This season, I’ll be taking you through my favorite wide receiver start/sits using the brilliant Slot vs Wide tool on the Razzball website. This tool is revolutionary in analyzing not just the difficulty of a wide receiver’s matchup but also the success of their opponent against a specific style of player. I recommend using it to help you with those tough start-sit decisions though you’re welcome to add your questions in the comments too. Please also check out my rankings at ffdfantasyfootball.com and you can find my long-form videos on the Fantasy First Down YouTube channel and my Slot/Wide analysis on the Razzball Fantasy YouTube channel.
Be sure to check out the latest tools on Razzball.com: Slot vs. Wide PPG Allowed | WR Slot vs. Wide| DEF Targets Allowed | Home vs. Away | Wins vs. Losses | TD Tool
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Top WR Starts
- Player: George Pickens
- Matchup: Bengals
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 3
Despite his disappointing snow outing, George Pickens is a must-start wide receiver most weeks. This week, against the Bengals, he’s even higher! He’s a top ten receiver for me in Week 13 and I’m starting him in nearly every situation.
- Player: Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams
- Matchup: Seahawks
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 10
The arrival of Davante Adams has hurt Garrett Wilson’s consistency leading to few weeks where both receivers produce. Meanwhile, the Seahawks looked very impressive against the Cardinals last week. That makes both Wilson and Adams risky starts, but I’m still using them over most options. They’re just closer to WR2/3s than locked in starters for now.
- Player: Marvin Harrison Jr
- Matchup: Vikings
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 9
Marvin Harrison Jr didn’t play badly last week, but his team did. That lead to an underwhelming fantasy performance in a plus matchup. He’s turning into more of a WR3 this season but I’m still starting him against the Vikings in what should be a shootout.
- Player: Michael Pittman Jr
- Matchup: Patriots
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 6
The return of Anthony Richardson and a rest week for Michael Pittman Jr has led to a bit of a bounce-back in the last fortnight. Pittman is far from a safe start but, against the Patriots with Josh Downs likely out, he’s a WR3 with touchdown upside.
Desperation WR Starts
Keenan Allen (CHI @ DET): Keenan Allen turned back the clock for a 15 target, 86 yard and 1 touchdown performance against the Vikings. This week brings another possible slot matchup so I’m comfortable with risking it with Allen again this week.
Tank Dell (HOU @ JAC): The return of Nico Collins has cratered Tank Dell’s value but he’s still gone OK in some tough matchups of late. He has the chance to rebound against the Jaguars but I wouldn’t go out of my way to start him. He’s more of a high-end desperation option.
Xavier Legette (CAR vs TB): The return of Adam Thielen had no impact on Xavier Legette, as he’s still a clear, every-down starter. Oddly though, he spent more time off the boundary, a role which could increase his usage moving forward. He’s a viable desperation start against the susceptible Buccaneers.
Top WR Sits
- Player: Jaylen Waddle
- Matchup: Packers
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 32
Jaylen Waddle’s Top 3 outing last week doesn’t make me any more excited about him in this brutal matchup against the Packers. The Dolphins have struggled to use Waddle effectively for most of the season and I expect a return to normality in Week 13.
- Player: Zay Flowers
- Matchup: Eagles
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 31
Zay Flowers has had three straight underwhelming weeks. It’s difficult to sit him in many situations but, with no teams on bye and the Eagles up next, I’d certainly consider it in shallow leagues. He’s no longer the must-start receiver he was earlier in the season and he’s at best a low-end WR2 in Week 13.
- Player: Jordan Addison
- Matchup: Cardinals
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 30
Jordan Addison is coming off a pair of excellent performances in very tough matchups. But that doesn’t mean I’m risking him against the tough Cardinals secondary. He’s a desperation start at best and you’re likely to have better options available.
- Player: Jayden Reed
- Matchup: Dolphins
- Slot Matchup Rank: 26
Jayden Reed has just one double digit PPR game in the last six weeks and he now faces one of the league’s best pass defenses in Miami. I would go out of my way to avoid starting him unless I desperately needed his upside.
