For the week of Thanksgiving, fantasy football managers should give thanks to the Carolina Panthers’ much-improved offense, because that unit has some gems if you’re looking for Week 13 sleepers.

Last week, the New York Giants’ putrid offense couldn’t get anything done against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Panthers head coach Dave Canales knows the Bucs well, after serving as their offensive coordinator in 2023. He’s going to help serve up a quarterback-receiver sleeper stack.

On the downside, we hate to see injuries, but the NFL stops for no one and the fantasy playoffs are coming up. Managers need quality replacements at a crucial point in the season.

Starting with the Black Friday game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders, we will highlight a mix of seasoned veterans and rookies who will help you finish the fantasy season on a strong note.

Coming off, arguably, his most inefficient start, Drake Maye has a good chance to bounce back against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts have surrendered the sixth-most passing yards, allowing an average of 248.8 yards over the last five weeks.

Maye doesn’t have elite playmakers around him, but he’s built a strong rapport with tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, which is notable because the Colts defense gives up 11.4 fantasy points per game to players at that position.

Even more encouraging for the rookie quarterback’s fantasy ceiling, he’s rushed for at least 26 yards in five consecutive contests.

Maye has eclipsed 300 yards passing and rushing combined twice in seven starts, and he can do it against the Colts this week. With a touchdown pass or rushing score, he could post his third top-10 finish in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks.

Based on Bryce Young’s recent production, he’s starting to get comfortable in head coach Dave Canales’ offense. In Week 12, the quarterback threw for a season-high 263 yards and a touchdown.

The 2023 No. 1 pick didn’t throw for a touchdown in his first two games of the season, but he’s thrown at least one touchdown pass in four consecutive outings.

Young should be able to move the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 29th-ranked pass defense. Also, they allow the second-most fantasy points to QBs.

Last week, Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen returned from a seven-game absence. He’ll boost Carolina’s passing attack as a reliable target for the Alabama product.

Carolina may have to operate with a high-volume passing attack to keep pace with the Buccaneers’ fourth-ranked scoring offense, which bodes for Young’s Week 13 fantasy outlook.

Running back J.K. Dobbins exited the Los Angeles Chargers’ previous game with a knee injury and didn’t return to action, which thrust Gus Edwards into the lead role for the entire second half.

On Wednesday, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Dobbins “will miss some time.”

Managers should be prudent in rostering Edwards if he’s not already on your roster as Dobbins’ handcuff.

The Atlanta Falcons run defense (ranked 19th) is stingier than their pass defense (ranked 26th) in yards allowed, but the 29-year-old could rack up rushing yards in Dobbins’ absence.

Even though the Chargers have been more willing to let Justin Herbert push the ball downfield in recent weeks, they still lean on their ground game (12th in carries) more than their passing attack (29th in attempts).

Edwards’ potential RB1 workload makes him a top sleeper option in a decent Week 13 matchup.

The Washington Commanders may have a backfield dilemma this week after losing their top running backs to injuries. Brian Robinson Jr. suffered an ankle issue while Austin Ekeler has a concussion, his second in two months.

Ekeler is probably a long shot to play on Sunday because of the short intervals between two significant head injuries. Robinson logged a limited practice on Wednesday.

The Commanders have signed Chris Rodriguez to the active roster and worked out running backs James Robinson and Boston Scott, indicating that either or both of their top two ball-carriers could miss Sunday’s contest.

Washington may go with a running back committee, though McNichols could lead the team in carries if Robinson is out or split the majority workload with him.

In Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, McNichols finished ninth in fantasy scoring among RBs with eight carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns, plus a catch for six yards. Ekeler missed that game with his first documented concussion of the season.

Despite a tough matchup against the Tennessee Titans’ eighth-ranked run defense, McNichols could again take advantage of an increased workload, especially if Robinson is limited or sits out.

All of the Carolina Panthers receivers are available in more than 40 percent of leagues. Managers can consider any of their top four wideouts to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who give up the eighth-most fantasy points to the position.

Among the Panthers’ wide receiver unit, Legette is, arguably, the best option with the most upside.

Undrafted rookie Jalen Coker missed the previous game because of a quadriceps injury. If he returns to action, he could cut into David Moore’s time on the field. Without a definitive word on Coker’s status, avoid both of them.

At 34 years old, Adam Thielen is a trustworthy veteran, but he has just two or three receptions in all four of his appearances this season.

Xavier Legette leads the Panthers in catches (33) and touchdown receptions (four). Since Carolina reinserted quarterback Bryce Young into the starting lineup in Week 8, Legette has recorded four catches in three of four contests and scored in two of them.

Going against the Buccaneers’ 29th-ranked pass defense, Legette could have his rookie breakout game. Because of Young’s improved play under center, he’s a viable sleeper option in a favorable matchup.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is a “long shot” to play on Sunday.

Since the Colts reinserted quarterback Anthony Richardson into the starting lineup in Week 11, Downs has either led the team in receiving yards or tied for the most targets. He saw seven targets in three quarters of play last week.

In his absence, another Colts receiver will see more targets against a vulnerable Patriots pass defense that ranks 22nd in yards allowed.

If standout second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez shadows Michael Pittman Jr., Pierce may be the Colts receiver to have a big game. Still a rookie, Adonai Mitchell doesn’t have the connection Pierce has established with Richardson over the last two years.

The 24-year-old leads the league with a jaw-dropping 23.3 yards per catch. He saw four targets in Weeks 11 and 12. If he gets more opportunities in a favorable matchup, the big-play wideout could easily clear 100 receiving yards and potentially reach paydirt for a gaudy stat line.

Pierce missed practice on Wednesday with a foot injury, so keep an eye on the Colts’ injury report in case the team rules him out for Sunday’s contest.

Travis Kelce isn’t the only pass-catching tight end with fantasy value on the Kansas City Chiefs roster.

Entering Week 13, Noah Gray ranks third on the club in receptions (27), and he’s tied with rookie wideout Xavier Worthy for a team-leading four touchdown receptions.

Over the last two weeks, the 2021 fifth-rounder has hauled eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and caught three of his four touchdown passes in the red zone. Clearly, he’s become a closer when Kansas City gets deep in opposition territory, and his scoring streak could continue against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders allow the third-most fantasy points to tight ends. They have also surrendered multiple scores to TEs in two of their last three games and five in total during that stretch.

Along with Kelce, Gray is a strong play for Black Friday’s standalone matchup between the Chiefs and Raiders.

The New England Patriots have had some success with two-tight end sets in recent weeks, which has allowed Austin Hooper to coexist with Hunter Henry in the passing game.

Though Henry is technically the Patriots’ starting tight end, Hooper has carved out a role, seeing at least four targets in five of the last six weeks. In that span, he’s also recorded three or four receptions in five outings.

Hooper is also an efficient pass-catcher, hauling in all eight of his targets over the previous two weeks. He should be effective in the passing game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The Colts allow the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Without a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver, expect the Patriots to attack Indianapolis’ 27th-ranked pass defense between the numbers with their tight ends.

Hooper has a good shot to eclipse 50 receiving yards and score a touchdown in consecutive weeks.

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Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.