Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 13 Big Board

Family and "friendly" rivalries can be as heated as the Hatfields and McCoys. Interestingly, the final regular-season week of standard fantasy football leagues can be decided by the McCoy and McCoys.

As Colt McCoy is poised to regain the Washington Redskins starting quarterback job (more on that in a future slide), the Philadelphia Eagles' LeSean McCoy gears up for a marquee matchup between the reigning 2013 rushing champ and the 2014 rushing leader. And the Eagles' McCoy isn't shy about making running back-running back comparisons...refreshingly.

We break down those and all the premium new items and fantasy crunch-time topics in Bleacher Report's Week 13 Big Board.

Here we unveil the week's initial top 100 plays, including position-by-position rankings of all the fantasy options. You can use these rankings to weigh your starts and sits or gear up for your daily fantasy football lineups, drafts and rosters. These rankings represent our predictions for the highest scorers—relative to their use, game plan, health and matchup.

Top 100: LeSean McCoy Playing Catch-Up with DeMarco Murray

Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Thanksgiving Day gives us a lot to be thankful for every year, but around the time you are sitting down for dinner, those who chose LeSean McCoy No. 1 overall are going to be lamenting the good fortune of those who scored DeMarco Murray late in the first round this year. We won't call them jealous, but they certainly are not thankful to have last year's rushing champ vs. this year's.

McCoy sounded ready to concede to Murray, reading his words to Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday:

"

He's kind of winning the belt right now. If he continues on this pace, he'll have it. I've got to send him the belt. ... He's the top back, especially this year. You compete as a team and you compete individually. I think every player does that. I'm sure [Jeremy Maclin] is eyeing up [Dez Bryant] to have that thing going on. All players do that.

"

The Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon is going to be a fantasy bonanza of a matchup that owners are going to have a fun time watching—and stacking in daily fantasy leagues. Odds Shark has that game as the second-highest total of the week at 54.5 to the New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers, with 58.

We tend to believe Eagles-Cowboys will wind up the biggest scoring game, though, because the defenses in that one just aren't as good. Load up on all of your Eagles and Cowboys.

Going back to the elite back comparison, we think McCoy is going to prove a lot closer to Murray this week than you might think. McCoy might be ready to give up the title of No. 1, but his fantasy owners are hoping for something else down the stretch. McCoy told Berman:

"

I think lately, we've been rolling. I think it's coming together. I expect to pick up yards the next couple weeks. I don't know how many or if I can compete with last year, but I definitely feel like we'll finish up with a good number.

"

These quotes are a bit refreshing for us fantasy owners. At least McCoy wasn't copping out and saying he doesn't think about a marquee running back matchup, telling Berman:

"

Everybody always want to be the top at their position, or recognized in the top group. From guys hanging out, talking about it, or people talking about the top guys, you want to be one of the guys. Maybe people aren't as vocal about certain players, but it goes on.

"

We list Murray just a couple spots ahead of McCoy in B/R's Top 100 for Week 13, but it is close. Real (Slim Shady) close: 

