It’s that time of year, Mad Caps. The weather has cooled, and the spirit of holiday is everywhere. Thanksgiving marks the true kick off of the “holiday season”, as well as the dash to the playoffs in the NFL. It would only make sense that a Turkey Day featuring a three game slate should get a special edition of The Infirmary…
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
CHI- QB Justin Fields– OUT (Ribs), WR Allen Robinson– OUT (Hamstring), WR Darnell Mooney– QUESTIONABLE (Foot), RB Damien Williams– QUESTIONABLE (Calf/Knee)
DET- WR Trinity Benson– QUESTIONABLE (Knee), RB Jermar Jefferson– QUESTIONABLE (Ankle/Knee)
The first, and least desirable, game of the Thanksgiving slate is shaping up to be an ugly affair. While Lions quarterback Jared Goff was removed from the injury report and is slated to start, the Bears were not so lucky. No Fields on Turkey Day is a bummer, but at least we get D’Andre Swift in this one.
Meanwhile, CEH fell down the empty elevator shaft🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/eKaGxTeWZE
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) November 17, 2021
The second year back is No. 5 in PPR scoring, and with Jamaal Williams getting work. Some didn’t think this was possible. But it is and he’s killing it; he ranks No. 4 in Snap Share at the position, and No. 1 in Targets and Receptions. Oh, and his Dominator Rating is a stellar 32.5-percent, good for No. 4 among qualified backs. He’s in for a day on Thursday.
Las Vegas Raiders at Dallas Cowboys
LV- RB Jalen Richard– QUESTIONABLE (Ribs)
DAL- WR Amari Cooper– OUT (Covid), WR CeeDee Lamb– OUT (Concussion)
The obvious issue here is the Cowboys receivers. Dallas did not play well last week against the Chiefs, and the injuries were certainly a part of it. They’ll have to rebound against the Raiders, and they still will be without both Cooper and Lamb. Michael Gallup led receivers with 10 Targets, but failed to capitalize.
Michael Gallup has struggled so far in a small sample against single-man coverage in 2021.
He gets open 35% in that scenario, 15% behind Amari Cooper and 10% behind CeeDee Lamb.
However, Dak Prescott trusts him in those spots — he has the highest targets-per-route (32%).
— Context Matters (@dwainmcfarland) November 22, 2021
Gallup has had a quiet return from IR thus far, but Dallas will need him to step up Thursday, even if the run game is working well.
Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints
BUF- WR Cole Beasley– QUESTIONABLE (Ribs)
NO- RB Alvin Kamara– OUT (Knee), RB Mark Ingram– QUESTIONABLE (Knee), TE Adam Trautman– IR (Knee)
Trautman had quietly been getting a bump up in Targets- no fewer than six the past four weeks- and finally had the game that truthers had been waiting for. And then the bad news came; he suffered an MCL sprain and will miss four to six weeks. Ugh. Double bummer. For Trevor Siemian‘s sake, and all football fans sake, let’s hope Ingram can suit up for this one after a limited practice on Wednesday; It’s another week of rest for Kamara. It may very well fall to Tony Jones and Dwayne Washington come Thursday.
CONCLUSION
The ole injury bug is playing quite the spoiler for our Thanksgiving Day football fun. More than half of the teams playing are dealing with injuries to significant players, particularly for fantasy. While this is certainly a major bummer of the highest order, it’s also Thanksgiving week; a week of giving thanks. So, let’s all bow our heads, and give thanks. We give thanks to Jonathan Taylor, and the running backs that truck the competition. We give thanks to amazing catches, and Lamar scrambling for a 40-yard touchdown. We give thanks for football. Make sure to give thanks this week, Mad Caps. And eat plenty. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
