DLF’s Thanksgiving Dynasty Players to be Thankful For
Thanksgiving is a holiday every fantasy footballer looks forward to. Food, friends, family, fun, and football are many favorite elements of this special Thursday holiday. As many of our fantasy teams are playoff-bound, it’s time to take a look back as to what this season has given us so far, and give a special thanks to the fantasy players who have lifted up our teams so far this season.
I asked the staff at DLF to give me their favorite coach and players in all positions and a small blurb about each one. So sit back with your favorite beverage, enjoy some positive reflection on the season, and maybe subscribe to a writer or two if the mood strikes you.
Russ Fisher (@dynastyouthouse)
QB: Jalen Hurts, PHI
I bought heavy into Hurts last season, hoping he would improve and show that he will be a good NFL quarterback and not just a good fantasy one.
RB: Saquon Barkley, NYG
More specifically, I am thankful for Barkley’s leg joints and tendons doing their jobs and letting him be the awesome running back he was always capable of being.
WR: Tee Higgins, CIN
I just love that guy.
TE: Travis Kelce, KC
I am thankful that age is just a number and Kelce is showing that you can still dominate at 33.
Coach: Matt Nagy, CHI
I am thankful that he finally went away and we are finally getting the Justin Fields we deserve.
Dave Wright (@ff_spaceman)
QB: Patrick Mahomes, KC
He was an afterthought this off-season with Tyreek Hill leaving and the Kansas City offense struggling late last season. He slipped to the QB3 or QB4 in dynasty startups only to put up typical Mahomes passing production and efficiency paired with a weekly rushing bonus.
RB: Travis Etienne, JAC
Owners questioned his ability to recover from last year’s season-ending foot injury while criticizing his running style all off-season. Etienne responded in a big way becoming the bell cow back for the Jaguars and is the RB12 on the season. He was available in the sixth round of startups this off-season.
WR: Rondale Moore, ARI
Moore is the PPR WR17 since returning from injury in week four and the WR29 in PPG on the season. He was the WR58 in DLF’s ADP back in June.
TE: Travis Kelce, KC
Kelce has eight top-five finishes on the season! Eight! He’s been a top-five tight end in 89% of games this season at 33 years old. GOAT.
Coach: Mike McDaniel, MIA
This rookie head coach has enabled the Dolphins to have the QB7 in PPG, two productive RBs who were available well into the double-digit rounds of drafts this off-season, and two top-ten WRs.
Ken Moody (@DLF_Kenm)
QB: Tua Tagovailoa, MIA
For avoiding serious injury and growing into the premier NFL QB I had hoped he would become.
RB: Christian McCaffrey, SF
For landing on a team where he can enjoy reasonable usage while pursuing a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl.
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET
For proving that mythical sun gods do still exist.
TE: David Njoku, CLE
For finally kinda, sorta paying off after years of me holding on and believing.
And finally, most importantly – I am thankful for my home family, as well as for my DLF Family. This group of people here are all so amazing, talented, kind, thoughtful. Each of you is a blessing and makes this silly website about a game – about a game – so much fun. Thank you all.
Rob Willette (@RobWillette24)
QB: Justin Fields, CHI
I am eternally grateful for Fields this Thanksgiving, a man who has become an elite fantasy quarterback in a year which has seen stalwarts at the position fall off the map.
RB: Saquon Barkley, NYG
A tip of the cap to Barkley this Turkey Day, who has reminded us all of how dominant he is when his body is right and has provided remarkable consistency in a year where offenses look lost all over the league.
WR: Justin Jefferson, MIN
As a Vikings fan, Jefferson is a gift from the heavens, bringing it each and every week as he contributes to both his real-life NFL team and fantasy teams.
TE: Travis Kelce, KC
Age be damned, Kelce has continued to be a machine, offering a tidy weekly floor that helps fantasy managers sleep at night.
Coach: Mike McDaniel, MIA
It has to be McDaniel, a man who keeps it simple: Get the ball to your best players and watch them rack up the fantasy goodness.
Peter Howard (@pahowdy)
QB: Geno Smith, QB
For reminding everyone that we never know nearly as much as we think and that sometimes players win when they bet on themselves.
RB: Jamaal Williams, DET
He’s been so much fun and such a good dynasty later-round pick this year.
WR: Cooper Kupp, LAR
As sad as it is to see him go out to injury this year, it also makes me reflect and appreciate exactly how steadily productive he has been since the start of the Matthew Stafford era.
TE: Pat Freiermuth, PIT
For not making all those off-season tight end moves I made completely terrible, and for having so many yards per touchdown I’m guaranteed a weekly tilt every Sunday.
Coach: Matt Eberflus and Luke Getsy, CHI
For sticking with their young quarterback and (finally!) finding a way to play to his strengths. It’s almost as nice to see a player get the chance to develop, as it is to watch him succeed.
Mike Havens (@MikeEHavens)
QB: Jalen Hurts, PHI
For emerging as a dual-threat quarterback who has solidified his status as the starter for the foreseeable future.
RB: D’Onta Foreman, CAR
For saving my season from week seven onward when nearly all my other starters caved to the injury gods.
WR: Jaylen Waddle, MIA
For becoming my best-ever rookie WR selection, and blowing up the league in his only two seasons thus far.
TE: Travis Kelce, KC
For being a rock for my fantasy teams year after year and has no sign of slowing down.
Coach: Mike McDaniel, MIA
For creating a team capable of producing multiple fantasy studs for the community to enjoy.
So as this article wraps up, we realize that we have many different players to be thankful for, Mike McDaniel is a pretty special coach just one year into his head coaching career, and there may never be a better substitute at tight end than Travis Kelce. One thing that cannot be denied; Thanksgiving football is special for a multitude of reasons. We get to spend time with our friends and family, enjoy the games together, and carry on the tradition that’s unique to only the USA.
From all of us at DLF, we want to wish everyone out there a Happy Thanksgiving!
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