Who To Start, Sit, And Scoop Up For Your Week 13 Fantasy Football Lineup

Some of you will be going away after this week. Pushed out onto the ice like an old Eskimo that went 4-9 over the regular season. As you float on your ice chunk towards oblivion, please remember that it wasn’t all your fault. Fantasy Football is trying to predict the future, and sometimes the future turns out weird. Now, your season is over. But, if you’re playing for a final playoff spot, need some pickups for your keeper league or are just trying to spoil someone else’s season, this article is for you. It drips of schadenfreude, just not overtly.

This week’s byes: Cleveland, Tennessee

Start of the Week

The start of the week in this column has been cursed to mediocrity over the last few weeks, so the fantasy football gods a sacrifice:

SD WR Tyrell Williams: There was a slight injury scare when Williams hurt his shoulder, but Mike McCoy said Williams is fine. Now he can take his massive target totals (14 on Sunday for a ridiculous 46.7 percent target share) and tear open Tampa Bay who has the 5th-most points scored against them by opposing WRs.

Start/Sit

QUARTERBACK STARTS

Derek Carr: Don’t worry about his dislocated finger, Carr has said his pinkie won’t be an issue, and we should believe him. Carr’s getting it done every single week and has to be respected as a top 4-6 QB that’s matchup proof. He should shine once again at home against the Bills, and he’s the 10th most expensive player on DraftKings. A steal. Don’t worry about next week at KC. For now, enjoy one more solid regular season game out of Carr.

Now the duality of the fist pump:

Matthew Stafford: He hasn’t topped 300 yards since Week 3 and his receivers are a weird carousel of suckage and greatness on a weekly basis, but all signs point to “shootout” as the Lions visit the Saints. We don’t really know if Golden Tate will be the guy, or Marvin Jones, but someone will be the guy. Stafford is throwing the ball over 37 times a game on average over the last 4 weeks, he just hasn’t seen the end zone. It’s time for the end zone. It will happen. The guy will catch the ball in the end zone.

Colin Kaepernick: The Bears have a defense that looks like it belongs on M*A*S*H* and Kaepernick is playing football like it’s 2012. We go into more detail in the Waiver Wire section, but consider him a top 10 option this week. Play him over Andy Dalton or even Cam Newton. He can run it and dump it off to all his nifty RBs. Torrey Smith may catch 1 80-yard pass for a TD. This is an offense.

QUARTERBACK SITS

Tyrod Taylor: Sammy Watkins is coming back, LeSean McCoy continues to do his thing, but it’s best to just sit Tyrod in anything but 2-QB leagues. The Oakland defense is turning into a formidable unit, and their speed is giving mobile quarterbacks trouble.

Cam Newton was *only* sacked twice in Week 12, but it seemed like he was getting tied up quite a bit. Oakland can give up the big play, and they certainly did on Sunday, but they’re not an automatic trigger pull anymore, especially with QBs like Tyrod, who might only throw it 21 times. That said, Taylor’s playoff schedule is sweet, so pick him up, but just be weary if you have to win this week.

Cam Newton: I believe that some of the players around Cam Newton should be fine against Seattle, but playing Cam himself is worrying. If Seattle’s defense is healthy and can get to him, his output is unpredictable.

Granted, Newton finished with a decent 20+ point game after another weird offensive performance by the Panthers, but there are plenty QBs out there that you should have and could be playing. Kaepernick, Alex Smith, Fitzpatrick against the Colts and Eli Manning could all be better this week and should be available to the Newton owner in 12 team leagues.

Dak Prescott: So it seems like Prescott is becoming a Russell Wilson 2.0 or even a Tyrod Taylor 3.0 which is cool, but if you have other options, you could probably sit him against Minnesota. Now, the Vikings are not at all what they were to start the year, but they are still holding opposing QBs to 15 points-or-less over the last 4 weeks. Alex Smith could be a better play. Dak could be Dak and ruin this whole prediction (likely), but you probably have better options if you’re in a 10-12 team league.

WIDE RECEIVER STARTS

Sammy Watkins: Let’s all feel comfortable rolling out Sammy Watkins as he looked healthy playing a surprising amount of snaps in his comeback game. Taylor doesn’t throw it a lot, but gameflow could dictate a decent day for Watkins, who caught 3 of 3 targets for 80 yards on Sunday. He actually had 16.7 percent of the team’s target share, and should warm up and get maybe double the targets, which means he could find the end zone. I’m comfortable playing him, especially in DFS where he’s only $5,700.

Jamison Crowder: It’s Crowda! Crowda! Say it right! Patrick Peterson banged up his knee in Week 12 which means a Washington receiver runs free. That could be Crowder, who is consistently one of the top targets of Kirk Cousins and last week got 10 targets for a 19.2 percent share of the targets. He didn’t find the end zone, but 8 catches for 88 yards is nice for a PPR FLEX.

If Pat P. is healthy, well then…

Crowda! Crowdaaaaaa!

