This is it everyone, the last week of the fantasy regular season is here! Whether you face a win-and-in or are fighting for a bye week, we’ve got you covered on who to trust before the eliminations begin. You’ve worked all season to get to this point and it’s time to start reeping the rewards. Many fantasy owners want to stick with what’s gotten them this far, and if by that you mean Todd Gurley or DeAndre Hopkins then of course! But don’t be afraid to swap in some sneaky players who have emerged later in the year over guys who you were starting week one. The NFL is a very different place in December than it was in September. Without further adieu, lets gets into it!
Fantasy Football Start Em Sit Em Week 13
Quarterbacks
Start Em
Andrew Luck
The Jacksonville defense isn’t what it was this time last year, and Andrew Luck has been on fire lately. The last time Luck threw for less than 3 touchdowns was week 3. Almost a shoo-in for comeback player of the year, Luck has pushed the Colts into possible playoff contention and I don’t expect him to slow down any time soon in a tight division. The loss of Jack Doyle hurts, but Eric Ebron has stepped up in Doyle’s absence earlier in the year so I don’t expect that to hamper Luck at all. Start him with confidence.
Lamar Jackson
As long as Jackson remains the starter for the Ravens, he should be a starter for your fantasy team. Jackson boasts rushing numbers that would be good enough to be a top running back before even counting in his passing stats. He certainly needs to work on his accuracy, and the receiving corps isn’t the best, but even with sub-par passing numbers Jackson has a nice floor due to the rushing. The Falcons defense has been poor against both the rush and the pass, and Jackson can take advantage of both. Consider him a top 5 option this week.
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield is really coming along the way a number one overall pick would be expected to. It’s now been 5 straight weeks that Mayfield has had multiple touchdowns and I expect that to continue. Houston will be the toughest defense the Browns have had to face in some time though, so this game could be a reality check for the rookie. I expect him to rise above the adversity and while I certainly would pick Houston to win the game, a high scoring contest would not surprise me. Baker is a fringe QB 1 this week, but I would not be shocked if he finished in the top 5.
Sit Em
Matthew Stafford
Stafford has a tough job ahead of him this week. In the past 5 weeks, his TD to INT ratio is 1:1 and he’s just lost Marvin Jones Jr. to IR. Facing a Rams defense that has been excellent, with less offensive weapons during a mid-season slump, is a recipe for disaster. Having a poor match-up for week 13 and then the start of the fantasy playoffs the following week means Stafford is done in fantasy for 2018.
Matt Ryan
Ryan has been fantastic for fantasy owners this year despite the Falcons struggles as a team. However, the past 3 weeks have not been his best work. Passing for only 5 touchdowns while committing 4 turnovers isn’t enough to be a starting option in most leagues. Going against a tough Ravens defense that has only allowed 220 yards per game to quarterbacks is a tall task for Ryan. The playmakers are all still there for the Falcons, but they’ve essentially been eliminated from the playoff race and I don’t expect them to beat this tough Ravens team. It’s entirely possible Ryan puts up late game points, but it’s also possible the Falcons offense is unable to move the ball.
Carson Wentz
752 yards, 3 TDs, and 4 Ints. Those are the numbers put up by Carson Wentz in the last 3 weeks since coming off the Eagles bye week. Wentz has not been the quarterback fans remember lighting up the world last season, or even in the early parts of this season. Mobility in the pocket is still something Wentz has, but the rushing numbers have gone by the wayside. In 9 games this year Wentz only has 100 yards rushing. Unfortunately, without the rushing numbers, Wentz isn’t a top fantasy option. Sit him if you can.
Running Backs
Start Em
Aaron Jones
The Cardinals have allowed the second most fantasy points per game to running backs, and the most rushing touchdowns (16). The Packers should get out to an early lead in this one, and then Jones has a clear path to be ridden in the second half. Jones has scored 6 touchdowns in the last 5 games. I expect a high workload and chance at the end zone for Jones.
Gus Edwards
Edwards has probably been the biggest surprise of the fantasy season, coming out of nowhere in week 11. He’s had back to back games over 100 yards rushing and gets a fantastic match-up with Atlanta this week. Downgrade Edwards in PPR leagues as he’s only caught one pass this year, and none in the last two weeks in which he’s been the feature back. Running backs historically due better with mobile quarterbacks, and as long as Lamar Jackson continues his success I expect the same from Edwards.
Austin Ekeler
With Melvin Gordon out with an MCL injury Austin Ekeler now has an excellent opportunity ahead of him. Last week when Melvin Gordon left in the 3rd quarter, Ekeler put up 103 total yards and a touchdown. More valuable in PPR leagues (10 catches last week guys) Ekeler is a solid start against the Steelers regardless of league type now that he will see starting snaps.
