Trashmans Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 13 of the NFL Season

The fantasy playoffs are approaching quickly, so there isn’t any room for error. Let’s right the ship as we head towards the regular season’s end…

 

Bills – 28 @ Lions – 25

• Josh Allen saw something in Isaiah McKenzie‘s(6/96/1) coverage, or lack thereof on Thanksgiving, resulting in McKenzie’s best game of the season. It was his first game over 37 yards since Week 3, so I’m not rushing to the wire to pick him up, but the Bills do play the Patriots this week, and the Pats always attack the opposite team’s best offensive weapon – which in this case will be Stefon Diggs – so McKenzie could see considerable targets again in Week 13.

 

• A week after getting 86 yards on 11 touches, James Cook(4/18) only scratched the surface of fantasy relevance in Week 12. These are the breaks for a backup RB on a team that is predicated on the pass.

 

• A 9/43 line is disheartening for D’Andre Swift owners but an increase in snap count(32%) is an encouraging sign, as Swift gets back to full speed. Be patient, and he should be in prime form and usage by the time fantasy playoffs hit.

 

• DJ Chark‘s usage went up 57%, from 16% to 73%, in his 2nd week back from an ankle injury that had sidelined him since Week 3. He is worth a deep league flex against the Jags this week.

 

Giants – 20 @ Cowboys – 28

• Richie James(5/41/1) has reintroduced himself as a major cog in the Giants’ works, since the departures of Wan’Dale Robinson and Kadarius Toney to IR and the Chiefs, respectively. He is a viable flex play against Washington this week.

 

• Michael Gallup(5/63) had his highest target(8) and yardage total on Thanksgiving, recementing himself as the Cowboys’ no.2 WR, unless they subsequently sign Odell Beckham this week.

 

Patriots – 26 @ Vikings – 33

• Damien Harris(thigh) was seen using crutches after Thursday night’s game and was absent from practice on Sunday, casting doubt on his availability this week. Rhamondre Stevenson will get all the touches he can handle if Harris can’t go.

 

• Jakobi Meyers injured his shoulder on the first play for the Pats offense on Thursday, and reaggravated it later in the game but says it won’t linger. Keep an eye on his practices this week. If Meyers can’t go, Nelson Agholor(6/65/1) should see more targets against Buffalo. It’s a bad idea to invest in any Pats pass-catchers this game though, looking back on the rush fest that was their last contest in 2021.

 

• Adam Thielen(9/61/1) saw a season high in targets(10) on Thursday, falling 1 short of Justin Jefferson‘s total(11). He’s highly TD dependent this season, but Thielen makes for a decent flex play this week against a Jets team that looks invigorated on offense with Mike White under center.

 

Ravens – 27 @ Jaguars – 28

• Gus Edwards(16/52/1) immediately displaced Kenyan Drake(2/2) as the lead back for Baltimore upon his return in Week 12. Drake can return to benches.

 

• TE Josh Oliver (4/76/1) led the Ravens in receiving in a revenge game against his former team. It also helped his cause that Isaiah Likely was out. He’s unlikely to see these kind of targets(6) again this season.

 

• Travis Etienne( 2/3) sat out most of Sunday’s game with a foot injury, but it’s been reported that he was cleared to return later that game. JaMychal Hasty(17/95/1) had a solid outing in his stead, but Etienne should be good to go this week. Hasty can be added to deep benches as insurance.

 

• Hopefully you heeded the Garbage Grab and got Zay Jones(11/145) in your lineups on Sunday, as he led the Jags in targets(14). Almost all of the Ravens WRs had fantasy worthy outputs, save Christian Kirk, surprisingly, but it’s the 2nd week in a row that Jones has gotten double-digit targets. Flex him this week versus Detroit.

 

Broncs – 10 @ Panthers – 23

• Russell Wilson just hasn’t been the same since his finger injury in 2021, and the Broncos are feeling the repercussions. Kendall Hinton and Courtland Sutton had 9 and 8 targets a piece, but only Sutton(6/75) was usable in fantasy. The Broncos have a receiver friendly matchup in the Ravens this week, but don’t set your hopes too high.

