Fantasy Football Week 13: Matt Camp's Week 13 Preview

Week 12 of the NFL season wasn't the best one in the world of fantasy football. 

Brandin Cooks, Antonio Gates, Sterling Shepard and Rob Gronkowski had a grand total of zero catches. Meanwhile, upward of 20 touchdowns were scored by players without any fantasy relevance, such as Chicago Bears tight end Daniel Brown, San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek and New York Giants wide receiver Dwayne Harris. 

Injuries to players like Gronkowski (back), Jordan Reed (shoulder), T.Y. Hilton (back) and DeVante Parker (back) didn't make the disappointment of the week any easier to swallow, so hitting the waiver wire is that much more important as we head down the stretch run. You may not find comparable replacements for any of the injured players, but if your season is on the line, grab who you can and hope for the best.

This is the final week of byes with both the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns off, so replacements will be necessary for Marcus Mariota, DeMarco Murray, Rishard Matthews, Delanie Walker and Terrelle Pryor, if we're just focusing on the obvious fantasy starters. Some of those absences loom large in what may be the final week of the fantasy regular season for some. Colin Kaepernick could be a savior to those who don't have Mariota in Week 13.

Proceed with caution.

Quarterbacks

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

The emergence of Jay Ajayi has been a great help for Ryan Tannehill.

Waiver Wire

Colin Kaepernick, SF

Percent Owned: ESPN — 22.7, Yahoo — 24.0

After two ugly starts, Kaepernick has turned into a reliable fantasy option over the last month. The San Francisco 49ers may have lost to the Miami Dolphins in Week 12, but Kaepernick still came through with another strong fantasy performance. He completed 29 of 46 pass attempts for 296 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He added a season-high 113 rushing yards on 10 carries. 

In four of Kaepernick's six starts, he rushed for at least 55 yards, which is obviously a huge bonus considering he dipped below 220 passing yards in four games. Volume has also helped Kaepernick's value, and that can be partially attributed to San Francisco's poor defense. Kaepernick attempted at least 30 passes five times, including a season-high 46 attempts in Week 12. 

The 49ers take on the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams over the next four games, so not only is Kaepernick a strong streamer for this week, but also down the stretch.

Week 13 Projection: 245-255 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 60 rushing yards

Ryan Tannehill, MIA

Percent Owned: ESPN — 20.5, Yahoo — 28.0

The Miami Dolphins have quietly moved to 7-4 and find themselves right in the middle of the playoff hunt in the AFC, so Ryan Tannehill and company have plenty to play for over the final month of the season. Tannehill's Week 12 performance in a win over the 49ers may have been his best of the season. He tossed up 285 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-30 passing. Plus, he set a season-high with 34 rushing yards on six carries.

Even though he's cooled off after three monster games in the middle of the season, the presence of Jay Ajayi and a reliable ground attack has definitely been a help to Tannehill. There's no reason to think that will be stopping anytime soon. Since Ajayi's emergence against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, Tannehill has attempted at least 30 passes just three times, but completed more than 66 percent of his attempts in five of the last seven games.

While a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens may not be ideal, their defense has battled injuries in recent weeks, which explains why they allowed 584 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games. That gives Tannehill a chance to have another strong outing in Week 13.

Week 13 Projection: 250-260 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 20 rushing yards

The Matchup Men

As a sneak preview of my weekly rankings, these are the players who are helped or hurt by their matchups. I'll provide additional analysis and projections in Wednesday's Big Board.

Matchup Bumps

Matt Ryan, ATL (vs. KC)

Carson Palmer, ARI (vs. WAS)

Philip Rivers, SD (vs. TB)

Russell Wilson, SEA (vs. CAR)

Alex Smith, KC (at ATL)

Matchup Concerns

Dak Prescott, DAL (at MIN)

Kirk Cousins, WAS (at ARI)

Trevor Siemian, DEN (at JAC)

Blake Bortles, JAC (vs. DEN)

Running Backs

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Kenneth Dixon's snaps continue to rise.

