Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 13: Flex, PPR Advice for Fringe Fantasy Football Stars

We've reached Week 13 of the 2016 season, and many of you have now reached your fantasy playoffs. Many others are entering the home stretch of their fantasy regular season, so now is a critical time of year for all but the unlucky ones who have been eliminated.

For those Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars of the fantasy world, it's time to look ahead to next year. For those in the postseason or still in the running for it, it's time to focus on the week at hand and the roster decisions that come with it.

We're here to lend a helping hand with our Week 13 advice for fringe fantasy stars. We're not talking about must-start players like Antonio Brown, Julio Jones or Ezekiel Elliott—if you've been benching those guys, there's a problem. We're talking about those borderline stars, those players who are starting-quality but who aren't always the best lineup choice.

We'll be examining players to start and sit for each skill position, and we'll be basing our choices on factors like past performances, projected role, player health and matchups.

Good luck!

Start 'Em: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is one of those signal-callers who can be downright deadly when the chips are up and a complete fantasy disaster when things aren't going so well. Last week was one of those better weeks, as he had a matchup with the lowly Cleveland Browns.

Manning finished with just 194 yards passing, but he had three touchdowns on the day.

This week could bring a similar performance for Manning, though we believe he'll have to throw for more yards. The Giants are visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers, who can put up points in bunches but who also have a defense that is susceptible to the pass.

On average, Pittsburgh surrenders 263.5 passing yards per game. Expect Manning to hit somewhere around the 250-yard mark with two or three scores to his credit.

Sit 'Em: Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is similar to Manning in the sense that he can be an up-and-down fantasy performer. Unfortunately, Dalton has been more down this season because of his inability to find the end zone.

Dalton has just 12 passing touchdowns on the year. He scored just once last week against the Baltimore Ravens and will probably have a hard time doing any better this week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia is ranked 11th in pass defense with an average of 236.5 yards per game allowed. The Eagles are also rated third in pass rush by Pro Football Focus. Even worse, the Bengals are without running back Giovani Bernard (IR, ACL) and wideout A.J. Green.

Don't expect this to be a good fantasy week for Dalton.

Start 'Em: Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

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Eagles running back Darren Sproles has shown his versatility all season long—he has 325 yards rushing, 352 yards receiving and 39 receptions. On Monday night, he showed his toughness by playing with a broken rib against the Green Bay Packers.

This week, Sproles will get to strut his stuff against the Bengals. He'll also be doing it as a starter, as Ryan Mathews is dealing with an MCL injury.

"

Starting lineup changes -- Bryce Treggs starts at WR. Stefen Wisniewski at LG. Isaac Seumalo at RG. Darren Sproles at RB.

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 29, 2016"

Expect Sproles to hold plenty of PPR value this week, as he usually does. He should also have an opportunity to produce on the ground. Cincinnati is rated 24th in run defense and is allowing an average of 120.5 yards rushing per game.

At the very least, Sproles deserves a starting spot in the flex. The same can likely be said about rookie and fellow Eagles back Wendell Smallwood.

Sit 'Em: Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore is another back who carries PPR value—he has 29 receptions to go with 874 combined rushing and receiving yards. Unfortunately, Gore has been inconsistent when it comes to fantasy production.

He had four receptions and 121 combined rushing and receiving yards two weeks ago against the Tennessee Titans. Last week against the Steelers, he had just one catch and 31 total yards.

This week could bring another disappointing outing for Gore. He and the Colts will be visiting the New York Jets, who boast one of the top defensive lines in football. As a team, the Jets are rated 10th in run defense and allow an average of just 85.9 yards rushing per game.

Start 'Em: Quincy Enunwa, WR, New York Jets

Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa isn't as consistent as you might want from a fantasy receiver. When he performs well, however, it can add up to fantasy points. He had just one catch in Week 9 and one catch in Week 10, but he returned from bye in Week 12 to catch five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.

For the season, Enunwa has 43 receptions for 643 yards and four touchdowns.

With the Jets hosting the Colts this week, Enunwa could be in store for another big fantasy outing. The Colts are rated dead last in pass coverage and are allowing an average of 278.7 yards per game through the air.

A second consecutive 100-yard game for Enunwa is entirely possible.

Sit 'Em: Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson is having a decent overall season—53 receptions for 591 yards and six touchdowns—but it's been a disappointing one when compared to his 2015 campaign.

Last year, Robinson produced 1,400 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns.

This doesn't mean Robinson has been bench-worthy, of course. Three weeks ago, he amassed nine receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. The problem is that such big performances have been a rarity.

"We've been in position the past couple of weeks and have had opportunities," Robinson said after his only 100-yard game of the year, per Phillip Heilman of Jacksonville.com. "We've got to capitalize on those opportunities. At the end of the day, I think that's what good teams do."

The Jaguars haven't been a good team this season, and the struggles have often included Robinson. This week could bring more struggles, as the Jaguars battle a stout Denver Broncos defense.

Those Broncos are allowing an NFL-low 193.9 yards passing per game.

Team unit rankings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.