Week 12 Thanksgiving Thursday Props (Redskins vs Cowboys)

• The Washington Redskins visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football for Week 12
• Which star running back will have the better game?
• How will backup QB Colt McCoy perform after the injury to Alex Smith?

It’s a Thanksgiving Week 12 NFC East divisional matchup on Thursday night between the 6-4 Washington Redskins and the 5-5 Dallas Cowboys. We dig into the prop cards to find the three best bets for this match on Thanksgiving Thursday.

Prop #1: Ezekiel Elliott To Have More Rushing Yards Than Adrian Peterson & To Score At Least 1 Rushing TD

All odds taken on 11/20/18.

The recipe for success for each of these teams should be quite similar. Each team ranks in the top half of the league in rushing YPG, which means we should see a lot of Ezekiel Elliott and Adrian Peterson.

Dallas does hold the edge by ranking fourth compared to the Skins at 12th, and Elliott is out-rushing Peterson at 953 yards to 723.

Elliott vs Peterson Rushing Yards

Despite this, Peterson won the battle of the RBs back in Week 7 when these teams last met up, as Elliott was held in check with only 33 yards.

However, since that game these two have been trending in opposite directions. Peterson has compiled a total of 136 yards on the ground the past three weeks while Elliott has amassed 334.

Some of Peterson’s struggles could be related to the fact that Washington’s offensive line has been decimated by injuries. Last week against Houston’s seventh-ranked rush defense he was held to only 51 yards. He could be in for another tough matchup on Thursday against a Dallas rush defense which ranks fifth.

201 total yards and a TD. @EzekielElliott was UNSTOPPABLE.

Highlights! #DALvsATL https://t.co/n6XoA9kKnM

— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2018

The Skins are no slouches themselves ranking right behind Dallas at sixth in rush defense, but Elliott seems to be heating up just in time for this rematch with a rushing TD in each of his past two games.

Also consider that while now-injured Washington starting QB Alex Smith was more of a game manager, backup Colt McCoy has a reputation for taking more shots downfield which could result in fewer touches for Peterson.

Pick 1: Ezekiel Elliott To Have More Rushing Yards Than Adrian Peterson & To Score At Least 1 Rushing TD

Prop #2: Colt McCoy To Have At Least 20 Completions and 200 Passing Yards

Speaking of McCoy, the ninth-year pro will get his shot on Turkey Day in Jerry’s World to once again be a starting QB. You never know what you’re going to get with a backup QB, but you could make the argument McCoy is better equipped than Smith to run the Skins’ offense having been with Washington since 2014.

McCoy had not attempted a pass since Week 17 of 2015 before coming on in relief last game and going 6/12 with 54 yards and one TD.

His last substantial playing time came in 2014, when he played in five games and started four. One of those starts he left early due to injury and only threw seven passes so we’ll focus on his three full starts.

In those games he completed 25, 31 and 20 passes for 299, 392 and 199 yards, respectively.

Washington QB Colt McCoy addressed the team in the locker room briefly after the game and told his teammates, "You're in good hands with me."

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) November 18, 2018

Not only is McCoy confident in his abilities, but so is the organization, as evidenced by them re-signing him this offseason to a contract that could be worth up to $7 million. The deal made him one of the league’s highest-paid backups.

Swearinger on 106.7: "(Colt) wants to throw the ball and he wants to make plays… Any time we practice against Colt, he wants to score on us and that's the killer instinct that he has and that's something we need on offense." https://t.co/FtyYaTMYAF

— Burgundy Blog (@BurgundyBlog) November 19, 2018

Back on October 21, Alex Smith finished 14/25 with 178 yards against the Cowboys. With Colt’s gunslinger mentality, I believe he’ll put in a stronger performance and cash this bet.

Pick 2: Colt McCoy To Have At Least 20 Completions and 200 Passing Yards

Prop #3: Cole Beasley To Have At Least 5 Receptions

Without a true number one receiver for most of the season, Beasley has proven to be Dak Prescott’s most reliable target.

However, with the addition of Amari Cooper, he’s seen his targets decrease the past three weeks. Beasley has 12 catches on 16 targets since Cooper’s arrival compared Amari’s 14 catches on 23 targets.

Whether Beasley once again can lead the team in receptions or not, there should be enough catches to go around for him to at least bring down five.

This was basically the game-winning play. Dak Prescott to Cole Beasley for 19 yards. pic.twitter.com/WVDfXe8KEq

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 19, 2018

Consider in the Redskins’ past five games, at least two opposing receivers have made five or more catches in each game. Additionally, on three occasions three players have caught five or more.

Pick 3: Cole Beasley To Have At Least 5 Receptions