Tyreek Hill: If Jeremy Maclin is out, Hill is a must-play. If Maclin plays, Hill is still a phenomenal option against the Falcons who seem to hand out points to wide receivers like unwanted, soggy Thanksgiving leftovers (with a sad enthusiasm). Keep your feelings in check — Hill is great for DFS at $4,600 and he won’t rush in a score and return a kick for a score every week, but he can make plays happen, so roll with him. He’s hot right now and it’s Atlanta.

*Allen Iverson voice* We’re talking about Atlanta.

WIDE RECEIVER SITS

Malcolm Mitchell: The New England rookie is all hipster fantasy football players want to talk about. Yes, Mitchell has seen 12 targets over the last two weeks and has caught 3 TDs (he also dropped a few in the end zone), but we don’t know Bennett or Gronk’s status. It’s a crapshoot, this position, and if you need to win this week, it’s best you don’t put your fantasy life in the hands of Belichick. Pick him up, see if it happens for another week, but be warned.

Still, this is nice.

Torrey Smith: The field-stretching WR is a nightmare for people who hate boom or bust receivers. Smith has been almost all bust in San Fran, but judging by pundits, he’s a viable waiver wire option and play this week. His performances with Kaepernick say otherwise. Sure, Torrey Smith signs babies, but Colin Kaepernick is historically a poor deep passer. Torrey Smith likes to run far, quickly. This relationship will not work out.

Marqise Lee: He’s emerged as the clear #2 Jags receiver over the last month, getting 28 targets and supplanting Allen Hurns as a secondary target of the Blake Bortles Garbage Time of Love phase. Hurns is getting healthier, however, and nabbed only one catch on his 7 targets on Sunday. He’ll catch some of those balls this week (not many more) and Denver will probably shut down the rest of the JAX receiving corps in the process. Don’t play Lee in Week 13 unless you can afford to get cute.

RUNNING BACK STARTS

Mark Ingram/Tim Hightower: What a difference a benching and a few weeks make. Since Sean Payton embraced his dual backs, Ingram has had a fire lit under him, Hightower has stepped up to make both men legit every-week plays. It’s still an even time-share, though. So there’s that. Ingram got 42 of 74 snaps on Sunday, but Ingram and Hightower are getting virtually the same touches regardless of snaps. Both Hightower and Ingram feel safe with the disappearance of Coby Fleener. Play ’em both?

Denard Robinson/T.J. Yeldon: This is going way out on a limb, but it’s worth considering in a cash game. It looks like Chris Ivory is going to miss time, which is putting the majority of the snaps on the shoulders of Robinson with Yeldon still nursing an ankle injury. Over the last 4 weeks, the Broncos have given up the 4th-most fantasy points to running backs. This is a Hail Mary, but it could pay off for those in need of a DFS deal, low ownership scenario, or a running back for one week or so. This isn’t sexy. This may not work. But it could. This is either a get right game for the Denver run D, or the final slice of the sample size that shows they’re indeed crap against the run.

Doug Martin: With his health no longer in question, Doug Martin should see 20-25 touches against a bottom-ten San Diego run D. He’s also due for a decent game through the air, catching only 2 passes for 3 yards on Sunday. He’s a true 3-down back and is doing quite well in pass protection. He’s also merely $5,700 in DraftKings.

RUNNING BACK SITS

All Patriots RBs: It’s happening. LeGarrette Blount, James White, and Dion Lewis are in a 3-way timeshare of doom. We have exactly one week for one of them to run away with the job completely, or at least even it out to a 50/50 split again. How awful is this?

Keep in mind that James White and Dion Lewis combined for 16 targets with Gronk and Martellus Bennett hurt, but they only turned those targets into 8 catches for 56 yards. They will all get their points, oh yes, they will, but who and when seems too tough to tell right now. It’s not a great scenario. Not great.

Jay Ajayi: A few key injuries to his stellar offensive line and Ajayi comes back down to earth, averaging 2.5 yards per carry against the 49ers. Luckily for his owners, he got the touchdown, but he’s looked mortal and almost Melvin Gordon-esque over the last month. He needs the touchdown for you to feel comfortable, and now he’s in Baltimore playing against a top 3 fantasy run defense. There’s potential for better options, especially if you’re stacked at the position.

Jeremy Hill: There’s potential for Hill to do some damage through the air if he’s suited up after a scary ankle injury last week. In standard leagues, he could have another rough outing on the ground after going 12-21 against the Ravens. Now he faces the Eagles who are ranked #3 against the run and shut down the collected Green Bay rbs for a combined 22 carries for 48 yards. Not even Rex Burkhead could penetrate this stout front 7.

TIGHT END STARTS

Greg Olsen: He-Man is averaging 36 yards per game over his last 5 games. Cam Newton looks utterly flustered, and Seattle could have a healthier defense which could clog up the middle. I say still play the man! He’s still averaging just under 7 targets a game, and he’s an elite option at TE, the position in which nothing is as it seems. Things will work out.

Travis Kelce: If you have Kelce, you’re playing him, but opposing offenses are using the TE at will against Atlanta, who ranks near the bottom in TE points scored against them. Jermain Gresham had 10 targets against them last week, now Kelce could be primed for a big game after enjoying 24 targets in the last 2 games. He’s cheap in DFS — only $4,700. Worth it.

