Thanksgiving Matchup: NO @ DAL
New Orleans @ Dallas (4:15ET Thursday)
Marques Colston is averaging eight catches for 86 yards in his last six games.
Jon Kitna's Week 11 numbers (147 yards, 6.14 yards per attempt) were a bit more realistic than his 327 and 14.9 YPA marks from Week 10, but the scoring rate isn't fluky. Surrounded by the NFL's most explosive supporting cast, Kitna has accounted for seven TDs in his last two games. Clearly in sync with the touchdown-makers, Kitna has delivered five of them to Dez Bryant in the last five weeks, and three to Miles Austin in the last two. Kitna is also benefiting from terrific blind-side protection. According to Pro Football Focus, LT Doug Free didn't allow a single pressure last week in his matchup with Kyle Vanden Bosch. ... The Saints rank second in pass defense, but were exposed in Week 11 for Matt Hasselbeck's highest yardage total since 2004. Especially when considering that only three teams have fewer pass attempts against, it makes you question whether New Orleans is really that good. Austin and Bryant should be started with confidence.
Kitna's targets since replacing Tony Romo in Week 7: Bryant - 35; Jason Witten - 34; Austin - 29; Roy Williams - 14. ... Witten has had three straight slow weeks (3/44/0, 1/7/0, 4/48/0), but did lead Dallas in targets, catches, and yards in Week 11. He's tied with Brandon Pettigrew for the league receptions lead among tight ends, keeping Witten as an every-week starter at the injury-riddled position. The Saints have allowed the sixth most catches to tight ends, and the 11th most yards. ... Felix Jones has been the Cowboys' lead back recently, but his hip injury threatens to make the entire backfield "hands off" against the Saints' top-13 run defense. Interim coach Jason Garrett gave plodding Marion Barber a vote of confidence this week, and Tashard Choice has received just 22 touches all season. Jones also has a history of ineffectiveness at less than 100 percent.
Perhaps we should've foreseen Marques Colston's slow start after his second knee surgery in as many offseasons. He's certainly over the hump. Whereas Colston averaged five grabs for 48 yards with no scores in the season's first month, he's exploded for an 8/86 average line with four touchdowns in his last six games. Also having scored four times in his last three domed games, Colston is a WR1 entering Thursday's tilt with a Dallas defense that's allowed the most touchdown passes in the NFC. ... Drew Brees was an assassin last week against Seattle, posting season highs in passing yards (382) and touchdowns (4). Brees has multiple TD passes in a whopping six straight games and eight of his last nine. He's the No. 4 overall fantasy quarterback, and the Cowboys rank 21st against the pass. ... Robert Meachem has flip-flopped big games with clunkers dating back to Week 5. He's worth a look as a WR3 in a game with an over-under of 50, but Meachem is just as likely to post two catches for 34 yards as four grabs for 75 and a score.
Reggie Bush is due back, but any situational player coming off a nine-week layoff due to a broken leg should be approached with caution. He's more likely to help his teammates' causes than his own fantasy owners. ... Bush's return will sap Lance Moore's playing time in the slot. ... Jeremy Shockey (ribs) will be a game-time decision, and probably will focus on blocking if he's active. Jimmy Graham, who just looks bigger than everyone else on the field, has emerged as a significantly more explosive passing-game threat. ... Though Graham's talent is highly enticing, he played fewer than 50 percent of the offensive snaps in the two games Shockey has missed. We're not going to recommend benching Graham at such a thin fantasy position, but he threatens to see even less playing time if Shockey returns. ... The Cowboys rank 22nd against the run and permit a below-average 4.3 yards per carry. Chris Ivory is the favorite for rushing attempts in New Orleans, but Bush's return isn't going to help him. Ivory also continues to battle a separated shoulder.