Week 13 Top 100 Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Flex Rankings	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Andrew Luck	IND	vs. Was	1	0
2	Peyton Manning	DEN	at KC	3	+1
3	DeMarco Murray	DAL	vs. Phi	4	+1
4	Eddie Lacy	GB	vs. NE	21	+17
5	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at Dal	29	+24
6	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs. Den	10	+4
7	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. Ten	39	+32
8	Antonio Brown	PIT	vs. NO	27	+19
9	Dez Bryant	DAL	vs. Phi	24	+15
10	Matt Forte	CHI	at Det	14	+4
11	Aaron Rodgers	GB	vs. NE	2	-9
12	Drew Brees	NO	at Pit	8	-4
13	Jimmy Graham	NO	at Pit	41	+28
14	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	at KC	25	+11
15	Rob Gronkowski	NE	at GB	38	+23
16	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	vs. NO	6	-10
17	Josh Gordon	CLE	at Buf	43	+26
18	Tom Brady	NE	at GB	5	-13
19	Calvin Johnson	DET	vs. Chi	32	+13
20	A.J. Green	CIN	at TB	37	+17
21	Julio Jones	ATL	vs. Ari	53	+32
22	Andre Ellington	ARI	at Atl	30	+8
23	T.Y. Hilton	IND	vs. Was	45	+22
24	Tony Romo	DAL	vs. Phi	7	-17
25	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	vs. NO	9	-16
26	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	at KC	48	+22
27	Odell Beckham	NYG	at Jac	51	+24
28	Jordy Nelson	GB	vs. NE	40	+12
29	Randall Cobb	GB	vs. NE	50	+21
30	Brandon Marshall	CHI	at Det	58	+28
31	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at Dal	56	+25
32	Rashad Jennings	NYG	at Jac	34	+2
33	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at SF	35	+2
34	Alfred Morris	WAS	at Ind	42	+8
35	Justin Forsett	BAL	vs. SD	36	+1
36	Mike Evans	TB	vs. Cin	55	+19
37	Tre Mason	STL	vs. Oak	49	+12
38	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	at Min	61	+23
39	Philip Rivers	SD	at Bal	18	-21
40	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	at Det	60	+20
41	Mark Ingram	NO	at Pit	44	+3
42	Mike Wallace	MIA	at NYJ	66	+24
43	Cam Newton	CAR	at Min	19	-24
44	C.J. Anderson	DEN	at KC	26	-18
45	Jeremy Hill	CIN	at TB	52	+7
46	Sammy Watkins	BUF	vs. Cle	73	+27
47	Giovani Bernard	CIN	at TB	57	+10
48	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	at Buf	62	+14
49	DeSean Jackson	WAS	at Ind	83	+34
50	Ryan Tannehill	MIA	at NYJ	11	-39
51	Ryan Mathews	SD	at Bal	70	+19
52	Frank Gore	SF	vs. Sea	77	+25
53	Mark Sanchez	PHI	at Dal	13	-40
54	Keenan Allen	SD	at Bal	72	+18
55	Shane Vereen	NE	at GB	78	+23
56	LeGarrette Blount	NE	at GB	93	+37
57	Golden Tate	DET	vs. Chi	64	+7
58	Roddy White	ATL	vs. Ari	65	+7
59	Julius Thomas	DEN	at KC	86	+27
60	Latavius Murray	OAK	at StL	81	+21
61	Denard Robinson	JAC	vs. NYG	84	+23
62	Matthew Stafford	DET	vs. Chi	12	-50
63	Jordan Matthews	PHI	at Dal	68	+5
64	Joique Bell	DET	vs. Chi	63	-1
65	Eli Manning	NYG	at Jac	16	-49
66	Michael Floyd	ARI	at Atl	107	+41
67	Greg Olsen	CAR	at Min	76	+9
68	Lamar Miller	MIA	at NYJ	69	+1
69	Fred Jackson	BUF	vs. Cle	74	+5
70	Steve Smith	BAL	vs. SD	91	+21
71	Anquan Boldin	SF	vs. Sea	85	+14
72	Matt Ryan	ATL	vs. Ari	17	-55
73	Jason Witten	DAL	vs. Phi	87	+14
74	Andy Dalton	CIN	at TB	20	-54
75	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	vs. Car	67	-8
76	Eric Decker	NYJ	vs. Mia	104	+28
77	Jordan Cameron	CLE	at Buf	159	+82
78	Delanie Walker	TEN	at Hou	98	+20
79	Bishop Sankey	TEN	at Hou	113	+34
80	Jay Cutler	CHI	at Det	23	-57
81	Torrey Smith	BAL	vs. SD	92	+11
82	Vincent Jackson	TB	vs. Cin	82	0
83	Antonio Gates	SD	at Bal	97	+14
84	Marques Colston	NO	at Pit	109	+25
85	Russell Wilson	SEA	at SF	15	-70
86	Reggie Wayne	IND	vs. Was	101	+15
87	Joe Flacco	BAL	vs. SD	22	-65
88	Andre Johnson	HOU	vs. Ten	95	+7
89	Vernon Davis	SF	vs. Sea	163	+74
90	Alex Smith	KC	vs. Den	31	-59
91	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	vs. Ten	89	-2
92	Terrance Williams	DAL	vs. Phi	116	+24
93	Julian Edelman	NE	at GB	80	-13
94	Jarvis Landry	MIA	at NYJ	103	+9
95	Trent Richardson	IND	vs. Was	94	-1
96	Colin Kaepernick	SF	vs. Sea	28	-68
97	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at Atl	144	+47
98	Brandon LaFell	NE	at GB	75	-23
99	Kenny Stills	NO	at Pit	106	+7
100	Rueben Randle	NYG	at Jac	115	+15

