The New York Giants (2-9) will be on the road to face their divisional rivals Dallas Cowboys (4-7) on Thanksgiving.
This has been a forgetful season for both franchises. It’s an apples-to-oranges comparison, but each will end this year with a different quarterback than they began the season with. Perhaps the biggest difference in where each currently stands, is how they looked in Week 12.
Dallas is still fighting and it showed in their upset win over the Washington Commanders. While New York’s players ripped the team for being soft in a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It can be hard to trust players on a team that appears to be giving up but I believe you can lean into a pair of rookies for the Giants.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Malik Nabers
It was a great start for Nabers in his rookie season in the first month of the season but he has been relatively quiet since September. He hasn’t topped 75 receiving yards in his last five games, despite seeing at least eight targets in those contests and having three games where he saw 10+ targets.
The last blowup performance he had happened to come against the Cowboys in their first matchup. In that matchup, he finished with 12 catches for 115 yards on 15 targets.
Dallas has allowed the 11th-most PPG to receivers this season per Pro Football Reference. In their last four games, they have allowed three receivers to finish with at least 85 receiving yards and have given up five touchdowns to the position.
Could Nabers get the squeaky wheel treatment on Thanksgiving? After the loss to Tampa Bay, he complained about not getting the ball until the Giants were down 30-0.
It’s hard to trust his quarterback situation but Nabers is due for a big game. He hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 3 and after venting his frustrations about not getting the rock early in games, it feels like Brian Daboll will force touches for his rookie receiver.
He’s a high-end WR2 in Week 13.
Verdict: Start 'Em
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Week 13 was a disappointing performance for Tracy Jr., who saw Devin Singletary Jr. and Eric Gray get some touches after the rookie fumbled the ball away inside the Tampa 10-yard line. He still managed 70 total yards on 13 touches. Which was the lowest volume he had the ball in his hands since Week 7.
Tracy Jr. does have a great matchup on Thursday afternoon. Per Pro Football Reference, Dallas has given up the third-most PPG to running backs this season. In their last four contests, they have allowed three running backs to finish with at least 75 total yards and have given up four touchdowns to the position.
There is some risk in playing Tracy Jr. because the coaching staff may reduce his snaps because of his fumbles in the last two games but he is worth the risk in this matchup against a defense that has struggled defending the run. He’s a high-end flex play in Week 13.
Verdict: Start 'Em