 

• Latavius Murray(14/98) out-touched Marlon Mack(3/12) 14 – 3 and has the lead back role in hand.

 

• Sam Darnold earned himself another start in the wake of a convincing win against the Broncos, bringing DJ Moore back to life with a 4/103/1 line. The Panthers have a bye this week, so you don’t have to consider swallowing the bitter pill that is the Carolina QB position this week.

 

• Chuba Hubbard(17/65) had 17 touches on Sunday, but D’Onta Foreman(24/113) had 24 touches and almost double the yardage. This is still Foreman’s backfield, but Hubbard could see more touches moving forward, as the Panthers attempt to take some of the onus away from Darnold’s arm.

 

Bengals – 20 @ Titans – 16

• Hayden Hurst saw(6/57) a season high in targets(9) with Ja’Maar Chase sidelined again this week. It’s likely the last game Chase will miss, so Hurst will likely be a TD dependent streamer once again.

 

• Samaje Perine(21/93/1) had another strong outing with Joe Mixon sitting with a brain Injury. It’s unlikely Mixon misses Week 13, so be prepared to send Perine back to your benches.

 

• 3 Titans WRs tied for 6 targets on Sunday, but only Treylon Burks(4/70) topped 60 yards. He’s emerged as the Titans top receiving option since returning from injury.

 

Bears – 10 @ Jets – 31

• The Bears fear Darnell Mooney maye have suffered a season ending ankle injury on Sunday, and why would he return to a 3-9 team anyway? Chase Claypool(2/51) led the Bears in receiving in his absence, though Cole Kmet(3/27) led in Targets(6). With Justin Fields uncertain to return this week(shoulder), the whole Bears passing game is more suspect than ever under Trevor Siemian.

 

• Zonovan Knight(17/103) came out of the woodworks to lead the Jets rushing attack on Sunday, after Michael Carter suffered an ankle injury. Ty Johnson(6/78/1) had a productive line as well on just 6 touches. Absent from the mix was James Robinson, who was a healthy scratch. Knight and Johnson will both be popular waiver wire adds this week as we wait and see on Carter.

 

• The Jets offense looked like a different team with Mike White(22/315/3) under center. Zach Wilson may have lost his job in this one, and that’s probably a good thing for the Jets skill players.

 

Falcons – 13 @ Commanders – 19

• With Kyle Pitts on IR, Olamide Zacchaeus(5/91) stepped in to lead the Falcons in receiving. With the bottom barrel Steelers secondary on the slate this week, Zacchaeus makes for a decent flex.

 

• Joh Bates(3/24/1) ate into Logan Thomas‘(1/7) workload a little more than I’d like. I’m not sure if Thomas isn’t fully healthy or what, but I can’t play either one this week.

 

Texans – 15 @ Dolphins – 30

• Kyle Allen didn’t do the Texans any favors in replacing Davis Mills under center. That being said, he will probably be the starter moving forward. It doesn’t really change anything for Texans pass-catchers.

 

• Dameon Pierce(8/16) has been a dud the last 2 weeks behind the abysmal Texans O-line. With the team in tank mode, I don’t expect them to push their potentially star RB. Dare Ogunbowale(5/20/1) got 5 touches and a score on Sunday, and I expect him to get more run moving forward, which doesn’t mean that much when we’re talking the Texans.

 

• Jordan Akins(5/61/1) has topped 50 yards receiving in 2 of the last 3 weeks, with Brevin Jordan benched. He could be a decent streaming option this week, as a safety blanket for Allen.

 

• Myles Gaskin(7/21) had 7 touches behind Jeff Wilson, with Raheem Mostert sidelined. Mostert is in line to return this week though, so no need to add Gaskin yet.

 

Buccaneers – 17 @ Browns – 23

• Rachaad White(23/109) out-touched Ke’Shawn Vaughn(4/15) 23 – 4, with Lenny Fournette sitting with a hip injury. Regardless if Fournette can play or not this week, White seems to have supplanted him as the lead back in Tampa and should be started in Week 13.

