Fantasy readers give thanks for this season

IT'S ALWAYS CUTE when the little kid at the table says Grace before the Thanksgiving meal.

The child will recite the usual blessings of health, family and togetherness. It's a shame they don't ask fantasy leaguers to come up with the annual prayer.

We would give thanks for such things as Emmanuel Sanders shaking off a violent hit to register nine catches for 125 yards last week.

Or we might thank Golden Tate for taking advantage of Calvin Johnson's injury to post a pair of 150-yard games in Weeks 7 and 8.

Remember that Andrew Luck garbage-time touchdown at about 11:30 on Sunday night of Week 1? Thousands (millions?) of people won their fantasy games because of it. Appreciate that, Andrew.

The list could go on and on, so we asked readers to submit what they were most grateful for. Here are a handful of the responses:

* I'm thankful for Big Ben's Peyton Manning impersonation and free-agent pickups Justin Forsett and Denard Robinson covering up my fourth-grade drafting skills. - John Newswanger, Downingtown, Pa.

Yeah, Roethlisberger was huge with those 12 TDs in Weeks 8-9.

* Rabid Birds fan. Picked No. 2 at draft. Made no effort to hide that I wanted McCoy. He went No. 1. Thank you Jamaal Charles! - Michael Russo, Penndel, Pa.

Nice. Charles has scored at least one TD in six consecutive games.

* I am thankful for reasonably good health and a roof over my head so I can enjoy watching the Eagles. - Myrna Roach, Philadelphia

Seeing the Birds thump up Tony Romo probably didn't hurt, either.

* This fantasy football season, I am quite grateful for being able to watch the Eagles at home in peace without the disruption of Thanksgiving Day chatter. - Jay Levin, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

Bah Humbug!

* I am thankful for Adrian Peterson not being reinstated since he was my No. 1 pick (that I dropped a few weeks back) AND that my fantasy archrival picked him up and now feels my pain! - Jordan Yaun, West Chester, Pa.

Now THAT'S the spirit of fantasy Thanksgiving!

Newswanger, Russo and Yaun were randomly selected to win Daily News fantasy football T-shirts. Thanks to all who participated.

Charles Johnson, Vikings wide receiver:

* Has 18 targets and nine catches in the two games since the bye.

* Caught his first career TD last week, giving him as many TD receptions this year as teammate Cordarrelle Patterson.

* Played at Grand Valley State.

* Was a seventh-round pick of the Packers last year.

* Has been signed off two practice squads, including Sept. 20, when Minnesota nabbed him from Cleveland.

Quarterbacks: Cleveland's Brian Hoyer has thrown for 300 yards in three of the last four. He got star receiver Josh Gordon back last week, and tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion) could be back this week. What's preventing Hoyer from being a QB1 is that he has three touchdowns and six interceptions in his last four.

Running backs: Kansas City gave up its first rushing touchdown last week when Oakland's Latavius Murray gashed it for a pair. The Chiefs host the Broncos on Sunday night. Denver had success on the ground in Week 2 with 91 yards on 17 carries, so keep C.J. Anderson in the lineup as a strong RB2 ... Arian Foster (groin) practiced the last 2 days and looks to be a safe play against a Tennessee defense that has given up 717 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in the last four games to opposing RBs. That's nearly 180 yards per. Yikes.

Wide receivers: Kenny Stills set career highs with eight catches on nine targets on Monday as the Saints played their first game without rookie Brandin Cooks (broken thumb). New Orleans has a nice schedule over the final 5 weeks (at Pittsburgh, Chicago and Tampa, home against Carolina and Atlanta), which makes Stills a decent WR3/flex ... Houston's DeAndre Hopkins averaged about five catches and 76 yards in the nine games previously started by Ryan Fitzpatrick. He also caught all four of his touchdowns from Fitzpatrick, who is back in as the Texans' starter.

Tight ends: Julius Thomas (ankle) got in a limited practice yesterday. He still needs to be monitored throughout the weekend ... Ditto for Cleveland's Jordan Cameron (concussion). Miami's Charles Clay would be a candidate as a 1-week replacement. Clay has 17 receptions over the last 3 weeks, and the Jets have given up 12 touchdowns to opposing tight ends, most in the league.

The most popular additions and deletions this week according to ESPN.com:

ADDED

1. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots

2. Giants defense/special teams

3. Rams defense/special teams

4. Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders

5. Daniel Herron, RB, Colts

6. Delanie Walker, TE, Titans

7. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins

8. Jarvis Landry, WR, Dolphins

9. Texans defense/special teams

10. Matt Prater, K, Lions

DROPPED

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts

2. Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints

3. Chiefs defense/special teams

4. Robert Griffin III, QB, Redskins

5. Matt Asiata, RB, Vikings

6. Redskins defense/special teams

7. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings

8. Bobby Rainey, RB, Buccaneers

9. Jordan Reed, TE, Redskins

10. Steelers defense/special teams

The last regular-season home game Aaron Rodgers lost was to the 49ers in Week 1 of the 2012 season. (Not counting that loss to the Bears when he broke his collarbone during the first series.)

That's a 15-game winning streak with 41 TD passes, two more rushing and four interceptions. How's that for homefield advantage?