Sit Em
Adrian Peterson
Peterson has not been as efficient as he was at the start of the season. In his last 4 outings, Peterson has only posted double-digit fantasy points once. The match-up with the Eagles will need Washington to throw the ball if they are going to find success, and Peterson has just 16 receptions in 11 games this season. Sit him if you can.
Tevin Coleman
Coleman has just 27 touches in his last 3 weeks and going against a stout Ravens secondary means trouble for the soon to be free agent. While Coleman remains efficient on his touches, back to back weeks of 8 rushes a game will not continue to get the job done. Volume spells success in fantasy football and Coleman isn’t getting enough to start with any confidence.
Jordan Howard
Jordan Howard is like your super talented child that you’ve seen solve complex equations and can even do your taxes for you, then comes home with an F on their report card and you can’t figure out why. Is it a lack of motivation? Is he a bad test taker? Is the teacher bad? What is it???? Howard has been frustrating this season and for the life of me I can’t figure out what the issue it. It seems like Howard simply isn’t a fit in the Naggy offense and will need a change of scenery or overhaul in scheme before we can feel comfortable starting him on an every week basis again. The complex equations are nice, but until that report card starts to look better, Jordan Howard is grounded on all my fantasy teams.
Wide Receivers
Start Em
Tyler Lockett
Lockett has quietly been the best receiver on the Seahawks this year. He’s scored a touchdown in 8 of 11 games this year and faces a San Francisco defense allowing 13.9 yards per catch to receivers. The Seahawks are on a roll and until that roll comes to a halt, keep riding Lockett.
D.J. Moore
The time has come. Moore has become the number one receiver in Carolina and all the analysts who touted his combine performance look very smart right now. Since the bye week, Moore is averaging over 5 targets a game and has amassed 511 yards. He’s trending in the right direction and will look to continue building chemistry with Cam Newton. Start him in all formats.
Adam Humphries
Humphries has established himself as the number two option in Tampa Bay. Over the past 7 weeks, Humphries has been a top 10 receiver in PPR formats! There is a lot of volume to go around in that offense regardless of who is throwing the ball, and with a shifty presence in the slot, Humphries has been able to capitalize on it! In PPR formats consider him a must-start, and in standard, he’s a solid WR3.
Sit Em
Michael Crabtree
This isn’t a knock on Crabtree specifically, it’s a knock on the situation in Baltimore. While I like Lamar Jackson this week, I don’t like any Ravens receivers. Until chemistry has been established between Jackson and his pass catchers, we don’t know who to play if anyone. Jackson is able to amass fantasy points with his legs which make up for his shortcomings as a passer. Sit all Ravens receivers.
Sterling Shepard
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there are too many mouths to feed in the Giants offense. Eli has no time to throw behind that horrendous offensive line, and unless you’re Odell or Saquon, you’re not going to get a large volume share. The Bears have only allowed 6.7 yards per attempt to quarterbacks, which means if the volume isn’t there then the fantasy points certainly won’t be either. Sit him.
Doug Baldwin
Baldwin warned all of us back in the offseason that he wouldn’t be right this year. We really have no one to blame but ourselves here. He’s bounced back the last few weeks but with Tyler Lockett stepping up as the number one option and deep threat in that offense, Baldwin is best left on the bench. In PPR leagues he’s worth a look as he’s caught 17 of 23 targets in the last 3 weeks. Those are short area targets and he’s only scored once in that time so look for other options in a standard league.
Tight Ends
Start Em
Eric Ebron
If you’ve watched our live Fantasy Al Dente show on Sunday mornings, then you know that we have been urging you to sit Ebron since the return of Doyle. Well, now Doyle is on the IR and Ebron is the number 1 tight end again. He will get his share from the red-hot Andrew Luck.
Jordan Reed
To be successful, Washington will need to pass the ball against the injury-laden Eagles secondary and one Redskins’ skill player will reap the rewards of that gameplan. Expect that player to be Jordan Reed.
Jared Cook
We’ve said it all year, but the Chiefs biggest weakness is the defense, specifically the secondary. Oakland will be playing catchup the entire game so they will be forced to throw the ball. Cook is the most athletic option for Derek Carr and he should be targeted plenty.
Sit Em
Jimmy Graham
Graham has been a disappointment all season, an in the last 3 weeks, he has garnered a total of 8.1 points. Arizona may be a bad football team, but Jimmy Graham is a bad fantasy tight end. Stream anyone else.
Evan Engram
Engram was a late scratch last week after tweaking his hamstring in pre-game warmups. It’s not a guarantee he will be a go this week, but even if he is, leave him on your fantasy bench.
Trey Burton
Another tight end disappointment this season. Burton has failed to reach double-digits the last 5 weeks and has only hauled in more than 4 receptions ONCE this year. I feel more confident taking a flyer on someone, i.e. Matt Lacosse of the Broncos.
Defense/ Special Teams
Start Em
Tennessee
Kansas City
Indianapolis
Sit Em