Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 13: Predicting Studs and Duds for Every Position

For many fantasy football leagues, this marks the final weekend of the regular season. Tensions are sure to run high starting with three games on Thanksgiving and carrying on through the anticipated Monday Night Football matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.

As fantasy owners make their final push for the postseason, they'll have the benefit of full rosters, as all 32 teams will be in action for Week 13. Let's take a look at players you should start and sit during this football-filled weekend.

Start 'Em: Cowboys QB Tony Romo

It's been a month since Tony Romo last threw three touchdowns in a game, but he'll have a good chance to do it against the Oakland Raiders on Thanksgiving Day. After all, this is the same secondary that allowed Nick Foles to throw for seven touchdowns in Week 9.

This week's Sports Illustrated cover boy should be able to take advantage of the 25th-ranked pass defense (258.1 yards allowed per game) with Dez Bryant taking the lead. As Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle noted, Bryant had three catches for 55 yards against Oakland's starters in the preseason before exiting the game.

Dan Clasgens of SiriusXM fantasy also notes that Romo has had a habit of big games on Thanksgiving in his career:

Even though Miles Austin had just one catch for 17 yards last week, expect him to play a bigger role in the offense after sitting out a few weeks with a hamstring injury.

Sit 'Em: Colts QB Andrew Luck

The Arizona Cardinals made Andrew Luck look bad Sunday, and now he's getting ready for a Tennessee Titans team that held him in check in Week 11. Luck led the Indianapolis Colts to a 30-27 victory in the second half, but he finished 23-of-36 for 232 yards and one rushing touchdown.

Mike Clay of Pro Football Focus shared a stat on how stingy the Titans have been against opposing quarterbacks lately:

Things haven't been the same since his top target Reggie Wayne went down with an ACL injury in Week 7. In the four contests without Wayne, Luck has been able to average a healthy 254.8 yards per game, but he has just five touchdowns and four interceptions.

You can't expect Luck to have another rushing touchdown against the Titans, and his recent inability to find the end zone through the air makes him avoidable this week.

Start 'Em: 49ers RB Frank Gore

Frank Gore hasn't rushed for more than 82 yards in five weeks and hasn't scored in a month, but should be able to accomplish both things against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. ESPN Stats and Information also noted Gore's career success against St. Louis:

When these two teams faced off in Week 4, Gore carried the ball 20 times for a season-high 153 yards and a touchdown behind some gaping holes from his offensive line. While the recent lack of production is concerning, Gore and the entire 49ers offense will benefit from the expected return of receiver Michael Crabtree this week.

Sit 'Em: Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell

The rookie has established himself as the undisputed bell cow of the Pittsburgh backfield in recent weeks, but the Baltimore Ravens defense is playing at a high level right now.

Baltimore turned in its best performance of the year in last week's 19-3 victory over the New York Jets and held the team to 108 yards on the ground. While Bell had 19 carries for a season-high 93 yards when playing the Ravens in Week 7, Baltimore hasn't allowed a tailback to rush for more than 83 yards since then.

Bell might have had success against this front seven before, but the Ravens look like they're evolving into a dominant unit right now.

Start 'Em: Cardinals WR Michael Floyd

Michael Floyd has emerged as a talented sidekick for Larry Fitzgerald in the Arizona Cardinals offense. Carson Palmer has had a nice resurgence this year and Floyd has been a major benefactor, especially in recent weeks.

Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 mentioned Floyd's success in the past two games:

On Sunday, Palmer and the Arizona passing attack should have a field day against the Philadelphia Eagles secondary, which gives up a league-worst 300.1 passing yards per game.

Sit 'Em: Colts WR T.Y. Hilton

T.Y. Hilton was expected to emerge as the go-to guy in the passing game once Reggie Wayne went down with his season-ending injury, but the young wideout has regressed in recent weeks. In the past two games, Hilton has a combined 10 catches for 82 yards.

That's what comes with the territory of being a No. 1 receiver, as noted by Craig Kelley of Colts.com:

Hilton, Luck and the Colts didn't fare well for fantasy owners against the Titans in the Week 11, and there's no reason to think they will this time around.

Start 'Em: Titans TE Delanie Walker

Ryan Fitzpatrick has breathed new life into a Tennessee passing offense in recent weeks, with Walker and wideouts Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter reaping the benefits. Walker has enjoyed unprecedented success in the fantasy football department in recent weeks, highlighted by his career day against the Colts in Week 11.

In that contest, Walker set career highs in catches (10) and yards (91) while hauling in a touchdown. Walker has totaled 27 targets in the past three weeks and has become a vital part of the offense with Fitzpatrick under center.

Sit 'Em: Chargers TE Antonio Gates

Antonio Gates won't only be competing against the menacing Cincinnati Bengals defense Sunday, but he'll also be competing for catches against a teammate.

Fellow San Diego Chargers tight end Ladarius Green has put together back-to-back 80-yard performances in the past two weeks and is encroaching on Gates' role in the offense. While Gates' 15 targets in those two contests are more than the 10 Green received, the veteran has only seven catches, 73 yards and a touchdown to show for it.

Green's emergence doesn't bode well for Gates fantasy owners going forward, as Philip Rivers now has another tight end option he can trust in the passing game.