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Home , Antonio Gibson, Ben DiNucci, Buddy Howell, Dalton Schultz, Darren Fells, Desmond Trufant

GAME CAPSULE & PLAYER PROJECTIONS WEEK 12 THANKSGIVING MATCHUPS By Matt Wilson FantasySharks.com Senior Writer (3-7) (4-6)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 TH 1 2 :3 0 P.M. ET FORD FIELD  DETROIT, MI LINE: H O U – 3 . 0 OVER/UNDER: 5 1 .5

HOUSTON TEXANS

INJURIES TO MONITOR: David Johnson (concussion – IR), Randall Cobb (toe), Kenny Stills (quad)

BYE: Week 8

A victory is a treasured thing for a team that’s enduring a lost season and just playing out the string, so the Houston Texans were grinning ear to ear when they notched win number three last week by outdueling the formerly dominant team known as the by a final of 27-20. The Texans offense is still all about playing ptich and catch with and , but we should see a more balanced Houston offense this week. The injury-troubled 4-6 Detroit Lions have been very unpredictable from week to week. Sometimes the Lions play like a solid team, but other times they play like a team that’s looking forward to the 2021 season.

QUARTERBACK MATCHUP This past Sunday, the must-start Deshaun Watson torched an underachieving New England Patriots secondary with 344 passing yards and two strikes, and Watson carried six times for 36 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 1. The Houston triggerman has thrown for at least 300 yards and multiple in five of his last seven games. A sagging Detroit Lions defense has allowed the fourth-most passing yards and the 11th-most touchdown strikes in the last month. If the Duke Johnson-led Texans ground game finally gets on track, Watson will have a good outing but not a great one. If the rushing attack flops, Watson will have a huge game.

RUNNING BACK MATCHUP David Johnson (concussion) remains on injured reserve, and he’s expected to miss at least one more contest. Last week, Duke Johnson, the unquestioned lead dog right now, was a major disappointment against a bottom-10 New England run defense. He carried 10 times for only 15 yards and caught three of five targets for 20 yards. Johnson, however, draws a get-well matchup against a Detroit defense that has surrendered the third-most rushing yards, the most rushing touchdowns and the second-most catches to opposing tailbacks. If Johnson can't get on track in this matchup, something is very wrong.

WIDE RECEIVER MATCHUP Will Fuller, averaging 6.8 targets per game, has either scored at least once or eclipsed the 80- yard mark in seven of 10 contests played. By the way, the injury-prone deep threat still hasn't missed a start this season. Since Week 5, Brandin Cooks has averaged a solid 8.67 targets per contest, and he has found the end zone or cleared 70 receiving yards in four of his last six outings. Randall Cobb (toe) and Kenny Stills (quad) were knocked out of the Patriots game (neither guy will play this week), which opened the door for ’s long awaited and long overdue parole from Bill O’Brien’s doghouse. Coutee, operating out of the slot in just his second game played in 2020, caught two passes for 10 yards and one touchdown on four targets versus New England.

Detroit’s defense has permitted the sixth-most receiving yards and the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. The Lions don’t shadow cover much, but I suspect Desmond Trufant will cover Fuller more times than not, which isn’t a shy-away matchup because Trufant has been struggling. Cooks likely will battle , who has played better than Trufant. Keep in mind that Cooks has scored two of his last three touchdowns on the road. In the slot, Coutee has the easiest matchup against the Justin Coleman and Darryl Roberts combo platter. A score from Coutee wouldn’t be a surprise, even though I didn’t project a touchdown grab for him. Consider Coutee a Hail Mary play.

TIGHT END MATCHUP This past Sunday, Houston utilized a three-man timeshare comprised of , Pharoah Brown and Darren Fells, but Akins looks like the fantasy relevant one right now. During the Patriots game, Akins led the trio with 51 percent snaps played and 24 routes run, which he parlayed into season highs of five receptions for 83 yards (6.0 targets). He has been a popular sleeper pick this week with a matchup agianst a Detroit defense that has allowed the sixth-most touchdowns and the ninth-most fantasy points to the tight end position during the last month. Frankly, I’m a little nervous about Akins (yes, I did project a score for him) because he operates in a timeshare, but Akins’ matchup is a plus one.

WEEK 12 PLAYER PROJECTIONS

PASS PASS RUSH RUSH REC REC PLAYER REC YDS TD YDS TD YDS TD QB Deshaun Watson 282 2 25 0 RB David Johnson ------RB Duke Johnson 72 1 4 28 0 RB C.J. Prosise 12 0 2 12 0 RB 5 0 0 0 0 WR Will Fuller 6 80 0 WR Brandin Cooks 5 76 1 WR Randall Cobb ------WR Kenny Stills ------WR Keke Coutee 3 30 0 TE Jordan Akins 5 44 1 TE Pharoah Brown 1 7 0 TE Darren Fells 1 5 0

FGM FGA XPM XPA PTS PK Ka’imi Fairbairn 2 3 3 3 9

P/A SK INT FUM TD DT Texans 24 4 1 1 0

PREVIOUS MATCHUP: 2016 Regular Season  Houston defeated Detroit 34-31 at Ford Field.