WR Exceptions
Khalil Shakir (BUF vs SF): The 49ers have been excellent against slot receivers of late, but I’m still starting Khalil Shakir as a low-end WR2 against San Fran. He has at least six receptions and 50 yards in each of his last five games giving him a very high floor, especially in PPR.
Quentin Johnston (LAC @ ATL): After weeks of getting by on touchdowns, Quentin Johnston plummeted back to earth in the league’s second best out-wide matchup. This week, he gets the best. But after his bad case of the drops and with only eight catches in the last month, I can’t trust him.
Devaughn Vele (DEN vs CLE): Despite his Week 12 breakout, I’m not starting Devaughn Vele in a plus matchup against the Browns. He’s still splitting the slot role with Lil’Jordan Humphrey and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Good luck in Week 13 and remember, every player will be a sit in some leagues and a start in others so if you have any start-sit questions, drop them in the comments below or hit me up on Instagram @TheFantasyFirstDown
| Download Table as CSV | |||
| Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output | |||
| # | Defense | Total PPG Allowed | Slot PPG Allowed | Wide PPG Allowed | Slot% | Wide% | Next Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEN | 51.3 | 16.0 | 35.4 | 29% | 71% | NYG | |
| CLV | 49.3 | 19.8 | 29.5 | 40% | 60% | CAR | |
| MIN | 47.6 | 8.8 | 38.8 | 20% | 80% | TB | |
| NYJ | 45.0 | 17.6 | 27.5 | 32% | 68% | DET | |
| BUF | 43.9 | 17.4 | 26.5 | 39% | 61% | LAC | |
| LA | 43.4 | 19.3 | 24.1 | 45% | 55% | DEN | |
| PHI | 41.4 | 19.5 | 21.9 | 51% | 49% | CHI | |
| DAL | 40.8 | 6.4 | 34.5 | 21% | 79% | BLT | |
| BLT | 40.7 | 16.2 | 24.5 | 37% | 63% | DAL | |
| NE | 39.0 | 8.0 | 31.0 | 19% | 81% | JAX | |
| HST | 37.7 | 8.2 | 29.5 | 23% | 77% | IND | |
| WAS | 35.8 | 7.8 | 28.1 | 19% | 81% | SEA | |
| PIT | 35.5 | 5.5 | 30.0 | 9% | 91% | CIN | |
| NFL Average | 33.3 | 10.8 | 22.5 | 33% | 67% | ||
| DET | 33.1 | 11.8 | 21.3 | 35% | 65% | NYJ | |
| CHI | 32.9 | 7.1 | 25.8 | 29% | 71% | PHI | |
| LV | 32.4 | 17.5 | 14.9 | 54% | 46% | NO | |
| CAR | 32.2 | 15.7 | 16.6 | 53% | 47% | CLV | |
| ARZ | 31.8 | 9.7 | 22.2 | 32% | 68% | SF | |
| IND | 31.1 | 13.4 | 17.7 | 41% | 59% | HST | |
| NYG | 30.7 | 6.7 | 24.0 | 23% | 77% | TEN | |
| DEN | 30.3 | 12.1 | 18.3 | 33% | 67% | LA | |
| NO | 28.6 | 10.4 | 18.3 | 39% | 61% | LV | |
| SEA | 27.5 | 10.7 | 16.8 | 36% | 64% | WAS | |
| KC | 27.0 | 6.9 | 20.1 | 38% | 62% | MIA | |
| JAX | 26.1 | 7.0 | 19.2 | 26% | 74% | NE | |
| MIA | 24.9 | 6.3 | 18.7 | 26% | 74% | KC | |
| LAC | 24.5 | 9.1 | 15.4 | 41% | 59% | BUF | |
| ATL | 23.7 | 6.9 | 16.8 | 29% | 71% | GB | |
| CIN | 20.9 | 10.6 | 10.4 | 53% | 47% | PIT | |
| GB | 20.6 | 3.0 | 17.6 | 20% | 80% | ATL | |
| TB | 20.0 | 6.7 | 13.3 | 34% | 66% | MIN | |
| SF | 17.4 | 6.0 | 11.4 | 39% | 61% | ARZ |
