Following a thrilling Thursday night game between the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks, it’s now time to turn our attention to the big start/sit decisions lingering over fantasy football lineups for Week 13.
This is a brutal week all around. Between injuries and the fact that six teams are on a bye, the options are thin. As a reminder, the teams on a bye in Week 13 include the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11), or check out our start/bench list for Week 13:
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders: Averaging just 14 fantasy points per game over his last five, Tagovailoa is far from trustworthy. But we do know he can excel in favorable matchups. It doesn’t get more favorable than Washington, a defense that has allowed the most touchdown passes, second-most passing yards, and third-most fantasy points per game over the last five weeks.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos at Houston Texans: Though the high-end finishes aren’t quite there, Wilson has been perfectly viable for fantasy as spot starter. The Texans have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position over the last five weeks, so Wilson is firmly in play as a streaming option with back-end QB1 upside.
Sit ‘Em
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Cleveland Browns: Stafford looked awesome in Week 12, tossing four touchdown passes for the first time since Week 6 of the 2021 season. But the Browns have been a different breed against quarterbacks, allowing just 9.6 fantasy points per game over the last five weeks.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Love has looked great over the last three weeks, averaging 21.4 fantasy points per game during that span. While managers won’t have many options to choose from considering injuries and the bye weeks, Love is in a tough spot against a Chiefs defense that ranks as the seventh-worst matchup in terms of adjusted fantasy points allowed this season. If anything, temper expectations.
Running Back
Start ‘Em
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans: With no Jonathan Taylor (thumb), the lead role will go to Moss. Managers who were lucky enough to scoop him up should be thrilled to stick him in the lineup. Tennessee’s run defense has been middle of the pack over the last month or so, making Moss an RB2 option with RB1 upside. We also should mention he had a career game against the Titans in Week 5, posting 195 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Devin Singletary, Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos: Even with Dameon Pierce back in the mix, Singletary dominated the backfield in Week 12. On the surface, the Broncos have been better against the position over the last month, but they are still allowing the most points above expectation so Singletary is a solid RB2 start this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers RBs vs. Arizona Cardinals: Both Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris are in play this week. The change at offensive coordinator didn’t result in much of a change in terms of the backfield split. Harris has looked great since the Week 7 bye, averaging 13.5 PPR points per game while Warren has been right next to him at 13.7. The Cardinals have allowed the second-most PPR points per game to running backs over the last five weeks, so fire up those Steelers.
AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Dillon is likely to get the bulk of the work again this week. While the Chiefs have allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks, the upside most likely isn’t there considering he has just one game above 12 PPR points this season.
Carolina Panthers RBs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs are still one of the best run defenses in the NFL even after allowing a 15-91-2 line to Jonathan Taylor in Week 12 and 21.3 PPR points to Christian McCaffrey the week before. They’ve allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to running backs since Week 8, so pivot from Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, if possible.
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders: Managers who need massive upside will probably slide Achane into the lineup in hopes of a big game. But it’s a risky move considering the last time we saw him he suffered a setback. The pain will be real if he goes off on your bench, but it might be best to wait and see with the explosive rookie before fully trusting him, provided you can go this route with six teams on bye.
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders: Overall, it’s been a disappointing season for Waddle. But this matchup is simply too good. The Commanders have allowed the most touchdowns, the second-most PPR points per game and receiving yards, and the third-most receptions to the position over the last five weeks.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans: The rookie slot receiver posted a mediocre line in Week 12, but he did see 13 targets. Downs is a solid flex play with upside against a Titans defense allowing the 10th-most PPR points per game over the last three weeks. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he posted a 6-97-0 line the last time these two teams played in Week 5.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It will be interesting to see what happens with the Panthers offense after firing Frank Reich and a few other members of the offensive staff. Thielen is in a prime position to bounce back against a Bucs defense that has allowed the most receiving yards, the second-most receptions, and the fourth-most PPR points per game to the position since Week 8.
Sit ‘Em
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Some managers may need to take a shot on the upside here with Higgins expected to play coming off a hamstring injury. The matchup is favorable, but it’s probably best to see Higgins get through a game before fully trusting him in lineups with Jake Browning under center.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: The last month has been tough for Godwin, who is averaging just 38.5 yards per game since Week 9. He’s too risky to trust against a Panthers defense allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points over the last three weeks.
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets: It was nice to see London record 91 yards in Week 12, his highest mark since Week 6 and second-highest of the season. But the Jets have been brutal against wideouts, allowing the second-fewest PPR points per game and seventh-fewest receptions to the position over the last five weeks. If anything, temper expectations.
Tight End
Start ‘Em
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Fresh off the best game of his career, we’re going to chase the points here. Freiermuth recorded personal-best marks in receptions and yards in Week 12. Now, he gets a Cardinals defense that has allowed the 11th-most PPR points per game to tight ends over their last five games.
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals: Though Engram has the most targets without a touchdown, he’s consistently involved in the offense and draws a stellar matchup against the Bengals, who have allowed the most receptions and yards as well as the fourth-most PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers: Even if Goedert is active, the 49ers have allowed the eighth-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends over the last five weeks. It’s best to see him make it through a full game before trusting him in a poor matchup.
Los Angeles Chargers TEs at New England Patriots: Gerald Everett was able to find the end zone in Week 12, but both he and Donald Parham shouldn’t be in consideration against a Patriots defense that has allowed the second-fewest PPR points per contest to the position over their last four games.
