It’s that time of the year when we spend time with friends and family, avoid topics that will start arguments, and give thanks for what we have. And as fantasy managers, we have things for which we can be thankful as well. Here are just a few of them:
Be thankful if you have Jonathan Taylor or Jahmyr Gibbs. They're potential league winners. And if you happen to have both, I'm thankful I'm not in your league.
Be thankful if you're like the Broncos, who are riding an eight-game winning streak, with six of those by four points or less. Some years your fantasy team seems to just barely scrape by your opponents, collecting wins that could have gone the other way. Enjoy it while you can, because the tables can turn quickly.
Be thankful if you have a top receiver playing with Sam Darnold. Last year Justin Jefferson logged a 103-1533-10 stat line with him, and this year Jaxon Smith-Njigba might set NFL records. A few years ago I never thought the answer to receiver optimization would be "Sam Darnold," but here we are.
Be thankful if you have guys who play hurt. It seems like you have to drag CeeDee Lamb off the field, and Brandon Aiyuk on it. I'm not minimizing injuries because it's a violent sport. But it's obvious when a guy can't wait to get back out there, and when they like how they look in a red non-contact jersey.
Be thankful you're not Pete Carroll. You've won a college national championship and a Super Bowl, you have money and you're 74 years old. You have nothing left to prove, and you're coaching the Raiders through another hopeless season? Why do that to yourself almost a decade after many people retire? Maybe you didn't like how Seattle showed you the door, but just take your rings and enjoy your time. Even the ultra-competitive Nick Saban knew when to walk away.
Speaking of ultra-competitive coaches, be thankful you're not Bill Belichick. Yes, he's a septuagenarian with a hot girlfriend, but he's tarnishing his legacy at North Carolina, where they won't even make a bowl game for the first time since 2018. The Tar Heels will have a losing record, they lost their rivalry game and the team seems to be looking for ways to part with the legendary coach. Again, like with Pete Carroll, why go out like this?
Be thankful if you avoided taking players from the Giants or the Commanders. Piece by piece, these NFC East teams have been decimated. The Giants might be the first team eliminated from playoff contention, but they look pretty decent on paper: Dart at quarterback, Skattebo at tailback and Nabers at receiver. That’s three players with a year or less of experience and all of them talented. It could mean several years of a dangerous offense, but this won't be one of them. And with Washington, Daniels, McLaurin and Ekeler (remember him?) are on the shelf, and Brian Robinson was traded to the 49ers. Whoever you took among those guys, you ended up disappointed.
Be thankful if your league has added features to keep up with the game's complexity. IR spots, doubleheaders every week, and automatic subs are features some leagues use to make managing a fantasy team easier. I remember when players locking when their individual game starts was a cool feature, and when leagues would debate whether to move to decimal scoring. The more a league updates its options, the easier your job becomes.
Be thankful if you play in an old-fashioned fantasy league. It’s better to go 6-9 in an active league full of friends than 12-3 in a league of strangers on the internet with little or no communication. Some people only play “fantasy football” on websites with standalone weekend games to win money. I’m not telling you how to play, but is that even fantasy football? I think those folks are missing out, but not everybody has the opportunity to play in a league with people they’ve known for decades. If you do, be thankful no matter your record.
Finally, be thankful that, unlike many coaches in the real game, your contract gets renewed every year no matter what. Social media posts don’t want you fired for losing, radio callers don’t insult you and nobody celebrates when you leave town. You just get to play, enjoy the game, and try again next year.
Oh, just one more: If you’re still alive in the hunt for a playoff berth, be thankful the games mean something to you on Thursday. The food tastes better when you still have a shot. Good luck this week.
Why is your fantasy team thankful this year? Share your thoughts below, and please know that I’m thankful you read this column each week. Happy Thanksgiving!