Christmas Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Ranking Players, Movies & More

Most of us were either bounced from the fantasy playoffs last week or never made it that far, but that doesn't mean the fantasy football season is over just yet. Thursday's three-game Christmas slate offers one more opportunity for fantasy football fun this year. 

Below is our RotoWire Christmas Cheat Sheet, ranking players by position for one-day Yuletide leagues. And if you want to debate with your family and friends the merits of Christmas movies, songs and more, well, we have rankings for that too. 

Before we get going, make sure you're tracking who's actually playing Thursday — the RotoWire depth charts are the fastest way to confirm starters and roles, and because Christmas inevitably comes with surprise inactives, keep an eye on the RotoWire injury report for the latest news leading up to kickoff. Also check out the weekly projections to see how the Christmas matchups shape up. 

Now, you'll need three to six people to form a league, ideally those with whom you're sharing the holiday and are relatively bearable, but anyone from Grinches to brown-nosers are welcome. As Clark Griswold would say, nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned, RotoWire, family Christmas. We're all in this together!

Next, decide roster and scoring requirements. Keep it simple and go with a QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, flex (RB WR or TE), kicker and defense. (If someone among you is anti-kicker, remind him that a kicker or two could outscore some of the struggling quarterbacks below.) If your "league" is only a few teams, add a second QB spot as well.  

Here's a recommended scoring system:

25 pass yards = 1 point
Pass TD = 4 
10 rush/receiving yards = 1 
Reception = 1 
Rush/Rec TD = 6
2-point conversion = 2
Sacks = 1
INT (for defense) = 2 
Safety = 2 
D/ST TD = 6 
FG = 3
PAT = 1 

QUICK LINKS

Sync a League

Your path to victory starts here

Rankings

See the top players in your league

NFL Lineups

See the weekly starting lineups

Finally, draft rosters like you would any fantasy league, in time for kickoff of the Cowboys-Commanders game at 1 p.m. EST. 

Throw in an entry fee to give everyone some skin in the game, and you're ready to go. 

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Schedule & Vegas Odds

Cowboys (-7) at Commanders (o/u 50.5) — Netflix, 1 p.m. EST

Lions (-6) at Vikings (o/u 44.5) — Netflix, 4:30 p.m. EST

Broncos (-12.5) at Chiefs (o/u 36.5) — Prime Video, 8:15 p.m. EST

Implied Team Totals

Cowboys - 28.75
Commanders - 21.75
Lions - 25
Vikings - 19.5
Broncos - 24.5
Chiefs - 12

Fantasy Points Allowed by Position

The following table is based on full PPR scoring and represents the average points per game from the last four weeks exclusively. If using a different scoring system, use the RotoWire defense vs. position tool.

Christmas Cheat Sheet

QUARTERBACK

1. Dak Prescott DAL at WAS
2. Jared Goff DET at MIN
3. Bo Nix DEN at KC
4. Marcus Mariota WAS vs. DAL (questionable - hand/quadriceps)
5. Chris Oladokun KC vs. DEN
6. Josh Johnson WAS vs. DAL
7. Max Brosmer MIN vs. DET
8. Shane Buechele KC vs. DEN
9. Joe Milton DAL at WAS
10. Jarrett Stidham DEN at KC
11. Kyle Allen DET at MIN

RUNNING BACK

1. Jahmyr Gibbs DET at MIN
2. Javonte Williams DAL at WAS (questionable - neck)
3. RJ Harvey DEN at KC
4. Aaron Jones MIN vs. DET (questionable - ankle)
5. Chris Rodriguez WAS vs. DAL
6. David Montgomery DET at MIN
7. Isiah Pacheco KC vs. DEN
8. Jacory Croskey-Merritt WAS vs. DAL
9. Jordan Mason MIN vs. DET (questionable - ankle)
10. Kareem Hunt KC vs. DEN
11. Brashard Smith KC vs. DEN
12. Jaleel McLaughlin DEN at KC
13. Malik Davis DAL at WAS
14. Jeremy McNichols WAS vs. DAL
15. Tyler Badie DEN at KC
16. Jaydon Blue DAL at WAS
17. Zavier Scott MIN vs. DET
18. Dameon Pierce KC vs. DEN
19. C.J. Ham MIN vs. DET
20. Sione Vaki DET at MIN

