The Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 13 of the NFL Season

 

We’re almost to the playoffs, but we have one more week to hold the line or possibly sneak into the postseason. Hopefully, these potential tweaks to your roster will pull you through!

Texans – 41 @ Lions – 25

 

• Duke Johnson managed to salvage his day with a TD reception, but he’s been lackluster in relief of David Johnson thus far. David is able to come off of IR this week, so hopefully we don’t have to bother with Duke anymore. He’s not someone you want to have to rely on in the playoffs. 

 

• Keke Coutee came into the 3rd WR spot for the Texans with Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills out, Stills actually got released, but he only got 3 targets for 2 rec and 17 yards. Coutee isn’t worth adding with Indy, Chicago and Indy again up on the slate.

 

• Will Fuller just announced he’s been suspended for 6 games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Forget what I said about Coutee. Go get him!

 

• Adrian Peterson picked up 55 yards and 2 TDs, while Kerryon Johnson put up 98 all-purpose yards against the Texans. The Lions play the Bears this week, so KJ makes for the stronger play if D’Andre Swift can’t go, as he’s more involved in the passing game. 

 

• Mohamed Sanu joined the Lions on field for the first time on Thanksgiving and came down with a TD grab. He only had 4 targets for 34 yards though, so I’m not particularly interested in him, especially if Kenny Golladay gets in a couple practices this week. 

 

Washington – 41 @ Cowboys – 16

 

• Peyton Barber had 11 carries for 57 yards behind Antonio Gibson in this one, but most of his action came in garbage time. There’s nothing to see here. 

 

• Logan Thomas is in the top 5 in routes run for TEs, but he averages only 4 targets a game. He managed to score on Thanksgiving, and that’s what you’re relying on if you own him. He’s entirely TD dependent. 

 

• The Cowboys are playing without their two starting offensive tackles, and it shows. The fact that they’re playing Baltimore this week only compounds the difficulty they’ll have moving the ball. I would argue that no Dallas player is a must start this week. Ezekiel Elliott has only scored once in 6 games, and he only managed 39 yards against Washington. Amari Cooper has the most upside this week, as the Cowboys will probably be playing from behind. 

 

Raiders – 6 @ Falcons – 41

 

• The Raiders were hot garbage in this one, and Josh Jacobs injured his ankle to add insult to injury. Allegedly, Jacobs’ injury appeared worse than it actually is, so he may be available this week. Devontae Booker needs to be added in most formats, just in case, as he’d be an easy start against the Jets this week if Jacobs sits.

 

• Nelson Agholor is showing up enough on a weekly basis to warrant flex consideration in 12 team or larger formats. He’s the Raider’s de facto no.1 WR, and he’ll have an easy time getting open against the Jets this week in a must win game. 

 

• Ito Smith out-gained and out-scored Brian Hill on Sunday, possibly moving him ahead of Hill in the pecking order, if Todd Gurley can’t go this week. Neither Smith nor Hill makes for a decent play outside of deep leagues against the Saints this week, as New Orleans has the best run defense in the league. 

 

Chargers – 17 @ Bills – 27

 

• Austin Ekeler made his return to game action since going down with a hamstring injury in Week 4 and didn’t have any setbacks. He garnered 16 targets, so it’s safe to say he’s back at RB1 status. Josh Kelley did get 7 carries and a score, but we expected some thunder with Ekeler’s lightning. It was Kelley’s only score since Week 1, so there’s no need to rush out and add him. You can’t use him in the playoffs.

 

• Devin Singletary surged with 14 touches in this one, after only a handful of touches his last 2 games. Zack Moss still got the red-zone action though. Singletary could sustain some value with John Brown on IR, as a passing game option, but he’s only scored once this season, so his upside is limited. 

 

• Gabriel Davis led the Bills in receiving on Sunday with 79 yards and a TD, though he only had 4 targets. Those 4 targets were actually good enough to tie him for 2nd with Cole Beasley, so Davis makes for a shrewd addition to rosters as long as Brown is out. 

