Last week was a subpar week, though technically I hit on half of my sneaky starts. The bar was rather low considering six teams were on a bye. No such luck this week, as all 32 NFL teams are in action. This means most fantasy managers should have enough healthy bodies to choose from this week. However, I believe I have still found some potential diamonds in the rough at each position. These are all players I believe can produce starter-caliber fantasy stats in Week 13. All of them are currently being started in less than 50 percent of Fantrax fantasy football leagues. You should not necessarily bench any of your studs for the players below. But if you are looking for some upside, my Week 13 sneaky starts could prove quite valuable in a pinch.
Week 13 Sneaky Starts for Fantasy Football
Quarterback
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Current Start Percentage: 43 Percent (19th among Quarterbacks)
My Current Week 13 Rank: QB13
Sam Darnold has started 11 games for the Minnesota Vikings this season. He has multiple touchdown passes in eight games and has finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in six. Darnold has a difficult Week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona’s defense has allowed one total touchdown in their last three games. Because of that, Darnold may have a tough time reaching the thresholds I outlined above. However, I think he can be a serviceable streaming option this week. This is especially true for fantasy managers who have Brock Purdy, who is questionable for Week 13 due to injury. Or perhaps even someone like Jordan Love, who has a tough matchup and faces potential weather concerns on Thursday night. The weather may be an issue in several locations this week, which could increase Darnold’s outlook in comparison.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
- Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (17th among quarterbacks)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: QB17
Running Backs
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (32nd among Running Backs)
My Current Week 13 Rank: RB32
Full disclosure – this was probably my most difficult week to find sneaky starts, particularly at running back. I base my selections on 12-team fantasy football leagues where each team starts two running backs. However, there are already 31 running backs being started in most leagues as of this writing. Even if you factor in a Flex for all 12 teams, that leaves us fighting for scraps in some regard. But I do believe that both backs I mention below are viable depending on the circumstances.
This is the third consecutive week I have listed Steelers running back Jaylen Warren as a sneaky start. He has come through in each of the other two instances, so why stop now? Warren was the overall RB24 in Week 11 and RB13 in Week 12. While Najee Harris is getting more work than Warren, the latter is far from an afterthought in Pittsburgh’s offense. Warren has averaged 15 opportunities (carries plus targets) over his last three outings. I expect a similar workload this week when Pittsburgh faces the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns to opposing backs this year, including four in their last three games. Warren has a relatively safe floor given his involvement as a pass catcher out of the backfield. That should enable him to approach if not exceed double-digit fantasy points in Half-PPR leagues.
Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
Current Start Percentage: 42 Percent (35th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 13 Rank: RB34
Travis Etienne has been one of the biggest disappointments throughout the 2024 season. Etienne has cleared 60 total yards just once this year and has not finished inside the top 24 since Week 3. And I am not exactly expecting any miracles from Etienne in Week 13. But I do think he can be better than he has been this week when Jacksonville hosts the Houston Texans. Etienne has been dealing with injuries for several weeks but should be relatively healthy coming off a bye week. And while the same can be said for Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville does not utilize Bigsby in the passing game. Considering Houston’s elite run defense, this could be a spot for Etienne to be Jacksonville’s best back this week.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
- Current Start Percentage: 25 Percent (39th among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: RB36
- Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers
- Current Start Percentage: 32 Percent (36th among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: RB37
I listed Isiah Pacheco as a sneaky start last week, and he ended up not playing. Because of that, I did not want to list him again this week. But Pacheco has been practicing and should be ready to return in Week 13. I currently have him ranked 36th among running backs for this week. But I will bump him up a bit if he is not on a strict pitch count. Gus Edwards should be in line to start for the Los Angeles Chargers with J.K. Dobbins out. Edwards does not have a very high ceiling from a fantasy standpoint. But there is a very good chance he will get double-digit carries this week. That could carry enough value to consider Edwards as a Week 13 Flex in Standard formats.