DETROIT LIONS

INJURIES TO MONITOR: Matthew Stafford (thumb), D’Andre Swift (concussion), Kenny Golladay (hip), Danny Amendola (hip), Marvin Hall (toe) T.J. Hockenson (toe)

BYE: Week 5

What the heck happened to the Detroit Lions during their shocking 20-0 road loss to the last week? I suspect the Lions had a letdown after an emotional last-minute win over the . Detroit didn’t have Kenny Golladay, Danny Amendola and D’Andre Swift for the Carolina game, but the Panthers defense had allowed a combined 79 points in its last two games. Although the banged-up Lions are 4-6 and still within smelling distance of a Wild Card berth, they have been very unpredictable from week to week. A home matchup versus a Houston Texans defense that has been barely there all season looks like a get- well game, and I think a Lions should rebound.

QUARTERBACK MATCHUP As you surely know, Matthew Stafford (thumb) continues to play with a partially torn ligament in his right (throwing) thumb, and he’s simply not 100 percent. Last week he connected on just 54.5 percent of his passes for 178 yards and no touchdowns, which were all season lows. If a 51- yard Stafford-to-Marvin-Jones touchdown pass hadn’t been nullified by a penalty, Stafford’s passing line would have looked little more respectable. In Stafford’s last three home games, he threw for three touchdowns in each contest. If Kenny Golladay (hip) was going to play, a matchup against a Houston Texans defense that has permitted the 12th-most passing yards and the 12th-most touchdown strikes is one that they would smash easily. While I think Stafford will play better than he did last week, I suspect what has been an unpredictable Detroit offense to go run heavy with De’Andre Swift (concussion), assuming he returns. Consider Stafford a no frills fantasy QB2 play.

RUNNING BACK MATCHUP D’Andre Swift missed the Panthers game due to a concussion, and he was tentatively expected to return for this game. Two weeks ago, Swift absolutely erupted while operating in a workhorse role versus Washington, carrying 16 times for 81 yards and catching five passes for 68 yards and one touchdown on five targets. In that contest, Adrian Peterson was limited to five touches and logged one touch. Peterson drew the start in the Carolina game and disappointed with a 7-18-0 rushing line. He hasn’t cleared 40 rushing yards in a contest since Week 3. Johnson also made very little noise versus the Panthers, compiling a 6-17-0 rushing line and a 2-21-0 receiving line (five targets).

Swift is a strong start versus a Houston defense that has hemorrhaged the most rushing yards, the third-most rushing touchdowns and the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. If Swift sits, Peterson looks like a middling fantasy RB3 play on paper because his workload will be more secure while Johnson is a shaky flex because of workload uncertainty.

WIDE RECEIVER MATCHUP Kenny Golladay (hip) will miss his fourth consecutive game, and Danny Amendola will miss his second straight outing. Marvin Jones (knee) has stepped up during Golladay’s absence, scoring four times, but he didn’t hit paydirt in the Panthers game. As noted, Jones caught a 51- yard touchdown pass from Stafford that was overturned on a penalty. Jones, however, also has cleared 51 yards in just one of his last four games. Speedy Marvin Hall continues to fill in for Golladay with mixed results. Hall either scored or eclipsed the century mark in receiving yardage in two games, but he went scoreless and failed to clear 30 receiving yards in the other two contests. Since Jones plays about one-third of his snaps against right , he shouldn’t get stuck dueling all afternoon. Jones should spent most of his time battling the struggling . Hall’s best outings have been at home. He’s a boom-or-bust fantasy WR4 play.

TIGHT END MATCHUP T.J. Hockenson (toe) has been battling through a nagging toe injury.If he was healhty, Hockenson probaby would have racked up some big outings during Golladay’s four-game absence. During the last month, Hockenson, averaging 7.3 targets per contest, has been solid, either scoring or amassing at least 60 receiving yards in three of four outings. Houston’s defense is ranked just 16th in tight end fantasy points allowed, but Hockenson still comes with risk for a bad game because of the unpredictability of the Lions offense.