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Quarterbacks: We Get Some Changes at (the Bottom Of) the Position

We have seen enough of Robert Griffin III to know that we have seen too much...or not enough, as it were in fantasy. The Washington Redskins have, too...at least for now.

They are benching RG3 in favor of Colt McCoy for Sunday's game, a source told Mike Jones of The Washington Post. 

Let's take that statement back in again, and imagine hearing that a few short years ago. McCoy is going to start over RG3. OMG?! LMAO. SMH.

Fantasy owners are not shocked. They cannot stand Griffin any longer. He is the most-dropped quarterback in ESPN.com leagues right now. He is not worth owning.

Outside of deeper two-quarterback formats, McCoy isn't either. He will at least make DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring)—if he plays—more intriguing as fantasy options. That is what we really care about.

As far as quarterbacks go, you can cut RG3 in most formats and consider McCoy a low-end No. 2 fantasy starting quarterback option. McCoy just barely cracked B/R's top 25 options at the position for Week 13:

Week 13 Quarterback Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Andrew Luck	IND	vs. Was	1	0
2	Peyton Manning	DEN	at KC	3	+1
3	Aaron Rodgers	GB	vs. NE	2	-1
4	Drew Brees	NO	at Pit	7	+3
5	Tom Brady	NE	at GB	4	-1
6	Tony Romo	DAL	vs. Phi	5	-1
7	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	vs. NO	6	-1
8	Philip Rivers	SD	at Bal	15	+7
9	Cam Newton	CAR	at Min	14	+5
10	Ryan Tannehill	MIA	at NYJ	8	-2
11	Mark Sanchez	PHI	at Dal	10	-1
12	Matthew Stafford	DET	vs. Chi	9	-3
13	Eli Manning	NYG	at Jac	12	-1
14	Matt Ryan	ATL	vs. Ari	13	-1
15	Andy Dalton	CIN	at TB	16	+1
16	Jay Cutler	CHI	at Det	17	+1
17	Russell Wilson	SEA	at SF	11	-6
18	Joe Flacco	BAL	vs. SD	18	0
19	Alex Smith	KC	vs. Den	19	0
20	Colin Kaepernick	SF	vs. Sea	20	0
21	Josh McCown	TB	vs. Cin	23	+2
22	Brian Hoyer	CLE	at Buf	30	+8
23	Drew Stanton	ARI	at Atl	22	-1
24	Ryan Fitzpatrick	HOU	vs. Ten	32	+8
25	Colt McCoy	WAS	at Ind	31	+6
26	Kyle Orton	BUF	vs. Cle	26	0
27	Shaun Hill	STL	vs. Oak	28	+1
28	Zach Mettenberger	TEN	at Hou	21	-7
29	Derek Carr	OAK	at StL	33	+4
30	Teddy Bridgewater	MIN	vs. Car	25	-5
31	Blake Bortles	JAC	vs. NYG	29	-2
32	Geno Smith	NYJ	vs. Mia	34	+2
33	Robert Griffin	WAS	at Ind	24	-9
34	Michael Vick	NYJ	vs. Mia	27	-7

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Running Backs: Growing List of Elite Options Poised for Stretch Run

Remember earlier this season when we struggled to like most of fantasy's elite running backs? Well, it sure is getting crowded at the top now, just in time for the fantasy postseason.

