Fantasy Football Week 13: Sunday Morning Gameday Preview

Another Sunday full of NFL action is upon us. This, of course, also means another full day of fantasy football. In this piece, we focus on preparing you for the busy day of gridiron entertainment ahead. 

There are several pivotal matchups to consider around the league, but we're most interested in the shootout in the Superdome between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. Two potent offenses and subpar defenses meet on an indoor fast track for what could be a slate-shifting game for both redraft and daily fantasy competition.

Join us in canvassing the league with specific matchup metrics for each game on the Sunday slate. Feel free to share your lineup questions and predictions in the comments below.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

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Game Preview

The Detroit Lions are the first team to have their 11 games decided by seven or fewer points, per ESPN Stats & Info. It's fitting to find the New Orleans Saints as six-point home favorites, per OddsShark, as this is again expected to be close battle. The most impressive metric from Vegas, however, is the robust point total hovering around 53 points, the highest of the entire slate and an indicator we could see a shootout unfold in the Superdome.

Injury Updates

The Lions' Marvin Jones could reportedly miss the game with a lingering quad injury, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. With the team promoting receiver T.J. Jones from the practice squad, this could be an indication the starting receiver's availability is truly in doubt.

Nick Underhill of The Advocate reports Mark Ingram isn't certain for Sunday with a lingering toe issue. This reads like a game-time decision, but the good news is we should know Ingram's status well ahead of kickoff.

Fantasy Fixtures

Lions

Theo Riddick is the key fantasy asset from this roster, as he's enjoyed 16 percent of the team's targets while averaging nine carries and 44 yards on the ground over the past month. The Saints have yielded the most receiving yards per game to tailbacks, thus Riddick is a high-floor asset with real upside.

Matthew Stafford is also a building block, as he's facing a Saints secondary that rates 29th in pass coverage on Pro Football Focus. With Jones ailing, Golden Tate gets a sizable surge in market share and is a high-floor option in points-per-reception formats.

Saints

Drew Brees has been amazing at home this season as the Saints score 50.5 percent more points per drive than the league average home offense in the NFL this season. We dig shares of all three receivers; Brandin Cooks is due to bounce back with a strong big-play profile, Michael Thomas has the best market share on the offense over the past six games and Willie Snead has earned at least seven targets in three of four.

In the backfield, we can find room for both Tim Hightower and Ingram as RB2 or flex plays, although expectations are tempered for the latter given the aforementioned toe issue.

Sleepers and Streamers

Eric Ebron is a worthy streaming tight end even in the face of some sluggish recent usage trends. The point total is so impressive for this game and with Jones ailing, there is some hope for a revival in the target department for this talented go tight end. Anquan Boldin becomes a viable flex option with Jones ailing and likely out. 

For the Saints, we dig sleeper tight end Josh Hill, as he earned more snaps, targets, routes and yards than Coby Fleener last week.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots

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Game Preview

The New England Patriots suffered a sizable blow this week with the season-ending injury to Rob Gronkowksi, but the peerless continuity they display should see the team adapt and lean heavily on their receivers and tailbacks as the scheme always adapts capably to circumstance.

The Los Angeles Rams are last in the NFL in points per drive on offense and have a rookie quarterback making his third start on the road against a top AFC contender, thus we find them in an unfavorable spot in both real and fantasy football prospects.

Injury Updates

Greg Beacham of the Associated Press reports Rams receiver Tavon Austin is listed as doubtful after not practicing this week with a chest injury. Austin has consumed just over 21 percent of the team's targets this season.

Julian Edelman, Tom Brady, Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett are all listed as questionable but are expected to play on Sunday, while Gronkowski is ruled out with a serious back injury, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

Fantasy Fixtures

Rams

Toddy Gurley continues to hold investors hostage as a weekly RB2 with a low floor and low ceiling. It's almost impressive. As the only true starting asset, Gurley's penchant for earning 20 touches supports a worthy floor.

