We are getting to the crucial time of the fantasy season where the playoff picture takes shape. Getting your starting lineup right is more crucial than ever. With that in mind, here are our recommendations at each position for Week 13.
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (vs HOU) – The Broncos are on a roll at the moment and Wilson has been a very dependable starter. Through his last five games he has nine total touchdowns and no picks. During that run he has averaged 16.3 points. He now faces a Texans defense allowing 17.8 points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (vs DET) – I’m trusting the matchup here. The Lions defense has been dire through recent weeks and was picked apart by Jordan Love in Week 12. I also expect the Saints to be trailing for much of this game, so expect plenty of passing situations.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (vs DET) – This isn’t the easiest matchup but Love has been so good through recent weeks. He is coming off back-to-back 20+ point outings and has finished as QB14 or better in five of his last six games.
Sit ‘Em
Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons (vs NYJ) – If Week 12 was meant to be Ridder’s comeback performance after his benching, it didn’t materialise. He struggled to move the ball and prevent turnovers and finished with 11.7 points against the Saints. The Jets are a much tougher test and I cannot trust him in this one.
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs ARI) – The Steelers certainly looked better on offense in Week 12, but Pickett had his third straight game without a touchdown and scored just 11.6 points. Arizona were gashed on the ground by the Rams last week and I’d expect the Steelers to follow a similar formula to the detriment of Pickett.
Running back
Start ‘Em
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs CAR) – The stage is set for White to have a big outing in this divisional matchup. He has been a very steady producer through recent weeks and now he goes up against comfortably the worst run defense in football in Carolina.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (vs GB) – Pacheco had a few shaky weeks before Week 12 but he put in an excellent performance against the Raiders that saw him find the end zone twice and score 25.9 points in the process. The Packers run defense remains a major concern and Pacheco is primed to take full advantage of that.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs ARI) – Warren was kept a little quiet in Week 12, but I am confident that changes this weekend. He goes up against a Cardinals defense that just surrendered a whopping 228 rushing yards against the Rams. I think he gets back to his high scoring ways here.
Sit ‘Em
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (vs JAX) – The Bengals are going up against a very good run defense in Jacksonville that stifled a normally potent Texans ground game in Week 12. Mixon was quiet against the Steelers last week and I think he may be in for another such outing this weekend.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (vs TB) – The Bucs have been one of the better run defenses in football this season and they are giving up just 17.5 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Hubbard just doesn’t offer the upside to make this kind of selection worth the gamble.
Wide receiver
Start ‘Em
Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals (vs PIT) – I have seen what I need to see from Brown to trust him this week. He led the Cardinals with 12 targets and 88 receiving yards against the Rams last week. He did that despite entering the week with the questionable tag. I can see him having another similar performance this weekend against the Steelers.
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (vs DEN) – Dell has been excellent through recent weeks and logged his fourth straight 15+ point game last week against the Jaguars. The Broncos have had some issues against deep passes this season, and that could open things up for Dell to have another strong outing.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs (vs GB) – There is a chance that last week’s eight catch, 107 yard outing from Rice was a flash in the pan, but I’m willing to gamble on him this weekend. That’s especially true given that he will be matching up against the Packers in this one.
Sit ‘Em
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons (vs NYJ) – It is six weeks since we last saw London finish higher than WR28. He is getting a steady run of targets, but his inability to find the end zone has been a problem. He also has a very tough matchup this weekend against Sauce Gardner.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers (vs TB) – With the Panthers offense is a tailspin, Thielen’s fantasy production has taken a hit. He finished as a top five receiver three times in the first six weeks. Since then he hasn’t finished inside the top 20. It reached a new nadir in Week 12, with Thielen having one catch for two yards.
George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs ARI) – I wouldn’t go near this one. Pickens hasn’t even topped 10 points in a game since Week 7. He has exceeded 50 yards once since and has one touchdown in his last five games. I need to see something different before he’s worth considering for a start.
Tight end
Start ‘Em
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs ARI) – Freiermuth was the focal point of the Steelers’ passing attack in the first game of the post-Matt Canada era. He had nine catches for 120 yards against the Bengals, scoring 25.5 points. He is unlikely to match that here, but he feels well worth a start.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (vs LAR) – Dorian Thompson-Robinson clearly loves throwing to tight ends and Njoku has been the biggest beneficiary. His 24 targets through the last two weeks rank second in the entire NFL and he has finished as TE4 and TE7 in those outings.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (vs DEN) – Schultz was quiet in Week 12, with his one catch for two yards against the Jaguars. I think he can get back on track here though. The Broncos have struggled against tight ends all year, allowing a league high 16.4 points per game to the position.
Sit ‘Em
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (vs SEA) – Ferguson’s production has been hugely dependent on his ability to score touchdowns. In the seven games where he hasn’t found the end zone he has averaged 8.2 points. He also has a tough matchup against a Seahawks defense allowing 11.6 points per game to opposing tight ends.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (vs IND) – The Titans are struggling to move the ball through the air and that has seen Okonkwo’s production suffer. He topped 10 points last week for the first time since Week 5. He hasn’t scored 11+ points in a game all season though. That breakout we hoped for may not be coming.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers (vs NE) – Everett was good for the Chargers last week, but I’m wary of starting him in Week 13. After all, he is going up against a very good Patriots defense. Everett has been wholly touchdown reliant for fantasy production this year. New England has given up just one touchdown to the tight end position all season.