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

Another week, another emotional rollercoaster weekend in the NFL. Whether you survived the chaos or your roster got blindsided by it, we’re here to sift through the debris and figure out who’s trending up, who’s sinking fast, and who might just save your lineup when you least expect it. Here’s the fallout heading into Week 13…

Bills 19 @ Texans 23

The depth behind Khalil Shakir(8/110) is dizzying, with Dalton Kincaid still recovering from a hamstring injury – 7 other players had at least 2 targets on the day. So many other receiving options for Josh Allen means none for fantasy though. Shakir is the only non-RB Bills player you can use right now, until Kincaid returns, which could be this week. Keon Coleman looks like a lost cause. 

Jayden Higgins(4-38-3) led the Texans in targets(9), seemingly cementing himself as the no.2 in Houston, despite Chrsitian Kirk(5-54-1) having a nice line. We’ll see if the Higgins love remains once CJ Stroud returns this week. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s a QB controversy if Stroud flounders in his return. Mills has been surprisingly efficient in his relief of Stroud. 

Steelers 28 @ Bears 31

As I predicted on the Friday afternoon pod, The Steelers leaned heavily on the run game in Aaron Rodgers’ absence, enough to make both Jaylen Warren(18-68-1) and Kenneth Gainwell(10-92; 6-30) relevant fantasy contributors. Rodgers is likely to return in WK13, so it’s up in the air as to whether Gainwell will retain enough value to start him. We’ve seen him go back to being bench fodder after blowups before, i.e. WK4, but with the run-funnel Bills on deck, he could stay viable as a flex.

Kyle Monangai(12-48-1) led the backfield against Pittsburgh, out-touching D’Andre Swift(8-15; 1-14) 12 to 9 on the day. You can’t count Swift out in a revenge game against Philly this week, but he has a brutal schedule for the remainder of the season, and Monangai looks like the more effective 2-down option for Chicago. In any case, Monangai looks like the better option for fantasy moving forward. 

What to make of the DJ Moore(5-64-2) situation. His 7 targets were 2nd on the team behind Rome Odunze(3-53), but Moore’s snaps actually went down and Luther Burden’s(3-46) went up. With tough running matchups ahead, perhaps Moore will get enough action to warrant flexing him. 

Patriots 26 @ Bengals 20

Rhamondre who? TreVeyon Henderson retained his lead back role, even with Stevenson returning to the fold. Stevenson will probably continue to be used on the goal line, but Henderson looks like a safe play until further notice. 

Hunter Henry(7-115-1) had his best game of the season in WK12, and that isn’t much of a surprise, considering that Cincy was the best matchup for TEs going in. He gets an ok matchup with the Giants this week, but they cover TEs much better than the Bengals. Henry has a decent floor in this one, but don’t expect another monster. 

Kayshon Boutte(hamstring) didn’t do anything worth mentioning fantasy wise, but he did play 80% of snaps and didn’t have a setback. The game with New York this week is a top 10 matchup for WRs, so I feel better about taking a gamble in WK13. 

Andre Iosivas(4-61) was the leading WR for the Bengals, with no Ja’Maar Chase on Sunday, but Mitchell Tinsley(2-29-1) scored the only receiving TD on the day. It’s all much ado about nothing at this point, as Chase will return from his 1-game suspension this week. 

Jets 10 @ Ravens 23

The Jets just couldn’t seem to find the endzone for most of the day, but John Metchie(6-65-1) did seem to secure the no.1 WR role with Garrett Wilson still absent. Metchie scored for the 2nd straight week, and will look to continue his pace this week against Atlanta. He’s worth an add in deeper formats.

Mark Andrews(1-9) and Isaiah Likely(1-10) cannibalized each other’s fantasy value, each getting 3 targets on the day. In either case, you’re just hoping for a trip to the endzone at some point. 

Seattle 30 @ Titans 24

I’m losing hope for Rasheed Shaheed(0-0) in the Seattle offense, as he’s playing 55% of snaps but isn’t doing much with them. The onus is of course on Sam Darnold to use him, but why take the chance when you have a sure thing in JSN on virtually every passing play? He’s unusable against Minnesota this week. 

A week after leading the Titans in receiving and targets, Van Jefferson(1-11) eked out just 1 target all day in this one. Rookie Chimere Dike(5-44-1) had the best line, while Gunnar Helm(6-51) led in yardage. Both players offer modest fantasy upside in PPR formats in a favorable matchup with Jacksonville this week. 

Vikings 6 @ Packers 23

JJ McCarthy keeps setting new lows in QB ratings(34.2), sapping the fantasy values of all Vikings involved. I never imagined a scenario where I hoped Carson Wentz(shoulder) would return to helm an offense ASAP, but here we are. Not one Viking is a must start these days. 

Emanuel Wilson(28-107-2; 2-18) played his butt off on Sunday, but I’m a little frightened to buy in this week. Josh Jacobs has a shot to return, and the Vikings face the best run-defense in the league in Detroit. If you played Wilson on Sunday, you will probably have to again, but he has the chips stacked against him. 

Christian Watson(5-49) didn’t set the world ablaze on Sunday, but he did lead the Pack in receiving and targets(7). Detroit is much easier to pass against than to run, so he’s worth gambling on this week. It’s also probably a good time to snatch Jayden Reed off waivers. He should return in WK14 at the latest. 