DeMarco Murray has been a revelation in his contract year. Eddie Lacy is scorching after a slow start. LeSean McCoy is heating up. Jamaal Charles has been as resurgent as his Kansas City Chiefs after a slow finish to 2013 and start to 2014. Arian Foster (groin) looks like himself of old...when he plays. And Matt Forte looks as ageless as ever.

Considering all that, things might only get better for the running back position during fantasy crunch time. The weather figures to go south, while the touches, yards and fantasy points rise for owners of the bell-cow backs.

The most pressing of those names above is Foster, of course, but the Houston Chronicle's Brian T. Smith tweeted he "could play" Sunday vs. the Tennessee Titans. Foster appears headed for another patented game-time decision. We are going to bet he is on the right side of it this time around.

Alfred Blue owners, assuming they don't have him as a handcuff to Foster, are hoping the veteran needs one more week off to rest. The Titans have the NFL's worst run defense and are second worst in fantasy against running backs, per FFToday.com.

Foster's dicey health makes Blue a sleeper flex, regardless. If Foster winds up being out, Blue will be a must-start option in all leagues.

Here are B/R's initial top plays at running back for Week 13:

Week 13 Running Back Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	DeMarco Murray	DAL	vs. Phi	1	0
2	Eddie Lacy	GB	vs. NE	5	+3
3	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at Dal	7	+4
4	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs. Den	3	-1
5	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. Ten	12	+7
6	Matt Forte	CHI	at Det	4	-2
7	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	vs. NO	2	-5
8	Andre Ellington	ARI	at Atl	8	0
9	Rashad Jennings	NYG	at Jac	9	0
10	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at SF	10	0
11	Alfred Morris	WAS	at Ind	13	+2
12	Justin Forsett	BAL	vs. SD	11	-1
13	Tre Mason	STL	vs. Oak	16	+3
14	Mark Ingram	NO	at Pit	15	+1
15	C.J. Anderson	DEN	at KC	6	-9
16	Jeremy Hill	CIN	at TB	17	+1
17	Giovani Bernard	CIN	at TB	18	+1
18	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	at Buf	19	+1
19	Ryan Mathews	SD	at Bal	23	+4
20	Frank Gore	SF	vs. Sea	27	+7
21	Shane Vereen	NE	at GB	26	+5
22	LeGarrette Blount	NE	at GB	28	+6
23	Latavius Murray	OAK	at StL	25	+2
24	Denard Robinson	JAC	vs. NYG	14	-10
25	Joique Bell	DET	vs. Chi	20	-5
26	Lamar Miller	MIA	at NYJ	22	-4
27	Fred Jackson	BUF	vs. Cle	24	-3
28	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	vs. Car	21	-7
29	Bishop Sankey	TEN	at Hou	31	+2
30	Trent Richardson	IND	vs. Was	29	-1
31	Chris Ivory	NYJ	vs. Mia	33	+2
32	Alfred Blue	HOU	vs. Ten	32	0
33	Reggie Bush	DET	vs. Chi	38	+5
34	Steven Jackson	ATL	vs. Ari	34	0
35	Darren Sproles	PHI	at Dal	35	0
36	Terrance West	CLE	at Buf	36	0
37	Doug Martin	TB	vs. Cin	39	+2
38	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at Min	37	-1
39	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at Min	41	+2
40	Andre Williams	NYG	at Jac	43	+3
41	Chris Johnson	NYJ	vs. Mia	45	+4
42	Charles Sims	TB	vs. Cin	47	+5
43	Bryce Brown	BUF	vs. Cle	48	+5
44	Carlos Hyde	SF	vs. Sea	49	+5
45	Pierre Thomas	NO	at Pit	40	-5
46	Ben Tate	MIN	vs. Car	56	+10
47	Dan Herron	IND	vs. Was	30	-17
48	Anthony Dixon	BUF	vs. Cle	50	+2
49	Branden Oliver	SD	at Bal	46	-3
50	Theo Riddick	DET	vs. Chi	44	-6
51	Knile Davis	KC	vs. Den	58	+7
52	Matt Asiata	MIN	vs. Car	53	+1
53	Jonas Gray	NE	at GB	42	-11
54	Stepfan Taylor	ARI	at Atl	52	-2
55	Juwan Thompson	DEN	at KC	57	+2
56	Bobby Rainey	TB	vs. Cin	68	+12
57	Roy Helu	WAS	at Ind	51	-6
58	Benny Cunningham	STL	vs. Oak	55	-3
59	Lorenzo Taliaferro	BAL	vs. SD	69	+10
60	Darren McFadden	OAK	at StL	59	-1
61	Bernard Pierce	BAL	vs. SD	67	+6
62	Daniel Thomas	MIA	at NYJ	66	+4
63	Shonn Greene	TEN	at Hou	73	+10
64	James Starks	GB	vs. NE	70	+6
65	Toby Gerhart	JAC	vs. NYG	54	-11
66	Lance Dunbar	DAL	vs. Phi	61	-5
67	Devonta Freeman	ATL	vs. Ari	60	-7
68	Marcel Reece	OAK	at StL	62	-6
69	Joseph Randle	DAL	vs. Phi	72	+3
70	Mike Tolbert	CAR	at Min	63	-7

