Thirsty for Thursday

Thursday Night Football is back! Yes!

Now we fantasy junkies have a little fix to tide us over between Sundays. And this week's game is going to be a pretty good one for fantasy followers.

We know Darren McFadden is out, so Michael Bush is an easy play. And ignoring Taiwan Jones also seems logical given his rather surprising (to me) lack of action last week. But where do we go with Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert? I think the ceiling is limited on both because they'll split carries, but it's still a very porous run defense and a charged divisional game. I honestly like either as a starting RB2 this week, projecting at 10-15 points apiece. Slight edge to Tolbert given likely goalline carries and that Mathews is just off an injury, but Mathews could easily rip off a long TD.

For the receivers, Vincent Jackson is the only automatic, but at least five others merit consideration. Denarius Moore was a target hog in Carson Palmer's first start in a Raider uni, suggesting there may be some instant chemistry between the two. Major major upside if true as Moore has shown Kenny Britt-type flashes and Palmer is certainly capable of throwing the ball. Jacoby Ford looked pretty darn good as well, leading the Raider wideouts in receptions, yardage and fantasy points. Vanishing was Darrius Heyward-Bey, but he had put together three straight strong fantasy showings prior to that. If Malcom Floyd is active, he's worth a play as your third WR, and if he doesn't play, you could do worse than rookie Vincent Brown. Brown is best viewed as an under-the-radar dynasty hold, but would be on the radar extremely quickly if he puts up another 79 yards like last week. Today might be the last day to get him for nothing.

Palmer had a strong fantasy day last week, but I'm not buying yet. Backup maybe, but nothing more than a dart as a starter. Philip Rivers finally put up an elite fantasy number last week, but he's been maddeningly mediocre for most of the season. But you have to put him in there again if you don't have a clearly better option and Antonio Gates is the reason.

Either DST would be a desperation play given much safer alternatives like available, but there is at least some upside.