Let’s dive into some news and notes around the league, my top fantasy plays and favorite picks for Week 13.
Notes:
• I want to kick this off by saying that I am thankful for everyone who follows along each week. Without your support, I am just a fantasy football fan speaking into the abyss. I also want to thank the incredible team at PressBox for giving me this platform and all that they do for me.
• The schedule is all over the place this week with the Thanksgiving and Black Friday games in addition to the usual slate of Sunday and Monday games. There are no byes to worry about, but be sure have your lineup set Wednesday evening if you are traveling for the holiday.
• Speaking of the schedule, the fantasy regular season is ending in the upcoming weeks. Week 14 is the end of the regular season for most 12-team leagues, and there are six teams on a bye. It’s time to prepare your best team for the playoff run. I cannot stress enough the importance of handcuffs and finding the best matchups for those crucial weeks. Those who have Aaron Jones should be stashing Cam Akers on their roster instead of a fifth receiver like Tyler Lockett or Xavier Legette. Akers becomes an instant starter in the event of an injury to Jones. There is almost no need for a fourth and fifth receiver in leagues with two wide receivers.
• Last week was a prime example of how injuries can give someone an opportunity to become fantasy relevant. Ameer Abdullah was thrust into the starting lineup with injuries to Alexander Mattison and Zamir White. Abdullah has made a career in the NFL as a pass catcher, which is why I was an advocate of using him as a FLEX player. He played 90 percent of the snaps for the Raiders and finished as RB9 thanks to a receiving touchdown. Jeremy McNichols finds himself in a comparable situation this week. Jerome Ford was a fantasy darling a couple of years ago when Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt got injured late in the season. There is going to be a running back that’s currently third on the depth chart who’s going to be factor in the fantasy playoffs.
• I mentioned the six teams on a bye next week, and I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your streaming options a week in advance. The Broncos, Colts, Commanders, Patriots, Ravens and Texans are all off next week. If you have Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews as your only quarterback and tight end, this is the time to find your replacements for next week. The team that has Jayden Daniels also needs a bye week fill-in. Instead of getting into a bidding war next week, beat the rest of the league to the punch and get your backup quarterback now.
Thursday Games: Bears vs. Lions, Giants vs. Cowboys, Dolphins vs. Packers
Black Friday Game: Raiders vs. Chiefs
Sunday Night Game: 49ers vs. Bills
Monday Night Game: Browns vs. Broncos
Start ‘Em:
Quarterback: Russell Wilson
Running Back: Gus Edwards
Wide Receiver: Jaylen Waddle
Tight End: Zach Ertz
Defense: Buccaneers
Sit ‘Em:
Quarterback: Kirk Cousins
Running Back: Nick Chubb
Wide Receiver: Jakobi Meyers
Tight End: Mike Gesicki
Defense: Eagles
Sleepers:
Quarterback: Will Levis
Running Back: Jeremy McNichols
Wide Receiver: Dontayvion Wicks
Tight End: Davis Allen
Defense: Colts
NFL Picks for Week 13
Weekly Pick ‘Em (Season Record: 112-67)
Lions (vs. Bears)
Cowboys (vs. Giants)
Packers (vs. Dolphins)
Chiefs (vs. Raiders)
Commanders (vs. Titans)
Chargers (vs. Falcons)
Bengals (vs. Steelers)
Colts (vs. Patriots)
Texans (vs. Jaguars)
Vikings (vs Cardinals)
Jets (vs. Seahawks)
Buccaneers (vs. Panthers)
Rams (vs. Saints)
Eagles (vs. Ravens)
Bills (vs. 49ers)
Broncos (vs. Browns)
Five Against the Spread Picks (Season Record: 35-25)
Bengals -3 vs. Steelers
Texans -5 vs. Jaguars
Jets +2.5 vs. Seahawks
Eagles +2.5 vss. Ravens
Bills -6.5 vs. 49ers
Five Over-Under Totals (Season Record: 31-28-1)
Giants-Cowboys Under 37.5
Dolphins-Packers Over 47
Buccaneers-Panthers Over 46.5
Rams-Saints Under 48.5
Browns-Broncos Under 42
One Bold Prediction for the Week
Week 1: Jayden Daniels finishes as a top-five fantasy QB against the Buccaneers. (Off to a good start!)
Week 2: Greg Dortch finishes as a top-25 wide receiver against the Rams. (WR89 — yikes!)
Week 3: Derek Carr makes it three straight weeks as a top-five fantasy QB against the Eagles. (Major miss)
Week 4: Malik Nabers remains WR1 after scoring two touchdowns against division rival Dallas Cowboys. (Still WR1, but no TDs)
Week 5: A running back will finish with more than 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards for the first time this season. (Not even close)
Week 6: A tight end — a position that has been AWFUL to this point — leads all position players in scoring this week. (Close! Cole Kmet finished No. 6)
Week 7: The four rookie QBs — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix — combine for more fantasy points than the top four quarterbacks drafted this summer — Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. (Miss)
Week 8: Courtland Sutton finishes as a WR2 or better after failing to earn a single target last week. (JUST missed. WR25!)
Week 9: Tight ends keep rolling, with four tight ends scoring 20-plus points. (Tight end struggles continue)
Week 10: A receiver, back or tight end will account for more than 200 yards of offense. (Ja’Marr Chase did it on Thursday night)
Week 11: The running backs finish with more touchdowns than the quarterbacks in the Chiefs-Bills matchup. (Miss)
Week 12: The Eagles’ defense holds both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua to under 100 receiving yards. (Miss)
Week 13: Six rushing touchdowns are scored between Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley in the showdown between the Eagles and Ravens.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox