. I promise I won’t rub it in (much) when I win. Got something to say? Leave a comment below, follow me on Twitter @SttChaseFFB, and catch me on the Belly Up Fantasy Live podcast Sundays and Wednesdays all season long. Happy Thanksgiving, and Slàinte!