Week 13 NFL DFS: Money Makers and Heart Breakers

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that you have an even better long weekend of football. Now we’re officially in the part of the season where every roster move matters. One wrong lineup decision can sink you, one sneaky add can win you a league. Before we dive into this week’s Money Makers and Heart Breakers, here are five things we learned from Week 12 that can help you prepare for the fantasy playoffs.

5 Things We Learned from Week 12 of the 2025 NFL Season

1. Jacoby Brissett has locked in elite stability for Arizona pass catchers.
   Reliable volume and efficiency mean Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch are weekly must-plays heading into Weeks 15–17 at least until Marvin Harrison is back.
2. The Cowboys’ defense is collapsing against the pass.
   They’re giving up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks and wide receivers. Any playoff QB or WR facing them instantly becomes a ceiling play.
3. The Bears are still a funnel defense — and a dream matchup for QBs and WRs.
   They can’t generate pressure and regularly give up splash plays. Managers with late-season matchups vs Chicago should be salivating.
4. Derrick Henry is ramping up at the exact right time.
   After another heavy-volume outing in Week 12, the December King looks primed for his classic late-season surge. If he’s on your roster, you may be holding a league-winner.
5. Kareem Hunt isn’t going away — and he keeps scoring.
   He now leads the Chiefs in touchdowns and continues to get consistent red-zone work. He’s flexible every week and has the profile of a surprise playoff hero.

More Week 13 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers

Money Makers and Heart Breakers for Week 13 NFL DFS

Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone who might be new:

💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations

💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations

💰 Money Makers

Quarterbacks

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

What the hell, Reedy is starting with insanity on the first player? You might see it that way, but in Week 13, the Titans will play the Jaguars. The Jaguars allow the fourth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. The Jaguars give up 253 yards and 2 touchdowns per week to quarterbacks. In Week 12, Cam showed some life with 256 yards and a touchdown passing and another 37 yards and a touchdown rushing. He has had one of the most demanding pass schedules this season. Week 13 is his first glimpse at a pass funnel defense. I do not belong in the psych Ward because of this take on Cam.

$4,600 on DraftKings
$6,400 on FanDuel

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

What do you want me to say? He’s had over 300 yards and/or multiple touchdowns in every game he has started for the Cardinals. Play him in DFS, play him in season-long, play him. Oh yeah, this week he goes against a Tampa Bay defense that gives up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks, like you needed another reason.

$5,800 on DraftKings
$7,600 on FanDuel

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen was a heartbreaker last week, both in this article and in real life. This week, Allen gets to play against a Steelers defense that gives up, on average, 290 total yards and two touchdowns per week to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. If you want to pay up at quarterback, this is a good week to pay up for Allen.

$7,500 on DraftKings
$9,400 on FanDuel

Other Quarterback DFS Picks for Week 13

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

$4,400 on DraftKings
$6,500 on FanDuel

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

$00 on DraftKings
$00 on FanDuel

Running Backs

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Gainwell is becoming increasingly involved in the Steelers’ offense. He has led the backfield in snaps played in the past two games. He has 16 touches in each of those games; he has also had over 100 total yards in each game and two touchdowns. Look for him to be heavily involved in the passing game and get some touches running the ball in Week 13. The Steelers play the Bills in Week 13, and the Bills can be scorched by running backs.

$5,300 on DraftKings
$6,200 on FanDuel

Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

Etienne has four straight games of double-digit fantasy scores. In Week 13, he gets to play against a Titans team that gives up the fourth most fantasy points to running backs. You’re darn Tuten, I am playing Etienne this week in DFS. The matchup is good; he dominates the team’s running back snaps and touches. Look for Travis to do a little of this and a little of that and get you to either 100 total yards or a touchdown in Week 13.

$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,300 on FanDuel

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Is this the week Bucky Irving comes back? At the time of writing this article, I really don’t know. Last week’s matchup was awful, and Tucker struggled. This week is a perfect match-up, and if Bucky is out again, Tucker is a must-play against the Cardinals’ defense. The Cardinals have given up double-digit fantasy scores to running backs in all but one game this season. No, Bucky would make a Tucker start lucky.

$5,500 on DraftKings
$6,800 on FanDuel

Other Running Back DFS Picks for Week 13

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints

$5,000 on DraftKings
$5,900 on FanDuel

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

$6,600 on DraftKings
$8,500 on FanDuel

NOTE: Breece Hall is a nice play in DFS against the Falcons defense as well.

Wide Receivers

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars

Washington has surpassed 13 fantasy points in three of the last four games. He is averaging six targets a game over that four-game span. Parker seems to have some chemistry with Trevor Lawrence, which is a good thing. This week, the Jaguars play against a Titans defense that cannot defend the pass. Parker Washington sounds more like the name of a President than a wide receiver, but this week he has my vote for success.

$5,400 on DraftKings
$5,800 on FanDuel

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

Jayden Higgins, Jayden Higgins, everyone is talking about Jayden Higgins. Phooey, I say, Nico Collins is the guy in Houston. Nico Collins is the guy who has great chemistry with Davis Mills. Collins is the guy who leads the Texans in target share and wide receiver snaps played. So this week, against the Colts and their bottom-10 defense against wide receivers, I say Collins will produce. Disclaimer: Higgins is clearly viable this week as well.

