Week 13 NFL Fantasy Player Breakdowns

Week 12's Monday night game showed exactly why we break-down match-ups and dissect players' value each week .

Both the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots had a bunch of players worth mentioning, and the Saints ended up having six different players score a touchdown.

That means, regardless of your opinion on any of those specific players, six different fantasy options came out of that one game from one team.

The Patriots only managed to put up 17 points in a Saints' blow-out, and both touchdowns came from Laurence Maroney.

Regardless, it's become very clear that staying on top of match-ups, whether by team or individual, can pay off immensely in your quest for victory, and ultimately a spot in your league's playoffs .

Read on for comments and star ratings on relevant players for Week 13 :


St. Louis Rams @ Chicago Bears

QB Kyle Boller: Bears pass defense stinks, but so does he. **
RB Steven Jackson: Should get plenty of carries as only true offensive weapon. *****
WR Donnie Avery: Has been fairly active, and nice match-up. ***
WR Brandon Gibson: Good match-up, but stunk it up last week. **
WR Danny Amendola: Wes Welker clone has looked very good. ***

QB Jay Cutler : Solid match-up, but only use him if you have to. ***
RB Matt Forte: Rams aren't good against run, so he should be fine. ***
WR Devin Hester: Should easily bounce back from last week's stinker. ***
WR Earl Bennett: Too inconsistent to rely on. **
WR Johnny Knox: Always a big-play threat, so worth a shot. **
TE Greg Olsen: Has turned into a reliable target, and nice match-up. ****

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

QB Matt Schaub: Very nice match-up, and he's due. *****
RB Steve Slaton: Is starting and playing like a solid RB2. ****
RB Chris Brown: Has a nice role, so could work as a Flex. ***
RB Ryan Moats: Doesn't have a role, so can't expect much. *
WR Andre Johnson: Always a good play and this match-up bodes well. *****
WR Kevin Walter: Has been getting more looks, so a decent WR3. ***
TE James Casey: Role not growing, so don't waste your time. *

QB David Garrard: Texans can be passed on, but he's very inconsistent. **
RB Maurice Jones-Drew: Not an easy match-up, but he'll be fine. *****
WR Mike Sims-Walker: Should get plenty of action as usual. ****
WR Torry Holt: Barely a WR3 with very little production and zero scores for 2009. **
TE Marcedes Lewis: Not a great option, so look elsewhere. *

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

QB Josh Freeman: Carolina pass defense is scary good, so find help somewhere else. **
RB Carnell Williams: Not a bad match-up, so could find RB2 numbers this week. ***
RB Derrick Ward: Has been decent and can be used as a Flex option. **
RB Earnest Graham: Role should be increasing, but nothing spectacular. *
WR Antonio Bryant: Is back and played well last week, so use him. ***
WR Sammie Stroughter: Not very reliable, and match-up doesn't help. *
TE Kellen Winslow: Is a top tight end, and will be needed this week. ****

QB Matt Moore: He can't be worse than Jake Delhomme, and match-up is nice. **
RB DeAngelo Williams: Check status, but great match-up. *****
RB Jonathan Stewart: Panthers will run all day, so he'll get touches. ****
WR Steve Smith: Moore makes him questionable, but match-up helps. ***
WR Muhsin Muhammad:

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

QB Kyle Orton: Very nice match-up, and he's due a solid game. ***
RB Knowshon Moreno: Should have a good day, and has played well. ****
RB Correll Buckhalter: Not as big of a role as some had expected. **
WR Brandon Marshall: Should terrorize Chiefs slow corners. *****
WR Eddie Royal: Not active at all, but has the potential. **
TE Tony Scheffler: Ditto. **

QB Matt Cassel: Broncos overall defense was solid last week, but he should play catch-up. ***
RB Jamaal Charles: Probably not in line for a good week, but role is solid. **
WR Chris Chambers: Should get plenty of looks, so a solid WR3. ***
WR Lance Long: Hasn't done much, but still could do damage late. **

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

QB Vince Young: Has been OK, but match-up should limit him. **
RB Chris Johnson: Is red-hot, and Colts aren't great against the run. *****
RB Lendale White: Very small role, so don't use him. *
WR Kenny Britt: Broke-out last week, and should be active. ***
WR Nate Washington: Barely a WR3, but potential is there. **
TE Bo Scaife: Very small role, as Titans run all day. *