Texans – 16  @ Titans – 13

There doesn’t seem to be any question that Jayden Higgins(4-55) is the no.2 WR in Houston. With at least 7 targets in 3 of his last 4 games, and 2 TDs over that stretch, Higgins is a PPR flex against the Bills this week.

It’s crazy to think that Dalton Schultz(6-51) isn’t owned in half of leagues yet. He’s the no.2 target for Houston every week it seems. He has some tough sledding against the Bills this week, but the targets will be there. 

Van Jefferson(3-22-1) might be the new no.1 WR in Tennessee, for whatever that’s worth. He led the team with 7 targets, and could garner that kind of action again this week, with Calvin Ridley(fibula) out for the season. 

Giants 27 @ Lions 34

Jameis Winston(18-366-2-1 reminded us all why we love him for fantasy, losing the game but leading all QBs in fantasy points in the process. Unfortunately, this may have been his first and last startable game, as Jaxson Dart(concussion) is likely to return this week. 

David Montgomery(5-18; 3-19) has quietly taken a complete backseat to Jahmyr Gibbs(15-219-2; 11-45-1) in the Detroit backfield. Gone are the days you could start both of them without thinking about it. Montgomery has to be kept in the case of a Gibbs injury, but it isn’t wise to start him. 

Just when it was safe to start Jameson Williams(0-0), it wasn’t. Williams didn’t bring in any of his 3 targets. It’ll be hard to trust him this week against Green Bay, but we’re champing at the bit to use him against Dallas the following week. 

Jaguars 27 @ Cardinals 24

Parker Washington(5-71-1) has been doing his best Brian Thomas Jr. impression, since Thomas has been out with an ankle injury. BTJ could return this week, but if he doesn’t, Washington makes for a fine start versus a pitiful Titans secondary this week, as does Jakobi Meyers(4-50-1).

Bhaysul Tuten(7-17) got 7 carries on Sunday, but he couldn’t get much going. He’s best left on benches, unlike Brenton Strange(5-93), who returned from a 5 game absence to chart his highest yardage total this season. He needs to be owned in most formats.

It was a repeat performance for both Michael Wilson(10-118) and Greg Dortch(6-53-1) in WK12. There wasn’t a Monday update on Marvin Harrison Jr.(appendix), so run ‘em out again this week if he sits. 

Browns 24 @ Raiders 10

Shedeur Sanders(11-209-1-1) has been named the starting QB going into WK13 after giving the Browns their 3rd win on the season, throwing more completions of 25+ yards(3) than any other Browns QB has all season(1). His performance wasn’t usable for fantasy, but he does bring a boost to the passing game that was sorely lacking when Dylan Gabriel was under center. It’s little surprise that Harold Fannin(4-40) was his favorite target on the day, though Dylan Sampson(7-23; 2-59-1) led the team in receiving. Most of Sampson’s action came while Quinshon Judkins(16-47-2) was being evaluated for a concussion, so I don’t expect Sampson to factor in this week, unless Judkins has a setback. 

Tre Tucker(3-28) led the team in Targets(10), but Tyler Lockett(4-62) ended up leading the team in actual receiving. Raiders OC Chip Kelly was fired after the game, so maybe things improve for the Raiders passing game, although, a lot of the blame must fall on Geno Smith. Tucker will have better days if he keeps flirting with double-digit targets. 

Falcons 24 @ Saints 10

Kirk Cousins(16-199-2-1) played better than anyone expected on Sunday, but the Falcons were playing the Saints, so I have to take it with a grain of salt. He has another soft matchup with the Jets this week, so maybe we can count on Darnell Mooney(3-74-1) again, though his yardage came on just 3 targets. 

Devin Neal(7-18; 5-43) took over in the backfield when Alvin Kamara left with a knee issue. He wasn’t particularly useful as a runner, and Audric Estime will probably factor in if Kamara can’t go this week, but his receiving was a plus. Neal should be added where you can get him this week. 

Eagles 21 @ Cowboys 24

Dallas Goedert(2-20) is fading as a streamable option in Philly. He hasn’t scored since WK8, and his yardage totals aren’t high enough to warrant depending on him for anything other scoring. 

George Pickens(9-146-1) might be the no.1 WR in Dallas these days. CeeDee Lamb(4-75) got more targets(11), but by the nature of more of Pickens’s targets being farther downfield, what Pickens catches ends up being more valuable for fantasy. With KC’s stifling secondary up next, Lamb might actually be a better play this week, as he could accrue more yardage underneath. 

Buccaneers 7 @ Rams 34

Baker Mayfield strained his AC joint on Sunday in a horrible loss to the Rams. Teddy Bridgewater underwhelmed as a fill in, surprise, and would be a disaster for Tampa’s WRs from a fantasy perspective this week, if he were to start. 

In better news, except for Sean Tucker(12-42; 1-4) owners, Bucky Irving(shoulder/foot) is set to return this week for the first time since WK4. It’s unlikely he’s been dropped in your league, but in the off chance he has, he must be scooped. Tucker will go back to a reserve role, unless Irving has a setback at practice this week. 

Blake Corum(7-24) got his usual touch share, and per usual, he did little with them. Nothing to see here. 

His yardage is pedestrian, but Colby Parkinson has scored in 3 straight games. With Tyler Higbee on IR for at least the next 3 games, Parkinson makes for a decent deep league streaming option on what now looks like the NFC’s best team.