NFL Thanksgiving Fantasy Football: Week 13 lineup help & DFS

For 2025, the NFL is once more providing a generous slate of Thanksgiving Day football matchups. Week 13 will commence on Thursday with three games, featuring considerable talent from early afternoon until late evening.

This comprehensive overview of the slate will help you identify players with the most and least advantageous matchups, aiding your difficult fantasy football lineup choices.

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Packers-Lions: Thanksgiving Start/Sit

Packers Week 13 starts and sits

Start 'Em: RB Josh Jacobs (assuming he returns) or RB Emanuel Wilson

Sit 'Em: Jordan Love, Packers D/ST, WR Romeo Doubs

Sleeper: WR Christian Watson

The Lions present a tough matchup for the Packers' running game as Jacobs was held to only 66 rushing yards at 3.5 yards per carry, saving his day with a TD. Jacobs should be good to go with his knee injury after taking Sunday's rout of the Vikings off.

When Jacobs is playing, Wilson will likely see limited touches again, similar to when he had 28 carries for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Vikings. In such a situation, without any teams on bye, Wilson is a difficult FLEX option to rely on.

Love's approach isn't about chasing massive passing yards while relying on the run game, and he continues to face challenges with sufficient healthy pass-catchers beyond Doubs and Watson. It's impossible to strategize with a fantasy defense against the Detroit Lions' offense.

Watson has a chance to do damage as their best option in the passing game, but there's no need to overextend with the Packers passing game exposure.

↕️ Week 13 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Flex

Lions Week 13 starts and sits

Start 'Em: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Jameson Williams, QB Jared Goff

Sit 'Em: RB David Montgomery, Lions D/ST

Sleeper: TE Brock Wright

Gibbs is trying to catch Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor as the unquestioned best non-QB fantasy performer with his recent massive box scores. St. Brown is back on track as the No. 1. Goff is playable in 12-to-14-team leagues because of his home body of work and recent solid numbers.

Williams recorded a surprising zero points (his second such performance in five contests) versus the Giants, considering how many significant plays that squad permits. He also received just 3 targets, with St. Brown and Gibbs collectively seeing 25 in an unexpected unfavorable matchup, which is also peculiar.

While the Packers might limit his impact further downfield, the persistent player should manage to reach the end zone.

Regarding Montgomery, his average scoring in half-point PRR has fallen to RB26. The division of carries with Gibbs isn't occurring as frequently, as he's more of a situational back, relying on touchdowns to be productive. Consequently, you can consider other options rather than settling for a ceiling of 10 points at RB2.

Wright got a key few looks from Goff filling in for Sam LaPorta. The Packers can be giving to the position all the way to the red zone, so you can go there if really hurting at tight end.

➕ TOP PICKUPS: Week 13 fantasy waiver wire

Chiefs-Cowboys Thanksgiving Picks

Chiefs Week 13 starts and sits

Start 'Em: QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, WR Rashee Rice, RB Kareem Hunt

Sit 'Em: K Harrison Butker, Chiefs D/ST

Sleeper: WR Xavier Worthy

Despite some red zone errors and errant passes from Mahomes, the Chiefs narrowly missed a significant scoring performance against the Colts. However, the game's overtime period saw exceptional contributions from Rice, who secured 8 receptions for 141 yards, and Hunt, who had 33 touches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Kelce had a touchdown nullified, and Mahomes also found him open on several deep routes. Worthy also provided solid secondary contributions.

The Cowboys' cornerbacks are unable to cover either wide receiver, and Mahomes is expected to have a strong comeback performance against them and Kelce, following a game with 352 yards and one interception. Butker just had his best game of the year, yet he remains K15 for the season, meaning there are 14 kickers you'd prefer to use for field goals. The Chiefs' defense presents a poor matchup against a highly effective Cowboys offense.

