Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 13 of the 2023 NFL Season

The playoffs are looming so let’s right the ship while we can! Here’s the fallout going into Week 13 of the NFL season…

 

Packers – 29 @ Lions – 22

• Aaron Jones didn’t even practice last week, so his exclusion from the Thanksgiving game was a foregone conclusion. He gets a few extra days to heal, but there’s a real possibility that AJ Dillon(17/81) gets the start again this week. He’s still available in over 30% of leagues.

 

• Christian Watson(5/94/1) finally had a game worth his draft stock, but Jayden Reed(4/34/1) still led the team in targets(8). Reed is still available in over half of leagues.

 

• The Lions were playing at a deficit most of the day, so several players who wouldn’t otherwise have decent lines did, a la Kalif Raymond(5/90) and Jameson Williams(2/50). The only moves to be made from this game would be highly speculative.

 

Commanders – 10 @ Cowboys – 45

• With the Commanders outside WRs stifled by Dallas’ smothering secondary, Washington found relief underneath with Curtis Samuel(9/100). Every week seems different for the Commanders WR corps, but Samuel’s usage stays fairly consistent. He’ll be a PPR flex against Miami this week, in what could be a high scoring game.

 

• Brandin Cooks(4/72/1) is on a heater. He’s scored in 4 of his last 6 games, going over 70 yards in 2 of his last 3. Still available in over half of leagues, he’s a solid WR3 with considerable upside these days.

 

49ers – 31 @ Seahawks – 13

• The 49ers are back in stride. Unfortunately, there are no moves to be made from this performance, as every fantasy viable 49er is and has been owned in most leagues for most of the season.

 

• The Seahawks were stymied in every facet of the game on Thursday night. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with only 41 receiving yards, if that’s any indication. He actually has some juice going into WK13 with the Cowboys, as he’ll play the Curtis Samuel role over the middle.

 

Dolphins – 34 @ Jets – 13

• Jeff Wilson(14/73) had significant touches before the Dolphins were in garbage time. If De’Von Achane doesn’t make it back this week, he could get more touches than usual against a reeling Washington team.

 

• Tim Boyle(27/179/1/2) and Zach Wilson seem virtually interchangeable. I guess the silver lining is that Aaron Rodgers is targeting a potential WK16 return. That could help a lot of people their their fantasy leagues, but it seems unreasonable for him to return if the team’s playoff chances have been dashed on the rocks by then.

 

Saints – 15 @ Falcons – 24

• It wasn’t AT Perry(1/7) or Rashid Shaheed(2/9) who benefited most from Michael Thomas‘ absence, though Shaheed left the game with an injured thigh, as Juwan Johnson(4/45) came in 2nd in targets(7) behind Chris Olave(9), who left with a concussion. He’ll be a decent streamer this week against Detroit, with Olave and Shaheed both questionable.

 

• Tyler Allgeier(10/64) has questionable upside, but his consistent usage keeps his floor fairly high. He could see some extra run against a porous Jets front, as New York is notoriously difficult to throw against.

 

Steelers – 16 @ Bengals – 10

• Pat Freiermuth(9/120) saw a boom in production with the Steelers moving on to a different OC. The Steelers opened up the middle of the field and had their best yardage outing in some time. Freiermuth is available in over half of leagues and should have a solid day versus Arizona this week

 

• Jake Browning(19/227/1/1) was decent in his first start for the Bengals, at least considering the tough matchup he drew. Browning should have an easier go of it this week against Jacksonville, where if he won’t be startable, his skill players certainly will be.

 

• Tanner Hudson(4/15) was 2nd in targets(5) on Sunday and could be serviceable this week as a safety valve, especially if Tee Higgins sits again.

 

Panthers – 10 @ Titans – 17

• The Panthers fired HC Frank Reich early Monday morning, meaning that the Carolina offense could shift significantly this week, so any takeaways from Sunday might be moot – A dead cat bounce may be in order. That being said, Chuba Hubbard(19/92/1) had his best showing in weeks. He remains the better play over Miles Sanders(15/28).

 

• Rookie Jonathan Mingo(4/60) led the Panthers in receiving and targets(6)and could make for a solid PPR flex bet this week against Tampa, a team that is tough to run on but bends to the pass.