Wide Receivers
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (39th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 13 Rank: WR32
Yes, it is gross to have two Jacksonville Jaguars as sneaky starts this week. Thanks for asking. But I think it is warranted, especially in the case of rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas Jr. has been inconsistent, to say the least over the past several weeks. His weekly fantasy finishes among wide receivers in Half-PPR leagues over his last six games (67-3-25-57-76-28) look more like Powerball numbers than weekly finishes you want from a starting wideout. However, with Jacksonville facing a Houston Texans team that has been much better against the run than the pass, Thomas Jr. could be in for a solid outing in Week 13. His ceiling is likely capped if quarterback Trevor Lawrence is out, but is still a volume-based WR3 for me this week.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Current Start Percentage: 47 Percent (40th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 13 Rank: WR34
Khalil Shakir has been the quintessential high-floor, low-ceiling fantasy wide receiver for most of the year. Shakir has played 10 games this season and has not finished higher than WR15 in any of the 10. However, he has scored eight or more fantasy points nine times and posted eight top-40 weekly finishes. That type of production should keep Shakir in the Flex conversation in Week 13 when Buffalo hosts the San Francisco 49ers. Shakir has earned seven or more targets in five consecutive games so that high floor should be on display again here. There are potential weather concerns in this game, so keep that in mind. San Francisco is better in zone coverage than man. Shakir thrives versus zone coverage but has been good enough against man to consider him in this matchup.
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
Current Start Percentage: 46 Percent (41st among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 13 Rank: WR42
Xavier Worthy is certainly not a safe choice to start this week by any means. The rookie has finished outside the top 40 in four of his last six contests. That includes two games in which he scored less than two fantasy points, including his infamous -1 point Week 9 output. However, Worthy has scored at least 10 fantasy points five times, including Kansas City’s last meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders. Las Vegas enters Week 13 ranking 26th in the NFL in DVOA versus the pass. From a game theory perspective, the decision on whether to start Worthy could depend on your head-to-head matchup following Thursday’s games. If you need to play it safe, perhaps it is more prudent to keep Worthy on the bench. However, if you need to shoot for the moon, there is a case to be made to start Xavier Worthy this week.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
- Current Start Percentage: 41 Percent (43rd among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: WR41
- Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
- Current Start Percentage: 42 Percent (42nd among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: WR43
- Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
- Current Start Percentage: 41 Percent (45th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: WR44
Tight End
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Current Start Percentage: 46 Percent (15th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 13 Rank: TE4
Two weeks ago, I listed Taysom Hill as my tight end sneaky start. That week, he was 16th among tight ends in percentage started. He nearly broke the slate, scoring 38.5 fantasy points. I am not predicting that level of production in Week 13 out of Hill. But even though all 32 NFL teams are in action this week, I would be hard-pressed to fade Hill. The Saints host the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. Los Angeles is below average in most defensive metrics versus both the run and pass. Hill’s versatility should enable him to continue to be a fantasy force in this matchup.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
- Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers
- Current Start Percentage: 34 Percent (19th among Tight Ends)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: TE12
Check out all of our Week 13 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Kicker
Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (12th among Kickers)
My Current Week 13 Rank: K4
This is a matchup-based play more than most. Tampa Bay is facing the Carolina Panthers this week. Carolina allowed three field goals to Chiefs interim kicker Spencer Shrader last week. The Panthers have now ceded seven field goals in their last three games and 23 on the season. Both of those numbers are among the highest in the NFL. The circumstances surrounding this game could lead to production for McLaughlin as well. Tampa Bay is a considerable favorite, and teams playing with the lead tend to kick field goals more often. This is also a game that should be relatively safe from weather concerns. All of these factors should lead to Chase McLaughlin being a solid fantasy kicker this week.
Other Kicker to Consider
Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons
Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (13th among Kickers)
My Current Week 13 Rank: K7
Defense/Special Teams
Indianapolis Colts
Current Start Percentage: 27 Percent (19th among D/STs)
My Current Week 13 Rank: D/ST9
As is the case with Chase McLaughlin, my designation of the Indianapolis Colts defense/special teams as a Week 13 sneaky start is based more on their opponent than anything else. This week the Colts face the New England Patriots. Though rookie quarterback Drake Maye has shown flashes of excellence, he has made his fair share of mistakes. Maye has 14 turnover-worthy plays this year, which is tied for sixth-most in the NFL. That comes despite him ranking 25th in total dropbacks. His 4.8 percentage of turnover-worthy plays is third-most among regular quarterbacks. The Colts are above average in pressure rate and total sacks, so expect them to force Maye into turning the ball over on Sunday.
Other Defense/Special Teams to Consider
- New York Giants
- Current Start Percentage: 13 Percent (25th among D/STs)
- My Current Week 13 Rank: D/ST10
Make sure to check out all of our Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!