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown DET at MIN (questionable - knee)
2. CeeDee Lamb DAL at WAS
3. George Pickens DAL at WAS
4. Jameson Williams DET at MIN
5. Terry McLaurin WAS vs. DAL
6. Courtland Sutton DEN at KC
7. Justin Jefferson MIN vs. DET
8. Deebo Samuel WAS vs. DAL
9. Jordan Addison MIN vs. DET
10. Xavier Worthy KC vs. DEN
11. Troy Franklin DEN at KC
12. Ryan Flournoy DAL at WAS (questionable - knee)
13. Hollywood Brown KC vs. DEN
14. Marvin Mims DEN at KC
15. Isaac TeSlaa DET at MIN
16. Treylon Burks WAS vs. DAL
17. Jalen Nailor MIN vs. DET
18. Tyquan Thornton KC vs. DEN (questionable - concussion)
19. JuJu Smith-Schuster KC vs. DEN
20. KaVontae Turpin DAL at WAS (questionable - shoulder)
21. Jalen Tolbert DAL at WAS
22. Kalif Raymond DET at MIN
23. Lil'Jordan Humphrey DEN at KC
24. Tai Felton MIN vs. DET
25. Jalen Royals KC vs. DEN
26. Jonathan Mingo DAL at WAS
27. Rashee Rice KC vs. DEN (questionable - concussion)
28. Pat Bryant DEN at KC (questionable - concussion)

TIGHT END

1. Jake Ferguson DAL at WAS
2. Travis Kelce KC vs. DEN
3. Evan Engram DEN at KC
4. T.J. Hockenson MIN vs. DET (questionable - shoulder)
5. Ben Sinnott WAS vs. DAL
6. Shane Zylstra DET at MIN
7. Anthony Firkser DET at MIN
8. Adam Trautman DEN at KC
9. Noah Gray KC vs. DEN
10. Josh Oliver MIN vs. DET
11. John Bates WAS vs. DAL
12. Luke Schoonmaker DAL at WAS

KICKER

1. Brandon Aubrey DAL at WAS
2. Harrison Butker KC vs. DEN
3. Jake Bates DET at MIN
4. Will Reichard MIN vs. DET
5. Wil Lutz DEN at KC
6. Jake Moody WAS vs. DAL

DEFENSE

1. Vikings (vs. Lions)
2. Broncos (at Chiefs) 
3. Chiefs (vs. Broncos)
4. Lions (at Vikings)
5. Commanders (vs. Cowboys)
6. Cowboys (at Commanders)

Christmas Movie Rankings

When you're ready for a different form of entertainment than your politically incorrect uncle's nonsense, make sure to check out one of these Christmas classics.

1. Elf
2. Home Alone
3. It's A Wonderful Life
4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
5. A Christmas Story
6. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
7. White Christmas
8. Polar Express
9. The Santa Clause
10. Die Hard 

Dessert Rankings

You can't go wrong with anything sweet on Christmas, but hopefully, this list can help you narrow down the many treats you'll be stuffing your face with throughout the day. If you do it right, you'll look like Santa by the end of the day!

1. Christmas Cookies 
2. Pie
3. Christmas Pudding
4. Candy Canes
5. Fruitcake
6. Peppermint Bark
7. Assorted Cakes
8. Toffee
9. Homemade Candy
10. An Entire Gingerbread House

Christmas Song Rankings

If you're more in the mood for some ear candy after stuffing yourself at Christmas dinner, consider turning on one of these songs to listen to by the chestnut-roasted fire.

1. "The Christmas Song" - Nat King Cole
2. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" - Mariah Carey
3. "Jingle Bell Rock" - Bobby Helms
4. "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" - Brenda Lee
5. "White Christmas" - Bing Crosby
6. "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" - Andy Williams
7. "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" - Dean Martin
8. "Last Christmas" - Wham!
9. "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Burl Ives
10. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band Aid

Cocktail Rankings

Now, to all of our adults, it's common knowledge that one or twenty beverages are the only thing to get you through the holidays. One of these delicious concoctions will help you make it to the end of what could otherwise be a long day.

1. Spiked Eggnog 
2. Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet (Wisconsin Style)
3. Christmas Punch (however you enjoy it)
4. White Russian
5. Grasshoppper
6. Hot Toddy
7. Cranberry Cocktail
8. Festive Mimosa

Merry Christmas to all. Let me know where I was wrong in the comments.