Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Each Position's Top 10 Players and Stat Predictions

Week 13 of the 2016 season is underway. Things got off to an interesting start on Thursday night as the Dallas Cowboys knocked off the Minnesota Vikings 17-15.

Thursday's game wasn't a big one for guys not named Ezekiel Elliott, Dez Bryant or Jerick McKinnon in the old fantasy department. Fortunately, there are 14 games remaining in Week 13 in which fantasy stars can shine.

We'll be looking at the top players at each fantasy position along with projected stat lines for each. In addition, we'll be examining some of the best and worst plays at each of the skill position. All choices are based on factors like past performances, matchup, projected role and player health.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats
1	Drew Brees, NO	325 YDS, 3 TDS, INT
2	Matt Ryan, ATL	300 YDS, 3 TDS, INT
3	Aaron Rodgers, GB	300 YDS, 2 TDs
4	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	280 YDS, 2 TDs
5	Matthew Stafford, DET	275 YDS, 2 TDs, INT
6	Carson Palmer, ARI	275 YDS, 2 TD, INT
7	Tom Brady, NE	250 YDS, 2 TDs
8	Philip Rivers, SD	250 YDS, 2 TDS, INT
9	Russell Wilson, SEA	240 YDS, 2 TDs, INT
10	Andrew Luck, IND	225 YDS, 2 TDs

Start 'Em: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees may be 37 years old, but he's having one of the best statistical seasons of his NFL career. The Purdue product has already topped 3,500 yards passing with 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

Last week, Brees torched a good Los Angeles Rams defense for 310 yards and four scores. If the Saints had more wins, we'd probably be talking about Brees for MVP. He's Pro Football Focus' No. 3-rated quarterback:

Brees still might be considered a fantasy MVP this season, and he could be in store for another big outing on Sunday. Brees and the Saints host the Detroit Lions, who are rated 31st in overall defense by Pro Football Focus.

Sit 'Em: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did have an MVP season in 2015, but he hasn't been able to follow that campaign up with similar success. So far, he's passed for just 2,432 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

At least Newton has 274 yards rushing and five more scores.

While Newton's dual-threat capabilities are likely to keep him in a lot of fantasy lineups, this isn't a great week to start him. The Panthers are playing across the country against the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle is rated third in overall defense and fourth in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats
1	David Johnson, ARI	124 YDS, TD, 4 REC, 44 YDS, TD
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	95 YDS, TD, 6 REC, 54 YDS
3	Melvin Gordon, SD	102 YDS, TD, 3 REC, 33 YDS
4	Spencer Ware, KC	90 YDS, TD, 4 REC, 32 YDS
5	Theo Riddick, DET	65 YDS, 4 REC, 48 YDS, TD
6	Devonta Freeman, ATL	75 YDS, TD, 2 REC, 28 YDS
7	Jordan Howard, CHI	126 YDS, 2 REC, 23 YDS
8	Darren Sproles, PHI	63 YDS, 5 REC, 38 YDS
9	Latavius Murray, OAK	93 YDS, 1 REC, 15 YDS
10	Matt Forte, NYJ	69 YDS, 3 REC, 31 YDS

Start 'Em: David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals emerged as one of the NFL's top running backs last season, and he's continuing the trend in 2016. Johnson has already racked up 921 yards rushing, 613 yards receiving and 13 total touchdowns.

One unnamed NFL executive recently told Field Yates of ESPN.com that Johnson is the best back in the NFL right now.

"Agility, instincts, pass-catching ability [and a] crazy hop cut,” the executive said. "He is a bruising 6'1", 224 pounds, allowing him to handle tackle-to-tackle rushing duties. However, he’s also a Swiss army knife player because of his exceptional receiving skills."

Johnson and his particular set of skills will be going up against a Washington Redskins defense that is rated just 26th in run defense by Pro Football Focus.

Sit 'Em: Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars

When the regular season first began, it appeared that the Jacksonville Jaguars just might be able to field one of the top backfields in the NFL. Second-year man T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory appeared to be a near-perfect combination on paper.

Unfortunately for fantasy owners, the backfield split has left both players lacking in the production department. Neither player has more than 350 yards rushing on the season or more than three total touchdowns.

