Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Each Position's Flex and PPR Projections

There are some notable differences when it comes to setting standard and PPR fantasy lineups. What is the same for both formats is that Week 13 means the fantasy postseason is either here or right around the corner.

With the week already underway, you may be scrambling to adjust and set the ideal lineup in time to make an impact. Well, we're here to help with our Week 13 flex and PPR positional rankings.

We'll be breaking down the best players at each position and ranking them based on our projections for both standard and PPR formats. We will also examine some risers and fallers for each.

All rankings are based on factors like past performances, projected roles, player and team health and matchups.

Good luck!

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player
1	Drew Brees, NO
2	Matt Ryan, ATL
3	Aaron Rodgers, GB
4	Matthew Stafford, DET
5	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
6	Carson Palmer, ARI
7	Tom Brady, NE
8	Russel Wilson, SEA
9	Philip Rivers, SD
10	Jameis Winston, TB

Up: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has a relatively tough matchup this week against the Kansas City Chiefs—who are rated eighth in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. Here's the thing, though. Ryan doesn't care about your matchups.

Last week, Ryan went up against an Arizona Cardinals defense that is rated second overall by Pro Football Focus. He finished with a respectable 269 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception. The Falcons rolled to a 38-19 blowout victory.

For the season, Ryan already has more than 3,500 yards passing with 26 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Expect his strong campaign to continue in Week 13, despite a quality defense on the docket.

Down: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Do you remember when the Cincinnati Bengals were a perennial playoff team and quarterback Andy Dalton was playing like he might be the next elite quarterback? Yeah, that was only a year ago, but in the fantasy world, it has been (and should be) long forgotten.

Dalton has been just average this season, and that's being polite. He has passed for more than 3,000 yards, but he has just 12 touchdowns to go with nine turnovers. It doesn't help Dalton's up-and-down nature that the Bengals are now playing without A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard.

"'Aloha' means both 'hello' and “good-bye,” and Dalton means both good and bad," Kevin Clark of The Ringer recently wrote.

Expect a healthy dose of bad Dalton this week against the Philadelphia Eagles, who are rated third in pass rush by Pro Football Focus.

Running Backs

Rank	Standard Flex	PPR Flex
1	David Johnson, ARI	Le'Veon Bell, PIT
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	David Johnson, ARI
3	Melvin Gordon, SD	Melvin Gordon, SD
4	LeSean McCoy, BUF	LeSean McCoy, BUF
5	Jordan Howard, CHI	Jordan Howard, CHI
6	Matt Forte, NYJ	Spencer Ware, KC
7	Spencer Ware, KC	Matt Forte, NYJ
8	Devontae Booker, DEN	Theo Riddick, DET
9	Jay Ajayi, MIA	Devontae Booker, DEN
10	Devonta Freeman, ATL	Jay Ajayi, MIA
11	Latavius Murray, OAK	Devonta Freeman, ATL
12	LeGarrette Blount, NE	Latavius Murray, OAK
13	Robert Kelley, WAS	Darren Sproles, PHI
14	Carlos Hyde, SF	Lamar Miller, HOU
15	Doug Martin, TB	Robert Kelley, WAS
16	Jeremy Hill, CIN	Doug Martin, TB
17	Lamar Miller, HOU	Frank Gore, IND
18	Frank Gore, IND	Thomas Rawls, SEA
19	Thomas Rawls, SEA	Jeremy Hill, CIN
20	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	Carlos Hyde, SF

Up: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

If you're a Le'Veon Bell owner, you're probably not considering benching him. However, you might be a bit concerned about what to expect against a New York Giants team that is rated seventh in run defense by Pro Football Focus.

We're here to tell you not to worry. It doesn't really matter what kind of run defense Bell is facing. Because of his receiving ability, he's going to find ways to produce. Bell has racked up 57 receptions for 437 yards in just eight games. This is in addition to his 699 yards rushing and four total touchdowns.

The PPR value for Bell should be obvious. However, he holds a lot of value in standard formats as well because of his ability to get combined yardage. Three weeks ago against the Dallas Cowboys, for example, Bell only had 57 rushing yards. Yet yet his receiving yardage pushed him over 130 total yards for the day.

Play Bell and don't think twice about the matchup.

Down: James White, New England Patriots

New England Patriots running back James White is still going to hold some value as a pass-catcher, especially with tight end Rob Gronkowski now out of the passing game plan. However, his value is on the decline due to the return of Dion Lewis.

According to Pro Football Focus, White has seen 50 offensive snaps over the past two weeks, while Lewis has seen 44 and LeGarrette Blount 62. White has 10 catches in that span, while Lewis has 11.

