Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 13: Lineup Advice, Stars to Exploit and Sleeper Options
We've officially reached Week 13, which means that most season-long fantasy leagues will soon start their playoffs. Making the right lineup decisions is as critical as ever, and in the final week with a large chunk of teams on bye, it could be difficult.
Week 14 will actually feature the final byes, but only the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders will be out of action. This week, the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants will be off.
Below, we'll dive into some of our favorite matchups to target and a couple to avoid. We'll also run down some potential sleepers to target on the waiver wire.
Start: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
1 of 6
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has been trustworthy more often than not this season, but if he's in your lineup as part of a streaming plan, now is probably a good time to start him.
The Cowboys have been significantly better at home this season, and on Thursday, they'll host the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle has been a middle-of-the-road unit against opposing quarterbacks and has allowed the 15th-most fantasy points to opposing QBs.
While the Seahawks should put up more of a fight than the Washington Commanders did last Thursday, home-field advantage should help boost Prescott's numbers.
In Dallas' last three home games, Prescott has topped 300 receiving yards with four passing touchdowns every single time. He might not reach those numbers for a fourth straight time, but he should have a strong fantasy outing.
Sit: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
2 of 6
We're far less bullish on Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford as a streamer, even though he's coming off a four-touchdown performance. He'll be up against a Cleveland Browns defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
While the Browns were routed by the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Russell Wilson did most of his damage on the ground. Stafford isn't going to rack up the rushing yardage, and it looks like he'll be trying to avoid Myles Garrett, despite Garrett's shoulder injury.
"Pro Bowl DE Myles Garrett, who left Sunday's game with his shoulder in a sling, checked out OK today, sources say. He was described as sore, but day-to-day," NFL Media's Ian Rapoport posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
QB-needy managers can consider Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett as a waiver target and potential Week 13 sleeper. In his first game post-Matt Canada, Pickett threw for 278 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.
This week, Pickett will face an Arizona Cardinals defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Pickett is rostered in 16 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Start: Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 of 6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White hasn't produced eye-popping rushing numbers often this season. However, he's regularly involved in the passing game and has had a steady diet of volume, giving him a solid floor as a flex starter.
Against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, White had his first 100-yard outing of the season. He rushed for exactly 100 yards and added two receptions for 10 yards.
White has topped 95 scrimmage yards in five of his last six games. In the six, he had six receptions to go with a rushing touchdown. This week, he has an extremely high floor and perhaps an even higher ceiling.
The Carolina Panthers have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Sit: Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks
4 of 6
With Kenneth Walker III battling an oblique injury, Zach Charbonnet got the start for Seattle in Week 12. However, he didn't exactly reward fantasy managers. He did have four receptions, but he finished with only 58 scrimmage yards.
Charbonnet's results aren't likely to be much better against a Cowboys defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. That's even assuming that Walker doesn't make his way back into the lineup against Dallas.
While Charbonnet has had 29 carries over the past two games, before Walker exited in Week 11, the rookie hadn't recorded more than six rushing attempts in a contest.
RB-needy managers should take a look at Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle, who has found the end zone in two of his last three games. Dowdle is still the clear No. 2 back behind Tony Pollard, but he's a low-tier flex option with some upside against the Seahawks.
Seattle has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs in 2023. Dowdle is rostered in 12 percent of Yahoo leagues and nine percent of ESPN leagues.
Start: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
5 of 6
San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel is a weekly must-start because of his prominent role on the offense and dual-threat ability. Brandon Aiyuk has been a little more hit-or-miss, but when he hits, he tends to hit big.
Aiyuk is coming off a two-catch, 50-yard, one-touchdown outing, he had 156 receiving yards the previous game, and he's found the end zone in three straight outings.
This week, Aiyuk has a favorable matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have struggled against opposing wideouts. While the Eagles defense is tremendous up front, it has allowed more fantasy points to opposing receivers than any other team.
In what should be a back-and-forth battle with the defending NFC champions, the 49ers should look to get Aiyuk involved early and often.
Sit: Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
6 of 6
Atlanta Falcons wideout Drake London is another hit-or-miss receiver who happens to be coming off a good game. He finished Week 12 with five catches for 91 yards, but he failed to top 55 yards in his previous three games.
This week is one in which to avoid London. The Falcons are set to visit the New York Jets, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2023. London is likely to face a heavy dose of Sauce Gardner, which isn't likely to result in a top fantasy performance.
Green Bay Packers wideout Jayden Reed is worth a look on the waiver wire and has some mid-level flex value, even against a tough Kansas City Chiefs defense.
The Chiefs have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers, which obviously isn't ideal. However, Reed has emerged as one of Jordan Love's most-trusted targets and has a high point-per-reception (PPR) floor. Over the past three weeks, he's caught at least four passes in every game and found the end zone twice.
Reed is rostered in 48 percent of Yahoo leagues and 32 percent of ESPN leagues.
*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
