We have two more weeks left before the playoffs kick off in Fantasy Football. There are six teams on a bye in the most crucial part of the season. The Starts and Sits decisions will be more important than ever. With seeding yet to be determined in a lot of leagues, the players below will fill in just perfectly for your stars who are on a bye in Week 13.
Week 13 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Sits
Baker Mayfield vs. Carolina Panthers
Baker Mayfield started this season off strong. Since then, he still has put together a handful of QB1 weeks. Mayfield has been a QB1 four times in the past six weeks. It may not be as easy as you think for him to repeat that in Week 13 though as he faces the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have been one of the better teams in defending Quarterbacks despite their 1-10 record. In the past four weeks, the Panthers have allowed 10.21 fantasy ppg to Quarterbacks which is fourth least.
Kyler Murray @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyler Murray has been back now for a few weeks. He has had a rushing touchdown in each game. He has also finished as a QB1 in two of the three starts. The issue is he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13. The Steelers have allowed just 10.98 fantasy ppg in the past month. They have also given up just three touchdowns to five interceptions and ZERO rushing touchdowns to Quarterbacks this season.
Running Back Sits
James Conner @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have given up the ninth fewest ppg in the past month to Running Backs. James Conner also has not finished as a RB1 since Week 3 of this season. Currently the RB32, nothing is intriguing about playing James Conner with him being on a team constantly bad. Giving up just 70.5 ypg the past month and six touchdowns in 11 games, Conner is a must-sit everywhere in Week 13.
Breece Hall vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have allowed the second-fewest ppg to Running Backs this season and seventh fewest in the past month. Breece Hall since finishing as an RB1 in three consecutive weeks from Week 5-8 (Week 7 bye), has seen one RB1 finish and three other finishes as the RB23 or worse. With no true Quarterback under center, Hall cannot get it going. He has seen 50 or less rushing yards since Week 6. It is safe to say that Hall won’t be returning to full form until 2024. Hall is my favorite sit in Starts and Sits for Week 13.
D’Andre Swift vs. San Francisco 49ers
D’Andre Swift is having his best season since 2021. Landing on the Eagles was the best thing to happen for him and his career. The biggest issue is the match-up that is on the horizon. A rematch of the NFC Championship game from a year ago. The San Francisco 49ers are very vulnerable in the pass defense, but their run defense is scary. The 49ers have given up just 658 total rushing yards this season to Running Backs which is second-best. At 59 ypg to Running Backs, this game feels like a passing affair between Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy.
Wide Receiver Sits
Puka Nacua vs. Cleveland Browns
The Puka Nacua train might have had a few hiccups along the way. Despite still being the WR10 in ppg, Nacua has been extremely underwhelming in recent weeks. Nacua started the season having four WR1 finishes in his first five games. Since then, Nacua has had two WR1 finishes in his last six games. With the Rams set to face the Cleveland Browns, it is better safe than sorry to find another option other than Puka Nacua. The Browns have been the number one team in the least amount of ppg allowed to receivers all season with just six touchdowns allowed.
Drake London @ New York Jets
The second-best team in terms of fantasy ppg allowed to Wide Receivers is the New York Jets. London did have 14.1 fantasy points against the Saints in Week 12, but the Saints are depleted with injuries on defense. The Jets on the other hand have one of the best Cornerback duos in the NFL. At just 116 ypg given up to Wide Receivers, there is nothing to be excited about starting Drake London in lineups. Add Desmond Ridder being under center and it gets even scarier.
Nico Collins vs. Denver Broncos
The issue here is Patrick Surtain II. He is the best if not one of the best Cornerbacks in the entire NFL. Collins, playing majority on the outside will more than likely have to see a lot of Surtain in Week 13. The Broncos are playing some of the best football in the NFL right now and have given up the fourth fewest ppg to Wide Receivers this season. Despite having CJ Stroud, this game will be won with Devin Singletary and Dameon Pierce carving up the worst run defense in football.
Tight End Sits
Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets
Desmond Ridder is bad news for the Falcons. He just is not a good Quarterback and it hinders the weapons on that offense. The New York Jets have locked down Tight Ends in the month. They are currently allowing the sixth-fewest ppg to the position. With Ridder under center, it will be a long day for the pass-catching weapons in Atlanta.