WEEK 12 PLAYER PROJECTIONS PASS PASS RUSH RUSH REC REC PLAYER REC YDS TD YDS TD YDS TD QB Matthew Stafford 262 2 5 0 RB D’Andre Swift 82 1 5 40 0 RB Adrian Peterson 26 0 0 0 0 RB Kerryon Johnson 10 0 2 17 0 WR Kenny Golladay ------WR Marvin Jones 6 50 1 WR Marvin Hall 4 83 0 WR Danny Amendola ------WR 2 15 0 WR Mohamed Sanu 2 10 0 TE T.J. Hockenson 6 42 1 TE Jesse James 1 5 0

FGM FGA XPM XPA PTS PK Matt Prater 1 1 3 3 6

P/A SK INT FUM TD DT Lions 27 4 1 1 0

PREVIOUS MATCHUP: 2016 Regular Season  Detroit lost to Houston 34-31 at Ford Field. WASHINGTON F.T. (3-7) (3-7)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 TH 4 :30 P.M. ET AT&T STADIUM  ARLINGTON, TX LINE: D AL – 3 . 0 OVER/UNDER: 4 6 .0

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

INJURIES TO MONITOR: (shoulder), Terry McLaurin (ankle), Dontrelle Inman (hamstring), (groin)

BYE: Week 8

Last week the Washington Football Team upped its record to 3-7 by beating the Cincinnati Bengals 20-9, but Washington also knocked promising Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow (knee) out for the rest of the season. The Football Team travels to the Lone Star State for a Thanksgiving matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. This is the first of three consecutive road outings on Washington’s schedule. The Football Team is 0-4 on the road this season.

QUARTERBACK MATCHUP Alex Smith has made two starts and played the bulk of the snaps in a third outing. Effectively keeping the Washington offense afloat, Smith has let the Football Team to 20 points, 27 points and 20 points, respectively. He has passed for a combined 881 yards but just two touchdowns. Last week Smith passed for just 166 yards and one touchdown versus one pick against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has been leaky against the pass. There’s game film on Smith now, and opposing defenses are starting to make use of it. Keep your expectations for Smith in check against an improving Dallas Cowboys defense that allowed the 11th-fewest passing yards and improved to 18th in fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position.

RUNNING BACK MATCHUP The red-hot Antonio Gibson has scored five times in his last four games, and he has found the end zone at least once in seven of his last nine outings. Gibson also has rushed for at least 90 yards (with one 100-yard outing) in two of his last four. Most of the time, Gibson usually catches three or four passes per game, too. J.D. McKissic continues to operate as safety valve. During the last three weeks, the receiving specialist has amassed 19 receptions for 134 yards on 33 targets. McKissic also has averaged 5.67 carries and 22 rushing yards per contest. Even though the Cowboys have allowed the 11th-fewest rushing yards, the ninth-fewest catches and the fifth- fewest fantasy points to the running back position, I still think Gibson will have a nice game. Back in Week 7, he gashed Dallas for 20 carries, 128 rushing yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys have been stingy to running backs as receivers, but McKissic is still a decent fantasy RB3/RB4 play in PPR leagues.

WIDE RECEIVER MATCHUP While and have flashed with Smith under center during the last three weeks, Terry McLaurin has been the only reliable guy in this group right now regardless of whoever is under center. During Smith’s three games under center, McLaurin has averaged 8.0 targets per contest, and he has caught a combined 19 passes, 294 passing yards and one scoring grab. Even though Smith has kept offense afloat, scoring has been in short supply for McLaurin. Dallas’ defense has allowed the second-most touchdown receptions and third-most fantasy points to the wideout position during the last month. Keep rolling with McLaurin.

TIGHT END MATCHUP During Smith’s time spent with the , he loved to throw to his tight ends, but ’ success with Smith under center has been limited. During the last three weeks, Thomas has been targeted a combined 16 times even though McKissic has been a target hog, but Thomas hasn’t parlayed enough of his targets into fantasy points. He has gone scoreless and cleared 28 receiving yards in a game only once. Since Week 8, the Cowboys defense has allowed just one touchdown and the 10th-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Five weeks ago, Thomas racked up a 4-60-1 receiving line on Dallas, but this Cowboys defense is improved.

WEEK 12 PLAYER PROJECTIONS

PASS PASS RUSH RUSH REC REC PLAYER REC YDS TD YDS TD YDS TD QB Alex Smith 290 1 5 0 RB Antonio Gibson 70 1 3 20 0 RB J.D. McKissic 16 0 6 45 0 RB 12 0 0 0 0 WR Terry McLaurin 7 106 1 WR Steven Sims 5 46 0 WR Cam Sims 3 28 0 WR Dontrelle Inman ------WR 1 10 0 TE Logan Thomas 4 35 0

FGM FGA XPM XPA PTS PK Dustin Hopkins 2 3 2 2 8

P/A SK INT FUM TD DT Washington 27 5 1 1 0 PREVIOUS MATCHUP: 2020 Regular Season – Week 7  Washington defeated Dallas 25-3 at FedEx Field.  passed for 194-2-0 and rushed for 4-11-0.  Antonio Gibson compiled a 20-128-1 rushing line and a 0-0-0 receiving line (1 target).  J.D. McKissic amassed a 5-35-0 rushing line and a 2-16-0 receiving line (2 targets).  Peyton Barber piled up a 10-34-0 rushing line and a 0-0-0 receiving line (0 targets).  Terry McLaurin caught seven passes for 90 yards and one touchdown (11 targets).  Steven Sims missed the game because of a toe injury.  Cam Sims made one grab for 22 yards (1 target).  Logan Thomas caught four passes for 60 yards and one touchdown (4 targets).