Patriots

Tom Brady is a must-start even with the deflated offensive upside sans Gronkowski, while Julian Edelman's 28 percent market share of the team's targets since Week 5 is third in the NFL. LeGarrette Blount remains a strong candidate to score given he's tied for second in the NFL in goal-to-go touches per game.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Patriots' Dion Lewis has some intriguing upside in points-per-reception formats with his sizable leap in target and touch share last week. Tight end Martellus Bennett also enters the streaming tier, as he'll prove schematically important as the sole viable receiving tight end on the roster.

Some deep interest in Malcolm Mitchell makes sense, but we'd prefer to prove patience outside of leagues of at least 14 teams given the variant usage pattern we see for the team's outside receivers.

Shares of the Rams' Kenny Britt are somewhat intriguing, as he's on pace for around 1,200 yards and has a big-play skill set in a game that could see the team trailing throughout. An uptick in targets with Austin out is also an angle supporting interest in Britt.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars

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Game Preview

Even as they are on the road, the Denver Broncos are afforded a win probability rate of 79 percent by FiveThirtyEight's predictive Elo model. This is the second-highest confidence rate of the slate, which makes sense when we consider Denver has the highest pressure rate on opposing quarterbacks of the past eight seasons. Likely under duress and without a running game to support him, Blake Bortles could be in for another ugly outing for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Injury Updates

Denver's Trevor Siemian won't play on Sunday, with rookie Paxton Lynch set to start behind center for the Broncos, per Mike Klis of 9News.com.

Mike DiRocco of ESPN reports T.J. Yeldon's workload will be determined as a game-time decision, per coach Gus Bradley. This suggests we'll see Yeldon active, but limited, affording Denard Robinson a heavy workload. Tailback Chris Ivory and receiver Allen Hurns have been ruled out for the game, per John Oehser of the team's site, while Julius Thomas is listed as doubtful.  

Fantasy Fixtures 

Broncos

The Denver defense is the most identifiably strong starter in this game. We also dig shares of the team's trio of high-usage skill players—Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Devontae Booker. The upside for the receivers could be compromised with a rookie behind center, but Lynch's big arm should serve them well against a soft secondary. 

Jaguars 

Allen Robinson faces a Denver defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points in ESPN leagues to receivers and the fewest yards per game to the position. "A-Rob" is essentially a borderline WR3 at this point.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Jags' Robinson could prove busy and serve as an intriguing deep-league flex against a Denver defense that has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game to opposing backs.

Fantasy Football Week 13: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears

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Game Preview

Some snow is expected in Chicago during game time, but with light wind, this shouldn't affect the playing conditions dramatically, per Weather.com.

The Bears' decimated offense is down to third-string signal-caller Matt Barkley and a patchwork collection of receivers, which is why we find the visiting San Francisco 49ers somehow listed as road favorites in the midst of a 10-game losing streak, per OddsShark. There is some fantasy fun to be had in this contest, but the quality of play could suffer given the depleted talent levels on both sides.

Injury Updates

There are no meaningful injuries of note heading into this contest.

Fantasy Fixtures

49ers

Colin Kaepernick has 102 more rushing yards than any other quarterback since Week 6 and is a strong starting option against a depleted Chicago front seven missing both starting inside linebackers. We also identify workhorse Carlos Hyde as a viable starting option on a shallow market for busy backs.

Bears

Jordan Howard is the rare 20-touch back and faces a 49ers defense that has yielded 150 rushing yards per game to tailbacks, most in the NFL. This could be a solid RB1 outing for Howard.

Sleepers and Streamers

Vance McDonald is a solid streaming tight end given his uptick in usage and big-play ability with Kaepernick.

In deeper and multi-quarterback formats, some interest in Matt Barkley is interesting, as he lofted 54 passes last week and could find a rapport with wideout Marquess Wilson in the streaming tier.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers

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Game Preview

The Green Bay Packers have struggled on defense this season but are poised as sizable home favorites—per OddsShark—thanks in part to the fact the Houston Texans have tallied just 66 points and have gone 1-4 in five road games this season. Their clip of 13.2 points per game on the road is the worst in the NFL, suggesting the Packers are in a strong position as home favorites.

Injury Updates

The Packers have listed Aaron Rodgers as questionable, per Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's site, but having practiced all week, he's expected to start.