This week, Ivory and Yeldon face off against the Denver Broncos, who might just be looking to make a statement after last week's emotional overtime loss.

Denver is rated first in run defense by Pro Football Focus.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats
1	Julio Jones, ATL	6 REC, 105 YDS, TD
2	Antonio Brown, PIT	6 REC, 100 YDS, TD
3	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	6 REC, 90 YDS, TD
4	Amari Cooper, OAK	6 REC, 88 YDS, TD
5	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	5 REC, 85 YDS, TD
6	Julian Edelman, NE	7 REC, 89 YDS
7	Doug Baldwin, SEA	6 REC, 84 YDS
8	Jordy Nelson, GB	6 REC, 80 YDS
9	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	5 REC, 75 YDS
10	Michael Thomas, NO	5 REC, 74 YDS

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Start 'Em: Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders have been one of the best stories of the 2016 season so far. The upstart boys in black have managed to win nine games already and are playing particularly well on offense.

Wideout Amari Cooper has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the suddenly surging offense—he already has 66 receptions for 922 yards and three scores. This week, the Alabama product will go up against a Buffalo Bills defense that is relatively average against the pass.

The Bills are rated just 22nd in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Expect another solid outing from Cooper.

Sit 'Em: DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins have also seen a bit of an offensive resurgence this season, as quarterback Kirk Cousins continues to thrive as a starter. The team ranks second in the NFL with 314.8 yards passing per game.

However, while wide receiver DeSean Jackson remains a top-end deep threat, he hasn't been a consistent fantasy producer. When Jackson doesn't hit the big play in a game, his overall numbers tend to leave owners wanting.

Jackson has two 100-yard games this season, but he also has seven games with 55 yards or fewer. He has only found the end zone three times.

This week, Jackson battles the Arizona Cardinals, who generally do a good job of preventing the big play. Pro Football Focus rates Arizona 11th in pass coverage.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats
1	Travis, Kelce, KC	5 REC, 80 YDS, TD
2	Jimmy Graham, SEA	5 REC, 70 YDS, TD
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	5 REC, 60 YDS, TD
4	Tyler Eifert, CIN	6 REC, 85 YDS
5	Antonio Gates, SD	6 REC, 70 YDS
6	Dennis Pitta, BAL	5 REC, 65 YDS
7	Martellus Bennett, NE	5 REC, 60 YDS
8	Zach Ertz, PHI	5 REC, 59 YDS
9	Cameron Brate, TB	5 REC, 55 YDS
10	Ladarius Green, PIT	5 REC, 50 YDS

Start 'Em: Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots

New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett becomes a must-start now that Rob Gronkowski is out indefinitely with a back injury. This remains true in Week 13, even though Bennett himself is a bit banged up, as the Providence Journal's Mark Daniels noted:

The Patriots are hosting the Los Angeles Rams, who were shredded by Drew Brees last week but remain strong on defense. Pro Football Focus rates the Rams eighth in overall defense for the season.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will want to get the ball out quickly in order to counter the L.A. pass rush, and this is where Bennett can have a significant role. Expect the tight end to have a decent outing, even if he's playing at less than 100 percent.

Sit 'Em: Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James wasn't a particularly great fantasy option earlier in the season, but he did manage to have a few spot-start-worthy outings. However, his role as a pass-catcher has been further diminished by the addition of a healthy Ladarius Green to the starting lineup.

Green has started to emerge as a downfield option in the Steelers passing attack—last week, he hauled in two passes for 67 yards. James, meanwhile, has seen little action as a receiver. He didn't catch a pass against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 and has just one catch for five yards in his last two games.

Don't bother with James this week against the New York Giants.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Proj. Points
1	Matt Bryant, ATL	12
2	Justin Tucker, BAL	11
3	Dustin Hopkins, WAS	10
4	Matt Prater, DET	10
5	Wil Lutz, NO	9
6	Josh Lambo, SD	9
7	Caleb Sturgis, PHI	9
8	Cairo Santos, KC	8.5
9	Brandon McManus, DEN	8.5
10	Adam Vinatieri, IND	8.5