Week 13 of NFL action has stars like Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley, and Stefon Diggs on bye weeks, leaving fantasy managers with fewer clear choices to make in their lineup. This weekly article is meant to make those lineup decisions a little bit easier. You can always listen to The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show, which releases episodes every weekday - also, check out the free Week 13 Player Rankings.
QUARTERBACKS
START: Brock Purdy vs PHI
- Avg Fantasy Points: 18.5
- Opponent vs QBs: 32nd
- Week 13 Rank: QB6
- Projected Points: 21.3
The Eagles have allowed three quarterbacks to pass for at least 339 yards over their last four games while also allowing a total of 11 passing touchdowns in that same span. Brock Purdy was downright surgical in weeks 10 and 11, throwing for over 600 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. Before last week, Purdy had scored at least 20 fantasy points in three straight games. I expect him to remain busy throwing the ball in this matchup - over the last three games, opposing quarterbacks have thrown the ball an average of 46 times per game against the Eagles.
SIT: Matthew Stafford vs CLE
- Avg Fantasy Points: 14.1
- Opponent vs QBs: 31st
- Week 13 Rank: QB21
- Projected Points: 15.8
The tradition of benching quarterbacks against the Browns continues! Last week, Russell Wilson finished admirably as the QB11, largely due to a rushing touchdown. Wilson was still held in check in the passing game, only throwing for 139 yards, 1 touchdown, and a 59.1% completion rate. While Stafford looked great last week against the Arizona Cardinals, he's been wildly unreliable. He only has two multi-touchdown games all season, while he's only finished as a Top-12 fantasy quarterback once - that was last week. Even with three fantasy starters on bye this week, I'd much rather play someone like Gardner Minshew or Russell Wilson in week 12.
TIGHT ENDS
START: Taysom Hill vs DET
- Avg Fantasy Points: 14.4 (Since Week 6)
- Opponent vs TEs: 20th
- Week 13 Rank: TE7
- Projected Points: 11.1
There aren't many playmakers left for the Saints right now. Chris Olave is in concussion protocol, Rashid Shaheed is dealing with a thigh injury, and Michael Thomas is on IR. Even if Olave is available to play, Hill is a high-upside play at a very unstable tight end position. He's not your traditional tight end, so the opponent doesn't really matter in this case.
RUNNING BACKS
START: Najee Harris vs ARI
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13.5 (Since Week 7)
- Opponent vs RBs: 31st
- Week 13 Rank: RB18
- Projected Points: 13.5
The Steelers offense looked very different last week. Who knew that all it took was a change of the offensive coordinator? (Stares into the camera sarcastically) All jokes aside, Najee Harris has been putting up solid numbers as of late, regardless of the play-caller situation in Pittsburgh. Harris has been the RB13 in PPR scoring since Week 7, averaging 13.5 fantasy points per game. Now, Harris and the Steelers get to face a Cardinals defense that just made Kyren Williams look like Barry Sanders. The Cardinals have given up 18 touchdowns to running backs this season, including 9 touchdowns over the last five games. Start Harris confidently this week as an RB2 with touchdown upside.
SIT: Joe Mixon @ JAC
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13.5
- Opponent vs RBs: 15th
- Week 13 Rank: RB25
- Projected Points: 11.1
The Jaguars defense has been solid against running backs, only allowing three total touchdowns this season to the position. Over the last four games, only Christian McCaffrey has surpassed 38 yards rushing. If Mixon is going to have any type of fantasy success, it will have to be through the air. Jacksonville gives up the third-most receiving yards to running backs, which could be a saving grace for Mixon this week. The problem is Mixon only has four targets through six quarters of play with backup quarterback Jake Browning. Mixon Isn't a must-sit by any means, but if you have better options, you can leave him on the bench this week.
SLEEPER: AJ Dillon vs KC
- Avg Fantasy Points: 10.5 (last two starts)
- Opponent vs RBs: 14th
- Week 13 Rank: RB27
- Projected Points: 10.8
This is completely dependent on Aaron Jones' status for this game. I know that AJ Dillon hasn't exactly been a smash start when he's filled in for Jones, but that's why he's a sleeper. I want pieces of this Packers offense that has played better as of late. Now Green Bay enters a potential high-scoring matchup with Patrick Mahomes II and the Chiefs. The Chiefs haven't been great against running backs over the last five games, allowing an average of 17.8 PPR points to lead backs. Dillon hasn't scored a touchdown in six weeks, but the Chiefs might be the cure for what ails him. Kansas City has allowed a running back to score a touchdown in the last five straight games. Dillon should be a safe-floor flex play this week with touchdown upside.
WIDE RECEIVERS
START: Calvin Ridley vs CIN
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13.3
- Opponent vs WRs: 17th
- Week 13 Rank: WR15
- Projected Points: 14.5
Name a more iconic duo than Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones... okay, there's a ton. But my point is that Ridley plays like a totally different receiver when Jones is on the field. Across five games with Jones, Ridley is averaging nearly 6 receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown - that's an average of 20.2 fantasy points per game. In his six games without Jones, Ridley falls to an average of just 3 receptions for 36 yards, with just one touchdown in that span - an average of just 7.5 fantasy points per game. When Jones is on the field, the Jaguars tend to use Ridley in more creative ways rather than just as an outside field stretcher. The simple analysis here is: if Zay Jones is active, you must start Calvin Ridley.
SIT: Chris Godwin vs CAR
- Avg Fantasy Points: 11.0
- Opponent vs WRs: 3rd
- Week 13 Rank: WR37
- Projected Points: 9.8
Chris Godwin has failed to score double-digit fantasy points in his last four games. He's averaging 3.75 receptions per game for just 38.5 yards - an average of 7.6 fantasy points in PPR format. He's still talented, and the Bucs offense can move the ball just fine. The issue is Godwin has been relegated to being the third option for a limited Baker Mayfield. The Panthers have only allowed three receivers to reach double-digit fantasy points over the last five games - those players were CeeDee Lamb (16.5), DJ Moore (10.9), and Michael Pittman Jr(14.4). This is a low-upside matchup for a player that's currently not presenting much upside to begin with. Even with the Bbye weeks, it's hard to get Godwin into my Top-36 receivers this week.
SLEEPER: Elijah Moore @ LAR
- Avg Fantasy Points: 8.4
- Opponent vs WRs: 12th
- Week 13 Rank: WR38
- Projected Points: 9.6
I saved this one for last because I knew you'd probably leave this article. It looks like Joe Flacco is starting for the Browns this week, and that could mean good things for some of the Cleveland skill players. In Elijah Moore's first six games with Flacco, he averaged 8 targets, 4.8 receptions, and 64 yards for an average of 13.2 fantasy points per game. I know it's a small sample size, but quarterbacks who have to make spot-starts tend to do whatever they can to make themselves comfortable. I'd imagine that Flacco will lean toward targeting a familiar face that he has some rapport with. Moore is not a lineup lock by any means, but if you're in a pinch and you're looking for someone to fill in a WR3 or Flex spot, Moore could be a solid option.