Fantasy Fixtures

Texans

Lamar Miller remains a weekly fixture thanks to workload alone, as he's sixth in the NFL with 21.6 touches per game. DeAndre Hopkins is merely a WR3 asset at this stage given how inept Brock Osweiler has proven. It helps to consider the Packers defense rates 31st in pass coverage on Pro Football Focus.

Packers

Aaron Rodgers has averaged just over 45 passes per game over the past six starts and is a high-floor QB1 against a Houston team that has allowed the 12th-most points per drive on the road this season. Receivers Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams are all viable starters given the volume-driven climate Rodgers supports.

Sleepers and Streamers

Houston's C.J. Fiedorowicz sees steady enough work and could thrive against the Packers' soft pass defense as the security valve for Osweiler.

Streaming the Packers' defense is intriguing given Houston's lackluster offense.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons

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Game Preview

The Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan is a stellar 9-2 in his career against AFC West teams and is undefeated in two starts against the Kansas City Chiefs with a nearly perfect QBR of 95.2. The Chiefs have forced a turnover in each of their last seven games, tied for the second-longest active streak in the NFL and one that proves vital if they hope to pull off the road upset.

With the Falcons' strong home offense in place in the Georgia Dome, we find them poised as nearly touchdown favorites with a point total hovering around 50 points, evidence the Chiefs will need to either play larcenous defense or keep pace with Atlanta's elite offense to contend.

Injury Updates

The Chiefs have ruled out Jeremy Maclin for another game, per the team's Twitter feed.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Chiefs

Spencer Ware could feast on the Falcons' front seven as Atlanta has allowed 69 percent more yards per game to backs in the receiving phase than league average. Travis Kelce has at least 100 yards in three of the past five and with Maclin out remains the key target on the team.

Falcons

Julio Jones is in an awesome spot against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the most yards per game to receivers this season. Matt Ryan is a strong starting asset at home on an elite offense, while Devonta Freeman is a must-start commodity given his strong share of goal-line work and total yardage floor.

Sleepers and Streamers

Tyreek Hill isn't a fantasy fixture just yet, but he does merit streaming and flex interest given his unique big-play ability and increase in market share with Maclin out. Similarly, the Falcons Taylor Gabriel earns interest in deep formats for his game-changing speed and unique usage.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens

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Game Preview

The Miami Dolphins are enjoying a six-game winning streak thanks to regained balance in the running phase and increased efficiency and ball security from Ryan Tannehill. The Ravens have allowed the fewest points per drive in the league, thus we expect a close and contentious battle between these conference foes.

Injury Updates

DeVante Parker is considered questionable to play with a lingering back issue, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Given the lack of practice participation, we advise having alternatives prepared for Parker.

Fantasy Fixtures

Dolphins

Jay Ajayi has averaged just over 23 touches per game since Week 6, but expectations are reasonably tempered against the best rush defense in the league. Jarvis Landry sees a worthy uptick in target share, thus he's a bankable WR3, especially in points-per-reception formats.  

Ravens

Steve Smith sees steady enough attention in the passing phase to merit trust in points-per-reception formats. While he's not as bankable in receptions, we love the yardage pattern for Mike Wallace, as his big-play ability shows up nearly every week.

Sleepers and Streamers

Miami's Kenny Stills could get loose a few times in this one, as his big-play ability and potential for more work with Parker ailing proves interesting.

For the Ravens, rookie running back Kenneth Dixon is on the ascent and could finally break out against the Dolphins' soft rush defense. Both defenses earn some interest, particularly the Dolphins' strong defense given their elite pass rush that ranks second in pressure rate.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders

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Game Preview

The Buffalo Bills lead the NFL in rushing and yards per rush, with their per-carry rate of 5.3 yards on pace to be the best in franchise history. The Bills have produced a sack on eight percent of opposing dropbacks, second best in the league, so the onus is one the Oakland Raiders to protect Derek Carr.

This should prove to be an intriguing battle on the line, as Carr has experienced the second-lowest pressure rate in the league and the lowest in the AFC. With a healthy point total in place and some talented big-play offensive weapons on both sides, this could be a rewarding fantasy environment.

Injury Updates

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Sammy Watkins is going to play through his sore foot, while Charles Clay is questionable after missing the team's flight due to the expected birth of his child, per the team's site.

