It might be challenging to find reasons to be thankful in 2020, though it's a worthy exercise to try. But in the football world, you certainly have reasons to be thankful. And now might be a good time to ponder some of them.

Fantasy football provides some guilt-free escape from your troubles, and a fun diversion from the obstacles we all encounter in our daily life. You can win some money as well, but the financial reward doesn't usually add up to the time we put into it. We play because it's fun, it's with friends or family and (eventually) it's tradition.

And so, regardless of record, there are reasons to be thankful. Perhaps some will apply to you.

Extra days of football. Of course, I wish there was no Covid-19 and the season was as normal as any other. But that's not reality, and one of the precautions the league is taking has a silver lining for fans. We've seen double-headers on Monday night, and a couple Tuesday games as well. While a lot of people are iffy on the Tuesday contests, I'm always happy to have more football to watch, and wish they would keep MNF double-headers going forward.

The NFC East. It's really coming down to who doesn't want it the least. In a league where great teams battle for dominance every week, it's kind of fun to see a division where the participants flop around like baseball mascots in a goofy race. And in the end, it's likely that one of them makes the playoffs with a higher seed than the wildcards with much better records. That division is the gift that keeps on giving!

Old quarterbacks on new teams. If you hoped Tom Brady and Philip Rivers had something left in the tank (or you're fans of the Buccaneers or Colts), you're very thankful so far. While neither guy is playing like they did in their prime, both teams have already matched their 2019 win total and are eyeing playoff spots. They signed big contracts and are paying dividends, which doesn't always happen. Even with a league emphasis on younger players, it's great to see.

The waiver wire. What? That desolate wasteland? Yep. Many teams have kept themselves afloat after a mediocre draft by plucking gems out of the pool of players nobody wanted. Guys like Justin Herbert, Tee Higgins, and Mike Davis probably weren't drafted by fantasy teams, but found homes on winning rosters nonetheless. Whether they gave you one or two or seven productive weeks (and counting), here's to the players who have been excellent mid-week pickups.

Taysom Hill, Tight End. If you started him in ESPN or Fanduel this past week, you're already thankful. If you faced him, well, you'll be glad to know that his designation is changing. Hill deserves his own category based on his week 11 performance alone.

Thanksgiving games. Yes, we get three every year. But if you're spending Thanksgiving in a very small group or alone, you'll appreciate what's on tap. Two of the games have playoff implications, and, well, the Lions are there too! Honestly, the Jets could be playing and I'd watch.

The Mandalorian. You probably think this one isn't related to football, and you'd be right. Well, except for this. But if you haven't seen it yet, give it a try. It's among the very best Star Wars content. If you like science fiction, or action, or westerns, or hungry green babies with weird powers, it's worth watching. After all, there has to be something besides football, right?

Fantasy football itself. Even if you go 1-13 this year, it was worth the entry fee. You can watch an endless stream of information about the virus or politics, and many do. But you can also escape all that by focusing on your team, your game and the sport we love watching. It's the only major sport (so far) whose schedule hasn't really been interrupted. We've had a complete regular season and relatively few game-breaking developments. In a year when we really needed football, it's been there. And for that, I'm very thankful. Happy Thanksgiving!

What makes you thankful about football this season? What player or football-related decision deserves your gratitude? Share your thoughts below.