DALLAS COWBOYS

INJURIES TO MONITOR: Greg Zuerlein (back)

BYE: Week 10

Things are looking more positive for the Dallas Cowboys right now. With the -led offense showing signs of improvement, the Cowboys pulled out a much-needed 31-28 win over the last week to up their record to 3-7. Dallas’ much-malighed defense also has shown flashes of modest improvement but still has a ways to go.

QUARTERBACK MATCHUP Andy Dalton has played two full games as a starter, and he looked a lot better in the second one this past weekend. Battling the Minnesota Vikings, Dalton passed for a rock-solid 203 yards and three touchdowns versus one . Even though Dalton isn’t as good as , he’s clearly better than or Ben DiNucci. However, you’ll need to dial down your expectations for Dalton against a Washington defense that has yielded the 11th-fewest quarterback fantasy points.

RUNNING BACK MATCHUP , shaking off a nagging hamstring issue, carried 20 times for a season-high 103 yards. He also caught two balls for 11 yards and one touchdown in the Minnesota game. Tony Pollard has quiety become a bigger part of the offense, too. In the Vikings game, he carried five times for 60 yards and one touchdown. Averaging 7.0 carries per outing, Pollard has amased at least 40 rushing yards in three straight. The Football Team is 15th in fantasy points allowed to the running back position. Washington, however, usually plays much softer on the road, which is why I think this is a get-right matchup for Elliott. WIDE RECEVIER MATCHUP During two full games played with Dalton under center, amassed receiving lines of 7-79-0 on 10 targets () and 6-81-0 on seven targets (Minnesota Vikings). Cooper is clearly Dalton’s favorite target, but don’t write off CeeDee Lamb. He compiled receiving lines of 7-64-0 and 4-34-1 (6.0 targets), respectively, while playing with Dalton. As for , he rolled up a 2-23-0 receiving line (6.0 targets) and a 2-29-0 receivng line (5.0 targets). For the season, the Football Team has permitted the third-fewest touchdowns and the fewest fantasy points to the wideout position. I wouldn’t obsess over the matchups here. Washington has been softer against the pass on the road – the Football Team struggled to contain Detroit Lions wideouts two weeks ago – so I would feel comfortable starting Cooper for sure, and I like Lamb as a WR3/WR4. By the way, Washington hasn’t allowed a 100-yard game to a wideout so far this season.

TIGHT END MATCHUP In ’s two games played with the Red Rifle, Schultz compiled 4-35-0 on 5.0 targets (Arizona game) and 4-25-1 on 6.0 targets (Minnesota game). Schultz has found the end zone just three times, and he has rarely cleared 55 yards in a game. Washington’s defense has yielded the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. I didn’t project a touchdown for Schultz, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he scored.

WEEK 12 PLAYER PROJECTIONS

PASS PASS RUSH RUSH REC REC PLAYER REC YDS TD YDS TD YDS TD QB Andy Dalton 260 2 10 0 RB Ezekiel Elliott 95 1 3 20 0 RB Tony Pollard 42 0 3 18 0 WR Amari Cooper 7 86 1 WR CeeDee Lamb 4 69 1 WR Michael Gallup 3 36 0 WR Cedrick Wilson 1 11 0 TE Dalton Schultz 4 40 0

FGM FGA XPM XPA PTS PK Greg Zuerlein 2 3 3 3 9 1 P/A SK INT FUM TD DT Cowboys 27 5 2 0 0

PREVIOUS MATCHUP: 2020 Regular Season – Week 7  Dallas lost to Washington 25-3 at FedEx Field.  Dak Prescott missed the game because of a broken ankle.  Andy Dalton passed for 75-0-1 and rushed for 3-16-0 before he suffered a concussion and left the game.  Ben DiNucci threw for 3-39-0 and rushed for 1-0-0.  Ezekiel Elliott compiled a 12-45-0 rushing line and a 1-6-0 receiving line (2 targets).  Tony Pollard amassed an 8-16-0 rushing line and a 1-6-0 receiving line (1 target).  Amari Cooper hauled in seven passes for 80 yards (7 targets).  CeeDee Lamb caught zero passes (5 targets).  Michael Gallup caught zero passes (2 targets).  Dalton Schultz made two grabs for 22 yards (4 targets).