Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Expert Advice Roundup from Around the Web

A few fantasy managers may be heading into the weekend of Week 13 needing to play catch-up. Thursday and Friday brought four playoff-caliber matchups while taking eight teams out of the remaining fantasy pool.

Many managers will be forced to rely on second-tier starters and/or players facing unfavorable matchups on Sunday and Monday.

Here, you'll find some of the best and worst remaining plays of Week 13, along with fantasy input from experts around the web.

Start: Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

At first blush, Houston Texans running back Woody Marks feels like a risky play. He's failed to reach eight fantasy points in three of his last four outings, and his matchup with the Indianapolis Colts is less than ideal.

The Colts have surrendered 18.7 fantasy points to opposing backfields this season.

However, Indy's status as a bottom-12 fantasy matchup might be a bit deceiving. As Sports Illustrated's Michael Fabiano recently noted, the Colts have not been a true shut-down defense.

"I'd flex the rookie runner where needed against the Colts," Fabiano wrote. "Their defense has surrendered double digits to 11 running backs, including seven who have scored more than 15 points."

Marks has supplanted Nick Chubb as the top lead back in Houston, and he tends to get most of the receiving work. He should have a high PPR floor against the Colts this weekend.

Sit: Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

It's not likely to matter which young, inexperienced quarterback the Minnesota Vikings have behind center this week. Their matchup with a top-tier Seattle Seahawks defense is going to be difficult for all involved.

"Unfortunately, there isn't a Viking that fantasy players should consider a must-start this week," Mike Fanelli of FantasyPros wrote. "Furthermore, Justin Jefferson is the only one I would consider a potential starter against the Seahawks."

This could be a particularly rough week for running back Aaron Jones, especially if Seattle dares the Vikings to beat them through the air. Seattle has surrendered an average of only 16.8 fantasy points to opposing backfields.

Jones has tallied double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four games, but he's averaged just 10.1 fantasy points over the course of the season. He could fall well below his average this week.

Start: Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

The New England Patriots are arguably the NFL's hottest team, due in no small part to the second-year emergence of Drake Maye. The quarterback is a legitimate MVP candidate, and one might assume that means his top veteran receiver has been fantasy gold.

That hasn't exactly been the case, though. Diggs has had some fantastic weeks and has averaged a solid 12.2 fantasy points per week. However, he's had some duds too, like his four-point outing against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12.

As USA Today's Jack McKessy pointed out, the firing of New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen could give Diggs a prime opportunity.

"This week lines up to be a 'boom' week for the Patriots' top receiving target as they take on a subpar Big Blue unit that's also adapting to a new defensive coordinator calling plays," McKessy wrote.

New York has surrendered an average of 30.3 fantasy points to opposing receiver groups, and a coaching change probably won't precipitate a massive improvement in only a week.

Sit: Deebo Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Washington Commanders receiver/runner Deebo Samuel has rewarded fantasy managers a few times this season. Two weeks ago, for example, he racked up 20.7 fantasy points against the Miami Dolphins.

However, there are a couple of reasons to fade Samuel this week. The first, as noted by Draft Sharks' Jody Smith, is that Samuel has been very touchdown-dependent with Marcus Mariota at quarterback.

"Samuel has struggled with Marcus Mariota under center, averaging 39.4 receiving yards in Mariota's five starts (compared to 54.6 with Jayden Daniels)," Smith wrote. "Terry McLaurin's expected return threatens Samuel's role further."

The other issue is a matchup with the Denver Broncos, who have been extremely stingy defensively. Coming into Week 13, no team had surrendered fewer fantasy points to opposing receivers.

*Fantasy scoring information from FrantasyPros.