Fantasy Football Week 13: Flex and PPR Rankings

Fantasy football owners understand the importance of setting the optimal lineup for Week 13 as the playoffs approach, and breaking down the latest flex and points-per-reception rankings could be the difference between winning a championship and missing the postseason.

Most traditional fantasy leagues begin the playoffs in Week 15. With just two weeks remaining before the run to the fantasy championship begins, owners must build momentum heading into the most important part of the season.

Here are the overall flex and PPR rankings for Week 13. When in doubt, start the higher-ranked player on each list.

Flex Rankings

Rank	Player
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
2	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
3	Antonio Brown, PIT, WR
4	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
5	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
6	Le'Veon Bell, PIT, RB
7	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
8	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
9	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
10	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
11	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
12	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
13	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
14	A.J. Green, CIN, WR
15	Mike Evans, TB, WR
16	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
17	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
18	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
19	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
20	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
21	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
22	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
23	Trent Richardson, IND, RB
24	Alfred Morris, WSH, RB
25	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
27	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR, WR
28	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
29	Rashad Jennings, NYG, RB
30	Mark Ingram, NO, RB
31	C.J. Anderson, DEN, RB
32	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
33	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN, WR
34	Josh Gordon, CLE, WR
35	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB
36	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
37	Denard Robinson, JAX, RB
38	Roddy White, ATL, WR
39	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR
40	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
41	Justin Forsett, BAL, RB
42	Sammy Watkins, BUF, WR
43	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR
44	Percy Harvin, NYJ, WR
45	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
46	LeGarrette Blount, NE, RB
47	Jason Witten, DAL, TE
48	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
49	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
50	Keenan Allen, SD, WR

Finding the right player to fill in as a flex play in Week 13 is crucial, and starting running back Ryan Mathews of the San Diego Chargers or wide receiver Mike Wallace of the Miami Dolphins is a must for fantasy owners.

Mathews returned to the San Diego lineup in Week 11 after missing eight weeks while recovering from a knee injury. Amassing 75 all-purpose yards in his return was impressive, but he managed to rack up 113 yards and a touchdown in Week 12 against St. Louis.

While Mathews did injure his shoulder during the game, he returned in the latter stages and should be ready for action in Week 13 against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense. Despite the tough matchup, owners should expect another 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in what should become an AFC shootout.

Another player worth considering this week is Wallace. The receiver is coming off his second-lowest number of targets in a game this year, but he still managed to snag four receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown.

With two touchdowns in the last three games and seven touchdowns on the season, it is clear that quarterback Ryan Tannehill is targeting Wallace in the red zone. Against a New York Jets defense that was decimated by the Buffalo Bills in Week 12, Wallace and the entire Dolphins roster should have a big statistical day.

Fantasy owners should expect six receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown. Start both Mathews and Wallace as your flex in Week 13.

PPR Rankings

Rank	Player
1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	Antonio Brown, PIT, WR
3	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
4	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
5	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
6	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
7	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
8	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
9	Mike Evans, TB, WR
10	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
11	Le'Veon Bell, PIT, RB
12	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
13	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
14	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
15	A.J. Green, CIN, WR
16	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
17	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
18	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
19	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
20	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR, WR
21	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
22	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN, WR
23	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
24	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
25	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
27	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
28	Josh Gordon, CLE, WR
29	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB
30	Sammy Watkins, BUF, WR
31	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
32	Rashad Jennings, NYG, RB
33	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
34	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
35	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
36	C.J. Anderson, DEN, RB
37	Golden Tate, DET, WR
38	DeSean Jackson, WSH, WR
39	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
40	Alfred Morris, WSH, RB
41	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
42	Roddy White, ATL, WR
43	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR
44	Percy Harvin, NYJ, WR
45	Steve Smith, BAL, WR
46	Denard Robinson, JAX, RB
47	Trent Richardson, IND, RB
48	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
49	Justin Forsett, BAL, RB
50	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR

There are several viable options for fantasy owners in PPR leagues this week, but few are as intriguing as New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen.

Despite being a rookie receiver who missed the first several games with an injury, Beckham has become New York’s No. 1 receiver and is a favorite target of Eli Manning. Beckham has been targeted at least 10 times in each of the last four games and has proven that any ball thrown his way is catchable.

On top of the steady targets, Beckham is putting up the numbers to boot. Over the last four games, he has amassed 503 yards and two touchdowns. Fantasy owners should expect eight receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in a favorable matchup against Jacksonville.

A player being lost in the shuffle is Vereen. The signing of LeGarrette Blount resulted in the bruising back getting much of the work between the tackles. While Vereen was stifled on the ground (12 yards on eight carries), he caught eight passes for 48 yards.

New England plays Green Bay in what should be a high-scoring battle, and Vereen could be the biggest winner of the day. Vereen is the clear passing-down back, one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets and is squaring off against the 30th-ranked run defense (allowing 136.7 yards per game).

Owners should expect 10 carries for 40 yards, six receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown.

If you need a big win in Week 13, ride with Beckham and Vereen, and enjoy the spoils of victory.

*Stats via NFL.com.