Thanksgiving NFL Inactives: Who’s Playing, Who’s Sitting, and What It Means for Your Fantasy Lineup
Thanksgiving football is here, and with it comes the all-important question for fantasy football managers: Who’s in, who’s out, and how will it impact your lineup? Whether you’re feasting on turkey or just trying to feast on fantasy points, we’ve got you covered with the latest updates on player statuses, injuries, and what it all means for your roster. Let’s dive into the matchups and break down the key inactives and their fantasy implications.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, 12:30 p.m. ET
The early Thanksgiving game features the Chicago Bears taking on the Detroit Lions, and there are some notable names to keep an eye on:
- David Montgomery, RB, DET: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Expect Montgomery to have a full workload Thursday, which is great news for fantasy managers who have been relying on him as a consistent RB2 or flex option. - Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET: Knee — Questionable
Impact: With a full practice on Wednesday, it’s looking like St. Brown will play. He’s a must-start if active, as he’s been a target machine all season. - Kalif Raymond, WR, DET: Foot — OUT/IR
Impact: Raymond could return in time for the postseason, but for now, Tim Patrick will see more targets in three-wide receiver sets.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET
The mid-afternoon game features a classic NFC East rivalry, but injuries are shaking things up for both teams:
- Jake Ferguson, TE, DAL: Concussion — OUT
Impact: Luke Schoonmaker should once again handle the majority of tight end work. He’s a deep-league streaming option if you’re desperate. - Brandin Cooks, WR, DAL: Knee — Activated from IR
Impact: Cooks will see the field for the first time since Week 4. Temper your expectations, as he may be eased back into action. - Tommy DeVito, QB, NYG: Forearm — Questionable
Impact: Drew Lock is looking likely to start for the Giants. DeVito hasn’t been ruled out but didn’t originally travel with the team to Dallas on Wednesday.
Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET
The primetime Thanksgiving matchup features the high-flying Dolphins against the Packers, but Green Bay will be missing a key piece:
- Romeo Doubs, WR, GB: Concussion — OUT
Impact: The turnaround time to clear protocol was just too short. Expect a fantasy value bump for Dontayvion Wicks, who could see an increased role in the passing game.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs, Friday 3 p.m. ET
Friday’s game features the Raiders and Chiefs, and there are some significant updates to note:
- Spencer Shrader, K, KC: Hamstring — Questionable
Impact: Matthew Wright would get the call if Shrader is unable to play. - Gardner Minshew, QB, LV: Collarbone — OUT/IR
Impact: Minshew is done for the season after breaking his collarbone in Week 12. - Aidan O’Connell, QB, LV: Thumb — Activated from IR
Impact: He’s expected to start Friday, but Desmond Ridder might still end up seeing some QB action as well. - Zamir White, RB, LV: Quad — Questionable
Impact: He hasn’t practiced since Week 11’s injury, so you should probably have other options ready to go. - Alexander Mattison, RB, LV: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: He has had limited work this week. If he can play, he’s likely to start ahead of Ameer Abdullah.
As always, stay tuned for updates as official inactives will begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before each scheduled kickoff. Refresh often to make sure your lineup is set for success!
Originally Written by: Stephania Bell