Waiver Wire

Kenneth Dixon, BAL

Percent Owned: ESPN — 25.1, Yahoo — 29.0

Dixon keeps hitting his head on the glass ceiling covered up by Terrance West, but cracks are beginning to show. In Week 12, Dixon had his busiest game to date with 13 carries for 49 yards and four receptions for 31 yards on four targets. By comparison, West carried 13 times for 48 yards and caught three of four targets for 16 yards.

Perhaps the most telling stat was the snap percentage between Dixon and West. Dixon's percentage rose for the fourth straight week, and for the first time he outsnapped West, 45-33 percent. The Ravens need something to jump-start their offense, and a bigger role for Dixon may just be the trick. 

Week 13 Projection: 15 carries, 60 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 28 receiving yards

Wendell Smallwood, PHI

Percent Owned: ESPN — 43.2, Yahoo — 49.0

With Ryan Mathews (knee) out in Week 12, Smallwood looked primed for a bigger role in a favorable matchup with the struggling Green Bay Packers defense. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia Eagles were without right guard Brandon Brooks (illness), which was a big hit to their offensive line. Smallwood wound up with just nine carries for 37 yards and a single reception for 10 yards on his only target.

It won't be the last we see of Smallwood, though. According to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, when Mathews was ruled out last week, head coach Doug Pederson said Mathews "had a pretty significant knee [injury]" with "concern that it could linger."

Smallwood's upside is limited by the presence of Darren Sproles, but the rookie still has value as an RB3/flex option as long as Mathews is out.

Week 13 Projection: 10 carries, 42 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 15 receiving yards

Adrian Peterson, MIN

Percent Owned: ESPN — 36.7, Yahoo — 43.0

The latest update on Peterson comes from Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, who said, "Peterson has been running in [a] pool" so if the knee "responds well" the team would try to "run him on [a] hard surface" this week as the "next step to [Peterson's] possible return."

Expecting Peterson back before Week 15 is probably foolish, so if you're considering stashing him away, you should feel comfortable about your current playoff chances, as opposed to rostering him on a team that could be eliminated from playoff contention as early as Week 13. Because the Vikings are so desperate for help at running back and remain in playoff contention, it keeps hope that Peterson has reason to return. 

Week 13 Projection: OUT

The Matchup Men

Matchup Bumps

Jordan Howard, CHI (vs. SF)

Lamar Miller, HOU (at GB)

Spencer Ware, KC (at ATL)

Jonathan Stewart, CAR (at SEA)

Matchup Concerns

Latavius Murray, OAK (vs. BUF)

Jay Ajayi, MIA (at BAL)

Robert Kelley, WAS (at ARI)

Wide Receivers

Harry How/Getty Images

With injury issues at wide receiver, the San Diego Chargers need Dontrelle Inman.

Waiver Wire 

Tyreek Hill, KC

Percent Owned: ESPN — 26.5, Yahoo — 37.0

You won't find much to get excited about in Kansas City other than Hill and Travis Kelce. Both players came through in a big way in the Chiefs' victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 12. Hill secured nine of 10 targets for 52 yards and a three-yard touchdown. He added a three-yard rushing touchdown and an 86-yard kickoff return for a score. 

Even if you don't get points for the return score, it was a monster game for Hill, as his role continued to expand in the Chiefs offense. His snap percentage came in at 67 percent, which is the third straight game in the 60-percent range. He didn't have more than 35 percent of the snaps in the first eight weeks. With Jeremy Maclin still battling a groin injury, Hill should keep an active presence in an offense that clearly needs him to contribute. 

Week 13 Projection: 6 receptions, 66 yards

Dontrelle Inman, SD

Percent Owned: ESPN — 6.5, Yahoo — 4.0

Inman's had two big fantasy performances this season, but one of them happened in Week 12. He caught all six of his targets for 119 yards and a 52-yard touchdown in a win over the Houston Texans. It was only the second time this season he hit the century mark in yards and only his second touchdown of the season, both of which last happened in Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints. 

