Viva Murillo!

We have many reasons to be thankful, including friends, family, and the realization that no matter how bad things might be, plenty of people have it much worse. It's the same in fantasy football, where your struggles pale in comparison to those of others in worse circumstances. Here are a few reminders:

• Be thankful if you didn't draft Joseph Addai, Tim Hightower, Earnest Graham, Santana Moss, Matt Schaub, Peyton Manning, Felix Jones, Lee Evans or Andre Johnson. Be extra thankful if you didn't draft all of those guys in one league, like I did. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

• Be thankful if your favorite NFL team is in the playoff hunt. If they're even mathematically alive, you have license to dream about the Super Bowl. With Green Bay as dominant as they are, it's almost hard to remember that they were just a wildcard team last year, and were just a Mike Vick floater in the end zone away from getting bounced in the first round. If your favorite team has a shot, enjoy it.

• The same goes for your fantasy team. Maybe you have to win out to make the post-season or maybe you need help to secure a spot. So what? Right now you're still in it, and everybody knows there are no guarantees in the fantasy playoffs. The 8-5 runt could topple the 13-1 bully and nobody would blink, because it happens almost every year. If you get there, you can win it. Enjoy those possibilities with your turkey.

• Be thankful the NBA isn't your favorite sport. While every piece of dialogue seemed to merit a news report during the NFL lockout, people seem to have forgotten that basketball should have started already. Every time Commissioner David Stern cancels part of the upcoming season, it gives sports fans even more time to not care about the upcoming season. While I feel bad for Spike Lee and Jack Nicholson, it seems the rest of us will get along without the NBA just fine.

• Be thankful you play fantasy football, because sometimes our game makes more sense than the real one. Cam Newton throws like an All Pro and can't win. Tim Tebow throws like Garo Yepremian and can't lose. Take Peyton Manning off the Colts and they look like a United Football League team; put Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines in San Francisco and they look like title contenders. At least we're only risking a few dollars and bragging rights based on crazy developments. In the NFL they make millions, but people lose their jobs over it.

• Be thankful for flexible scheduling. Would you rather see the Patriots play the Colts, or the Lions face the Saints? Me too.

• Be thankful that Dan Snyder can only own one team at a time. Fans in 31 cities can breathe a sigh of relief.

• Be thankful that there are actually a couple of compelling matchups on Thanksgiving. Packers/Lions means something in both the division and conference, and 49ers/Ravens looks like a battle of playoff teams and Super Bowl darkhorses. Oh, I think the Dolphins are playing, too.

• Finally, be thankful that you get to spend your energy on something so fun and, ultimately, irrelevant. We all know that people are suffering, so if fantasy football is deserving of your attention, things could be worse. Give thanks for what you have because no matter how bad things get, there's someone out there who would probably switch places with you. Enjoy the family, friends, food and football.

What are you thankful for this year? Share your thoughts below.

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