Thanksgiving DraftKings Picks: Week 12 NFL Cowboys-Commanders Showdown DFS lineup recommendations
On Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS, the second game of the Thanksgiving tripleheader pits the reeling Commanders against the scorching Cowboys. Dallas is favored by double digits at home, so the game might not end up being all that competitive, but every play matters to DFS players who put together a single-game DraftKings Showdown lineup for this NFC East match.
After analyzing the matchup, we have constructed our ideal showdown lineup, which we believe offers enough uniqueness to make us stand out from the competition and, eventually, get us into the money when the game clock reaches triple zeros.
Here are the important scoring parameters for DraftKings Showdown contests before we discuss our lineup and strategy: There are three-point bonuses for 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, and 100 receiving yards. It’s a full-point PPR system. In addition to costing 1.5 times the player’s initial cost, the Captain pick multiplies the player’s point total by 1.5.
Prescott is itching to play against a dreadful Commanders pass defense, which most recently gave up 3 touchdowns and 246 yards to Tommy DeVito in the Giants’ victory last week. With an average of 29.3 DK points over the last five weeks, Dak is settling into a groove at the perfect time. He’ll be a popular Captain play, but we like his chances of finishing the game as the top fantasy producer. Given Dallas’ resounding victories over weaker opponents this season, one of the MVP favorites should have no trouble scoring 30 points before accounting for his 1.5x multiplier.
Even though the game on Thursday might end up being one-sided, this season Howell has been the master of waste time. This year, Washington has been playing from behind a lot, so Howell is leading the league in passing yards (3,038) and is averaging 39.2 pass attempts per game. The Commanders’ prolific passing attack allays our concerns about Washington’s offensive line’s ability to hold up in pass protection against a strong Dallas defensive line.
With an average of only 13.5 DK points per game, Pollard has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments this year, but we still believe the Cowboys will win on Thanksgiving Day. In Week 11, he ended an eight-game streak without a touchdown, and we believe Dallas’ top running back will find the end zone at least once in Week 12. In a favorable matchup, Pollard has a 20-point upside because of his ability to contribute in both the passing and rushing games (14.7 carries and 3.9 targets per game).
As the seasoned wide receiver settles into his first season as a Cowboy, Cooks ought to be among the winners of a big day from Prescott. Cooks is beginning to establish himself as Dallas’ number two wide receiver after a sluggish start. In three of his last four games, he has recorded 40 or more receiving yards and two touchdowns. We’re hoping Cooks’ field-stretching skills will result in a big play or two to help us move up the leaderboard. His 12.3 aDOT ranks 27th among WRs.
To have a mini-stack, we must incorporate at least one of Howell’s receivers, and Dotson has some upside at just $5,600. The former first-round pick could have strong receiving numbers from a high-volume passing attack, and his high route participation percentage (99.7%) suggests that he could see eight or more targets, a mark he’s hit in three of his last five games.
In the final stretch, Tolbert’s role is growing. The second-year wide receiver is coming off a five-catch performance in Week 11. While Tolbert’s snap share isn’t particularly high, most players in the $2,600 range don’t even see the field that much. Last week, Tolbert played on 30 of 72 snaps. Given his recent usage, Tolbert’s salary should really be in the neighborhood of $3,000, so we’ll take a chance on the ascending WR.
