Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 13 of the 2024 NFL Season

It’s Week 13, and the fantasy playoffs are soon approaching. Let’s get our rosters dialed in for the championship run. Here’s the fallout going into Week 13….

 

Steelers – 19 @ Browns – 24

• Jaylen Warren(14/64/1) had the better day over Najee Harris(18/54), mostly due to his finding the end zone. It was Warren’s first score of the season, and though the Steelers have a sea of red matchups for opposing runners coming up, that might actually bode well for Warren’s chances, as Pittsburgh will be less likely to run right at those defenses. 

 

• Calvin Austin(3/78/1) had the best day for a Steeler pass-catcher, and though he can be inconsistent, the Steelers are likely to go pass-heavy in the upcoming weeks. Mike Williams(0/0) isn’t making an impact on the offense, so perhaps Austin will retain the role of no.2 WR behind George Pickens(4/48). 

 

• Cedric Tillman( 2/28) had a quiet night before exiting the game with a concussion in the 3rd quarter. The inclement weather, and Jerry Jeudy’s working his way into the no.1 role, relegated Tillman to a lesser role. Even if Tillman makes it back this week, he’s not a strong play versus Denver’s top ranked secondary. 

 

Cowboys – 34 @ Commanders – 26

• Cooper Rush(24/247/2) has put together a couple of decent outings since face planting against the Eagles a few weeks ago, throwing TDs to Luke Schoomaker(3/55/1) and Jalen Tolbert(2/22/1) on Sunday. With the Giants on board this week, Rush actually has some streaming appeal. The same can be said for Schoonmaker.

 

• Noah Brown(6/71) led the Commanders with 10 targets on Sunday. He gets more of the dink and dunk targets, but Brown has settled into a solid fantasy floor. Even in a tough matchup with Tennessee this week, Brown is a fine PPR flex. 

 

• Zach Ertz(6/38/1) has had 7 or more targets in his last 3 games and has scored in the last 2. Ertz is TE7 on the season, yet is still available in over half of leagues. 

 

Buccaneers – 30 @ Giants – 7

• Sterling Shepard(5/16) didn’t have much to show for it, but he led the Bucs in targets(7) on Sunday. Despite getting significant targets these past few weeks, Shepard just doesn’t have much of a ceiling. 

 

• TE Theo Johnson(3/39) had a pretty pedestrian line, but he was 2nd in targets to Malik Nabers(6/64) on the day. He’ll continue to get looks while Tommy DeVito gets comfortable under center again. 

 

Patriots – 15 @ Dolphins – 34

• Antonio Gibson(7/45) led Pats RBs in yardage on Sunday, though it wasn’t an impressive line overall. He led all Pats RBs in snaps(30) too, in a game where Miami got off to a 31 – 0  lead.  The game script might’ve been the determining factor for Gibson’s higher usage, but he’s one to monitor this week when New England plays Indianapolis. 

 

• Demario Douglas(5/62) led the Pats in receiving this week, though it was the TEs, Austin Hooper(4/59/1) and Hunter Henry(5/44) who were the top 2 target getters. Both TEs have weekly streaming consideration, though it’s worth noting that there are only 3 TDs between the 2 of them on the season. 

 

Lions – 24 @ Colts – 6

• The Lions are cruising, but LaPorta(3/19) is the odd man out in the Detroit offense. He’s had cushy matchups these last 2 weeks, but hasn’t managed to excel. It’s kind of crazy how guys like him can go 96% owned, while guys like Ertz who are thriving aren’t even owned in 50% of leagues. 

 

• Michael Pittman(6/96) showed why he shouldn’t be dropped in fantasy, leading the Colts in receiving on Sunday. It was his 2nd best game of the season, on a day when Anthony Richardson only completed 11 passes. The matchup with New England is pretty cherry this week, so Pittman is on the fantasy map. 

 

Titans – 32 @ Texans – 27

• He’s not getting a ton of targets, but Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is one of Will Levis’ most reliable red-zone targets, scoring in 6 of his last 7 games. He’s highly TD dependent, but NWI has another tempting matchup with Washington this week. 

