Fantasy Football Start 'em Sit 'em: Who should you start in Week 13?

Quarterback

Automatic Starts: Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, Justin Herbert

Fantasy Football Week 13
Credit: CBS Sports

Start of the Week: Kirk Cousins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Cousins hasn’t featured much on my start of the week list but the fact is if you’ve started him anytime over the past 4 weeks you’ve been delighted with his output. 4 x 20+ point performances in a row with the latest game generating over 31 points, good enough for the QB5 over that span of games. Cousins faces the 1-10 Jags this week, giving up the 3rd most point to the QB position this is a juicy matchup on paper and signals another game with 20+ point potential. Mike Glennon was able to keep things competitive last week and should be able to put up some points on this Vikings secondary which would be great for Cousins fantasy potential this week with Thielen restored to the lineup.

Other notable starts:

Taysom Hill @ Atlanta Falcons

This one doesn’t take too much working out. Taysom Hill only faced this team 2 weeks ago and put up over 23 points in his first career start. This fixture against familiar divisional opponents will be inside another dome so weather is no factor. Hill is an incredibly solid pick this week and has low end RB1 appeal. If the Falcons are able to put up more of an offensive showing than their first matchup then Hill could have even more upside, one of the home runs of the week.

Ryan Tannehill v Cleveland Browns

Ryan Tannehill didn’t have too much to do last week in the rout of the Colts, King Henry was awesome in his 3 TD rushing performance. That being said Tannehill still put up decent fantasy numbers scoring over 21 points against a very good defense. This week he faces the Browns who allowed Mike Glennon to score 22 fantasy points even without main wide receiver threat DJ Chark. Henry and the ground attack shouldn’t have their own way this week though with Cleveland being stout on the ground they rank the 10th best against fantasy RBs. This bodes well for Tannehill who should be able to score on this Browns team who are conceding the 10th most points to fantasy QBs.

Phillip Rivers @ Houston Texans

Phil Rivers has been impressive in his last 2 outings throwing for 5 TDs to 2 Ints, a combined 47 points. This week’s matchup is another good one for Rivers as the Colts travel to Houston to face the Texans who have improved lately but still give up the 13th most points to fantasy QBs. Rivers success combines with the emergence of rookie WR Michael Pittman who’s seen 27 targets in his last 4 outings and looks a potential future star in the making. Watson & the Texans are a typically high scoring offense so this game could be fantasy relevant for a few players.

Sits – Carson Wentz, Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton

Running Back

Automatic Starts: Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Chris Carson (If healthy), Josh Jacobs, James Robinson, Ezekiel Elliott, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Antonio Gibson

Fantasy Football Week 13
Credit: CBS Sports

Start of the Week: Jonathan Taylor @ Houston Texans

I was gutted when I found out my start of the week Jonathan Taylor was to miss the Titans game with being on the Covid list – I really thought he would have a chance to break out. Now he has come off the list he’s primed for a big opportunity against the Texans who have given up the 2nd most points to fantasy RBs on the season. In week 11 Taylor was up to 55% of the offensive snaps and with Hines & Wilkins struggling on the ground against Tennessee I can see Taylor’s opportunities toward a season high and against this bad run defense I think he breaks out.

Other notable starts:

Frank Gore v Las Vegas Raiders

Whether father time is catching up on Tom Brady is another question but it seems to have forgotten about Frank Gore for the time being. The 37 year old vet has just put his 2 best performances of the season back to back and now runs into a soft Raiders run defense that’s ranked 4th worst on the season so far. It’s not a sexy pick but Gore will give you a very high floor this week.

James White @ LA Chargers

Another under the radar pick that’s not going to get many fantasy managers scared when they see him in your lineup is James White. What they don’t know is James White is the PPR RB8 over the past 2 weeks scoring 14+ points on both occasions. The matchup this week is great with the chargers conceding the 9th most points to fantasy RBs. White will look to build on his 2 score performance in week 12 and Cam doesn’t have many other quality options to turn to.

David Montgomery v Detroit Lions

David Montgomery and spectacular do not belong in the same sentence. But unfortunately the Bears RB wearing number 32 on his back was spectacular last week rushing for 103 yards at 9.4 YPC, he also caught a TD pass on his way to a 25 point fantasy performance. He has the dream matchup this week facing a Lions team who can’t stop anybody on the ground giving up the most points to fantasy RBs. I will try my best not to get my hopes up because Montgomery has stung a lot of people before but he’s in all my lineups where I own him and on paper it can’t get any better.