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Wide Receivers: Josh Gordon Fits Right Back in Fantasy Lineups, Elite

No matter what you think of Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, you have to love wide receiver Josh Gordon. He returned from his 10-game suspension like he had never been gone, catching eight passes for 120 yards.

Gordon might be a pretty good bet to post 100-yard games every week here on out, even if Hoyer doesn't give him a great chance to score touchdowns. You have to start Gordon in all leagues, in all matchups and in all conditions.

The Buffalo Bills are a top-five pass defense and seventh best against fantasy quarterbacks (FFToday.com), but it doesn't keep us at B/R from ranking Gordon among the elite of the fantasy wideouts. This won't matter, but the Buffalo forecast by Weather.com projects to be balmy (high 40s) Sunday.

The forecast for Gordon's quarterback, Hoyer, isn't as cloudy as it might have been this time of year either. Mercurial rookie Johnny Manziel just cannot stay out of the news for non-football-related reasons, as Bill Livingston of The Plain Dealer chronicles.

The Browns are surprisingly in contention, with Gordon as a well-timed catalyst. Despite Hoyer's turnover issues of late, Gordon is going to keep some continuity with his passer. The Browns just cannot trust a rare contending season to the petulant Manziel.

But, again, circumstances around Gordon just cannot be troublesome enough to keep him out of our top-five wide receiver options at B/R on a weekly basis going forward:

