Week 13 Start'em/Sit'em
This is the Fantasy Football Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 13 of the 2020 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FFN. FFN rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.
Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Alvin Kamara, Travis Kelce, or Davante Adams. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.
Start 'em Taysom Hill (NO, QB)Taysom Hill hasn't thrown the ball very much (19.5 throws/game) over the last two games, but he has scored with his feet twice in both games. He gets to face the same Falcons team that he just faced in Week 11 where he put up 24.2 points. Nobody gives up more fantasy points to QBs than Atlanta.
Start 'em Kirk Cousins (MIN, QB)Ranked 12th this week on FFN is Kirk Cousins who has been recently, and should be in Week 13, a low-end QB1. Even without Adam Thielen and Irv Smith last week, Cousins threw for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns. Quarterbacks are averaging nearly 25 fantasy points against the Jaguars this season.
Start 'em Ben Roethlisberger (PIT, QB)While the matchup looks bad on paper, Big Ben playing at home has the opportunity to contribute this week for your team. Matthew Stafford playing at home against them in Week 10 put up 23 points, and Roethlisberger has arguably more weapons at his disposal. He's ranked 11th, so even in a tough matchup, he's worthy of a starting spot.
Start 'em Raheem Mostert (SF, RB)Raheem Mostert comes into this week's rankings at #13 - a high-end RB2 - facing a Buffalo defensive line that has given up the 8th-most yards on the ground per game. Austin Ekeler returned to the Chargers lineup last week, and in his first game back put up 24 fantasy points against the Bills. It can be done.
Start 'em Wayne Gallman (NYG, RB)Ranked 18th this week among running backs is Wayne Gallman filling in famously for Devonta Freeman (IR) atop the depth chart. Gallman has been producing for fantasy owners scoring at least one touchdown in each of his last 5 games! His value may take a slight hit if Daniel Jones can't play, but keep him locked in against Seattle this week.
Start 'em Frank Gore (NYJ, RB)The ageless wonder still has fantasy relevance as a decent flex option for fantasy owners this week. Lamical Perine is on IR so Gore basically has the backfield to himself. 20+ touches is not out of the question, and the matchup is appealing.
Start 'em Justin Jefferson (MIN, WR)The rookie lands well inside our Top 10 this week against a Jacksonville secondary that has surrendered the 5th-most fantasy points including an impressive 28.3 points to Jarvis Landry last week. The Vikings have been a run-heavy offense, yet Jefferson could very well top the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the season in this game.
Start 'em Brandin Cooks (HOU, WR)Ranked inside our Top 10 this week is Brandin Cooks who figures to benefit from the loss of Will Fuller who was suspended for six games (PED violation). Indianapolis has been brutal to wide receivers on the year, but expected volume keeps Cooks fantasy-relevant.
Start 'em DeVante Parker (MIA, WR)With Tua Tagovailoa sidelined and Ryan Fitzpatrick back under center, DeVante Parker's fantasy stock has gone up. He topped 100 yards receiving for the first time since Week 4 and saw a season-high 14 targets. He's ranked 14th this week making him a solid WR2.
Start 'em Mike Gesicki (MIA, TE)Another Dolphins player who benefited by having Fitzmagic back was Mike Gesicki who finally made his way back into the endzone after a long dry spell. He's ranked 10th this week against a Bengals defense that just gave up 17 fantasy points to Evan Engram last week.
Start 'em TJ Hockenson (DET, TE)TJ Hockenson has been a nice, reliable option at TE for fantasy owners this year. He'll face a Bears defense that has actually been pretty generous to opposing tight ends on the season. They gave up nearly 18 points to Robert Tonyan last week, and when Hockenson faced them in the season opener, he put up 16 points. Double-digit production is easily within reach here.
Start 'em Green Bay Packers (GB, DEF)Let's face it. The Eagles offense is simply awful as of late. With a depleted O-line and a plethora of mistakes, there's little wonder that they're giving up the 7th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. If you're streaming defenses, the Packers are available in more than half of all leagues across all major platforms.
Start 'em Daniel Carlson (LV, K)The Jets have been very kind to virtually every skill position this year including kickers where they're giving up almost 10 points every week to them.
Sit 'em Carson Wentz (PHI, QB)Is Carson Wentz even startable any longer? Even with Zach Ertz expected back, there's very little reason to trust that Wentz can contribute consistently for your team. The Philly offensive line has been horrendous, and the Packers are giving up fewer than 19 fantasy points on the season to QBs.
Sit 'em Matt Ryan (ATL, QB)The last time Matt Ryan faced the Saints just two weeks ago, he gave fantasy owners a whopping 5 fantasy points. With the fantasy playoffs looming large on the horizon, now's not the time to gamble - especially in a bad matchup. New Orleans gives up the 7th-fewest fantasy points to the position.
Sit 'em Jared Goff (LAR, QB)Jared Goff has been very unpredictable this season. Even in positive matchups, he's failed to deliver. Now, he'll face a middle-of-the-road Arizona defense that may have struggled a bit during the first half of the season, but has turned it on as of late. They rattled Cam Newton last week and left him with just 4 fantasy points.
Sit 'em Chase Edmonds (ARI, RB)Since Kenyan Drake's return, we've seen Chase Edmonds' fantasy value nosedive. Since Drake's return three weeks ago, Edmonds has averaged just 5 carries per game. A reduced role combined with a tough matchup (Rams give up the 5th-fewest fantasy points) means that Edmonds is likely to be found on your bench.
