Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Breaking Down the Eagles vs. Seahawks Thursday Game

This Thursday night's game likely kicks off what is either the last week of your fantasy football regular season or the second-to-last week. Obviously if you are going to start any players in the Thursday night game, you're hoping to get off to a fast start.

First things first, how does your league work? There are still leagues out there where your lineups lock when the first game starts. That means your lineup is locked in as soon as the Thursday night game kicks off. There's not many leagues out there like this anymore, but they do still exist.

You also need to take into account what your roster composition is. Players that play in the the Thursday night game will be locked on your roster. That means you can't cut them if you need a roster spot. Be wary of carrying any Eagles or Seahawks on your bench this week if you think you're going to need an extra roster spot.

Now that the nuts and bolts are handled, we have to examine who is going to help our fantasy teams get off to a fast start in Week 13.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Vince Young

If Vince Young is under consideration for starting at QB on your fantasy team, he's probably your man. I would start him over Tim Tebow, Matt Hasselbeck, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Carson Palmer.

Andy Reid is going to throw the ball more than he runs it, no matter who is under center. Seattle has an excellent run defense, but their secondary has been decimated with injuries. Young could throw for 250-plus yards and two TDs, with some bonus production on the ground.

LeSean McCoy

Although he is listed as questionable, McCoy is expected to start for the Eagles. If he's starting for the Eagles, he's starting for your fantasy team. But dial back your expectations a bit. The Seahawks have a top-five run defense, so McCoy might have to do most of his damage via the passing game.

DeSean Jackson

Although it's technically a gambler's fallacy to say that a player is "due," Jackson has dropped sure TDs in both of the games that Vince Young has started. He will get his chance again, and I think the third time will be a charm. Jackson is one of the few players that can have an excellent fantasy day on only one play. If you've got him, now is the time to gamble.

Riley Cooper

I feel like we need to make more Hangin' With Mr. Cooper jokes, but nobody is perfect. Cooper will start again in place of Jeremy Maclin and he has the best chemistry with Vince Young, most likely because they practiced together all season. If you need a WR3 or flex option in a PPR league, Cooper has the potential for a five catch, 75 yard and a TD kind of day.

Jason Avant

Most of Avant's fantasy production this season has come when the Eagles were trailing by multiple scores (see Buffalo, New England), and this game doesn't seem to set up that way. If you are in a deep PPR league and you want to start Avant, go ahead. But don't expect more than 10 fantasy points unless the Eagles get down big.

Brent Celek

Celek has turned his fantasy fortunes around, but he's still not getting in the end zone, and he doesn't generate big plays. That relegates him to a PPR league guy right now. In PPR leagues, I would start him over Owen Daniels, Greg Olsen or Brandon Pettigrew this week.

Eagles D/ST

Most likely the Eagles D/ST scored negative points in your league in Week 12. Good thing that it's Week 13 now. Sure the Ravens D/ST struggled in Seattle. But three other D/STs have managed to scored at least 20 points against the Seahawks.

The Eagles have the potential to not allow many points while compiling multiple sacks and/or turnovers. Go with the upside here. The Eagles D/ST is a top-seven play in Week 13.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Tarvaris Jackson

Even in two-QB leagues, I would try to avoid Jackson, especially this week. With Sidney Rice out for the year, the pickings are slim in the passing game. The Seahawks will live and die by Marshawn Lynch on offense. Even with the Eagles secondary in shambles, Jackson won't be able to put up top-15 QB stats this week.

Marshawn Lynch

Lynch has reached "start every week no matter the matchup" status. Lynch could easily be a top-10, if not top-five RB this week. The Eagles have improved their run defense recently, but that was more of a reflection of who they've played against. Lynch is white-hot right now.

Sidney Rice

Out for the season. Rice can safely be dropped in all redraft leagues.

Doug Baldwin

Somebody has to catch the ball for the Seahawks, right? Baldwin is your man. He has excellent chemistry with Tarvaris Jackson, and he should be up against Joselio Hanson or Brandon Hughes for most of the day. Baldwin definitely has more value in PPR leagues, but he has as good of a chance as any Seahawk of finding the end zone on Thursday night.

Ben Obomanu 

If you are in a crazy deep (14-plus teams) PPR league, you might be able to start Obomanu as a desperation WR3. But that is as far as I would go.

Mike Williams (North)

He's not a start unless you have a time machine that can at least take you back to last year.

Golden Tate

If you wanted a super-duper-deep sleeper, Tate would qualify. Most likely though, he is so sleepy that there's little chance of him waking up. He did lead Seahawks WRs in snaps played in Week 12, so he is getting on the field. He might be worth rostering in deeper dynasty leagues.

Zach Miller

He's not a part of the offense in Seattle. You would literally be better off using almost any other TE for fantasy purposes.

Seahawks D/ST

If you're digging deep, the Seahawks D/ST could be a decent play in Week 13. Will they give up a bunch of points and yards? Absolutely. But they could easily sack Vince Young a few times, and Young is still very prone to turning the ball over.

One pick-six or fumble to the crib can make for an excellent fantasy day for a D/ST. You could do much worse this week.

Thanks for reading. Have anything to add to the discussion? Please use the comments feature below. Questions are welcome, but please be as specific and detailed as possible.

Good luck to all of your teams this week.

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