There are always reasons for which to be thankful, especially in areas more important than fantasy football. But even in our game, we have some compelling reasons to give thanks this year. As you gorge on an assortment of turkey and televised pigskin, consider the following:
Be thankful for good football. For whatever reason, we've been treated to some good games in prime time. Denver/Dallas, Denver/Indianapolis and Denver/New England come to mind, but there are others. And yes, all those games had Denver in them, but they lost two of those three. They were entertaining games with some great football, and we've seen quite a few on the schedule. Even Tampa Bay/Miami was a close game with some good performances on both sides. We've all suffered through plenty of bad games in the past, so be thankful when we get good ones.
Be thankful for the schedule. Week 17 is meaningless to most fantasy leagues, and some teams will have their playoff spot already locked up. But there are usually division titles, home playoff games or byes up for grabs, and that can make for some compelling drama in the last week of the season. And if that isn't enough, rivalries will be on display because many games will be divisional games. And when I say "many," I mean "all." Every game in week 17 is a division game. So there should be a lot to watch at a time you might think there's nothing to see at all.
Be thankful for the waiver wire. Maybe it's me, but it seems like there were more gems available for active owners than in most years. You could actually field a strong team with just waiver wire guys. Depending on league size and format, you might have: Nick Foles, Zac Stacy, Rashad Jennings, Keenan Allen, Alshon Jeffery, Kendall Wright, and Jordan Reed (maybe subbing in Delanie Walker after his concussion). You could even put Riley Cooper in the flex spot and have a decent squad without using any of your draft picks. Top waiver priority would have helped get some of those guys, but there's been enough to go around for everyone. All owners who have been bailed out of a bad draft with good pickups should show a little thanks.
Be thankful for active owners. Whether you're 11-1 or 2-10, the reason you're having any fun this season is the competition in your league. Active owners provide good weekly opponents, drama during the season (the healthy kind) and make the league worth winning. Great leagues always have great owners. This past week I lost a game I needed to cement a playoff spot. Now I'm on the bubble, needing some help to find my way into the postseason. And I lost to a team that was 0-11. That sounds awful, doesn't it? How do you lose to a winless team this late in the year? Well, this isn't your typical 0-11 team. The owner works the waiver wire every week, subs out his bye week players and seems to give real thought to the lineup. Normally a team like that would have players on IR or former starters who have been benched. But this owner kept plugging away, for no reason except personal pride and a desire to fulfill his obligations to the league. I didn't like losing, and it might keep me out of the playoffs, but I tip my hat to anyone who doesn't give up when it would be really easy to simply abandon their team. That's a good owner, and it makes me feel even better about the league.
Be thankful for patient family members. From the spouse who smiles while you scroll through stats on your phone to your son or daughter who waits while you text parameters of a trade to a buddy, your family makes sacrifices for your hobby. I'm not saying they're neglected, but fantasy football probably takes away some of your time and attention that they wouldn't mind for themselves. They don't support your team; they support you. While you spend (another) day watching football on Thanksgiving, make sure they know how much you appreciate them -- even if they don't appreciate your incredible march to the playoffs.
What else has you thankful this year? Share your thoughts below.