The Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 13 of the NFL Season

I hope the turkey you had this past week was constrained to the dinner table and didn’t extend to your fantasy teams. Once again, injuries have changed the fantasy landscape for better or worse. Here’s the fallout…

 

Bears – 16 @ Lions – 14

 

• Darnell Mooney has either scored or gone over 120 yards his last 2 games. I realize Allen Robinson is sidelined, but Mooney has taken priority regardless. He’s still available in about 25% of leagues going up against Arizona this week. 

 

• Cole Kmet was targeted a team high 11 times against the Lions for8 catches and 65 yards. He’s now had at least 8 targets in 2 of his last 3 games and needs to be a weekly streaming option. 

 

• D’Andre Swift sprained his shoulder Thursday and is day-to-day. Jamaal Williams could be in for a big load this week, so make sure he’s not still on waivers come Wednesday.

 

• After a rough start as a Lion in Week 11, Josh Reynolds went on to lead the Lions in targets(5) and yards(70), along with a TD. I’m always hesitant to advocate for any Lions WR this season, but Reynolds is worth a stab in deeper formats. He has TD upside every week. 

 

Raiders – 36 @ Cowboys – 33

 

• Zay Jones(5/59) and DeSean Jackson(3/102/1) had solid outings on Thanksgiving behind Hunter Renfrow, but that may be more an artifact of the high scoring contest they were in with Dallas. It was Jones’ first time catching more than one pass since Week 1, so I’m not bullish on him. Jackson could have some upside as the occasional deep ball specialist though, especially against Washington this week. 

 

• Cedric Wilson, Noah Brown and Michael Gallup drew 10,9 and 8 targets on Thursday, but with CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper preparing to return this week, only Gallup is worth retaining. 

 

• The Cowboys have indicated they may give Ezekiel Elliott a rest this week, to allow his knee to heal. Tony Pollard is all systems go this week against the Saints, even if Elliott does suit up. 

 

Bills – 31 @ Saints – 6 

 

• Matt Breida‘s recent surge has sent Zach Moss off the active roster. Breida was out-touched 16 to 11 by Devin Singletary in Thursday’s blowout, but Breida was more active in the passing game and scored a TD. Moss can be dropped, and Breida needs to be in lineups this week, even against New England. 

 

• Tony Jones touched the ball 16 times on Thanksgiving and still only amassed 27 yards as the impromptu lead back for the Saints. Either Mark Ingram or Alvin Kamara should return this week, but it’s best to hold onto Jones until we see them practice. He would be a low floor but high volume flex if they don’t. 

 

• Ty Montgomery led the Saints in targets(7) and catches(5) on Thursday as the dump off for Trevor Siemian. If neither Kamara or Ingram find the field this week, Montgomery could get quite a few targets in an attempt to keep up with the Cowboys’ scoring machine.

 

• Taysom Hill was seen getting starting reps under center on Monday. This can only be a good thing for the Saints offense. 

 

Panthers – 10 @ Dolphins – 33

 

• Could the Cam Newton era in Carolina be over almost as soon as it began? Probably not, HC Matt Rhule said pulling Cam late in the game wasn’t a permanent demotion, so he should still be the QB coming out of the bye for better or worse. 

 

• Sigh, another lost season for Christian McCaffrey and his owners. Hopefully they kept Chuba Hubbard on their rosters, cause CMC is done for the year. This could bode well for Cam in that he may regain goal line duties. 

 

• Phillip Lindsay had 12 touches for 42 yards in his first action as a Dolphin on Sunday, as the clear no.2 to Myles Gaskin. Most of his touches came with the game in hand, but I wouldn’t rule out Lindsay seeing competitive touches moving forward, as anything seems to go in the Miami backfield. 

 

• With Mike Gesicki lining up in the slot or outside much of the time, Durham Smythe is getting run as the traditional TE in the Miami offense, getting 5 targets in back to back games. This could continue as long as Will Fuller is out. 

 

Titans – 13 @ Patriots – 36

 

• RBs D’Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard both went over the century mark on Sunday in a losing effort against the Pats. They have a bye this week, but they need to both be stashed on benches if possible. They’ll face the Jaguars in Week 14. 

 

• Nick Westbrook led the Titans in receiving Sunday(2/25/1) on 5 targets. It wasn’t much, but it was the best of the bunch, and with AJ Brown and Julio Jones on IR Westbrook should be owned. 

 

• Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson continue to cancel eachother out in fantasy. Harris does seem to be the favored goal line back though, so he is the higher priority moving forward. 

 

• Kendrick Bourne has now scored 3 times in his last 3 games, twice on Sunday. He draws a tough matchup this week against the Bills, even with Tre’Davious White out, but he’s got a decent PPR floor. 

 

Jets – 21 @ Texans – 14

 

• Tevin Coleman had some pop on Sunday, picking up 70 yards on 18 touches, but he had some thunder stolen by unknown Austin Walter, who managed to score on 9 touches. Coleman is the best play with Michael Carter out until at least Week 15, but Walter could provide some deep league fire in the flex this week against Philly. 

 

• Elijah Moore remained the focal point of the Jets passing game, receiving 8 targets, even with Zach Wilson under center. Moore’s a good bet to continue rolling in Week 13. 

 

• Rex Burkhead and David Johnson split carries to modest effect, but Johnson was limping and going to the medical tent throughout the game. Burkhead could see the bulk of carries this week against a middling Colts front. 

 

• TE Brevin Jordan seems to be the closest thing the Texans have to a streamer. He’s scored in 2 of the last 4 weeks, since becoming active in Week 8.

 

Buccaneers – 38 @ Colts – 31

 

• Ronald Jones scored his 2nd TD in as many weeks on Sunday, but he’s still being out-touched considerably – 24 to 7 in this game- by Leonard Fournette. Jones isn’t fantasy viable unless Fournette misses time. 

