Let’s dive into some news and notes around the league, my top fantasy plays and favorite picks for Week 13.
Notes:
• This week’s schedule is the most unique of the season with the Thanksgiving and Black Friday games. All teams are in action so no players are on a bye in Week 13.
• Jahmyr Gibbs took the crown for most points scored in a single game this season, racking up 49.9 points in half-PPR leagues. Gibbs has scored more than 35 points in three of his last five games and surprisingly is still RB3 for the season. Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor are ahead of the Lions superstar, and it will be a race to the finish to see who takes the overall lead for the position.
• Players fantasy owners should be thankful for are Drake Maye, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Trey McBride. All three players have outperformed their draft status. A couple of players thankful for a new beginning are Javonte Williams and George Pickens with the Cowboys. Williams is currently RB8, while Pickens is WR2 for the season.
• The Ravens have won five in a row, but Lamar Jackson has been a major disappointment for fantasy owners. After leading all players in scoring last year, Jackson is currently QB19. He has been held to single-digit points in back-to-back games. Baltimore plays the Bengals twice in the next three weeks, which is an excellent opportunity to get back on track.
• Remember to check the weather heading into Sunday for your kicker selection. Target kickers playing in domes and fair weather conditions. The windy conditions on the East Coast in Week 11 are a prime example of why this is important.
Thanksgiving Games: Packers vs. Lions, Chiefs vs. Cowboys, Bengals vs. Ravens
Black Friday Game: Bears vs. Eagles
Sunday Night Game: Broncos vs. Commanders
Monday Night Game: Giants vs. Patriots
Start ‘Em:
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence
Running Back: Kareem Hunt
Wide Receiver: Troy Franklin
Tight End: Juwan Johnson
Defense: Falcons
Sit ‘Em:
Quarterback: Marcus Mariota
Running Back: Zach Charbonnet
Wide Receiver: DJ Moore
Tight End: Cade Otton
Defense: Ravens
Sleepers:
Quarterback: Tyler Shough
Running Back: Devin Neal
Wide Receiver: Chimere Dike
Tight End: Gunnar Helm
Defense: Commanders
NFL Picks for Week 13
All odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook at time of writing
Weekly Pick ‘Em (Season Record: 120-56-1)
Lions (vs. Packers)
Chiefs (at Cowboys)
Ravens (vs. Bengals)
Eagles (vs. Bears)
Colts (vs. Texans)
Buccaneers (vs. Cardinals)
Jaguars (at Titans)
Rams (at Panthers)
Dolphins (vs. Saints)
Falcons (at Jets)
49ers (at Browns)
Seahawks (vs. Vikings)
Bills (at Steelers)
Chargers (vs. Raiders)
Broncos (at Commanders)
Patriots (vs. Giants)
Five Picks Against the Spread (Season Record: 29-28-3)
Lions -2.5 vs. Packers
Bears +7 at Eagles
Buccaneers -3 vs. Cardinals
49ers -5.5 at Browns
Commanders +6.5 vs. Broncos
Five Over-Under Totals (Season Record: 30-30)
Chiefs-Cowboys Under 52.5
Texans-Colts Under 44.5
Saints-Dolphins Over 41.5
Vikings-Seahawks Under 41.5
Giants-Patriots Over 46.5
One Bold Prediction for the Week
Week 1: Trevor Lawrence finishes as a top-10 QB against the Panthers (miss)
Week 2: Zay Flowers remains the overall WR1 after torching the Browns (miss)
Week 3: Daniel Jones makes it three straight weeks finishing as a top-five fantasy quarterback (miss)
Week 4: Josh Allen accounts for five total touchdowns against the Saints (miss)
Week 5: A tight end leads all FLEX-worthy players in scoring (miss)
Week 6: Matthew Stafford finishes as a QB1 against the Ravens (miss)
Week 7: Quinshon Judkins is a top-10 RB against the Dolphins (finally got one!)
Week 8: Joe Flacco throws for more than 300 yards against the Jets (miss)
Week 9: Marvin Harrison Jr. records more than 150 receiving yards against the Cowboys (miss)
Week 10: Jalen Hurts throws for more than 300 yards against the Packers on “Monday Night Football” (miss)
Week 11: C.J. Stroud finishes as a QB1 against the Titans (miss)
Week 13: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is held under 100 receiving yards