 

Giants – 19 @ Bengals – 17

 

• Daniel Jones injured his hamstring on Sunday and had to leave the game after trying to tough it out. Colt McCoy relieved him and secured the victory. It looks like Jones might be out for a couple of weeks, so McCoy should get the start against Seattle this week. It’s a WR’s dream, but I’m not sure McCoy is the guy to open it up down field. I feel like Sterling Shephard and Evan Engram are safe, but it’s going to be iffy for the likes of Darius Slayton.

 

• Wayne Gallman has benefitted from being the main back in NYC, but Devonta Freeman may return this week. Gallman has done enough to keep his job, but Freeman could eat into his touches, and Gallman’s success has been predicated on volume. 

 

• The Bengals’ offense is in shambles whether it’s Rytan Finley or Brandon Allen under center. Tee Higgins “led” the Bengals in receiving with 44 yards and a TD that saved his day. Don’t rely on that happening again in Week 13 against the Dolphins – for him or any Bengal. Gio Bernard will be a low upside flex play and the only Bengal with anything resembling a fantasy floor. 

 

Titans – 45 @ Colts – 26

 

• Jonnu Smith got us a big goose egg on Sunday, with Geoff Swaim operating as the no.1 TE for the Titans for reasons unknown. Smith is as TD dependent as they come, but he should have a decent chance of bouncing back against Cleveland this week.

 

• Nyheim Hines played ahead of Jordan Wilkins on Sunday, racking up 95  yards on 18 touches. One would think Jonathan Taylor would get his bellcow role back, since he’s Covid negative, after getting 22 carries in Week 11, but this Colts backfield is hard to decipher. Hines would sustain value as a passing-down back regardless.

 

• T.Y. Hilton had his best game of the season, scoring his first TD – seriously, and picking up 81 yards in the process. This was a game in which the Colts were playing catchup throughout, so I’m not bullish on Hilton getting this kind of action on a regular basis .The Colts do play the Texans this week though, so perhaps it’s a get-right situation for most of their skill-players. 

 

• Michael Pittman didn’t have a big day, only 22 yards, but he did end up with 9 targets. He’s worth starting against Houston this week. 

 

Browns – 27 @ Jaguars – 25

 

• Kareem Hunt has seen his touches go down every game since Nick Chubb returned as the starter in Cleveland. With dwindling goal-line opportunities, Hunt is more of a RB3 with limited upside right now. The Browns are having too much success handing the ball off to Chubb right now. 

 

• Austin Hooper is splitting what limited targets he gets with Harrison Bryant. Hooper managed to come away with a TD on Sunday, but he had 13 yards otherwise. Hooper’s floor is too low to rely on unless you’re desperate. 

 

• Collin Johnson came from nowhere to lead the Jags in receiving(8 tar, 4 rec, 96 yards, 1 TD) with D.J. Chark and Chris Conley absent. I guess Mike Glennon just went for the tallest guy on the field, or maybe it’s an example of the 2nd team doctrine. The Jags face Minnesota and their 2nd best WR matchup secondary, so maybe Johnson is worth a dart throw if neither Chark nor Conley can make it onto the field. 

 

Panthers – 27 @ Vikings – 28

 

• The Panthers have a bye week in Week 13, so there isn’t much to take away here besides the possibility that this may have been Mike Davis‘ last fantasy worthy game, unless the Panthers decide to tank and preserve Christian McCaffrey for next season.

 

• Dalvin Cook injured his ankle on Sunday but was able to return to the game. Monitor his practices this week, as ankles can swell, but he should be good to go for Week 13. 

 

• There were several Vikings pass-catchers who came into fantasy relevance on Sunday, with the Vikings going tit for tat with the Panthers all day. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about them moving forward because Adam Thielen should come off the Covid list in time for Week 13’s matchup with the Jaguars.

 

Cardinals – 17 @ Patriots – 20

 

• With Larry Fitzgerald sitting out due to testing positive for Covid, Andy Isabella ran as the slot receiver for Arizona, tying for 2nd in targets(6) with Christian Kirk behind DeAndre Hopkins(7). Isabella only caught 4 balls for 33 yards, but he should stay involved this week, as Fitzgerald is unlikely to get off the list in time to play. The Cardinals will face the Rams and their no.1 pass defense this week, so he’s going to be boom or bust should you take a chance.

 

• James White only saw 6 touches and 17 yards on the day, but he managed to score twice all the same. He’s taken over the passing-back role with Rex Burkhead down for the count and Sony Michel got 0 touches, even though he was active. His TD upside makes White the only Patriot other than Damien Harris to retain weekly value behind Cam Newton. 

 

Dolphins – 20 @ Jets – 3

 

• DeAndre Washington played ahead of Matt Breida on Sunday, getting 15 touches to Breida’s 10 and out-gaining him 60 to 53 yards. There’s a strong possibility Myles Gaskin and or Salvon Ahmed returns to action this week, so it could be all for naught, but Washington is worth picking up in the meantime. 

 

• Both Brashad Perriman and Denzil Mims received 8 targets against Miami, both ahead of Jamison Crowder. The Jets were playing from behind all game, so that’s probably why, but the Jets are probably going to be playing from behind for the remainder of the season. In any case, both Perriman and Mims are worth flexing in deeper leagues against Las Vegas this week. They’ve actually been serviceable in PPR formats. 

 

Saints – 31 @ Broncos – 3

 

• Latavius Murray had his best game of the season(126 yards, 2 TD) against the QB-less Broncos, as the Saints ran the ball all game with a comfortable lead. Alvin Kamara‘s value has sunk since Taysom Hill has come under center, and I don’t see that changing soon. There’s a chance the Saints resort to throwing the ball against Atlanta this week, if Julio Jones returns and forces the issue, but Kamara and Michael Thomas are anything but sure things right now. 

 

• We can’t really take anything away on the Broncos’ side of the ball. They’ll have an actual QB next week, so we’ll revisit them going into Week 14.

 

49ers – 23 @ Rams – 20

 

• Raheem Mostert had 18 touches for 43 yards and a TD in his return to game play against the Rams, 6 more than Jeff Wilson, who ended up with 12 for 43 yards. Jerrick McKinnon was the odd man out with only 5 touches on the day, though he was on the field for all of the passing downs. Mostert was the only player to handle a carry inside the 10, and he’s the only 49er back you can trust going into the playoffs. 

 

• Aside from Deebo Samuel, Jordan Reed was the only 49er pass-catcher who had more than 5 targets on the day, though only 2 of his 6 targets connected for only 18 yards. Nick Mullens missed Reed on a couple of potentially major gains, but Reed should rebound this week against the Bills. He’s worth streaming.

 

• Cam Akers led the Rams backfield with 9 carries for 84 yards and a TD, most of which came on a 61 yard scamper in the 3rd quarter. Even so, he looked more alive than Darrell Henderson, who hasn’t looked the same coming back from a quad injury. The performance likely earned Akers more run going forward, and he’s available in over 70% of leagues right now. 

 

Chiefs – 27 @ Buccaneers – 24

 

• The running wasn’t really working for the Chiefs, but they had major success through the air, mainly through Tyreek Hill, who had a career day(269 yards, 3 TD). 5 players had 5 or more targets, and Sammy Watkins was 2nd on the team with 7. He only came away with 38 yards, but Watkins is well worth rostering if he’s been dropped in your league, and he’s been dropped in over half of them. 

 

• Antonio Brown was 5th in the target totem pole on Sunday, with only 3 targets on the day for 11 yards. The Bucs have a by the week, and then they face Minnesota, the 2nd worst secondary in the league. Brown should get back to business in that one, but he’s going to be boom or bust during his time in Tampa with so many receiving options. 

 

Bears – 25 @ Packers – 41

 

• Mitchell Trubisky was terrible, but David Montgomery was able to carve out a nice fantasy line and so was Allen Robinson. Everyone else was pretty useless, though Darnell Mooney did get 9 targets. The Bears face the rudderless Lions this week, so maybe Mooney and Anthony Miller will splash, but I don’t feel excited about anyone in the offense with Trubisky under center.

 

• Jamaal Williams had 17 carries for 73 yards and a TD on Sunday night, but the Packers had the game well in hand. That being said, Williams has been more than serviceable in 5 of his last 6 games and works well as a flex in most formats. 

 

• Allen Lazard‘s return has complicated things for Marques Valdez-Scantling, who didn’t record a catch on Sunday night. Lazard, on the other hand, came away with 4 receptions for 23 yards and a TD. They’re both WR4s going into Week 13 with Philly.