Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Guide for Top Players and Sleepers

Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season could be among the trickiest for fantasy football managers to navigate.

Oh, and the stakes are at an all-time high with the fantasy playoffs fast approaching.

So, sorry, but you have no choice but to try navigating your way through this maze, which includes one of the busiest bye schedules (six teams are off) and a perpetually climbing injury count.

We're here to help however we can, though, as we're laying out our Week 13 rankings and spotlighting a sleeper at each of the three marquee positions.

Quarterback

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after a two-point conversion during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Patrick Mahomes, KC (at GB)

2. Dak Prescott, DAL (vs. SEA)

3. Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. SF)

4. C.J. Stroud, HOU (vs. DEN)

5. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (at WAS)

6. Brock Purdy, SF (at PHI)

7. Kyler Murray, ARI (at PIT)

8. Justin Herbert, LAC (at NE)

9. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (vs. CIN)

10. Jared Goff, DET (at NO)

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Sleeper: Derek Carr, NO (vs. DET)

Carr has become one of the most volatile players at the position, so there is some risk in trusting him here. Every now and then, the bottom completely drops out. He's had three different outings in which he failed to throw for 130 yards, and he managed just a single touchdown pass in those games combined.

However, he's had another five games in which he's put up better than 300 passing yards. He only threw for multiple scores in one of those contests, but with this level of volume, that feels a little fluky. Give him good yardage and the touchdown count you'd expect in that performance, and he could light it up.

If you're streaming at quarterback this week, you want a good opportunity in a favorable matchup. Carr checks both boxes. The Saints clearly don't mind letting him air it out—he's tied for the ninth-most passing attempts this season—and he's set to tussle with a Lions defense that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to QBs, per Yahoo.

Running Back

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 26: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Christian McCaffrey, SF (at PHI)

2. Travis Etienne, JAX (vs. CIN)

3. Jonathan Taylor, IND (at TEN)

4. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. IND)

5. Austin Ekeler, LAC (at NE)

6. Tony Pollard, DAL (vs. SEA)

7. Isiah Pacheco, KC (at GB)

8. Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. DET)

9. Rachaad White, TB (vs. CAR)

10. Bijan Robinson, ATL (at NYJ)

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Sleeper: Jaylen Warren, PIT (vs. ARI)

While Warren saw his three-game streak of 100-plus scrimmage yards snapped on Sunday, the week wasn't a complete waste. He still saw 13 carries and hauled in all three of his targets, a workload that has typically yielded a more productive performance.

In his three prior outings, he'd averaged 106 rushing yards and 16.7 receiving yards. He also made two of his three trips to the end zone this season.

Warren doesn't need a ton of touches to make an impact, as his average carry has gone for an impressive 5.8 yards. But when he is heavily involved, his numbers can really take off, especially in a good matchup. That's what he'll get this week, as Arizona has given up the third-most fantasy points to the position.

Wide Receiver

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DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 23: Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) runs upfield with a catch for a first down during the Detroit Lions versus the Green Bay Packers game on Thursday November 23, 2023 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Tyreek Hill, MIA (at WAS)

2. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (vs. SEA)

3. A.J. Brown, PHI (vs. SF)

4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (at NO)

5. Keenan Allen, LAC (at NE)

6. Mike Evans, TB (vs. CAR)

7. Chris Olave, NO (vs. DET)

8. Michael Pittman Jr., IND (at TEN)

9. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (at JAX)

10. Brandon Aiyuk, SF (at PHI)

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Sleeper: Josh Downs, IND (at TEN)

Fantasy football can be a funny game sometimes. Like, for instance, when it allows for encouragement to be found from someone who didn't crack 50 receiving yards (or find the end zone) and only bring down 38.5 percent of their targets.

That was the story for Downs in Week 12, and if you started him in that contest, you surely didn't feel great about it. However, a lot of the disappointment was tied to what he could have done in that game, seeing as he saw a season-high 13 targets.

Considering he'd previously caught 43-of-60 targets (71.7 percent), it hardly feels like this level of inefficiency should suddenly be the expectation.

His opportunity volume might have some lasting power, though, since this marked the fifth time the rookie third-rounder had seen at least seven targets.

If Downs sees a similar number of looks in Week 13, he should make a lot more of them count, as he's going up against a vulnerable Titans secondary that has yielded the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.