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Cowboys Week 13 starts and sits

Start 'Em: WR CeeDee Lamb, WR George Pickens, RB Javonte Williams, TE Jake Ferguson, QB Dak Prescott, K Brandon Aubrey

Sit 'Em: Cowboys D/ST

This is a "start 'em if you've got 'em" deal because the Cowboys' weapons have become streamlined around Dak Prescott to one back, two wide receivers and one tight end. The game being in Dallas changes that from having worry about some of the assets. Don't play that defense, however, vs. Mahomes and his weapons.

Thanksgiving Day: Bengals vs. Ravens — Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

Bengals Week 13 starts and sits

Start 'Em: WR Ja'Marr Chase, RB Chase Brown, WR Tee Higgins (if active), QB Joe Burrow

Sit 'Em: WR Andrei Iosivas, K Evan McPherson, Bengals D/ST

The Bengals are now tied for last place. The Ravens are now tied for first place.

However, with Burrow's return for this crucial matchup against a defense that's been struggling and dealing with further injuries, it suggests Cincinnati's competitiveness in Baltimore could be enhanced.

With Chase returning from his suspension, it's also a significant boost for drawing defensive attention away from Brown and Higgins (provided he passes concussion protocol), which should lead to more favorable matchups for Burrow.

With Chase back and Higgins active, Iosivas and the tight ends would fall in the rankings. McPherson, who kicked a 63-yard field goal versus the Patriots, has been sidelined beyond the K20 mark all season.

🐐 MORE: Greatest fantasy games ever: Where does Jahmyr Gibbs rank?

Ravens Week 13 starts and sits

Start: QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry, TE Mark Andrews, WR Zay Flowers, K Tyler Loop

Sit: Ravens D/ST

Against the Jets, Jackson accumulated merely 153 passing yards and 11 rushing yards, failing to score any touchdowns. This marked his second consecutive game with fewer than ten points, a performance also seen against the Browns.

It's improbable he'll have a third straight poor performance, particularly facing the Bengals' defense in his own stadium. While it's wise to manage expectations, achieving a couple of touchdowns, around 200 passing yards, and 40 rushing yards appears achievable.

Henry is still not running for big yardage, but he remains a red zone hammer in a smash spot.

Andrews fell victim to the Jackson disappearing act in Week 12 but gets the best possible matchup for tight ends this season. Flowers was his usual scoreless low-ceiling WR3 with 5 catches and 68 scrimmage yards, so you can least get that again. Loop also has been solid all season in the top 10.

Best Thanksgiving NFL DFS picks

Thanksgiving NFL lineup suggestions for FanDuel

• QB: Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($7,900)
• RB: Kareem Hunt, Chiefs ($6,400)
• RB: Derrick Henry, Ravens ($9,800)
• WR: Xavier Worthy, Chiefs ($5,700)
• WR: Christian Watson, Packers, ($6,000)
• WR: Rashee Rice, Chiefs ($8,600)
• TE: Brock Wright, Lions ($4,900)
• FLEX: Chase Brown, Bengals ($7,200)
• D/ST: Kansas City Chiefs ($4,200)

I'm opting for a mini-Chiefs offensive surge, anticipating a substantial enough advantage for Prescott to generate statistics through high usage. Henry is essential for overpowering the Bengals, and Brown can focus on short passes during a comeback scenario. Watson and Wright are my sleeper picks in that same matchup.

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DraftKings NFL Thanksgiving lineup suggestions

• QB: Jordan Love, Packers ($5,500)
• RB: Derrick Henry, Ravens ($7,300)
• RB: Chase Brown, Bengals ($6,500)
• WR: Xavier Worthy, Chiefs ($4,500)
• WR: Rashee Rice, Chiefs ($7,500)
• WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions ($7,800)
• TE: Brock Wright Lions, ($2,800)
• FLEX: Kareem Hunt ($5,300)
• D/ST: Kansas City Chiefs ($2,800)

Similar concepts to FD are present, but with an opportunity to save at QB by Using Love as an additional unstacked QB to pair with Prescott. Henry, Hunt, and Brown remained sensible choices for running backs, as did selecting Worthy and Rice against the Cowboys' secondary.