Sits – Wayne Gallman, Falcons RB's, Latavius Murray

Wide Receiver

Automatic Starts: Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Terry McLaurin, Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, Allen Robinson, Michael Thomas, AJ Brown, Diontae Johnson, Justin Jefferson

Fantasy Football Week 13
Credit: Brett Coomer (Houston Chronicle)

Start of the Week: Brandin Cooks vs Indianapolis Colts

Brandin Cooks has been playing second fiddle to Will Fuller there’s no doubts about that, but that won’t matter now that the latter has been suspended the rest of the 2020 season. This isn’t a dream matchup, far from it (Colts give up the 7th fewest points to WRs) but more of a volume play and Cooks has the ability to rip off big performances especially with a QB playing at an elite level. Cooks will be the No.1 option especially with Cobb on IR and Stills released and can be started with low WR1 potential.

Other notable starts:

Michael Pittman @ Houston Texans

Pittman had a down week last week following 2 really good outings, but fantasy owners don’t despair! The stat line tells a different story though, Pittman being targeted 9 times is a really good sign that he’s Rivers’ favourite target and a bounce back is on the cards. The Texans are giving up the 10th most points to fantasy WRs and with Rivers being hot lately I’ll play Pittman with confidence this week.

Jarvis Landry @ Tennessee Titans

Landry would have been a dynasty sell for me this week, after an up and down season Landry produced a huge performance catching 8 passes for 143 yards and a score. I also don’t like to chase points and advise against it, this is an exception though and I predict another big showing from the Louisiana State product. Cleveland (8-3) are underdogs on the road against the AFC South leaders so Baker Mayfield will have to be productive if they want to have a chance at winning this game. Luckily Tennessee are giving up the 8th most points to fantasy WRs which bodes well for Baker & Landry this week.

Denzel Mims v Las Vegas Raiders

You want a bright spot for the New York Jets right now? Denzel Mims is playing at a high level right now, the same can’t be said for his surrounding cast. Flying under the radar the WR out of Baylor has posted 3 x 10+ point games in a row whilst seeing a healthy 23 targets in the process. Darnold hasn’t looked like the same QB since he’s returned to the fold but what is obvious is he’s targeting Mims often as his favourite receiver.

Sits – Jakobi Meyers, All Cowboys not named Amari Cooper, All Bengals not named Tee Higgins

Tight End

Automatic Starts: Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, TJ Hockenson

Credit: Steelers.com

Start of the Week: Eric Ebron vs. Washington Football Team

Ebron may have seen a near season low 68% of the snaps but that didn’t stop him from attracting an enormous 11 targets. He’s not seen less than 6 targets in the past 4 games, the TE7 over this span he’s becoming a high end PPR TE to finish the season. Big Ben and the Steelers offense remains pass heavy which is a good sign for Ebron owners going forward and this week I rank him as my TE7.

Other notable starts:

Jonnu Smith v Cleveland Browns

If Jonnu is able to go this week (the Titans TE sat out yesterday’s practice) then I will have him starting in all my teams where I own him. The matchup couldn’t be much better with Cleveland being awful at covering opposing TEs giving up the 2nd most points to the position. Smith drew a blank in week 12 but I’ll have him as a firm bounce back candidate this week, start him with confidence.

Evan Engram @ Seattle Seahawks

Even with a bye week sandwiched in the middle, Evan Engram has been the TE7 since week 7. Finally producing to the level where people drafted him, Engram has been a top pass catching option for Daniel Jones seeing at least 9 targets in 4 out of his last 5 contests. Daniel Jones is big question mark heading into week 13 but even with Colt McCoy under centre I have Engram ranked as my No.4 TE on the week with the Giants having to try to keep up with Russell Wilson’s Seahawks.

Robert Tonyan v Philadelphia Eagles

Another TE back on the up is Robert Tonyan. His mid-season lull seems to be behind him, Tonyan is the TE3 over the past 2 weeks catching passes in both contests. The matchup this week is good too, the Eagles give up the 11th most points to fantasy TEs. Another scoring performance is fairly likely in week 13 so he’s a mid-ranked TE1 for me.

Sits – Noah Fant, Both Rams TE's, Jimmy Graham

Alastair Cook

Fantasy Football Analyst

ALASTAIR, A DIE-HARD BUCCANEERS FAN FROM NORWICH AND UP AND COMING FANTASY CONTRIBUTOR, CAN BE FOUND ON HIS TWITTER PAGE The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill)

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