Inman's led the San Diego Chargers wide receivers in snaps for all but one game this season, but his stats haven't always matched his high snap totals. 

Travis Benjamin has been ineffective (three receptions, 13 yards) attempting to play with a knee issue in the last three weeks, and Tyrell Williams has a "sore" shoulder after injuring it in Week 12, according to head coach Mike McCoy (via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego-Union Tribune). Inman may be needed to play a bigger role. 

Week 13 Projection: 5 receptions, 71 yards

Dorial Green-Beckham, PHI

Percent Owned: ESPN — 5.3, Yahoo — 5.0

The Philadelphia Eagles elevated Green-Beckham to the starting lineup when they made Nelson Agholor a healthy scratch for their Week 12 matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Green-Beckham got off to a great start with four receptions for 53 yards on the opening drive, but he was unable to do much more, finishing with six receptions for 82 yards on 10 targets while tying a season-high with 81 percent of the snaps. 

If we just focus on the numbers, it's Green-Beckham's best performance as an Eagle in terms of receptions, yards and targets, so that's the positive to take from Week 12. Green-Beckham's role could expand depending on the status of Jordan Matthews, who tried to play through an ankle injury but was limited to just 41 percent of the snaps. 

Week 13 Projection: 6 receptions, 79 yards

Adam Thielen, MIN

Percent Owned: ESPN — 18.4, Yahoo — 20.0

Thielen was called on to contribute more in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions with Stefon Diggs sidelined by a knee injury. That led to season-highs in targets (11) and receptions (eight), although it resulted in just 53 yards. Still, it was his third straight game with double-digit fantasy points in PPR formats, so he's been helping fantasy teams at a key point in the season. 

The Vikings don't get extra rest from their Thanksgiving Day game, as they take on the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football in Week 13. According to the team's injury report, Diggs got in a limited practice on Monday, Nov. 28, but even if he's back to action Thursday, Thielen still has value as a WR3. 

Week 13 Projection: 5 receptions, 61 yards

Malcolm Mitchell, NE

Percent Owned: ESPN — 2.6, Yahoo — 3.0

Mitchell was included in my late-week waiver wire for Week 12 with the statuses of Rob Gronkowski (lung) and Chris Hogan (back) both in question. While both players were active, Gronkowski left early with a back injury and never returned. Mitchell's snaps dipped from 86 percent to 47 percent, but it didn't matter since his production stayed high for a second straight week.

After catching four of five targets for 98 yards and a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11, Mitchell took advantage of another beatable matchup with five receptions for 42 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets in a Week 12 victory over the New York Jets. If Gronkowski has to miss time, Mitchell could remain a viable fantasy option.

Week 13 Projection: 4 receptions, 60 yards

The Matchup Men

Matchup Bumps

Brandon Marshall, NYJ (vs. IND)

Julio Jones, ATL (vs. KC)

Jamison Crowder, WAS (at ARI)

Marquess Wilson, CHI (vs. SF)

DeAndre Hopkins/Will Fuller, HOU (at GB)

Tyreek Hill, KC (at ATL)

Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (vs. WAS)

Matchup Concerns

Demaryius Thomas/Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (at JAC)

Amari Cooper/Michael Crabtree, OAK (vs. BUF)

Tight Ends

Rob Carr/Getty Images

If the Redskins don't have Jordan Reed, they'll need Vernon Davis.

Waiver Wire

Vernon Davis, WAS

Percent Owned: ESPN — 21.9, Yahoo — 9.0

The Washington Redskins not only took a loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, but they also saw Jordan Reed exit with a shoulder injury. During an appearance on ESPN 980 radio, head coach Jay Gruden said an MRI revealed a "Grade 3 AC joint separation" that may not keep him out of Week 13, according to John Keim of ESPN.com.

Reed classified himself as "day-to-day" and has "no idea" if he can play because the injury is "very painful" especially on "any reaching motion," according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. If Reed can't go, the Redskins would need Davis to fill in for Reed once again. When Reed sat out Weeks 6-7, Davis had eight receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. The only concern for Davis would be a tough matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. 

