With Week 13 on the horizon, it is time to start thinking about your fantasy lineups. Which players could win you your matchup? And which players are bust candidates for the weekend ahead? Our list of starts and sits gives you everything you need to make the right calls and win your matchups this weekend!
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs DET) – Lawrence made headlines last week as he led the Jaguars on an improbable game-winning drive against the Ravens. He finished that game with 22.9 points, his second straight game as a top 10 quarterback. This weekend he has a much more favourable matchup as he prepares to face off against the Lions. Detroit are allowing 23.8 points per game to opposing quarterbacks, which ranks 32nd across the NFL.
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (vs LAC) – There’s been plenty of speculation surrounding Carr and his future in Las Vegas, but the bottom line is that he has been playing good football through the last few weeks. He scored 22.8 points against the Seahawks last week and has finished as a QB1 in three of his last four outings. I’d bank on him to continue that impressive run of form this week against the Chargers.
Either of the Packers’ quarterbacks (vs CHI) – It still isn’t clear whether it will be Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love starting in this game, but I am comfortable with either. This weekend they face off against a Bears defense that has been struggling with injuries and who were put to the sword last week by Mike White. If White can finish as QB5 against this unit, you can bet that the Packers quarterbacks can have a good game too.
Sit ‘Em
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns (vs HOU) – I fully understand why people want to start him. In his last season as a starter, Watson finished as the QB5 in scoring. He also has a good matchup against the Texans. That said, he hasn’t stepped on a football field in almost two years, and we’ve never seen him in this Browns offense. I can see the ceiling he offers, but the low floor in this game would worry me.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (vs PHI) – Tannehill hasn’t done much from a fantasy perspective, ranking as the QB26 through Week 12. He has failed to surpass 15 points four times in his last six games and this weekend he has a tough challenge against a very impressive Eagles defense. I’m not sure that I’d want to be reliant on a big game from him in this one.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (vs BAL) – According to Sleeper, Russell Wilson is a starter in 57% of leagues. If you are a Russell Wilson owner, I implore you to join the 43% letting him ride the bench. It is difficult not to sound like a broken record on this one. The Broncos’ offense is dire. Wilson hasn’t finished above QB20 since Week 6. He hasn’t topped 15 points since Week 4. Now he faces a good Ravens defense.
Running back
Start ‘Em
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (vs CLE) – Some might think this is an obvious suggestion, but the last few weeks would suggest otherwise. After seven straight games of double-digit points, Pierce has scored just 8.5 points over the last two games combined. He should get things back on track in this one. The Texans face off against a Browns defense that has been unable to stop the run all season.
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (vs IND) – Elliott might not dominate the Cowboys’ backfield in the way he used to, but he has been very productive through recent weeks. He has scored at least 15 points in his last four games and has finished as RB12 or better in each of those games. This weekend he faces an Indianapolis defense that is allowing 23.5 points per game to opposing running backs.
Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders (vs NYG) – Robinson had the best game of his young career in Week 12, rushing for over 100 yards against the Falcons. He gets another favourable matchup here and is well worth a start. The Giants have been poor at stopping opposing running backs this season, allowing 22.2 points per game to the position. With most of the Giants’ issues coming from ball carriers rather than pass catching backs, I’d expect Robinson to take advantage.
Sit ‘Em
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (vs JAX) – Swift is just not getting the usage that many of his fantasy owners want. He hasn’t managed to play more than 34% of snaps since all the way back in Week 8. He has also had just 23 carries in five weeks and isn’t getting enough volume as a pass catcher to overcome that. Swift hasn’t finished above RB18 since Week 2.
Isaiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (vs CIN) – People are seemingly desperate for Pacheco to become a thing in fantasy football. That desire overlooks the fact he’s completely absent as a pass catcher. It is a big part of the reason why he has only managed to top 15 points once all season, despite a high workload through recent weeks. With a tough matchup against the Bengals on the cards I’d be inclined to sit him.
Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (vs NE) – Singletary has been pretty solid from a fantasy perspective over recent weeks. He has finished as the RB12, RB10, and RB36 in the last three weeks respectively. Those performances came against poor run defenses though. This weekend they face a stout Patriots run defense who should have no problem shutting down the Bills’ ground game.