 

• Chig Okonkwo(1/70/1) boomed on his lone catch on Sunday, but he’s failed to live up to expectations this season. He’s not an advisable option this week. 

 

• Cade Stover(3/26/1) caught his first NFL TD on Sunday and was targeted more than Dalton Schultz on the day. He’s not streamable yet, but he’s someone to keep an eye on. 

 

Vikings – 30 @ Bears – 27

• Justin Jefferson(2/27) got the Jaylon Johnson treatment on Sunday, leaving Jordan Addison(8/162/1) to feast on the Bears secondary. I fully expect Jefferson to go back to his usual self against Arizona this week.

 

• Roschon Johnson(3/12/1) managed to score again this week, though his touches were minimal. With Detroit on the slate this week, Johnson is a risky play.

 

• New Bears OC Thomas Jones has reinvigorated the Bears offense to the extent that all the pass catchers are viable again. With Detroit and their stout run defense on the plate, expect the Bears to go pass heavy again this week. 

 

Chiefs – 30 @ Panthers – 27

• Noah Gray(4/66/2) popped off on Sunday for the 2nd straight week, scoring twice once again. He’s not targeted a lot, but the targets he gets are high value. He’s a fair streamer in a juicy matchup with top 2 TE matchup Vegas this week. 

 

• Kareem Hunt(20/87) may have had his last big day out for KC, now that Isiah Pacheco is likely to be activated for Week 13. Don’t bench him yet though, as he has homerun capability. 

 

• Jonathan Brooks(2/7) was used sparingly in his first NFL game, while Chuba Hubbard(17/60/1) racked up a nice fantasy line. Brooks’ touches will increase, but it’s hard to say to what extent, especially with Hubbard playing well and the Panthers’ season effectively lost. He’s merely a stash right now. 

 

• David Moore(6/84/1) came out of nowhere to lead the Panthers in receiving against the Chiefs. He was filling in for Jalen Coker(quad), but he could stick this week against a sieve like Tampa secondary. If Coker sits, Moore could be worth the squeeze. 

 

Broncos – 29 @ Raiders – 19

• Jaleel Mclaughlin(7/44) managed to lead the Broncos in rushing, throwing the backfield into disarray once again. It’s so hard to determine who is going to be viable on a weekly basis, but I still feel Javonte Williams(10/4) will be the guy this week. That being said, if I don’t have to play him, I won’t. 

 

• Devaughn Vele(6/80) is the de facto no.2 WR in Denver, and the offense is firing on all cylinders right now. In a top 5 matchup with Cleveland this week, he makes for a decent flex option. 

 

Cardinals – 6 @ Seahawks – 16

• Trey Benson(4/18) ended up leading the Cardinals in rushing, despite James Conner(12/49)besting him in touches and all-purpose yardage. Benson still isn’t getting involved enough to play in any format, though he’s worth having on your bench.

 

• Tyler Lockett(2/20) just isn’t cutting it in fantasy. With the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba(6/77/1) as the go-to chain mover for Seattle, Lockett is an unreliable target on a weekly basis. With the Jets on deck, he isn’t an advised play this week. 

 

49ers – 10 @ Packers – 38

• Brandon Allen(17/199/1/1) did his best Brock Purdy impersonation, but he failed to suffice. Fortunately, for our sakes, Purdy should be back under center this week. 

 

• Ugh, back to fantasy irrelevance for Christian Watson(3/0). He’s as boom or bust as they come. One would expect the matchup with Miami this week to bring fireworks, but Watson is a risky play at best. Romeo Doubs(3/54) is back to being the most reliable option for Green Bay going into Week 13. 

 

Eagles – 37 @ Rams – 20

• DeVonta Smith was inactive, with a hamstring injury. Keep tabs on him this week, as Dallas Goedert(4/19) could get some extra juice. 

 

• Demarcus Robinson(2/15/1) managed to score once again, but his target volume is still paltry. With only 3 targets on the day, I can’t put him in lineups this week.