Fantasy Football Week 13: Weekly Fantasy Trends Report

Here we are. Week 13 of the 2016 NFL season—the week before the fantasy football playoffs for most leagues.

At this point, you've (hopefully) already locked up a playoff spot, and you're just waiting for the playoffs to begin so you can beat up on the blockheads who comprise your league.

However, there are plenty of teams out there that are on the outside looking in or barely hanging on to a playoff spot, and the waiver wire and trading (if still allowed) before this week begins could make or break your season. You don't want to overreact, but for instance, if you have a player like Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson sitting on your bench and you're in a position where you need to win in Week 13, you may need to trade him to get some instant gratification.

There are seven noteworthy trends around the fantasy landscape right now that you need to hop on before it's too late—or look away and go in a different direction.

Let's earn a playoff spot.

Falcons WR Taylor Gabriel Lead Add Ahead of Week 13

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Since Week 8, all Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Taylor Gabriel has done is score touchdowns and put up double-digit fantasy points in points-per-reception formats.

In fact, since Week 8, Gabriel has four touchdowns, and two of them came in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals.

While his numbers are outproducing fellow wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, I'm not so sure he has usurped Sanu as the Falcons WR2, but he is still making an impact for a high-octane offense.

Since Week 8, Sanu has the better numbers across the board outside of yardage and touchdowns. He's played in 80 more snaps and has 11 more targets.

Although, because of Gabriel's performances of late, the Falcons might be in a position to give the Abilene Christian product more playing time.

Gabriel is still a solid add, though—the Falcons have an offense that allows multiple players to succeed statistically.

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick Top QB Add

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Finally. Finally. Finally.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is finally piquing the interest of fantasy players and is the top overall quarterback waiver add in Yahoo leagues.

As Adam Levitan of DraftKings noted, Kaepernick is averaging 62.1 rushing yards per game this season, and Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley is averaging 58.2.

We could sit here and argue why that is, but come on: It's still quite amusing.

Kaepernick's rushing ability has propelled him to the QB6 spot since he took over the starting job in Week 6.

Keep running, Kap. Your fantasy owners love it.

Chargers Top D/ST Add

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In Yahoo leagues, the top defense/special teams add heading into Week 13 is the San Diego Chargers, and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Yes, they've put up double-digit fantasy points in three of their past four games, but can they sustain that?

In those three games, the Chargers scored three total defensive touchdowns. Starting at the first game during this run (Week 8; bye in Week 11), the Chargers have allowed 21, 35, 25 and 13 points, respectively. The only point total that is worthy of discussion is 13, and that came against the Houston Texans and quarterback Brock Osweiler.

In Week 13, the Chargers will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in San Diego. The Bucs just beat the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks in back-to-back weeks, and they have one of the best wide receivers in the entire sport in Mike Evans.

If they can force turnovers for touchdowns, that will help them, but surrendering 20-plus points and banking on sacks, fumbles and touchdowns to have a quality fantasy week isn't anything to chase.

Instead, look to see if the Baltimore Ravens defense is available—the second-most added defense. The Ravens are likely only second due to the ownership discrepancy between the Chargers and Ravens (31 percent; 63 percent), but if they are somehow available, snag them. Outside of that, the Bucs defense and the Washington Redskins defense are two that are worthy of a look.

Ravens RB Kenneth Dixon Top RB Add

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Seeing a 9 percent uptick in ownership percentage, Baltimore Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon is now owned in 38 percent of Yahoo leagues.

This is understandable—Dixon's true upside comes in PPR leagues.

Over the past three games, Dixon and fellow running back Terrance West have virtually the same amount of snaps—80 to 78. In this same stretch, though, West has 17 more carries but six less targets. Though it's on 17 fewer carries, Dixon is running much more effectively than West, averaging over five yards per carry to West's average of under four.

Sticking with the same streak, Dixon is just the RB30 in PPR leagues, but in PPR leagues, he's at least worth a flex spot.

I'm not the biggest fan of this Ravens backfield since it is almost literally a timeshare, but Dixon offers up some flex appeal in PPR leagues.

If there's a need for any extra hope, the Ravens take on the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers over the next four weeks, taking you to the end of (most) fantasy playoffs. These teams respectively rank fifth, 25th, 24th and 15th in DVOA against pass-catching running backs.

Rams TE Lance Kendricks Is Getting Some Love

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Quietly, Los Angeles Rams tight end Lance Kendricks has been fairly productive this season, especially over the team's last two games.

Since rookie quarterback Jared Goff took over, Kendricks is the TE8 in PPR leagues. In those two games, Kendricks has seen five and seven targets, respectively, catching four passes in each and even scoring a touchdown in Week 12.

This is what Kendricks is—a few catches for right around 40-50 yards, and if you're lucky, a touchdown to boot.

No, I'm not endorsing Kendricks to the point where you should make him your first waiver claim. With that said, in a game where tight end production is somewhat hard to find unless you have the top guys, we're usually seeking better—or at least more consistent. A guy like Kendricks makes it a little easier to expect some kind of production from the position.

He's now up to 20 percent owned in Yahoo leagues.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski Is Being Traded

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

While it's not an overwhelming amount of trades, nonetheless, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is being dealt as of late.

This season, Gronk has frustrated fantasy owners with injuries and leaving games early, but hey, that's part of the "fun."

My best guess here is that this is a product of borderline playoff teams needing to make a move in a win-and-you're-in situation and cannot risk another hiccup. For example, one trade in particular was Gronk and Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Houston Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz.

If Gronk is healthy and playing, there is no way you make that deal, so that's where my theory of teams that are in must-win mode are the ones dealing Gronk.

If you're already in playoff contention, there's no way you're trading him, but if you're on the outside looking in or hanging on for dear life, immediate production from someone is a must.

Hold on to Gronk if you can.

Obviously.

Bills WR Sammy Watkins Being Heavily Added

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

He was already fairly highly owned, but Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins saw a 9 percent increase in ownership in Yahoo leagues.

Now owned in 81 percent of leagues, Watkins needs to be owned in essentially every league outside of those lame four- or six-team leagues.

In his first game back since Week 2, Watkins managed to catch three passes for 80 yards in Week 12.

The Bills' wide receiving depth is absolutely atrocious. Couple that with Watkins' insane talent, and this makes Watkins, at a minimum, a WR2 with upside. The guy hadn't played in 10 weeks and scored 11 PPR fantasy points.

In Week 13, Watkins and the Bills get the Oakland Raiders, and we all know how they are against the pass.

Watkins needs to be owned, added and started going forward.

Don't get spooked by reports of him missing practice. If anything, that's better for his cause—rest that foot!

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders. All ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.