QB Peyton Manning: Facing a tough pass defense , but you have to use him. ****
RB Joseph Addai: Won't get going against tough run defense, but could be active in screens. ***
RB Donald Brown: Role not big enough to use. *
WR Reggie Wayne: May not pile on the yardage, but will be very active. ****
WR Austin Collie: Should get more looks than usual underneath. ***
WR Pierre Garcon: He's a bit shaky at times, but can go deep at any time. **
TE Dallas Clark: Should get a ton of looks with Manning facing solid pass defense. *****

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons

QB Donovan McNabb: Falcons are bad against pass, so start him. *****
RB LeSean McCoy: Atlanta can't stop the run, either, so nice play. ****
RB Leonard Weaver: Role is minimal, but can help if you're hurting. **
WR DeSean Jackson: Concussion should keep him out this week.
WR Jeremy Maclin : Good match-up and extra targets with D-Jax out. *****
WR Jason Avant: Has been solid, so use him as a WR3. ***
WR Reggie Brown: Hasn't started in forever, so fairly unpredictable. **
TE Brent Celek: Falcons can't stop tight ends at all, so expect solid game. *****

QB Chris Redman: Looked good last week, so he has a chance. **
RB Jerious Norwood: Likely starter with Michael Turner out. ***
RB Jason Snelling: Role diminished last week, but could be a Flex this week. **
WR Roddy White: He'll miss Matt Ryan, and match-up isn't great. ***
WR Michael Jenkins: Could see ore targets with White doubled. **
TE Tony Gonzalez: Should be very active underneath. ****

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

QB Tom Brady: Dolphins has two rookie corners, so do the math. *****
RB Laurence Maroney: Has scored in six straight weeks and counting. ****
RB Kevin Faulk: Role very inconsistent, so can't trust him. **
WR Randy Moss: Owned them last time, so great play. *****
WR Wes Welker: Will bounce back from down game on Monday night. *****
WR Julian Edelman: Has been suiting up as third QB, so risky play. *
TE Benjamin Watson: Too inconsistent to trust. **

QB Chad Henne: Should be fine, but try to find another option. **
RB Ricky Williams: Will get the ball a ton and Patriots aren't amazing against run. ****
RB Lex Hilliard: Should get some touches, but not a big enough role to use. *
WR Davone Bess: Only consistent receiving option, and he's not even that great. **

New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins

QB Drew Brees: Redskins pass defense isn't scary anymore, and he's rolling. *****
RB Pierre Thomas: Redskins are't stopping the run on an elite level, so go with him. ****
RB Mike Bell: He has a nice role and gets some goal-line duty, so good Flex play. ***
RB Reggie Bush: Status unknown, and role can't be trusted. *
WR Marques Colston: Has re-established himself as a top-five receiver. *****
WR Devery Henderson: Is inconsistent, but can break a big one at any moment. ***
WR Robert Meachem: Yardage hasn't been consistent, but scoring has. ***
TE Jeremy Shockey: Hasn't had a huge role lately, so he could be due. **

QB Jason Campbell: If the run game gets going, he has a chance. **
RB Rock Cartwright: He's not flashy, but the touches are all his. ***
WR Santana Moss: Very unreliable, but he's their best bet. **
TE Fred Davis: If Moss is shut down, he could get a ton of looks. **

Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Bruce Gradkowski: Steelers pass defense is dealing with injuries, but he's a Raider. **
RB Darren McFadden: Steelers stop the run very well, but he has big-lay ability. **
RB Michael Bush: Tough match-up, but not a horrible role. **
RB Justin Fargas: Ditto. **
TE Zach Miller : Only receiving option worth using , and even he is inconsistent. ***

QB Ben Roethlisberger: Should play this week, but facing tough corners. ***
RB Rashard Mendenhall: Oakland can't stop the run at all, so he should shine. *****
WR Hines Ward: Raiders secondary is stingy, but he could get short throws. ***
WR Santonio Holmes: Might make something happen, but aim low. ***
WR Mike Wallace: Probably the best bet to make something happen. **
TE Heath Miller: Could be very active with secondary shutting down receivers. ***

For the rest of this week's fantasy player match-ups and breakdowns, go here .