This is it people! You can either be on the outside looking in or the inside mocking out!
Post your questions like crazy — I’ll be free Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning to answer your questions.
Quarterbacks
Start:
Josh McCown, vs. KC, 15.1%: The 13th highest fantasy scoring could end up in the top-10 with a solid game against the Chiefs this week. The Chiefs defense could help him get there as they have allowed the 8th most passing yards on the season. Last week against the Panthers, who are 27th in passing yards allowed, McCown went off for 307 yards, 3 TDs and 24 fantasy points. If you’ve been streaming QBs — McCown is one of your top options.
Brett Hundley, vs TB, 3.1% starting: The ultimate hail mary, 2 QB league start Hundley finds himself in a great position to succeed in week 13. Over his last 4 weeks, if you take out his 2 fantasy point game against the top-rated Ravens defense, Hundley has been a solid fantasy producer. In his week 9, 10 and 12 starts he averaged 17 fantasy points. The Buccaneers are 1st in passing yards allowed on the season. Hundley has Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb lined up to help keep the Bucs in that terrible spot.
Sit:
Matt Ryan, vs. MIN, 51.7%: The only QB being started in over 50% of leagues that I think should be benched is Matt Ryan. The Vikings are averaging about 14 fantasy to opposing QBs which is one of the 10 best and Matt Ryan is averaging about 14 fantasy points per game this season. I’m going to go out on a limb to predict 14 fantasy points from Matt Ryan. Not bad, but when you need this week to make your playoffs you need more than 14 from your highest scoring fantasy position.
Running Backs
Start:
Orleans Darkwa, @ OAK, 28.4% starting: Ben McAdoo is starting Geno Smith over Eli Manning so I predict that by 8 minutes into the first quarter the Giants will abandon the pass and Darkwa will get about 50 rushing attempts for the rest of the game. The Giants have been one GIANT flustercuck all season and this is just another chapter. Raiders have been bad against the run (with rushing yards anyway, they’re actually tied for fewest rushing TDs allowed) so Darkwa should get a lot of yards in those 50 attempts.
Tarik Cohen, vs SF, 6.0% starting: Consider this your deep-PPR start of the week. The 49ers have allowed the most receiving yards to RBs this season and Cohen is the Bears premiere catch-backing RB. If the 49ers capitalize on this Cohen will benefit big time.
Kerwynn Williams, vs LAR, 0.1% starting: This is only a precautionary start as Adrian Peterson hasn’t practice all week and is a game time decision. If Kerwynn gets the start he’ll face off against a Rams team that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to RBs this season. Kerrwyn is far from elite, but in deep leagues he can be a great flex option
Sit: I swear I’m not getting lazy — there is just only one sit option this week. The two gentlemen from Atlanta have a tough showdown with the Vikings, but they’re both still likely to get double-digit points. Joe Mixon is facing a tough Steelers defense, but they got lit up by Green Bay’s backup running back’s backup last week.
DeMarco Murray, vs. HOU, 64,9% starting: I haven’t liked DeMarco all season and this week is another week to prove me right. In his week 4 matchup against these same Texans he was held to 31 yards on 7 rushing attempts. Murray is having a sad year and this week is only going to be sadder.
Wide Receivers
Start:
Jordy Nelson, vs TB, 27.8% starting: The absence of Aaron Rodgers has hurt Jordy more than anyone else. Somehow even more than Rodgers himself! Over his last 5 games he’s averaging 4.4 fantasy points per game. However, this week, as you read in my Brett Hundley recommendation, he gets the Buccaneers who are notoriously bad against the pass (most receiving yards allowed to WR & most fantasy points allowed to WRs.) If you’ve been avoiding Jordy now is the time to get him back in your starting lineup.
Marqise Lee, vs IND, 23% starting: Lee, Allen Hurns and and Dede Westbrook are my sleeper WR picks for next year with Eli Manning throwing to them instead of Blake Bortles. For this week, however, with Hurns out and the Colts coming to town, I’m seeing a big game for Lee. In week 7 against the Colts in Indianapolis he had 4 receptions for 72 yards and 11 fantasy points. Lee has been markedly better at home (5 games, 78 points) over away (5 games, 31 points.) Get Lee in your flex spot now.
Seth Roberts, vs NYG, 6.2%: In a normal week, Roberts wouldn’t come near this article as he’s only averaging 4.3 points per game this year. However, with Michael Crabtree suspended, Amari Cooper out, the New York Giants defense allowing the 10th most fantasy points to WRs AND the Giants offense having 1 minute and 27 seconds of possession time with Geno Smith at the helm — Roberts becomes a viable flex option.
Sit:
Golden Tate, @ BAL, 59.7%: The Ravens don’t know how to have a bad defense. This year they have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs. Tate could be in for another single-digit fantasy performance.
TY Hilton, @ JAX, 34.5%: The only team better than the Ravens against the pass? The Jacksonville Jaguars. They’ve allowed only 139.80 fantasy points to WRs all season. The second best team, the Ravens? They’ve allowed 170.2. This Jaguars defense HATES passing.
Tight Ends
Start:
Jared Cook, vs NYG, 52.9% starting: Take a gander at my WR Seth Roberts prediction. No Crabtree, no Cooper, no problem. Giants haven’t been able to stop any TEs all year. Cook is TE1 for me this week.
Hunter Henry, vs CLE, 41.8%: Henry has been a fool on a fool’s journey most of the year, but this week he gets the Browns. The Browns are tied for most TDs allowed to TEs with the Giants.
Sit: Guys & gals, I’m sorry to do this again — but there isn’t anyone to sit really. Cameron Brate shouldn’t be started — he’s injured and facing a Packers defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to TEs — but he’s only being started in 16.8% of leagues so far.
Defense/Special Teams
Start:
Detroit Lions D/ST, @ BAL, 37.3% starting: This Lions D is tied for 4th in fantasy points scored and now will face a Ravens offense that has no identity, no playmakers and no clue. They have the second-fewest total yards on the year. The Lions have also snatched 11 INTs while Joe Flacco has thrown 11 INTs. Gonna be a pretty, pretty nice game for these Lions.
Sit:
Seattle Seahawks D/ST, vs. PHI, 42.0%: I know it’s the Seahawks but they’re without two key members of their defensive unit and are welcoming the team who currently are #1 in points scored per game. Bench ‘em this week but get ready to start ‘em again in week 14 against the Jaguars.
Kickers
Start:
Ka’imi Fairbairn, @ TEN, 5.1% starting: I told y’all to grab Fairbairn on Tuesday. Here’s what I said: “In week 13, Ka’imi gets one of two remaining teams that haven’t had a team miss a FG against them: the Titans. In week 4, Ka’imi destroyed the Titans for his biggest fantasy scoring day of the year with 18 points. Granted, that was with Deshaun Watson at the helm, but Ka’imi is still capable of a double-digit fantasy scoring game.”
Sit:
Harrison Butker, @ NYJ, 41.6%: One of the unspoken victims of the Chiefs recent struggles has been Butker. He went from averaging 15 fantasy points over his first 5 games with the team to averaging a smidge over 6 in his last 3 games. Butker gets the Jets in week 13 who have allowed the 3rd fest field goals on the year. Put that Butker on the bench!