 

• Ty Hilton scored his first TD of the season on Sunday, but so did Ashton Dulin, and I have no idea who that even is. Zach Pascal saw more targets(7) than Hilton, and all this just means that Michael Pittman is the only viable fantasy option in the Colts WR corps. 

 

• TE Jack Doyle had a nice (6/81/1) line on 7 targets on Sunday, and he’s averaging almost 6 targets a game over his last 3 contests. He’s worth a look against the Texans this week if you need the help. 

 

Steelers – 10 @ Bengals – 41

 

• Pat Freiermuth continues to be extremely TD dependent in fantasy, but it seems to be working as he scored again on Sunday. He’ll be a strong start this week against a Ravens team that allows a league high target share to TEs. 

 

• Tyler Boyd is too inconsistent to start in fantasy right now, especially with the Bengals playing the Chargers’ elite secondary this week. 

 

• The Bengals, aside from Joe Mixon, did surprisingly little despite putting up 41 points on the day. It may be a similar game script against the Chargers this week, as they defend the pass well. 

 

Eagles – 7 @ Giants – 13

 

• Boston Scott got 17 touches on Sunday for 72 yards and a score, 7 more touches than Miles Sanders. Sanders exited the game for a time with an ankle injury, but Scott was being worked in even prior to that. Both players can be flexed against the Jets this week. 

 

• Jalen Reagor led the Eagles with 35 yards and 2 catches on 7 targets. It was a pitiful line, but it was the best one by any Eagles pass-catcher. Reagor isn’t a viable option this week against the Jets. 

 

• The Giants offense was quiet on Sunday, despite managing to win. It was nice to see Kenny Golladay lead the team in targets(7) though. Perhaps he’ll offer some fantasy value down the stretch.

 

Falcons – 21 @ Jaguars – 14

 

• Cordarrelle Patterson returned on Sunday, rendering most of the Falcons offensive players obsolete. Russell Gage did have a decent 6/62/1 line on 7 targets though. With teams angling to stop Kyle Pitts, Gage could offer PPR value for the time being. 

 

• Lavishka Shenault led the Jaguars in targets(9) on Sunday, With Laquon Treadwell and Marvin Jones following with 8 and 7 respectively. Treadwell actually led in yards(53) and only played fewer snaps than Jones in the WR corps. With Shenault playing the Jamal Agnew role, Treadwell could work his way to some fantasy relevancy in plus matchups. 

 

• TE Dan Arnold may miss the rest of the fantasy season with a sprained MCL. James Shaugnessy stepped in for him Sunday and garnered 5 targets. I don’t like Shaugnessy as much as Arnold for fantasy purposes, but he should continue to see a handful of targets on the weekly. 

 

Chargers – 13 @ Broncos – 28

 

• Mike Williams faltered again(3/39) on Sunday, but it wasn’t for lack of targets(8). He’ll have a decent bounce back spot against the Bengals this week. 

 

• Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams provided most of the Broncos’ offense, but Tim Patrick led the WR corps in yardage(2/29). It’s not much, but it just reinforces Patrick’s usefulness in fantasy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes away leading the Broncos in receiving this year. 

 

• Teddy Bridgewater suffered a leg injury, forcing him to miss the whole 2nd quarter. Drew Lock was so bad that Teddy had to return to the game, so he’ll have an uphill battle this week against KC. It could be a shootout though. 

 

Rams – 28 @ Packers – 36

 

• Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham and Van Jefferson all had impressive lines on Sunday, with all of them going over 80 yards receiving and ODB and Jefferson finding the end-zone. Jefferson is the only one available in at least half of leagues though, so go get him. He’s going to threaten for double digit targets in competitive games. 

 

• Aaron Jones had 10 touches for only 23 yards on Sunday, working behind AJ Dillon. I don’t think it’s a permanent demotion, he just isn’t completely right yet coming off his knee injury. We’ll get a better idea of what the normal split will be on the other side of the bye. 

 

• Randall Cobb had 95 yards and a score on 5 targets, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling matched Davante Adams for 9 targets on the afternoon. It’s MVS’ 2nd straight 9+ target game, and he’s shaping up to be a real no.2 WR in the Packers offense. 

 

Vikings – 26 @ 49ers – 34

 

• Dalvin Cook suffered a torn labrum and separated shoulder on Sunday and should miss at least a couple of games. Fire up Alexander Mattison in his absence. We might see some more Kj Osborn targets in his absence as well. 

 

• Jeff Wilson only touched the ball 3 times behind Elijah Mitchell and isn’t a strong fantasy option moving forward. That being said, he could offer value while Deebo Samuel nurses a groin injury that could keep him out a couple of weeks. 

 

• Jauan Jennings scored on 3 targets and could also see extended playing time with Deebo Samuel sidelined. He’ll make for an intriguing deep league play against Seattle this week. 

 

Browns – 10 @ Ravens – 16

 

• Jarvis Landry(10/111) was the only Brown to go over 50 yards Sunday, so that pretty much sums up the Browns’ offense on Sunday night. Three different TEs had 3 or moe targets, which sapped Austin Hooper‘s recent value.Harrison Bryant did suffer a high ankle sprain, so maybe Hooper can bounce back after the bye. Then again, David Njoku may be the beneficiary. 

 

• Similarly, the Ravens offense got little going against Cleveland, with only Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown providing any traction in the passing game. There are no moves to be made based off of this box-score. 

 

• Latavius Murray had 8 touches to Davonta Freeman’s 17 and is a distant 2nd to him at this point. Murray is only a liability in fantasy unless some injury befalls Freeman.