$6,700 on DraftKings
$8,100 on FanDuel

Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

Over the past two games, Wilson has had 33 targets, 25 receptions, and 303 yards receiving. Yes, Michael Wilson has those numbers. There is something special and fun about Brissett to Wilson. You can pass on the Buccaneers, and that is the opponent in Week 13. I say you ride this rejuvenated Cardinals passing game until the wheels fall off. Maybe Michael will give us a touchdown this week.

$5,900 on DraftKings
$7,100 on FanDuel

Other Wide Receiver DFS Picks for Week 13

Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans

$4,400 on DraftKings
$5,600 on FanDuel

John Metchie, New York Jets

$3,800 on DraftKings
$5,700 on FanDuel

Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

Johnson has seven or more fantasy points in five straight games. He is he second option in the pass attack for the Saints. In Week 13, the Saints play the Dolphins. The Dolphins give up the third most fantasy points to tight ends. Elementary, my dear reader, this all adds up to a fine fantasy day for Juwan Johnson in Week 13.

$4,200 on DraftKings
$5,500 on FanDuel

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Otton is averaging eight targets per game over his last three games. He is on the field for 86% of the snaps. I know Chris Godwin is back on the field, but Otton still had 22% target share in Week 12, and that was second on the team. The Cardinals are up in Week 13, and they do not defend against tight ends well. Look for Otton to be involved heavily again this week.

$4,100 on DraftKings
$5,300 on FanDuel

Other Tight End DFS Picks for Week 13

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

$2,800 on DraftKings
$4,800 on FanDuel

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

$3,800 on DraftKings
$5,200 on FanDuel

Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans

$2,600 on DraftKings
$4,800 on FanDuel

NOTE: Yes, I am serious about Parkinson and Helm being good plays this week.

Defense

Los Angeles Chargers

The Raiders have been sliding and are now tied with the Titans for the most fantasy points allowed to opposing teams’ defenses per week. The Chargers play the Raiders in Week 13. The Chargers are at home playing against a Raiders team that has allowed 20 sacks over the past three games, including 10 by the Browns in Week 12. Tune in and watch Geno Smith run for his life; it will be fun.

$4,000 on DraftKings
$4,500 on FanDuel

Seattle Seahawks

The Vikings stink. The Seahawks play the Vikings in Week 13. It looks like it might be third-string quarterback Max Brosmer playing this week. I prefer starting the Seahawks if it were JJ McCarthy. As we know, JJ cannot put points on the board and throws 2 interceptions per game. But if JJ is better than Max, well, you get the picture.

$3,900 on DraftKings
$5,000 on FanDuel

Atlanta Falcons

Do you want a cheap defense that no one will think to play? The Falcons may be that defense in Week 13. The Falcon’s defense has scored 10 or more fantasy points in three of the last four games. They have 5 or more sacks in each of those four games. You can look for the Falcons to pressure Tyrod Taylor some in Week 13.

$3,500 on DraftKings
$4,000 on FanDuel

NOTE: I like the Jaguars and Dolphins defenses a lot this week as well.

Check out all of our Week 13 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings

💔Heart Breakers

Quarter Backs

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

The Niners play the Browns in Week 13. The Browns happen to be the third-toughest defense against the pass in the NFL. Purdy struggled some in Week 12. Those struggles may or may not continue in Week 13. But the Niners are on the road in Cleveland, and I would avoid them in DFS.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

The Texans are the best defense in the league. They defend the pass exceptionally well. With that said, I am playing Jones in season-long but avoiding him in DFS. The Colts are home, which gives me hope for season-long and in DFS, I can easily pivot to Jacoby Brissett and get an easier path to fantasy goodness.

Running Backs

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers will play the Rams in Week 13. The Rams give up the second fewest fantasy points to opposing teams’ running backs.  Rico is still leading the Panthers in snaps, but Chuba Hubbard was not far behind in touches in Week 12. Mix the split workload with a tough matchup, and I will pass on Rico in Week 13.

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

The Bills will play the Steelers in Week 13. The Steelers are weak against the pass and strong against the run. We might see Cook get more involved as a receiver in Week 13. Cook is a player who can produce numbers against just about anyone. I would play him in season-long but not take he risk of him being game-scripted out in DFS.

Wide Receivers

Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts

The Houston Texans are the best defense in the NFL and in Fantasy. They defend the pass and the run well. Pittman will see volume, as he always does. In Week 12, for instance, Pittman saw 8 targets, turning them into five receptions, 27 yards, and a touchdown. He is a touchdown-dependent wide receiver in Week 13 as well.

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams will play the Panthers in week 13. The Panthers, believe it or not, are good against wide receivers. They give up the second-fewest amount of fantasy points to wide receivers. Puka will not doubt get volume and have some production; he always does. I would not pay up for him in DFS. In every other format, play him.

Tight Ends

Mason Taylor, New York Jets

Mason Taylor saw an 18% target share in Week 12. He is the third option in the Jets’ pass game. You would think that might make him a play in Week 13. The Falcons are up, and they defend tight ends exceptionally well.

Steelers Tight Ends

I do not care how desperate you may seem. Or how willing you are to plug in some inexpensive tight end from the Steelers somewhere, even in tight-end premium or two-tight-end leagues. The Steelers play the Bills in Week 13. The Bills do not let any tight end produce against them. Yes, I wrote about this so I could explain why you should never play a tight end against the Bills in DFS.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!