DLF Roundtable: Players (and More) We Are Thankful For

It’s Thanksgiving week – the turkey is in the brine, untold numbers of potatoes are waiting to be boiled or roasted, and bread everywhere is being dried and crumbled for stuffing. More than that, though, we’re thinking about all the things we are thankful for, big and small.

It also just happens to be the last week of the regular fantasy season in many leagues. If your team is in good shape, there’s likely a player or two you feel particularly thankful to have on your roster. In the spirit of the holiday, we thought we’d ask our team what players they are most thankful for this fantasy season. Let’s get to it!

Jarvis Landry, WR CLE

It’s hard to argue this season has gone as expected for the Browns. Landry, however, has found a way to again be a WR2 despite their offensive woes. He may not be a sexy option, but you can always count on his floor allowing you to play riskier options elsewhere in your lineups. – Bobby Koch

Lamar Jackson, QB BAL

Only once through week 11 has Lamar Jackson been held to under 21 fantasy points, and he has scored at least 30 points in half of his games played. Given the price to acquire him initially was an early seventh-round pick in 12-team superflex leagues (per DLF ADP archives back to July 2018,) Jackson has surpassed even the most optimistic expectations to become the best fantasy quarterback in dynasty. I’m thankful I bought in early enough in multiple leagues. – Jaron Foster

Kyler Murray, QB ARI

Much like Lamar Jackson the season prior, Murray needed to overcome doubts that he’d sustain his Heisman winning play in the pros, and so far he’s done that and then some. Murray has scored the sixth-most fantasy points in the NFL according to FantasyData (219.92) and is averaging approximately 20 points per game. Of course, he’s been heating up in his last three games (76.5 points, 25.5 points per game), and his blend of mobility, running, and ability to throw into all kinds of windows off-balance makes him a special talent on the rise. As a fantasy owner, I am extremely thankful for Murray. – Johnny Kinsley

DJ Moore, WR CAR

I’m also thankful for Moore. I recently traded for him and he’s been paying off for my team. He’s climbed up in his last four games, and he’s found himself inside the top 20 for fantasy receivers (18th, with 109.8 points). In the last three weeks, Moore has accumulated 46.9 fantasy points, including a monster game against the Saints in Week 12 (25.4). – Johnny Kinsley

Leonard Fournette, RB JAX

Lots of people love Thanksgiving leftovers, and Fournette feels like the delicious cold turkey sandwich on black Friday morning. Left for dead and labeled “injury-prone” by much of the fantasy community, Fournette was looking at an ADP of 34th overall as the RB16 as last season came to an end. Through ten games in 2019, Fournette is currently RB8, has the fifth-most receptions among running backs, and is third in touches. The only thing holding him back is a lack of touchdowns, as Fournette has only gotten into the end zone once all season. If we see a little positive regression with touchdowns to close out the year, he’s going to be a key piece on many championship rosters. – John Di Bari

Christian McCaffrey, RB CAR

With over 1,500 yards and 14 TDs in ten games, I am most thankful for McCaffrey. He’s been one of the few players who has produced exactly what you drafted him for. Stepping up to the Thanksgiving table, Run-CMC is the turkey – the main course and the reason you are at Thanksgiving dinner. – Dwight Peebles

Leonard Fournette, RB JAX

A lot of people predicted Christian McCaffrey, Michael Thomas, and others were going to be studs this year, but the community was very divided on Leonard Fournette. Being “pro-Fournette” this off-season, I’m thankful he has played well because he was one of the players who was going to make me look smart or silly this year. – Kyle Holden

Darren Waller, TE OAK

In the massive wasteland that is the fantasy tight end position, Waller’s emergence as a top-six TE week in, week out has paid dividends for his fantasy teams. Having an incredible comeback story makes it all the more fun to cheer him on, and the cheap summer acquisition price (TE32 in June/July) helps too! – Tan Ho

Terry McLaurin, WR WAS

While this decision pokes hard at my inner Penn State fan, I have to roll with the former Buckeye here. In short, I’m thankful for McLaurin because despite his paltry collegiate production, I went all-in on him in the off-season (100% ownership across leagues), didn’t have to pay much (third-round pick, or even a fourth in superflex and/or IDP leagues), and he’s already been able to show the traits of a weekly starter. Seldom do all these factors manage to coalesce, and regardless of how my teams fare over the next several weeks, I now have what I believe to be another foundational piece across all my rosters. It’s hard to stay good in dynasty football without at least a few young studs, and if you can get them without paying a premium it’s just gravy (terrible holiday pun intended). – Eric Hardter

Darren Waller, TE OAK

I drafted him in the later rounds of several dispersal drafts or acquired him on waivers in others. In turn, he’s given me TE4 production and single-handedly lifted three of my teams to playoff status. There hasn’t been a cheaper/easier acquisition all season, and for that, I am thankful. – Mike Havens

Cooper Kupp, WR LAR

Jared Goff may be the only person more thankful for Kupp than I am. In 2019, Kupp has accounted for 30.4% of Goff’s passing yardage and 45.5% of Goff’s passing touchdowns. I’ve been a strong supporter of Kupp since his days at Eastern Washington, and while I have divested of several shares, I still have five that have been key to my success this season. Thank you, Mr. Kupp, for propping up Goff and anchoring my receiver corps. – Matt Price