Week 13 Wide Receiver Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Antonio Brown	PIT	vs. NO	3	+2
2	Dez Bryant	DAL	vs. Phi	1	-1
3	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	at KC	2	-1
4	Josh Gordon	CLE	at Buf	7	+3
5	Calvin Johnson	DET	vs. Chi	4	-1
6	A.J. Green	CIN	at TB	5	-1
7	Julio Jones	ATL	vs. Ari	12	+5
8	T.Y. Hilton	IND	vs. Was	8	0
9	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	at KC	9	0
10	Odell Beckham	NYG	at Jac	11	+1
11	Jordy Nelson	GB	vs. NE	6	-5
12	Randall Cobb	GB	vs. NE	10	-2
13	Brandon Marshall	CHI	at Det	15	+2
14	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at Dal	14	0
15	Mike Evans	TB	vs. Cin	13	-2
16	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	at Min	16	0
17	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	at Det	17	0
18	Mike Wallace	MIA	at NYJ	20	+2
19	Sammy Watkins	BUF	vs. Cle	24	+5
20	DeSean Jackson	WAS	at Ind	26	+6
21	Keenan Allen	SD	at Bal	22	+1
22	Golden Tate	DET	vs. Chi	18	-4
23	Roddy White	ATL	vs. Ari	19	-4
24	Denard Robinson	JAC	vs. NYG	36	+12
25	Jordan Matthews	PHI	at Dal	21	-4
26	Michael Floyd	ARI	at Atl	40	+14
27	Steve Smith	BAL	vs. SD	32	+5
28	Anquan Boldin	SF	vs. Sea	30	+2
29	Eric Decker	NYJ	vs. Mia	42	+13
30	Torrey Smith	BAL	vs. SD	33	+3
31	Vincent Jackson	TB	vs. Cin	27	-4
32	Marques Colston	NO	at Pit	41	+9
33	Reggie Wayne	IND	vs. Was	38	+5
34	Andre Johnson	HOU	vs. Ten	34	0
35	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	vs. Ten	29	-6
36	Terrance Williams	DAL	vs. Phi	46	+10
37	Julian Edelman	NE	at GB	25	-12
38	Jarvis Landry	MIA	at NYJ	35	-3
39	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at Atl	56	+17
40	Brandon LaFell	NE	at GB	23	-17
41	Kenny Stills	NO	at Pit	39	-2
42	Rueben Randle	NYG	at Jac	47	+5
43	Percy Harvin	NYJ	vs. Mia	43	0
44	Kendall Wright	TEN	at Hou	53	+9
45	Pierre Garcon	WAS	at Ind	54	+9
46	Mohamed Sanu	CIN	at TB	31	-15
47	Doug Baldwin	SEA	at SF	59	+12
48	Michael Crabtree	SF	vs. Sea	52	+4
49	Cecil Shorts	JAC	vs. NYG	44	-5
50	Martavis Bryant	PIT	vs. NO	28	-22
51	Markus Wheaton	PIT	vs. NO	66	+15
52	Dwayne Bowe	KC	vs. Den	57	+5
53	James Jones	OAK	at StL	55	+2
54	Charles Johnson	MIN	vs. Car	50	-4
55	Wes Welker	DEN	at KC	63	+8
56	Kenny Britt	STL	vs. Oak	51	-5
57	Cordarrelle Patterson	MIN	vs. Car	72	+15
58	John Brown	ARI	at Atl	37	-21
59	Justin Hunter	TEN	at Hou	49	-10
60	Greg Jennings	MIN	vs. Car	60	0
61	Robert Woods	BUF	vs. Cle	61	0
62	Hakeem Nicks	IND	vs. Was	80	+18
63	Malcom Floyd	SD	at Bal	45	-18
64	Riley Cooper	PHI	at Dal	81	+17
65	Andrew Hawkins	CLE	at Buf	48	-17
66	Stedman Bailey	STL	vs. Oak	67	+1
67	Tavon Austin	STL	vs. Oak	71	+4
68	Jermaine Kearse	SEA	at SF	77	+9
69	Brian Hartline	MIA	at NYJ	84	+15
70	Allen Hurns	JAC	vs. NYG	58	-12
71	Andre Holmes	OAK	at StL	64	-7
72	Nate Washington	TEN	at Hou	62	-10
73	Miles Austin	CLE	at Buf	79	+6
74	Danny Amendola	NE	at GB	89	+15
75	Davante Adams	GB	vs. NE	65	-10
76	Steve Johnson	SF	vs. Sea	83	+7
77	Harry Douglas	ATL	vs. Ari	86	+9
78	Andre Roberts	WAS	at Ind	76	-2
79	Devin Hester	ATL	vs. Ari	90	+11
80	Donte Moncrief	IND	vs. Was	70	-10
81	Eddie Royal	SD	at Bal	75	-6
82	Marqise Lee	JAC	vs. NYG	74	-8
83	Marquess Wilson	CHI	at Det	88	+5
84	Chris Hogan	BUF	vs. Cle	68	-16

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Tight Ends: Julius Thomas' Status a Must-Watch This Week

The tight end rotation at No. 1 turned back to Jimmy Graham in Week 12, but we figure it will take another spin this Sunday. Rob Gronkowski has a potential high-scoring affair on tap against Aaron Rodgers at the Green Bay Packers, while the New Orleans Saints travel to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a matchup of two teams fighting through a mess of their division races.