Wide receiver
Start ‘Em
Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans (vs PHI) – Matchups be damned, I’m starting Burks this weekend. After all, he has played very well against two good pass defenses over the last couple of weeks. After putting up 18.1 points on the Packers in Week 11, he managed 17 points against the Bengals last week. He is quite clearly the Titans’ leading option in the passing game and he should have another solid performance in a game where I expect the Titans to pass a fair amount.
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets (vs MIN) – From one rookie first rounder to another. With Zach Wilson warming the bench and Mike White under center, Wilson had a great game last weekend against the Bears. He finished up with five catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns, scoring 26.4 fantasy points. The matchup on paper is even better this weekend, facing a Vikings defense that rank fifth in points allowed per game to opposing wide receivers.
Devonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (vs TEN) – AJ Brown might get the headlines in Philly, but Smith has been a productive second option in the passing game. The absence of Dallas Goedert has seen him get more targets in recent weeks. This has seen him average a respectable 11.2 points per game since Week 10. The matchup is a good one too. The Titans rank 28th in DVOA allowed to opposing WR2s, giving up 50.3 yards per game.
Sit ‘Em
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills (vs NE) – We all know what we are getting with Davis. It is either an underwhelming performance that doesn’t warrant a starting spot, or it is the kind of performance that wins your matchup single-handedly. I never like taking that kind of bet at the best of times, but I’m especially wary of doing it against this Patriots defense. Sure, the potential payoff is huge, but the floor is abysmally low.
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (vs NYJ) – Thielen had a dominant game against the Patriots in Week 12, but I’d be wary of putting too much stock into that. Prior to that 21.1-point game, Thielen had failed to hit double-digit points for three straight weeks. He hadn’t logged a finish of WR20 or above since Week 3. This weekend’s clash against the Jets isn’t an easy one either.
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers (vs CHI) – I’m always wary of sitting Lazard as he seems to have a good game as soon as I do. With that being said, I’m not sure I’d trust him here. I like the matchup against the Bears, but Lazard’s production has tailed off in recent weeks, culminating in a 4.4-point game against the Eagles last weekend. Add in the rising role of Christian Watson and it’s a risk I’m not keen to take.
Tight end
Start ‘Em
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (vs HOU) – I told you last week that Njoku was the guy. Sure enough he delivered, scoring 16.4 points in the Browns’ overtime win over the Bucs. I’d back him to have another big game this weekend too. He faces off against a really poor Texans defense who are allowing 11.9 points per game to tight ends. Njoku is worth the start despite the uncertainty at quarterback.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals (vs KC) – Hurst has been a pretty dependable option for the Bengals and for fantasy owners through recent weeks. He has scored double-digit points in four of his last five games and has finished as TE14 or higher in three of those. This weekend he faces a Chiefs defense allowing 11.2 points per game to opposing tight ends.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills (vs NE) – Knox was kept quiet in Week 12 against the Lions, logging just two catches for 17 yards. With that said, he has been solid in recent weeks, finishing with double-digit points on three occasions since Week 8. He faces a New England defense who are good against the run and who always prioritise shutting down the main pass catcher (in this case Diggs). That should see more opportunities come his way.
Sit ‘Em
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs DET) – There’s a part of me that wants to start Engram. After all, he is facing a dire Detroit defense. With that being said, it is impossible to overlook his form in recent weeks. Through his last three games he has just five catches for 26 yards. He has scored a combined 10.1 points through those games. Until I see that change I’ll be sitting him.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (vs SEA) – This Rams offense was underwhelming with Matthew Stafford at quarterback, but it was at least functional. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Their lack of a passing game was painfully apparent through all four quarters against the Chiefs and none of their pass catchers did well. Higbee only ran a route on 34% of his plays and didn’t have a single catch all game.
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos (vs BAL) – Dulcich had three outstanding weeks before the Broncos had their bye in Week 9. In the three games since, he hasn’t been able to replicate those numbers. He has logged just six catches for 52 yards in that period, with no touchdowns. Add in a tough matchup against a good Ravens defense and you have enough of a reason to sit him.