Trey McBride @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been average in defending Tight Ends the past month. Allowing just one touchdown and around 64 ypg to the position. Although, Trey McBride has looked great with Kyler Murray as the Quarterback, the vibes against one of the best defenses and coaches seem off. McBridge will be keyed on and force Murray to beat them with his other weapons. I’d sit McBride this week and stream an option with a friendlier match-up.
Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty
Quarterback Starts
Brock Purdy @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sam Howell finished as the overall QB1 when he faced off against the Eagles without all the weapons Brock Purdy has at his disposal. In a rematch of the NFC title game from a year ago, this one is personal. Purdy was knocked out of the game with an elbow injury and we know how the rest went. Purdy will finish as a QB1 overall this week in what is the game of the week. Look for Purdy to exploit that suspect secondary of the Eagles that have given up the most ppg to Quarterbacks the past month.
Sam Howell vs. Miami Dolphins
Sam Howell has been one of the most pleasant surprises this Fantasy Football season. Howell is the QB4 overall and the QB8 in ppg. Howell also has eight QB1 finishes in 12 games. Cheers to the managers who picked him up off waivers or who drafted him late, late rounds of start-up leagues. The Dolphins have been great against Quarterbacks the past month. Sam Howell is averaging 40 pass attempts a game this season, though. A QB1 throwing the ball like that against one of the best offenses in the Miami Dolphins deserves a start. With how many points and yards the Dolphins accumulate weekly, start Sam Howell.
Running Back Starts
Isiah Pacheco @ Green Bay Packers
When a Running Back plays the Green Bay Packers, there is a high chance they make Starts and Sits. The Packers are a bottom-ten team in ppg given up to Running Backs. Pacheco has also taken a step forward from his rookie season. He is averaging 0.7 ypc less than last season but already has 30 receptions compared to the 13 he finished with last season. Given that the Packers have allowed the seventh most targets to the position, I am starting Pacheco everywhere I have him as this game might rely on the run game.
Jaylen Warren vs. Arizona Cardinals
Jaylen Warren broke out in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns. He has a chance to have another 20-point game in Week 13. The Arizona Cardinals are bad in all aspects of football, especially in the running game. They are allowing the second-most fantasy ppg this season. They are also tied with the most touchdowns given to Running Backs with 18 total. Kenny Pickett is not playing good football. It is the defense and the running attack of the Steelers winning football games. Warren is my favorite start in Starts and Sits for Week 13.
Wide Receiver Starts
Demario Douglas vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Usually, when there is a change in the locker room, it sparks life into that team. Bailey Zappe will more than likely start in Week 13 for the New England Patriots. Demario Douglas has seen double-digit points in three consecutive weeks with two being top-30 finishes at Wide Receiver. The Chargers are a bottom-three team in terms of ppg given up to the position (40.99) the past month. In a game where the Patriots will be more than likely down. Douglas is a great option in Week 13.
Adam Thielen @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Adam Thielen let us all down with a 1.2-point performance in Week 12. That was good for WR118 last week. Now, he gets a perfect spot to redeem himself. The Buccaneers are allowing 39.84 fantasy ppg on the season with 11 touchdowns to Wide Receivers. The Panthers are the worst team in football and down every week. Look for Thielen to be back in the WR1 conversation with a masterclass performance in Week 13.
Tight End Starts
Taysom Hill vs. Detroit Lions
The Lions have one of the best offenses in all of football. The Saints just lost Marshon Lattimore to injured reserve. The Lions will have their way with the Saints in Week 13. This will force Derek Carr to air it out 40 or more times. With Michael Thomas out and Chris Olave having a concussion, Taysom Hill can carve himself his best game of the season. Although the Lions have been average against Tight Ends, with Carr missing his top two receivers, I cannot help but think Hill will find the end zone with a 15-plus point performance in Week 13.
Logan Thomas vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins will more than likely have the Commanders’ top receivers on lockdown in Week 13. This leaves Logan Thomas a chance to have his first TE1 finish since Week 8. The Dolphins being a bottom 12 team in ppg to Tight Ends makes this an even better matchup for Thomas. With Howell throwing 35-45 times in this game, Thomas will have a double-digit week in Week 13 and has one of the highest upsides in Starts and Sits.