And, don't expect the Denver Broncos to hold out Julius Thomas (ankle) in a pivotal AFC West showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs on the road...in prime time...in one of the toughest places to play in football, Arrowhead Stadium. Thomas will be wheeled out there for that one. Bet on it.

Mike Klis of The Denver Post reported Thomas' condition needs to improve, but there is still plenty of time ahead.

"I have had better days, and I have had worse days," Thomas told The Post's Klis on Monday. "You hope you just wake up one day and it feels good again, but that didn't happen last week. But it has improved."

The timing of Thomas' matchup Sunday night makes it difficult for fantasy owners, but you could insure your roster by having the Chiefs' Travis Kelce, the Broncos' Jacob Tamme, the Miami Dolphins' Charles Clay (Monday night) or even the New York Jets' Jace Amaro (Monday night). If Thomas' likely game-time decision goes south there, you will at least have someone better than a zero to fall back on.

We optimistically, and aggressively, rank Thomas as the third-best play in fantasy among tight ends in B/R's initial rankings for Week 13:

Week 13 Tight End Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Jimmy Graham	NO	at Pit	2	+1
2	Rob Gronkowski	NE	at GB	1	-1
3	Julius Thomas	DEN	at KC	4	+1
4	Greg Olsen	CAR	at Min	3	-1
5	Jason Witten	DAL	vs. Phi	5	0
6	Jordan Cameron	CLE	at Buf	19	+13
7	Delanie Walker	TEN	at Hou	8	+1
8	Antonio Gates	SD	at Bal	7	-1
9	Vernon Davis	SF	vs. Sea	23	+14
10	Martellus Bennett	CHI	at Det	9	-1
11	Travis Kelce	KC	vs. Den	6	-5
12	Coby Fleener	IND	vs. Was	10	-2
13	Larry Donnell	NYG	at Jac	11	-2
14	Kyle Rudolph	MIN	vs. Car	12	-2
15	Jordan Reed	WAS	at Ind	30	+15
16	Mychal Rivera	OAK	at StL	14	-2
17	Charles Clay	MIA	at NYJ	15	-2
18	Heath Miller	PIT	vs. NO	20	+2
19	Dwayne Allen	IND	vs. Was	13	-6
20	Owen Daniels	BAL	vs. SD	16	-4
21	Tim Wright	NE	at GB	17	-4
22	Jared Cook	STL	vs. Oak	22	0
23	Eric Ebron	DET	vs. Chi	21	-2
24	Zach Ertz	PHI	at Dal	18	-6
25	Scott Chandler	BUF	vs. Cle	32	+7
26	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TB	vs. Cin	25	-1
27	Andrew Quarless	GB	vs. NE	26	-1
28	Niles Paul	WAS	at Ind	24	-4
29	Jacob Tamme	DEN	at KC	27	-2
30	Jermaine Gresham	CIN	at TB	28	-2

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Defense/Special Teams: List of Shaky Quarterbacks Continues to Grow

As we have done all season in this space, the favorable defense/special teams matchups and rankings are determined by the quality of the opposing quarterback. Week 13 gives us some suspect passers, even if the stud defenses of the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers—with their marginal quarterbacks (in fantasy starter terms)—are facing each other Thanksgiving night.