 

• The Titans offense has been a muddled gray for weeks now, outside of Derrick Henry(21/125/2) who was the only pop of color on Sunday. He’ll be a solid start again this week versus Indy, but with anyone else you’re praying for a TD to validate them, including DeAndre Hopkins(3/49).

 

Buccaneers – 20 @ Colts – 27

• Rookie WR Trey Palmer(4/17) is getting decent targets, but they’re not high-yield. He remains a dynasty stash.

 

• It didn’t show in the box score, but Josh Downs(5/43) was a target(13) hound on Sunday, tying Michael Pittman. He’s still available in 42% of leagues and shouldn’t be.

 

Patriots – 7 @ Giants – 10

• The Pats QB situation is a mess, as neither available option is worth considering in any facet. Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott will be called upon early and often this week against the Chargers, me thinks.

 

• I guess it’s worth saying that Demario Douglas(6/49) led the Pats in receiving, but there’s only so much upside, or so little rather, to be had.

 

• The Giants may actually have something in Tommy DeVito(17/191/1), who has won 2 of his 3 starts this season. He found a kindred spirit in Jalin Hyatt(5/109) on Sunday, a connection that is worth monitoring going into their bye this week.

 

Jaguars – 24 @ Texans – 21

• D’Ernest Johnson(8/61) has flirted with double-digit touches for 2 straight weeks, seemingly usurping Tank Bigsby as the no.2 back in Jacksonville. He’s unusable outside of the deepest leagues though.

 

• Devin Singletary(6/18) didn’t fare much better than Dameon Pierce(5/14) on the ground, but his prowess in the receiving game(6/54) gives him the leg up on Pierce( 1/4 ). With a bye week on the horizon, Pierce seems actually droppable in 12 team and smaller formats.

Browns – 12 @ Broncos – 29

• There were plenty of targets to go round on Sunday for the Browns, with 5 players getting 5 or more targets, but with no decent QB to throw them there was little yield. Dorian Thompson-Robinson got injured, leaving PJ Walker to helm the offense. Both are bad, but DTR had more of an excuse, being a rookie. The Browns will likely be playing from behind for the foreseeable future, so at least they’ll continue to throw the ball.

 

• Amari Cooper had a rib injury, but he seems to have avoided any breaks. Even if he plays this week, his ceiling is disappointingly low with the QB at hand.

 

• Denver went run heavy this week, given the tough matchup on the outside. Samaje Perine touched the ball 8 times for 66 yards and a score. He’s topped 60 yards in back to back weeks and offers a decent floor in PPR formats.

 

Chiefs – 31 @ Raiders – 17

• Rashee Rice(8/107/1) must’ve heard me souring on him after WK11, as he had his best game to date on Sunday. Leading the team with 10 targets, Rice is perhaps the hottest WR add this week going into Green Bay.

 

• The Raiders coaching staff finally got Jakobi Meyers(6/79/1) in the mix after a few disappointing weeks for the vet. He’s got a bye this week, but Meyer has cherry matchups in weeks 14 and 15, so get him in there.

 

Bills – 34 @ Eagles – 37

• Welcome to the rollercoaster that is Gabe Davis‘(6/105/1) fantasy output. A week after a goose egg, Davis led the Bills in receiving. Fortunately he’s got a bye this week, so there’s no agonizing over using him, but he’s got tough sledding ahead with the Chiefs and Cowboys on deck.

 

• The Eagles were carried by Jalen Hurts once again. There’s no one new to consider for fantasy purposes.

 

Ravens – 20 @ Chargers – 10

• Keaton Mitchell(11/89) led the backfield for the Ravens on Sunday night. In the games he’s approached or surpassed double-digit touches, the Ravens have won, so maybe they’ll keep a good thing going after their bye this week.

 

• Isaiah Likely(4/40) came in 2nd in targets(6) behind Zay Flowers(8) on Sunday night and actually led the Ravens in receiving yards. Continue to use him after the Ravens’ bye this week, as he’ll have a top ten matchup versus the Rams in WK14.

 

• Quentin Johnston exited the game on Sunday night with a rib injury and didn’t return, although he reportedly could’ve. Johnston has been perhaps my greatest rookie disappointment this season, and he’s unusable even in a plus matchup with the Pats this week.

 

• Gerald Everett(4/43/1) returned to game action and had a solid one, scoring the only Charger TD. He’s scored in most of the recent games he’s been active in, so he’s definitely a streaming consideration this week.