Derrius Guice, RB WAS

I’m thankful for Guice. If someone wrote a movie about the worst start a running back could have to their career, it would be The Derrius Guice Story. Through injury, infection, rehab, re-injury, and a toxic team environment, he still shows up with a positive attitude each day as he continues to give to charity and hang out with fans. – Adam Wilde

John Harbaugh, Head coach BAL

I know that the focus is on Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, and the offense in general, but their coaching staff under Harbaugh has been remarkable. Literally one year ago, stories of Harbaugh being on the ‘hot seat’ began to mount, forcing the discussion around Jackson and his skill set as a passer. Incorporating Greg Roman and James Urban, both of who have worked with dual-threat quarterbacks like Colin Kaepernick and Michael Vick, as well as bringing in analytical teams to improve their playcalling, has transformed the entire team into one that we all should root for going forward. – Chris Allen

Ronald Jones, RB TB

I am thankful for Ronald Jones. He was nearing bargain bin territory and while he hasn’t been a total world-beater, his contributions to an RB2/3 spot have been really great. Considering he had tumbled down to an ADP of 147th. it’s been nice for a pre-draft evaluation to payoff. – Adam Tzikas

Patrick Mahomes, QB KC

In the new fantasy landscape, at least outside of the super-flex format, the trend is to not address the quarterback position until much later in start-up drafts due to the depth at the position and the belief there’s little scoring-differential between most of the names in the top two tiers. That said, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a relatively clear first tier, of which Patrick Mahomes is clearly at or near the top of. Having identified Mahomes as a second-round rookie target in many of my leagues, I’m extremely thankful to have a high-character, high-scoring and extremely young transcendent talent leading many of my fantasy teams. Knowing that I may not need to address the position for more than a decade outside of developmental, bye week and/or emergency fill-in work makes it very easy to sleep at night. The fear it strikes in the hearts of my opponents each week is just an added bonus. – Jeff Haverlack

Ryan Tannehill, QB TEN

Since taking over as the starting QB in Tennessee in week seven, only Lamar Jackson has averaged more fantasy points per game. In one QB leagues he is saving teams and those who draft late-round quarterbacks or stream the position. Tannehill has helped buoy plenty of my squads, and my only regret is dropping him in my home league! – Pete Lawrence

Christian McCaffrey, RB CAR

I normally ignore my whims and hunches, as they have failed me more than Christine Michael has failed fantasy owners. Yet I could not shake the feeling this would be a year where you should get CMC at any cost, and he’s rewarded the faith, lifting even the sorriest fantasy rosters to relevance and ameliorating any lingering concerns. He’s an all-purpose stud. This year I’ll be toasting to McCaffrey at the Thanksgiving table, being thankful for his ability to carry even an incompetent owner like myself. – Rob Willette

Mark Andrews, TE, BAL

Thanksgiving is not the same until that certain “relative” shows up and then the festivities truly can begin. Whether it be a distant aunt or uncle or your cousin whom you’ve been friends with since childhood, you can always rely on Thanksgiving being better when they are present. The same can be said for Andrews. While Lamar Jackson is stealing the spotlight of the NFL in 2019, it is safe to say the Baltimore success would not be the same without Andrews. He has already caught a career-high six touchdowns – an incredible 31% touchdown percentage of Lamar Jackson’s 19 touchdown passes. I’m thankful for the abundant shares of Andrews that I own and I know the party will keep going into the fantasy playoffs. – Noah Ballweg

Second-Year Wideouts

I’m grateful for the underreaction to the second-year wide receiver breakouts in 2019. I think it may be the main event or the turkey of Thanksgiving 2019. Christian Kirk, Courtland Sutton, DJ Moore, Michael Gallup, and (yes) DJ Chark have averaged more than 23% of targets over the last three weeks and 14 or more PPG over the season. But the excitement over the 2020 class coupled with disappointment in most top-tier wide receivers even has “building” dynasty rosters undervaluing them. These birds are cooked, and they are looking delicious in dynasty. – Peter Howard

John Brown, WR BAL

One player I have been thankful for this year is John Brown. Not only is he paying dividends on his draft value (his dynasty ADP has risen 30 spots since August!), but he is also returning value when it matters most- the fourth quarter. Ranking fifth in fantasy points and third in TDs among WRs in the fourth quarter through week 11, fantasy owners are never out of it as long as “Smokey” Brown is in your lineup. Once you’re comatose after a full meal this Thursday afternoon, comfortably doze off in your recliner knowing he’s about to give the Cowboys all he’s got! – Ryan Miller

George Kittle, TE SF

Kittle is currently my favorite football player, and I love having him on multiple rosters so I can root for him week after week. Kittle loves to play football, and that really matters. If you were sharp, you also got him for peanuts his rookie year. It’s hard to believe he wasn’t on the fantasy radar at all, and could be had for late picks or even off waivers. The only reason he made it on my radar is I wrote his rookie profile! I’m particularly thankful for Kittle this year as he single-handedly turned the tide in a tight matchup in one of my key leagues just last week. – Ryan Finley

There you have it, this turkey is cooked. I hope you have a great last week of the regular season, and we here at DLF would also like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!