By
Vincent Frank on Wednesday, November 27
th 2013
1. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
The Oakland Raiders have been surprisingly good against the pass over the past few games, but I fully expect this to change come Thanksgiving Day. They just don't have enough starter-caliber cornerbacks to match up against the likes of Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, and yes, Miles Austin. This doesn't even take into account just how poorly they matchup against Jason Witten at tight end. As it is, Oakland has still yielded the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. For his part, Romo is the seventh-ranked fantasy quarterback through 12 weeks and has had an exceptional season with 23 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions in 11 games. Look for a big turkey day outing from the veteran.
Projected Statistics: 345 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions
2. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
At full health, the Green Bay Packers would have a hard time containing Stafford and Detroit's passing game. Now that Casey Hayward, who has been injured all season, is on injured reserve, Green Bay has to go back to the next-man-up philosophy. While Sam Shields is expected to return from injury to cover Calvin Johnson, I see Stafford having a big game in this one. Green Bay ranks 21st in the NFL against fantasy quarterbacks and is giving up an average of 320 passing yards over the course of the last three games. Even if Detroit doesn't come away with a win here, Stafford should have a big game.
Projected Statistics: 350 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions
3. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
Don't look now, but Palmer has been playing great football as of late. He's thrown eight touchdowns compared to two interceptions during Arizona's four-game winning streak and has tallied QB1 numbers in each of the last two weeks. Palmer and the Cardinals now take on a Philadelphia Eagles defense that is yielding the fourth-most fantasy points (20.06) to opposing quarterbacks this season. You do the math.
Projected Statistics: 280 passing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
4. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Kaepernick may have gone up against an atrocious Washington Redskins defense on Monday Night Football, but it's worth noting that his three-touchdown performance was one of the best statistical games of his young career. Kaepernick was also able to connect with Mario Manningham and Anquan Boldin to the tune of nine receptions and two touchdowns. The under-performing signal caller will now get a healthy Michael Crabtree on to the field against a St. Louis Rams defense that is already without No. 1 cornerback Cortland Finnegan and might be missing another starter in Trumaine Johnson. Again, do the math.
Projected Statistics: 255 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions
5. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
As the No. 5 fantasy quarterback this season, Newton has been playing consistently good football. In fact, he's averaging over 23 fantasy points per outing over the last two weeks. The great news here for Newton owners is that those two games came against two teams that have been outstanding against fantasy quarterbacks in the Miami Dolphins (No. 6) and New England Patriots (No. 15). Newton will now take on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2013.
Projected Statistics: 245 passing yards, 40 rushing yards, three touchdowns and one interception