Realistically, it's hard to recommend starting either Lewis or White right now, especially in standard formats. Split backfields are bad enough, but when your receiving-back job is split, fantasy troubles tend to ensue. Adding to the value decline is the fact that this week, the Patriots battle the Los Angeles Rams.

Pro Football Focus rates L.A. seventh in overall defense for the season so far.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Standard Flex	PPR Flex
1	Antonio Brown, PIT	Antonio Brown, PIT
2	Julio Jones, ATL	Julio Jones, ATL
3	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	Mike Evans, TB
4	Mike Evans, TB	Odell Beckham Jr,. NYG
5	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
6	Jordy Nelson, GB	Jordy Nelson, GB
7	Amari Cooper, OAK	Julian Edelman, NE
8	T.Y. Hilton, IND	Amari Cooper, OAK
9	Julian Edelman, NE	T.Y. Hilton, IND
10	Doug Baldwin, SEA	Doug Baldwin, SEA
11	Brandin Cooks, NO	Jamison Crowder, WAS
12	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	Golden Tate, DET
13	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	Michael Thomas, NO
14	Michael Thomas, NO	Demaryius Thomas, DEN
15	Marvin Jones, DET	Willie Snead, NO
16	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	Brandon Marshall, NYJ
17	Jamison Crowder, WAS	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN
18	Golden Tate, DET	Brandin Cooks, NO
19	Willie Snead, NO	Jordan Matthews, PHI
20	Michael Crabtree, OAK	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU

Up: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

If you haven't been paying attention, you might not realize just how good rookie New Orleans Saints wideout Michael Thomas has been this season. The Ohio State product has reeled in 65 receptions for 789 yards and seven touchdowns already this season.

Thomas is a competitor and is emerging as one of quarterback Drew Brees' favorite targets.

"That natural competitiveness has really come out," Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief said of Thomas, per Joel Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate. "He's a wide receiver that plays angry. I would compare him to a guy like Steve Smith that uses emotions to fuel his success on the field."

The rookie pass-catcher has become a must-start in fantasy, and he faces a favorable matchup in Week 13. The Detroit Lions are rated just 31st in overall defense by Pro Football Focus.

Down: Travis Benjamin

Former Cleveland Browns wideout Travis Benjamin got off to a strong start for the San Diego Chargers this season. However, his fantasy production has fallen off in recent weeks because of injury (knee) and because of the emergence of Dontrelle Inman and Tyrell Williams.

Inamn and Williams combined for 14 receptions, 189 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Houston Texans. Benjamin has just two receptions and 13 yards in his last two games combined.

San Diego has a decent matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, but Benjamin owners may not capitalize.

Tight Ends

Rank	Standard Flex	PPR Flex
1	Jimmy Graham, SEA	Travis Kelce, KC
2	Travis Kelce, KC	Jimmy Graham, SEA
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	Greg Olsen, CAR
4	Eric Ebron, DET	Eric Ebron, DET
5	Antonio Gates, SD	Tyler Eifert, CIN
6	Tyler Eifert, CIN	Antonio Gates, SD
7	Zach Ertz, PHI	Zach Ertz, PHI
8	Vernon Davis, WAS	Dannis Pitta, BAL
9	Martellus Bennett, NE	Vernon Davis, WAS
10	Ladarius Green, PIT	Coby Fleener, NO

Up: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals

Dalton may not be a reliable fantasy option, but his tight end, Tyler Eifert, certainly is. In the five games since returning from injury, Eifert has amassed 21 receptions, 312 yards and two touchdowns.

His role—and his fantasy production—should only grow now that Green is out of the lineup.

Against a very good Baltimore Ravens defense—rated ninth in pass coverage by Pro Football focus—Eifert managed to produce five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Expect him to have another solid outing this week against the Eagles.

Down: Dion Sims, Miami Dolphins

This week, Miami Dolphins tight end Dion Sims will get to match up against that tough Ravens secondary. We don't predict Sims to have as successful an outing as Eifert did.

Sims hasn't been a major fantasy producer for the vast majority of the season. In fact, he has just 15 receptions for 167 yards and a touchdown.

You might be tempted to give Sims a shot, though, based on his Week 12 production. Against the San Francisco 49ers, Sims hauled in four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. Our honest impression is that the outing was an aberration.

Kickers

Rank	Player
1	Matt Bryant, ATL
2	Justin Tucker, BAL
3	Dustin Hopkins, WAS
4	Caleb Sturgis, PHI
5	Matt Prater, DET
6	Wil Lutz, NO
7	Josh Lambo, SD
8	Cairo Santos, KC
9	Sebastian Janikowski, OAK
10	Adam Vinatieri, IND