We are onto Week 13 of the fantasy football schedule and the playoff push is on! To help guide you with any decisions you may be facing, our League Winners staff is here for you. Who’s in? Who’s out? Let’s go find out!
Start
Alexander Mattison, RB – Minnesota Vikings (Joe O’Leary)
Alexander Mattison takes over the RB1 duties for Dalvin Cook in Week 13 while Cook is recovering from a torn labrum. Mattison has been handcuff gold in 2021. In the two games Mattison stepped in for Cook he’s averaged 24.7 PPR points, rushing for over 100 yards in each game.
Mattison gets the feeble Lions in week 13. Fire him up with confidence as a low-end RB1 outcome is in the range of possibilities for Alexander the Great.
DeVonta Smith, WR – Philadelphia Eagles (Jeremy Shulman)
It was a disappointing Week 12 for fantasy football managers, as Jalen Hurts inexplicably looked to Jalen Reagor seven times. Reagor dropped a couple of touchdowns including the game-winner. I’m fairly certain he’ll go back to receiving two looks per game as has been the case over the last two months.
Enter DeVonta Smith, who is a separation machine. He was even open on the final play where Reagor let the W slip through his fingers. Head Coach Nick Sirianni must know that Hurts needs to look Smith’s way more than just four times if the Eagles plan to win. Against a woeful Jets defense who are top ten in points allowed to all the skill positions on the year, DeVonta Smith should find plenty of room to operate in Week 13. Fire him up in your fantasy football lineups!
Devonta Freeman, RB – Baltimore Ravens (Matthew Morris)
Devonta Freeman appears to have cemented himself as the running back to roster in the Baltimore Ravens backfield. Freeman has been the PPR RB16 over the last four weeks, despite concerns that Latavius Murray’s return from injury would quell Freeman’s production. This week, Freeman faces a Steelers defense giving up 20.4 fantasy points to the running back position, 7th most in the league. The Steelers will also be without one of their defensive leaders in linebacker TJ Watt. Expect the Ravens to lean on the running game in this matchup, making Freeman a solid start for fantasy football.
Jamaal Williams, RB – Detroit Lions (Keith James)
The time has come all ye’ Jamaal truthers. Swift is likely to miss a few weeks, meaning Williams will be taking on the terrible Vikings run defense that just got gashed by Elijah Mitchell and the Niners. The Vikings are the third-worst run defense and they are giving up 4.8 yards per carry. The Lions will want to run the ball early and often. Jamaal Williams will get plenty of looks in the red zone. 100 plus total yards and touchdown is on the table in Week 13. Big week for Jamaal. Fire him up in all fantasy football formats.
Jamison Crowder, WR – New York Jets (Thomas Christopher)
After only receiving one target in Week 12, Jamison Crowder should bounce-back in a big way. The Eagles are doing well against wide receivers in fantasy football this season, but Crowder will have ample opportunity with Keelan Cole and (likely) Corey Davis out. Prior to Week 12 he’s only had less than six targets once in the last seven weeks. Crowder should be good to go in fantasy football PPR formats.
Sit
Damien Harris, RB – New England Patriots (Joe O’Leary)
It’s buyer beware for Damien Harris fantasy football managers this week. Harris faces the Buffalo Bills stout run defense in Week 13. Buffalo is 6th in the NFL allowing 96.6 rushing yards per game to opponents. The matchup along with the emergence of rookie Rhamondre Stevenson, puts Harris in the RB3 range for me this week. Harris is a volatile touchdown-dependent option this week.
Kendrick Bourne, WR – New England Patriots (Jeremy Shulman)
Look I get it. You want to believe Kendrick Bourne is a reliable flex option for your fantasy football lineups down the stretch. In real football, Bourne has been a tremendous addition for my New England Patriots and Mac Jones. But the fantasy football fact is that Bourne averages just 4.5 targets per game on the season. He’s been catching everything, so he’s highly efficient, but if he doesn’t find the end zone, it’s unlikely you’re happy with his performance. Week 12’s PPR WR4 faces a Bills unit that allows 5 fantasy points less to the WR position than any other NFL squad. Sit Kemdrick Bourne this week in a tough matchup in Buffalo that will determine first place in the division.
Cole Kmet, TE – Chicago Bears (Matthew Morris)
After a rough first half of the season, the Bears passing attack appears to have found its way. Tight end Cole Kmet has been a big part of this recent resurgence, seeing 21 targets in their last three games. It appears that there are two pass-catchers fantasy football managers can trust in this offense, Darnell Mooney and Kmet.
However, we need to pump the brakes on Kmet in Week 13. The Bears face an Arizona Cardinals team allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the tight end. Temper expectations for Kmet this week as they should look elsewhere to get their passing attack going.
David Montgomery, RB – Chicago Bears (Keith James)
About this time last year, Monty was winning leagues for all his grateful fantasy football managers. This year, however, is not last year. The Bears are a bad team and they are going to get pummeled by the Cardinals this week. Arizona boasts the 13th ranked rush defense, but coming off of a bye and needing to stay ahead of the Packers for first place in the NFC, the Cards will go up big and never look back. Game script will render David Montgomery useless this week. I can see 65-75 total yards, 3 receptions and zero touchdowns for the Full Monty this week.
Miles Sanders, RB – Philadelphia Eagles (Thomas Christopher)
Miles Sanders is not a bad running back. The Eagles just refuse to use him properly. Even in a matchup where Sanders should absolutely dominate, I’m staying away from the talented RB. I don’t believe he will get the touches necessary for a big day, and will likely be vultured where it matters most, yet again. Sanders has become one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in fantasy football this season, and I’m staying away.