Eric Ebron: He only got one stinkin’ target on Thanksgiving. One! That’s not how you feed your TE on Thanksgiving! Ebron had 23 combined targets the three games before this, so let’s call this 1-target game an outlier and everyone gets back on track for the potential shootout against the Saints in Week 13 in New Orleans.

Don’t let this one week scare you off:

TIGHT END SITS

Vernon Davis/Jordan Reed: Washington is playing the Cardinals and Arizona has shut down TEs all season long. Reed has an injured shoulder and may not play, but if he’s sharing time while out on the field, it could be a mess for all players. The waiver wire digs a little deeper into this, but just stay away for now.

Tyler Eifert: This is a flaming hot take and you should always play your studs, but the Bengals are going up against the Eagles in Week 13, who are the #2 defense against TEs. Eifert got a 23 percent target share in the first game without A.J. Green, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t continue to soak up targets, but he could be getting harassed all day and leave you with a mediocre score.

This could always happen, though.

Gronk: This is the second-most heartbreaking thing I’ve had to write since my dog died last year… It’s hard to trust Gronk right now. Even if they play him this week against the Rams, I may look elsewhere, like C.J. Fiedorowicz or Kyle Rudolph. Who knows if Gronk’s back is truly hurt. Who knows how his chest and lungs are. What if he’s on a snap count? What if he’s just going to be a decoy out there? The Patriots are in a race for first place in the AFC, which is good for owners of Patriots players, but Belichick will not risk his prize stud with only a few games left to go in the season. Gronk has missed late-season games so he could be ready for the playoffs before, so who knows what’ll happen this week. This is mostly me crying into the cold, lonely, and uncaring night.

This is an old tweet. This happens too much. Gronk brings the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows.

Why do you have to get hurt so much?

Waiver Wire

ATL WR Taylor Gabriel: He’s put up double-digit points in PPR leagues for four weeks straight and had his best game of his career in Week 12 catching 4 of 5 targets for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns. Maybe he’s this year’s Tyler Lockett? It’s always a risky proposition riding the hot hand fallacy and on a team with so many weapons (why force it to Julio if you can poke holes in the Arizona defense in new, interesting ways?), but Gabriel needs to get picked up for this final run into the playoffs.

Keep in mind that this looks like a very Tevin Coleman/Devonta Freeman TD. Atlanta is good at this:

CHI WR Marquess Wilson: Go to the volume. Always go to the volume. In his second game back from injury on a Bears team gutted of talent, Wilson caught 8 of his 11 targets for 125 yards and a TD. On top of that, he dropped two passes that should’ve been touchdowns. Matt Barkley may be the QB, the Bears might be looking at their 4/5 receivers as 1s and 2s, but the volume. Go to the volume. Wilson could be a FAAB steal because everyone (rightfully) hates the Bears. Stupid Bears.

SF QB Colin Kaepernick: With the Bears, Jets, Falcons and Rams as the next four defenses Kaep faces, this is intriguing. Very intriguing. Kaepernick threw for 296 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception against Miami on Sunday, and rushed 10 times for 113 yards. If you extrapolated Kaep’s average score out the five games he was benched, he’d end up in the 10-14 range depending on your league’s scoring. Better than Dalton, Newton, Manning and Stafford.

Use him while you can.

https://twitter.com/TheFunnyVine/status/803240924926996480

SF TE Vance McDonald: Another week, another 6 targets for McDonald. He’s now up to 5 weeks in a row with at least 6 targets, and has a decent rapport with Kaepernick. This has led to double-digit point totals in PPR leagues over the last 5 weeks. Reliability. That’s what we need right now, because the TE position is just a gross mess at the worst possible time. Greg Olsen is sinking with Cam, Gronk/Gates/Ebron combined for zero points in Week 12. Now things are heating up, and we need Vance because he’s cool.

He is Vance Refrigeration.

WAS TE Vernon Davis: Jordan Reed may miss time after suffering a Grade 3 shoulder separation, of which there are six grades. Reed said he was at 30 percent, but he doesn’t need surgery, so he could play, but what if he doesn’t? In steps Vernon Davis who has played well filling in for Reed. Davis is locked in for at least 6 targets if Reed misses time, and that’s pretty swell in the up-tempo Washington offense, but keep in mind Arizona is ranked #1 against the TE. This is the perfect week for Reed to miss, going against a tough TE D. If Reed continues to miss time, Vernon plays Philly, Carolina, and Chicago in the playoffs. Something to consider.

PIT TE Ladarius Green: Little by little, Green is working his way into the Pittsburgh lineup. This week he played 26 percent of the TE snaps on Thanksgiving against the Colts. It may be slow going, but a big game could come when you need it most from Green. He caught 2 of 3 targets for 67 yards, and has big play ability, now he just needs to play more.

Mostly, these TE looks are for the Gronk owners that need to think about him getting shut down until the playoffs with all of these damn injuries. A dominant Gronk playoff run looks less and less likely every day.