Michael Crabtree is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, although he's expected to play given he participated in practice throughout the week.

Fantasy Fixtures

Bills

Tyrod Taylor has averaged 45 rushing yards since Week 6, second only to Colin Kaepernick among quarterbacks and evidence of his high fantasy floor. With Sammy Watkins expected to play, we're deploying him as a big-play weapon and the lone trusted target in this passing offense. Feature back LeSean McCoy has averaged 18.5 touches per game and just delivered a big-play filled showing in Week 12.

Raiders

Derek Carr's late-game dramatics and strong touchdown pattern support starting status in 12-team formats. Carr's top weapons in Crabtree and Amari Cooper each enjoy 24 percent market shares of the target market and are steady WR2 weapons.

Oakland's Latavius Murray is ascending in snaps and touches lately and is a fine feature option to consider as a high-floor RB2.

Sleepers and Streamers

It's not a solid setup for sleepers, although the Raiders' Seth Roberts is tied for the team lead in red-zone targets and has touchdown appeal in deeper formats.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals

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Game Preview

Both teams are dealing with depleted offensive corps and fading playoff positioning. The Cincinnati Bengals are still navigating their offense in the wake of some serious injuries, while the Philadelphia Eagles can't sustain drives with their inconsistent offense. The Bengals are just slight favorites in a game too close to call and with only a few meaningful fantasy narratives in play.

Injury Updates

Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advance Media reports the Eagles dealing with a true game-time decision with Jordan Matthews.  

Fantasy Fixtures

Eagles

With uncertainty in the backfield and receiving corps, we can assume Darren Sproles will earn a sizable market share of both phases and thus is a viable flex play. Zach Ertz earns increased appeal as a strong streamer with Matthews ailing.

Bengals

Tyler Eifert is a fine TE1 on a week that sees the upper tier devastated by injuries. Jeremy Hill consolidates the workload with Gio Bernard sidelined and now has a strong floor and impressive ceiling.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Bengals' Brandon LaFell could burn the Eagles' soft outside corners for some big plays while Tyler Boyd is a stronger asset in points-per-reception formats given his high-percentage route tree and skill set.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Diego Chargers

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Game Preview

The Tampa Bay Bucs have won three straight thanks in part to Jameis Winston completing 68 percent of his passes for 8.6 yards per attempt over this stretch. The key will be protecting Winston, as the Chargers have the fifth-highest pressure rating in the league on defense.

The Chargers' Philip Rivers remains in the top tier of the position, as his potent passing game has the team positioned as field-goal favorites in what could become a fun cross-conference shootout given the lofty point total, per OddsShark.

Injury Updates

Michael Gehlkin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports Tyrell Williams played through a torn labrum in college and intends to do so again in the pros. We'll wait for confirmation before kickoff, but it appears Williams is aiming to play on Sunday afternoon.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Bucs

Mike Evans leads the NFL in target share of his offense and is the steadiest fantasy weapon among wideouts. Doug Martin hasn't proven efficient since returning to action, but a heavy workload and the fact the Chargers have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to backs in ESPN leagues supports starting trust at a shallow position.

Chargers

If Williams is active, he's a strong starting asset given his strong target stake and success with Philip Rivers since Week 2. Rivers is a high-floor fantasy arm thanks to a volume-driven scheme and home setup. Melvin Gordon leads the NFL in red-zone touches per game and is one of the safest feature backs in fantasy each week.

Sleepers and Streamers 

The Bucs' Cameron Brate has enjoyed a rewarding share of the Tampa offense and makes for a worthy streamer in a game that could trend pass-happy given the Vegas ingredients. Antonio Gates should bounce back from a no-show Week 12, especially with his busy role out of the slot.

If Williams sits or reports suggest he'll be limited, Dontrelle Inman becomes a viable streaming play for those seeking late-afternoon alternatives.

Fantasy Football Week 13: New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers

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Game Preview

The Giants are 8-3 despite being outscored by 18 points this season. Recent success has been fueled by an increasingly dangerous pass rush, as New York enters Pittsburgh looking to cement their seat as contenders.

The Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger has been pressured on just 20.5 percent of his dropbacks, however, the fifth-lowest rate in the NFL. With two potent passing games set to do battle, we can expect some fun fantasy production to emerge.

Injury Updates

Thankfully, there are no fantasy-relevant injuries to discuss for this marquee matchup.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Giants

It's really all about Odell Beckham in this offense, as a concentrated funnel of the fantasy value trends towards the superstar. Otherwise, there are at least 15 touches for Rashad Jennings, supporting flex appeal. Eli Manning is merely a streaming commodity, but starting status is realistic considering the potential for a pass-driven shootout to emerge.

Steelers 

The triumvirate of Ben Roethlisberger—who averages 3.75 touchdowns per game at home this season—and superstar skill weapons Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell all merit must-start status for this matchup.

Sleepers and Streamers

Rookie Sterling Shepard has boom-or-bust appeal in a potential shootout, while the Steelers' Ladarius Green is a deep-league and daily fantasy flier with big-play appeal surfacing on Thanksgiving.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals

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Game Preview

The Washington Redskins are averaging 2.36 points per drive this season, fifth in the NFL and just shy of the Patriots' impressive rate. The Arizona Cardinals are netting just 1.74 per drive, 19th in the league, this after finishing second in the league in per-drive production last season.

The counter to Arizona's troubles in this matchup is the fact they've ceded just 1.54 points per drive on defense, the fourth-lowest rate in the league and a compelling challenge for a Washington offense without its best playmaker in Jordan Reed. This will be a revealing game either way for the NFC landscape.

Injury Updates

Jordan Reed has been ruled out and isn't traveling with the team to Arizona, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post.

Darren Urban of the team's site reports John Brown is questionable to play with a lingering illness. Prepare as if Brown will be ruled out.

Fantasy Fixtures

Redskins

Kirk Cousins' pace for yardage and volume-driven floor support borderline QB1 status. Rolling out Robert Kelley and DeSean Jackson are gambles on touchdowns, respectively. It helps that both have fixed roles, with Kelley consolidating goal-line touches and Jackson as the resident deep threat.

Cardinals

David Johnson is a total yardage monster, and Larry Fitzgerald is a trusted target hog; otherwise the Arizona offense is too variant to trust.

Sleepers and Streamers

Carson Palmer is a high-end streaming option, if not a solid starter. The Redskins' Vernon Davis is a nice replacement for Jordan Reed, as he's produced at least 50 yards in all but one game since Week 6.

We have to choose between Jamison Crowder and Pierre Garcon as the valuable security blanket for Cousins—we're leaning to Crowder given his ability out of the slot.

Fantasy Football Week 13: Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks

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Game Preview

The Carolina Panthers have struggled mightily this season, ranking 14th in defensive efficiency (per drive allowance) and 14th in offensive efficiency. The combination of such middling production has resulted in a lost season, while they can still look to play spoilers on the road against a Seattle team that has gone 32-5 with Russell Wilson at the helm at home since 2012.

With such an amazing home record, it's fitting to find the Seahawks and their dominant defense poised as sizable home favorites, per OddsShark.

Injury Updates

There are no fantasy-relevant injury concerns for this conference showdown in Seattle.

Fantasy Fixtures

Panthers

With several injuries to the top tier at the position, we can consider Greg Olsen an elite option at a shallow tight end player pool. Cam Newton is still a starting asset at signal-caller, but expectations are certainly tempered and we'll need his legs to do damage to exceed value. Jonathan Stewart feels like a touchdown-or-bust option in this matchup, while Kelvin Benjamin is in a similar boom-or-bust realm with the Seattle secondary in place.

Seahawks

Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense disappointed in Tampa last Sunday, but a revival showing at home is likely with the Panthers' depleted defense coming to town. Jimmy Graham is a weekly threat for a touchdown and Doug Baldwin is still a dangerous deep threat with high-percentage skills supporting a higher floor at home. 

Thomas Rawls is in a pivotal spot here and should thrive against a Carolina team missing its best defender with Luke Kuechly sidelined.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Seattle defense is strong starting option and if they are in the streaming tier at all, make sure to acquire them for this choice home setup.

Data such as target share, defensive drive rates and defensive position allowance sourced from an ESPN database.