Noto's NFL DFS Key Personnel: Week 13 (Thanksgiving Slate)

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2025-11-26 13:23:22 Premium Content Part of the product NFL DFS

A daily fantasy sports OG, Notorious has been roaming the DFS streets ever since they were invented. So, who better to walk you through all of the key NFL DFS positions each week? Noto has racked up multiple live final seats and several six-figure tournament wins in his DFS career, and he will mix it up in all different types of contests. In his Key Personnel article for the Week 13 Thanksgiving slate, he will walk you through his favorite NFL DFS picks, ways to pivot away from the chalk, and overall strategy for the upcoming featured slate.

My friends, happy Thanksgiving!

I hope many of you had a profitable Week 12, as it was one of the better slates of the season for yours truly. It’s hard to go wrong when you get 90+ fantasy points from your quarterback and running back. A big thanks to Jameis Winston and Jahmyr Gibbs. My main lineup scored over 200 fantasy points, despite a bagel from Jameson Williams. Other highlights included Wan’Dale Robinson and Emanuel Wilson, who were both featured in the Key Personnel article.

This slate is my favorite of the entire season. Not only is it fun because it’s on Thanksgiving, but we have 3 games that are all at different times. There’s a lot of strategy at play here. The best part is that most people will set their lineups before lock and never touch them again. I like to take my chances with lower-owned plays in the first game and then adjust my lineups based on how those players perform. If they do well, I can afford to eat chalk in the later games. If my lineups get off to a bad start, I will purposely fade the chalk in the later games. This is the most valuable slate of the season for late swap, so make sure to take advantage of it.

Before we dive into the slate, this is the time of year to share what you are thankful for. I appreciate all of the supporters of RotoGrinders, especially the premium members who read these articles each week. I hope they provide value for all of the slates, and I hope this one leads you to a very profitable Turkey Day.

Editor’s Note: Looking for more places to play? Check out our Underdog promo code and PrizePicks promo code, two of the best DFS sites available today.

NFL DFS Top Picks & Plays: Noto’s Key Personnel for Week 13 (Thanksgiving Slate)

Top Quarterback Plays

Tier 1 – Core Plays

In what was close to a must-win game last week against the Colts, Patrick Mahomes ($6,500 DK / $8,400 FD) threw for 352 yards and ran for 40 yards. He managed to top 20 DK points without scoring a touchdown. The Chiefs are still in must-win mode, and they draw one of the best matchups on the Thanksgiving Slate. The Cowboys are 27th in EPA allowed per dropback and 32nd in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. I know their defense has improved, but Jalen Hurts had no problem carving them up last week before the Eagles took their foot off the gas. This is really as simple as trusting Mahomes in big games.

Jordan Love ($5,500 DK / $7,300 FD) has far too many floor games in DFS, but I’m banking on a ceiling game this week. The Packers want to run the ball as often as possible, so Love rarely gets to air it out 35+ times unless the Packers are playing from behind. I could see that game script unfolding against the Lions, who have one of the best offenses in the NFL. Despite his low floor, Love is one of only a few quarterbacks to top 30 fantasy points in at least 2 games this season. He’s firmly in play for tournaments.

Tier 2 – Strong Plays

Jared Goff ($5,800 DK / $7,800 FD) doesn’t have a high enough floor for me to consider him a Core Play on this slate. He has been held under 14 fantasy points in 5 of 11 games this season. With that said, he does tend to have upside in games where the Lions are pushed. As 3-point favorites at home, this is expected to be a competitive game throughout. The Packers have a good defensive line, but they are 16th in EPA allowed per dropback. I expect the Lions to use a quick passing attack while mixing in an occasional deep target.

Lamar Jackson ($6,800 DK / $8,700 FD) has not looked the same since returning from injury. In the last 3 games, he has scored 7, 7, and 17 fantasy points. It almost seems like he’s hesitant to run, which is a major reason why he’s been such an elite quarterback over the last 5 years. If there was ever a get-right spot, this is it. He draws a home matchup against the Bengals, who are 32nd in EPA allowed per dropback and 27th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. In his last 3 games against the Bengals, Jackson has scored 33, 37, and 24 fantasy points.

🏈 Quarterbacks – Noto’s Notes

🏆 Core Plays: Patrick Mahomes, Jordan Love
💪 Strong Plays: Jared Goff, Lamar Jackson
🔗 Potential Pairings: Mahomes + Rice or Kelce; Jackson + Andrews
❤️‍🩹 Key Injuries: Joe Burrow (P)

Top Running Back Plays

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