It’s time for my favorite weekend of the NFL season. In Week 13, we have three games on Thanksgiving Day now, and that’s been the case for the past few seasons now. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have traditionally played every year, of course, and now we have grown accustomed to the night game, which is a rotation of teams.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family, loved ones, etc. I am thankful for you coming to read each and every week, and if you’re having success, I hope that this column has been a small part. And, if you’re having a rough season like I am, with a new guy seemingly acquiring a season-ending injury each week, well, blame somebody else – ha.
Not only do we have the three Thursday games, but for the second straight season we have a Black Friday contest, too. That’s exciting, but it can be a little hectic if you’re focused on other things, perhaps with family in town, and you forget to set your lineup. Make a point do so early, so you can worry about what’s important.
The weather forecast for Sunday Night Football in Buffalo looks exciting, too. They’re calling for light snow and/or snow showers all the way up until about 8 p.m. ET, or right around kickoff. It should make for some interesting tailgate action for Bills Mafia, and we’ll likely see the fans in the stands throwing snow in the air when celebrating. However, we might simply have just flurries or an occasional light snow shower during the game. That’s unfortunate if you were hoping for a snow-globe game, like in Cleveland last Thursday night. We’re still a few days out, though, so a lot can change.
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, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 13:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens: The 30-for-30 celebrating the Ravens’ Super Bowl defense aired recently after a college basketball game. It’s unlikely there will be a follow-up about this year’s Baltimore defense. Hurts is poised to exploit a Ravens team coughing up the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, including 21 passing and two rushing touchdowns.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars: Stroud has definitely had a bit of a regression from last season’s huge rookie campaign, posting 14 touchdowns with nine interceptions, with five of those miscues coming in the past three outings. Stroud has two 300-yard games this season, with one of them against Jacksonville at home in Week 4. He should fare well against the Jaguars again in Duval, as Jacksonville allows the most fantasy points to opposing signal callers. It has allowed an NFL-high 23 TDs through the air with just five picks.
Sit ‘Em
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills vs. San Francisco 49ers: Now, just hear me out. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t bench Allen; he’s among the elite fantasy quarterbacks. However, keep an eye on the weather forecast. If it predicts more snow, and Buffalo shifts to a run-heavy game plan, Allen’s fantasy output might suffer. Additionally, he’s up against a San Francisco defense allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, which could hinder his performance. You’re not likely to sit him, but expectations should be low.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: On Thanksgiving, Goff faces the challenge of dissecting a Bears defense that gives up the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. Chicago has only conceded nine touchdown passes all season. Goff hasn’t had a game without a touchdown pass or run since Week 2, although he did throw for 300 yards in that game. It might not be a total disaster on Turkey Day, but it isn’t likely to be a cornucopia of fantasy points, either.
Running backs
Start ‘Em
James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. San Francisco 49ers: As mentioned above, the Bills and Niners could be dashing through the snow on Sunday night. If the weather outside becomes frightful, Cook’s fantasy numbers might be delightful. A snow game generally favors the ground game, and Cook could see his usage turned way up. The 49ers are so-so against the run, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing backs, so even if the snow is a bust, Cook should still be in good shape.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers: Irving gets a crack against a Carolina rush defense allowing the most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing runners. The Panthers have yielded 14 rushing touchdowns, too, most in the NFL. Carolina has allowed 1,424 rushing yards and 4.7 yards per carry, both ranking as the worst in the league. Irving should shine in Charlotte in Week 13.
Sit ‘Em
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings: Conner flat out stunk last week in Seattle, running for just eight yards on seven carries. He had 41 receiving and five grabs to at least do a little something for those in PPR formats. However, he has just 41 rushing yards in the past two games, and that simply won’t do down the stretch of the fantasy regular season. Things don’t figure to improve much against a Minnesota rush defense allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing runners.
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons vs. Los Angeles Chargers: Robinson isn’t going to be a complete bust, but he should post only a mediocre stat line against a Chargers defense that has been fierce this season. Los Angeles has allowed just 1,014 rushing yards and only two touchdowns on the ground, the latter easily being the best mark in the league. He had just 35 rushing yards on 12 totes in Denver last week against a tough AFC West defense, and things aren’t likely to improve much in Week 13.
Wide receivers
Start ‘Em
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings: Harrison has produced just a single 100-yard receiving game in his past nine outings, and he he only two touchdowns across the past seven contests. It’s to be expected that a rookie will have some erratic play in the first season, and even a player of Harrison’s caliber is no exception. He could have a big showing against the Vikings, a team allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts.
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos: It’s the Jeudy revenge game, folks. The Broncos traded Jeudy to the Browns in the offseason for a fifth- and sixth round draft pick, essentially giving up on him. He heads to the Mile High City for the reunion game with a head of steam, posting six receptions for 85 yards in snowy conditions last Thursday against the Steelers, and he is averaging a robust 95.0 receiving yards per game across the previous four outings.
Sit ‘Em
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets: Smith-Njigba appears to have passed up DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to be the top target in Seattle, developing quite the rapport with QB Geno Smith lately. The two veteran receivers have been nicked up, giving JSN more looks lately. Over the past three games, Smith-Njigba has rolled up 367 receiving yards, but he’ll be working against a Jets pass defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to the opposition.
Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins: Watson exploded for four receptions and 150 yards two games ago, but he followed that up by getting blanked last week against the Niners. He made it behind a defensive back, and appeared to be gaining separation for a long touchdown, but the ball went off of his hands. He went from long touchdown to no catch, and lack of confidence from QB Jordan Love in a hot minute. Watson is just too erratic to rely upon at this critical juncture of the fantasy season, and he’ll be facing a Miami D allowing the second-fewest points to receivers.
Tight ends
Start ‘Em
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals: The Steelers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. He racked up four receptions for a season-high 59 yards in the snow in Cleveland last Thursday, giving him multiple receptions in all 11 of his games to date. He has mostly been a TE2 in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams, but look for another potential season high in yardage in Week 13.
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders: On Black Friday, it’s 2-for-1 tight end day. Travis Kelce is obviously going to get his in Week 13, but don’t sleep on Gray. He has found the end zone twice in each of the past two games, and the good times could continue to roll against a Las Vegas defense allowing third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. The Raiders has allowed seven TDs to TEs with 11 red-zone targets all while playing respectable D against wide receivers.
Sit ‘Em
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Philadelphia Eagles: After a rough start to the season, Andrews has picked up the pace with multiple receptions in eight straight outings. He has scored six touchdowns in the past seven outings, too, scoring in five of those games. However, he will be facing a Philadelphia defense allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Look for Andrews to put up a mediocre stat line in Week 13.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: Kmet had 64 receiving yards on seven receptions against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday. He also managed 10 targets. Each mark indicated his best stats since Week 3 in Indianapolis. Kmet hasn’t scored in five consecutive games, and he had a total of just six receptions in the four games prior to Week 12. The Lions give up next to nothing to opposing tight ends.
