Week 13 Fantasy Rankings: Looking Ahead to the Best Matchups

Knowing that you have a player in fantasy football who has a favorable game coming up, it's always an exciting time.

Surely there are numerous favorable matchups every week, however the following four players have the best ones of Week 13. To that end, here are the top four fantasy football matchups this coming week.

4. Maurice Jones-Drew: RB, Jaguars (vs. Chargers)

On the year the San Diego Chargers have allowed over 130 rush yards per game, which has been a major reason for their current six-game losing streak.

This week doesn't get any easier either, as they travel across the country to play a Jaguars team who is solid at home and has RB Maurice Jones-Drew. For starters, the Jags rank No. 11 in rush offense but dead last in passing and yet, MJD continues to dominate.

Through 11 games he has compiled 1,040 rush yards and 206 receiving yards. The Bolts defense has only faced one back comparable to his dynamism all season long (Matt Forte, Chicago), so MJD will slice them up for some solid numbers and fantasy points.

Only once has MJD been held under 80 rush yards and he's averaging over 90 rush yards per game. Include his ability as a receiving back, and the Chargers defense has no clue how to adjust after trying to defend the unorthodox Broncos. 

3. Ray Rice: RB, Ravens (at Browns)

The Baltimore Ravens may rank just No. 27 in rush offense to Cleveland's No. 29 rush defense, however Ray Rice is the best RB they've faced all season long.

Thus far he has 722 rush yards, which may not seem like a whole lot, but he also has 537 receiving yards and 10 total TDs. The Ravens offense has used him multiple ways and although the Browns have a solid pass defense, WR Torrey Smith will stretch the field enough to leave the flats and middle open for Rice.

And with the passing game a threat, Ray will roll on the ground over the Browns who haven't been able to defend the run at all. Expect Rice to be fed early and often until Cleveland stacks the box—then his production will slow in the second quarter.

However, that's when Baltimore goes to the air and then the Browns back off thereafter.

So once the second half comes around and the Ravens have a decent lead, they will ride Ray the rest of the way, including some slip screens to keep Cleveland off balance late in the third and fourth quarters.

2. Frank Gore: RB, 49ers (vs. Rams)

This week when the Rams play at San Francisco against the 49ers, there will be no other player on the field to watch except RB Frank Gore.

To begin, St. Louis ranks dead last in rush defense but No. 8 in pass defense. So yes, no one bothers to throw the ball against them, but that is a concern being that Frisco has a weak passing offense.

Therefore, all Alex Smith will be doing is taking the snap and giving the rock to Gore all game long. There's no reason for Frisco to throw the ball in this game unless it's a dump-off to Gore in the flat, as the check-down or on a screen.

Sure it may be a game where Smith can try to buff out the rough spots, but why risk it until the division is locked up? As evidenced by their win over New Orleans, St. Louis is capable of an upset.

That said, the 49ers need to pound the rock with Frank Gore for 60 minutes and not let up. Their defense will shut down the Rams, but you don't want to take any risks when you don't have to. Running the ball with Gore is their best bet and they might as well perfect it before the postseason.

As for Gore in fantasy, well, hope he's on your team and hope you're not playing against him.

1. Tom Brady: QB, Patriots (vs. Colts)

Can we say another blowout? Tom Brady leads the 8-3 Patriots this week against the visiting 0-11 Colts in a nostalgic rivalry game.

New England ranks No. 2 in passing offense while the Colts rank No. 18 in pass defense, but that's a skewed number since Indy allows so many rushing yards that teams don't normally throw the ball against them.

And if they do, it's just in the first half because the game is likely over by halftime.

That being said, we didn't see Drew Brees let up and neither will Tom Brady, especially at home in a game that the Patriots know they can't lose—otherwise they'll become the laughingstock of pro football (unless they win the Super Bowl).

In any event, Brady will dice up the Colts defense like an Iron Chef dices up (insert any food here).

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.