Week 13 Deep Sneaky Starts (All Skill Positions)

It is Week 13, and that means we get to take respite from Byemageddon while looking ahead to both a playoff run and a nasty Byemageddon 2.0.  I hope you are fighting for a playoff spot, and that Week 14’s bye will simply be a time to have fun with your stacked roster.  I hit last week with Bo Nix, Bucky Irving (and Rachaad White) while missing (terribly) on Quentin Johnston.  I was OK with the Ladd McConkey and Will Dissly calls and think I nailed the deep Luke Schoonmaker recommendation.  As this week will prove to be less stressful than last week, we cannot get comfortable.  We need to win each week.  Leave no doubt!  This is what we live for.  The trials and tribulations of an up and down fantasy football season.  We are skilled fantasy managers and with that comes a responsibility to embolden our lineups with players that give us the best chance to win.  Also, this when some fantasy analysts/writers and players become burned out.  Not us here @Razzball and not YOU!  We are here all year and even cover for each other if something comes up.  Remember, I do not provide chalky names in this column.  I dig deeper to help you with the harder roster assignments.  Here we go again…onto my Week 12 Start recommendations. 

 Be sure to check out Razzball Football’s updated rankings: Top 150 | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | Rookie 

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Start These Players:

• Position: QB
• Player: Tua Tagovaiola
• Week 12 Opponent: at the Green Bay Packers

Coming off his best game of the 2024 season, Tua is headed into cold Lambeau Field.  If you follow the Dolphins and/or fantasy football, you are aware that Tua and his offense do not fare well in the cold.  Though I do not foresee Tua logging another 4 TD game, I do think he will be a valuable starter.  I think the Dolphins will need to throw to stay with my Packers thus leading to volume for Tua.  What we want in fantasy football is volume, and HC Mike McDaniel will give this pass offense plenty of opportunities to put up points.  I will be both rooting for and against Tua as a Packers guy and a fantasy football manager starting Tua.    Sneaky Play: Anthony Richardson is not great, yet.  On the flip side, his passing has been better of late, and he could on the cusp of putting up large fantasy numbers utilizing his legs.  Remember, in fantasy football, the question is not ‘how’, it is ‘how many’.  With Josh Downs currently questionable (outlook is not good for him to play), Richardson will lean on his running against the Patriots. 

• Position: RB
• Player: Bucky Irving
• Week 11 Opponent: at the Carolina Panthers

Unless an injury befalls Irving, I will continue to run him out there every week regardless of opponent.  He is paramount to the Buccaneers offense and gets looks in both the run and pass game.  The former Ducks standout is shaping up to be a league winner.  Enter the Panthers who can be rather forgiving to opposing offenses and there is the making of a smash play for Bucky.  Double digits are a lock, and I am planning on 20+ PPR points from the rookie RB.  Sneaky Play: Fingers crossed that Tyrone Tracy Jr. has fixed his recent fumbling issues.  If he still has the confidence of HC Brian Dabol, and I think he does as is evident by his return to the Week 12 game, then TTJr will be the bell cow against the suspect Cowboys defense.  I think this game will be more entertaining than most are predicting.  TTJr will be involved early and often both on the ground and through the air.  The Devin Singletary Era is officially over if you were unaware.

• Position: WR
• Player: Brian Thomas Jr.
• Week 11 Opponent: versus the Houston Texans

The news I want/need to hear is Trevor Lawrence is back and 100%.  When I hear that info, I will be firing up Thomas in a game where the passing game will eclipse the running game for the Jaguars.  If you have paid attention throughout the season, you know Thomas is a legit talent.  He sticks out to me as the best WR in the class to date.  No offense to Malik Nabers who has not had a viable QB, but Thomas is doing what I called for him to do in the off-season.  I want to see his targets increase. When they do, he will be back in the WR2 conversation, and back to 20+ PPR point games.  With or without Lawrence, Thomas has been a solid play with seven double digit games against four single digit starts (two of those were nine points).  For a guy that plays for an awful football team, to average over 13 PPR PPG is impressive for a rookie.  Sneaky Play:  Jaylen Waddle showed up and showed out in Week 12.  If my Tua call (above) is going to hit, then I need Waddle to be a big part of that success.  In what has been a brutal season for the ‘Phins WR, I see him building on the Week 12 start moving forward.  Here’s to hoping the HC and OC figured something out last week, and they bring that into Week 13.

• Position: TE
• Player: Luke Schoonmaker
• Week 11 Opponent:  versus the New York Giants

Luke Schoonmaker is just a guy.  But he is a guy with an opportunity to step in for the starting TE sitting with a concussion.  Jake Ferguson is still in concussion protocol with no more than a slim chance to play on Thanksgiving.  Enter Schoonmaker with his 4-3-55-1 line in Week 12.  I hoped the targets would stay around that Week 11 line of ten, but that did not happen.  What did is a TD from the TE position, so I am not disappointed.  Essentially free on your waiver wire, Schoonmaker should provide a decent floor for the Cowboys team that has proven ineffective at running the ball.  He is a big body and should Dem Boys actually get into the red zone in Week 13, presents a nice option for Cooper Rush/Trey Lance.  Sneaky Play: Theo Johnson has put up three straight six target games albeit with low yards (42 YPG), and only one TD.  The Giants will look to throw, and since Tommy Cutlets lacks the time in the pocket (or possibly the ability) to push the ball downfield, that opens Johnson to more looks (along with Wan’Dale Robinson and Tyrone Tracy Jr.).  I am willing to take a deep shot on Johnson after watching him closely for a couple of weeks.  I like his route running and run after the catch ability.  I just need a little break-out to be fully sold.  Here come the Cowboys to offer a less than stellar defense.  Just what the Giants want to see in this division game.

Since you are here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @Stiles08. Don’t forget to drop a comment or question down below.  Looking forward to seeing you during our Sunday Start/Sit Show on YouTube @RazzballFantasy two hours before kickoff where we answer all your questions live on the air!

-Stiles-