Week 13 Projection: 4 receptions, 50 yards

C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU

Percent Owned: ESPN — 43.8, Yahoo — 35.0

After posting six receptions for 82 yards in Week 11 against the Oakland Raiders, Fiedorowicz was merely an average fantasy option with four receptions for 42 yards on six targets in a loss to the San Diego Chargers in Week 12. Brock Osweiler didn't play well, as he threw three interceptions and scored the team's only touchdown on a run from a yard out.

Fiedorowicz's six red-zone targets put him ahead of DeAndre Hopkins and Lamar Miller, both of whom check in with five apiece. Fiedorowicz has been a reliable and trusted option for Osweiler, so he should have a good chance to put up better numbers in a favorable matchup with the Green Bay Packers in Week 13.

Week 13 Projection: 5 receptions, 57 yards

The Matchup Men

Matchup Bumps

C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU (at GB)

Kyle Rudolph, MIN (vs. DAL)

Antonio Gates/Hunter Henry, SD (vs. TB)

Ladarius Green, PIT (vs. NYG)

Coby Fleener, NO (vs. DET)

Matchup Concerns

Austin Hooper, ATL (vs. KC)

Vernon Davis, WAS (at ARI)

Tyler Eifert, CIN (vs. PHI)

Defenses

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

In a weak week for streaming defenses, the Jacksonville Jaguars are worth a shot.

This will typically focus on the best streaming options widely available in both ESPN and Yahoo leagues based on the matchups. This is a particularly bad week to stream defenses.

Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. DEN)

Percent Owned: ESPN — 4.6, Yahoo — 2.0

The improvements of the Jaguars defense have been overshadowed by the poor performance of Blake Bortles and the team's offense. While the Jaguars aren't in contention, they can play spoilers against the visiting Denver Broncos in Week 13. Over the last two weeks, Trevor Siemian took 11 sacks thanks in part to the poor protection of Denver's offensive line. The Jaguars have 11 sacks in their last four games. 

Week 13 Projection: 4 sacks, 1 interception, 20-23 points allowed

Kickers

Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Check out Roberto Aguayo if you're in search of a kicker.

During the season, the kickers on the rise or those entering favorable matchups with a lot of points forecasted will be featured in this section.

Chandler Catanzaro, ARI

Percent Owned: ESPN — 23.2, Yahoo — 26.0

While the Arizona Cardinals may not be playing great football, Catanzaro is still getting his opportunities, which should continue in a decent matchup against the Washington Redskins in Week 13. He's made his last six field goals and last six extra points.

Roberto Aguayo, TB

Percent Owned: ESPN — 11.2, Yahoo — 8.0

Aguayo got off to a slow start this season but has turned it around as of late. He hit six of his last seven field goals and all of his last nine extra-point attempts. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are winners of three straight and should give Aguayo ample opportunities in friendly San Diego conditions in Week 13.

Camp's Corner

John Grieshop/Getty Images

Don't assume A.J. Green will be back for the Cincinnati Bengals.

With five weeks left in the NFL regular season, the battle for playoff spots might be heating up, but it might be more important to focus on those falling out of contention. 

If you're stashing away A.J. Green with the hope he can return from his hamstring injury to help you down the stretch, consider where the Cincinnati Bengals sit in the playoff picture. At 3-7-1, they trail both the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) and Baltimore Ravens (6-5) with losses to both teams. The sixth seed in the AFC is even further away with the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos tied at 7-4.

When asked about Green's playing status on Monday, Nov. 28, head coach Marvin Lewis forecasted it as "partly cloudy," which Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer translated as "not happening." Assuming Green is out for Week 13, that leaves three fantasy-relevant games he could play, but why would the Bengals rush him back if they have nothing to play for this season? Consider that if you're stashing him away.

Stats provided by FantasyPros and NFL.com. Snap counts provided by Pro Football Focus. ESPN and Yahoo ownership percentages are accurate as of Tuesday morning.

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