Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Marshawn Lynch and Others to Start

With games on Thursday nights now, fantasy football GMs have one less day to prepare for their week's matchups. That means it's that much harder to make the tough start-and-sit decisions.

What worked last week might not work this week, and slumping players you've kept on your bench half the season might be primed for a breakout performance.

There's so much risk involved in playing the fantasy game, and considering the playoffs are about to start, this is a crucial week if you find yourself on the very edge of a postseason berth.

With that in mind, here are four players I recommend you start in Week 13.

RB Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is on quite a tear as of late, scoring touchdowns in each of his last seven games and notching more than 100 all-purpose yards in three of his last four games.

Even though on Thursday night, he's facing a Philadelphia Eagles run defense that has improved since its last-place position earlier in the year, he's still primed for a big day.

Lynch is the Seahawks' primary offensive weapon, with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson struggling to maintain any kind of consistent production week to week.

Lynch has 180 carries on the year for 706 yards and six scores and has caught 20 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown so far this year.

That passing touchdown came in last week's loss to the Washington Redskins that also saw Lynch carry the ball 24 times for 111 yards. In recent weeks, he's carrying the ball at least 23 times per game and should see a similar number of touches tonight.

Despite that surging Eagles run defense, look for Lynch to again put up a total of 100 yards and manage at least a touchdown on Thursday night.

Start him without reservations if you have him.

QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Rarely is a quarterback of a 3-8 team one of the most valuable fantasy starters of the year, but such is the case with Carolina Panthers rookie Cam Newton.

So far this season, Newton has completed 239 passes for 3,093 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions and has rushed 86 times for 484 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In his team's win over the Indianapolis Colts last week, he completed 74.1 percent of his passes, though he only managed one score on the ground.

Newton's a low-risk, every-week starter this year, but he's had some poor performances.

That won't likely be the case this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their 24th-ranked defense.

Newton is a serious threat against defenses that weak, and he should have a banner day for your fantasy team, even if the Panthers don't notch a win of their own.

TE Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (at Arizona Cardinals)

There was some hope earlier in the week that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin may return from his hamstring injury for the team's game against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday.

Though Austin's presence wouldn't damage tight end Jason Witten's value much, without him in the lineup Witten has an even better chance of putting up big numbers for your fantasy team this week.

Though Witten spent the majority of last week's game against the Miami Dolphins as a blocker (catching just four passes for 43 yards), against the far-weaker Cardinals defense this week he should return to being quarterback Tony Romo's most reliable target.

On the year, Witten has caught 56 passes for 713 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging nearly 65 yards per game. Look for him to get somewhere closer to 70 receiving yards and a score against Arizona, making him one of the best tight end plays of the week.

TE Jacob Tamme, Indianapolis Colts (at New England Patriots)

For those fantasy GMs desperate for a spot-start tight end or flex play, I recommend giving a look to the Indianapolis Colts' Jacob Tamme.

While it seems like fantasy football heresy to suggest anyone start a Colt this week, the matchup against the New England Patriots does have its advantages.

For example, the Patriots defense is ranked 23rd overall but is 27th against the tight end.

It's not hard to score points against the team, it's just difficult to score enough to win.

Though it will be Dan Orlovsky and not Curtis Painter flipping passes to Tamme, it still holds that the tight end will likely serve as a security blanket for the newly-anointed starter.

Since taking over for the injured Dallas Clark in Week 9, Tamme has 10 catches for 101 yards.

While he has yet to score a touchdown, it may just be in his future against an up-and-down Patriots defense that has been allowing an average of 307.5 passing yards per game—the worst average in the league.