Sit 'em Todd Gurley (ATL, RB)After a promising start to the season, Gurley has averaged just 47 yards over his last five games. Worse, he's dealing with knee issues...again. Even though he's on track to play in Week 13, his knee issue combined with the fact that nobody gives up fewer fantasy points to running backs than the Saints means that you have to seriously lower your expectations on him this week.
Sit 'em Devin Singletary (BUF, RB)Whether it's Devin Singletary or Zach Moss, neither is a great option this week. With the exception of Alvin Kamara in Week 10, the Niners have largely kept opposing running backs to single digits for the past three months.
Sit 'em Jerry Jeudy (DEN, WR)It wasn't much of a surprise to see Jeudy turn in a goose egg last week with rookie WR Kendall Hinton under center. Fortunately, Jeudy will have Drew Lock back this week, but that won't be enough against a Kansas City secondary that has been very tough against receivers this year.
Sit 'em CeeDee Lamb (DAL, WR)It's going to be tough to trust CeeDee Lamb in this matchup. First, the offensive line in Dallas lost both of their tackles. Second, Lamb is still making typical rookie mistakes (potential TD drop last week). The Ravens have given up the 2nd-fewest fantasy points to receivers on the year.
Sit 'em T.Y. Hilton (IND, WR)If you thought T.Y. Hilton was back because he found the endzone for the first time last week, think again. Rivers found him on a nice 50-yard toss, but Michael Pittman is still the receiver to own in that offense.
Sit 'em Jimmy Graham (CHI, TE)Many fantasy owners thought Jimmy Graham was back to fantasy relevance after a strong start to the season, but he's largely been boom or bust. Worse yet, he's starting to lose snaps and routes to Cole Kmet. When Graham faced the Lions back in Week 1, he only caught 3 of his 7 targets, but managed to get into the endzone. With just 3 catches over his last two games, Graham has become TD-dependent.
Sit 'em Jared Cook (NO, TE)With Taysom Hill under center, Jared Cook has evaporated from the fantasy stat sheets. He's been targeted just 3 times since Hill took over for Brees, and managed just haul in just one of those for a measly six yards. There just isn't enough usage here to warrant a starting nod.
Sit 'em Washington Football Team (WAS, DEF)The Washington Football Team has had a pretty solid defense all season, but you're going to want to stream someone else for this week. Nobody gives up fewer fantasy points to opposing DSTs than the Steelers.
Sit 'em Randy Bullock (CIN, K)Nobody gives up fewer fantasy points to kickers than the Dolphins. Mix in the facts that the Bengals have lost Joe Burrow for the season, Gio Bernard has largely been a dud in Mixon's absence, and the offense has failed to move the ball, and this is an opportunity to stream someone else.
Join the Discussion
If asking a sit/start question, be sure to provide your scoring format and contribute to answering questions from other FN members as well.
jamisdiablo CommentedDec 3, 2020 9:36 am
Would you seriously consider starting DParker over SDiggs this week? I see you rankings, but I love Parkers matchup WAY MORE than Diggs'... thoughts? thanks!
Nerd CommentedDec 3, 2020 2:43 pm
Close for me - could go with Parker though. Good luck.
Upper Decker CommentedDec 3, 2020 5:48 pm
Fitz is quarterbacking, roll with Parker!!!!
tramz18 CommentedDec 3, 2020 1:04 pm
I know you guy's take start & sit ? But you are good about answering others too.
May i ask this. I am in a keeper league it's PPR and i want your advice for next yr.
I can keep 3. I am keeping RB-J.Robinson. Which if any of these should i keep?
RB-C.Akers/ M.Gaskin
QB- J.Herbert
WR- J.Jefferson/ M.Pittman/ T.Boyd
TE- H.Henry
As alway's thanks for your advice.
Nerd CommentedDec 3, 2020 2:45 pm
Love Herbert, but I shy away from keeping a QB.
Of that list, Justin Jefferson would be a keeper for me.
Upper Decker CommentedDec 3, 2020 5:47 pm
Jefferson for sure, and I'd probably roll with Justin Herbert. I do have high hopes for Cam Akers next year.
leafc CommentedDec 5, 2020 2:19 pm
Win and in ppr pick 2 rbs:
Taylor, hunt, Gibson, dobbins
Cam or hill or Fitz at qb?
Nerd CommentedDec 5, 2020 4:41 pm
Gibson has a tough matchup, but I'd still play him. Then it's a toss up between Hunt and Taylor. Probably Taylor for me - hoping IND uses him more.
Hill at QB
Good luck
Nerd CommentedDec 6, 2020 9:08 am
I think you still have to go Carr
hoop2311 CommentedDec 6, 2020 9:36 am
two questions :
1. full point PPR I need to choose one for my flex. Gallman, Booker, Beasley, Corey Davis, Sheppard or Pittman.
2. Qbs get 1 point per 10 yards rushing. 4 pt passing TD.....Kyler Murray or Hill
Nerd CommentedDec 6, 2020 9:43 am
I think Davis is probably the safe play there, but I like Booker with no Jacobs today.
Murray
jamisdiablo CommentedDec 6, 2020 10:03 am
Sounds like tua is qb today, that said, start chark over dparker? Std league. Thanks!
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