 

• Rookie WR David Bell(4/23) had season high targets(6) in Week 13 and could be worth adding in deep PPR formats with Deshaun Watson slated to return to action this week.

 

Raiders – 40 @ Seahawks – 34

• Even with Josh Jacobs touching the ball a whopping 39 times, Mack Hollins(4/63/1) was able to make a fantasy stand. He’s a deep league flex this week against LA.

 

• Travis Homer(4/53/1) was able to score but only had 4 touches on the day. He’s more an impediment to Ken Walker‘s production than he is a viable option in fantasy.

 

Chargers – 25 @ Cardinals – 24

• DeAndre Carter(7/73/1) led the Chargers in targets(10) and receiving, even with Keenan Allen on the field. The absence of Mike Williams obviously helped his cause, and Carter will be a flex option in all formats if Williams sits against Las Vegas this week.

 

• Marquise Brown(6/46) led the Cardinals in targets(8) his first game back since Week 6. Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch were both absent, but it was a solid return nonetheless. The Cardinals have a bye this week, so there aren’t really any major moves to make this week.

 

Saints – 0 @ 49ers – 13

• The Saints were basically useless in fantasy outside of 1 point PPR formats, where Chris Olave had a decent game(5/62). Hopefully the Saints transition to Jameis Winston under center, as Dalton isn’t great for fantasy.

 

• Jauan Jennings(6/49/1) had his first TD of the season. At a 41% snap count, Jennings is a dart throw in most formats this week against Miami.

 

• Deebo Samuel(3/43) has been somewhat underwhelming since Christian McCaffrey donned a 49ers uniform. Fortunately for him, he should get plenty of targets, out of necessity, against the Dolphins this week.

 

Rams – 10 @ Chiefs – 26

• As we expected, Kyren Williams(14/60) led the backfield over Cam Akers(8/37) in Week 12. The team is rightfully moving away from Akers and seeing what they have in Williams. Williams makes for a high floor flex against Seattle this week.

 

• Allen Robinson‘s season is over, as he’ll undergo foot surgery. This may be the best thing for all parties involved, as he wasn’t fantasy viable anyway. This opens the door to Van Jefferson(3/29/1) who led the Rams with 7 targets. Unfortunately, it probably won’t amount to much, with either Bryce Perkins or John Wolford under center for the foreseeable future.

 

• Ronald Jones(5/34) made a surprise appearance behind Isiah Pacheco(23/86/1), but ahead of Jerrick McKinnon(3/26) – though mcKinnon led in routes run by the RBs. I suppose it really isn’t that much of a surprise with Clyde Edwards-Helaire on IR, but it’s still eyebrow raising. Pacheco is the only advisable option this week against Cincy.

 

 

• Skyy Moore(5/36) led Chiefs WRs in targets in Week 12, but the Chiefs didn’t need a lot of firepower against the Rams on this afternoon. Hopefully he gets more run this week against the Bengals in a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship.

 

 

Packers – 33 @ Eagles – 40

• Up against a thumb fracture and a potential breakage in his ribs, Aaron Rodgers seems doubtful this Week. With the season basically lost, it makes sense for the Packers to pack Rodgers in for the season. Jordan Love did a good job in his relief and would make for a decent streamer against a piss poor Bears defense in Week 13.

 

• AJ Dillon(11/88/1) actually made a dent in fantasy with Aaron Rodgers sidelined. Perhaps the Pack will lean more heavily on the run if Rodgers misses time.

 

• Kenneth Gainwell(9/46/1) had a season high in touches(8) in this one, but the Eagles ran for 363 yards on the day, so everybody got involved. It’s unlikely that he gets that much action against Tennessee this week.

 

• The Eagles have been getting Quez Watkins(3/35/1) more involved ever since Dallas Goedert went down to injury. You can flex him in deep leagues until Goedert returns, which could be in Week 15.