1. Robert Griffin III is reportedly out in favor of journeyman Colt McCoy, as we outlined in the quarterbacks slide. Indianapolis Colts D/ST as a streaming play, anyone?
2. The Houston Texans' Ryan Mallett (pectoral) is out for the season, according to the Houston Chronicle's John McClain. Welcome back Ryan Fitzpatrick and, perhaps, hello Tennessee Titans defense? Meh.
3. Speaking of Meh...Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported the New York Jets still don't know which bum of a quarterback to go with, Michael Vick or Geno Smith. Well, hello there, Miami Dolphins.

We list the Dolphins, Colts and even the Titans among B/R's top 20 defense/special teams plays for Week 13:

Week 13 Defense/Special Teams Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Defenses and Special Teams	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Miami Dolphins	Mia	at NYJ	4	+3
2	Arizona Cardinals	Ari	at Atl	7	+5
3	Seattle Seahawks	Sea	at SF	8	+5
4	Houston Texans	Hou	vs. Ten	1	-3
5	St. Louis Rams	StL	vs. Oak	3	-2
6	Indianapolis Colts	Ind	vs. Was	2	-4
7	Detroit Lions	Det	vs. Chi	6	-1
8	San Francisco 49ers	SF	vs. Sea	10	+2
9	Buffalo Bills	Buf	vs. Cle	5	-4
10	Cincinnati Bengals	Cin	at TB	9	-1
11	New York Giants	NYG	at Jac	11	0
12	Denver Broncos	Den	at KC	13	+1
13	Baltimore Ravens	Bal	vs. SD	15	+2
14	Carolina Panthers	Car	at Min	18	+4
15	Dallas Cowboys	Dal	vs. Phi	17	+2
16	Minnesota Vikings	Min	vs. Car	14	-2
17	Cleveland Browns	Cle	at Buf	16	-1
18	Philadelphia Eagles	Phi	at Dal	12	-6
19	New York Jets	NYJ	vs. Mia	20	+1
20	Tennessee Titans	Ten	at Hou	19	-1

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Kickers: We Get a Rare Crunch-Time Swap for Fantasy Owners Here

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Out with the young, in with the new for the Denver Broncos at the kicker position. Second-year man Brandon McManus has proved to be a bust, and now the Broncos turn to recently signed, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth this week, as The Denver Post's Mike Klis reported.

The mere potency of the Broncos offense with Peyton Manning makes any Broncos kicker worth owning and starting in fantasy leagues down the stretch. Fire up Barth if you like to get saucy with the kicker position.

The Kansas City Chiefs are in the bottom 10 of field goals allowed, according to FFToday.com. Also, having a kicker alive in your lineup for one of the prime-time games gives you some potential for a late fantasy rally. (So, you're saying there's a chance!)

Barth is among B/R's top-10 options at kicker for Week 13:

Week 13 Kicker Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	at GB	1	0
2	Adam Vinatieri	IND	vs. Was	2	0
3	Justin Tucker	BAL	vs. SD	5	+2
4	Dan Bailey	DAL	vs. Phi	3	-1
5	Cody Parkey	PHI	at Dal	4	-1
6	Steven Hauschka	SEA	at SF	7	+1
7	Mason Crosby	GB	vs. NE	6	-1
8	Phil Dawson	SF	vs. Sea	8	0
9	Connor Barth	DEN	at KC	17	+8
10	Matt Prater	DET	vs. Chi	14	+4
11	Chandler Catanzaro	ARI	at Atl	12	+1
12	Caleb Sturgis	MIA	at NYJ	16	+4
13	Shaun Suisham	PIT	vs. NO	9	-4
14	Mike Nugent	CIN	at TB	18	+4
15	Dan Carpenter	BUF	vs. Cle	13	-2
16	Shayne Graham	NO	at Pit	19	+3
17	Greg Zuerlein	STL	vs. Oak	23	+6
18	Matt Bryant	ATL	vs. Ari	10	-8
19	Cairo Santos	KC	vs. Den	15	-4
20	Randy Bullock	HOU	vs. Ten	20	0

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros