Start 'em, Sit 'em Fantasy Football Week 13 - All Positions (2024)

Welcome to week 13 of the NFL season. The season seems to be flying right along, and this week is particularly fun because we have games from Thursday to Monday with no teams on a bye.

Take a look below as we try and rebound from a somewhat rocky week 12. Personally, the games spread out over 5 days I think make the reads tougher, but alas, that’s what we’re working with.

***Disclaimer*** I give this statement every week but it’s important to remember there are players you’re basically starting or sitting each week. I tend to try and pick some of the more 50/50 players and write about them. You’ll see that trend as you go.

Quarterbacks

Start ’em – Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield – If you’re streaming QB’s then Mayfield might be a good option this week. The two most important components are talent and matchup. Fortunately, he has both this week. I’m betting the touchdowns go to Baker this week instead of the running game. And as for the matchup, Carolina has allowed 21 TD passes and I have an inkling we could see points from both sides in this one.

Sit ’em – Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray – I’m jumping off the Murray bandwagon this week. He’s been up and down but last week was a total dud scoring just 10.3 fantasy points. Plus, the matchup is iffy. Minnesota is top half in the league in points allowed to QB’s and have allowed just 1 TD all season to the position.

Running Backs

Start’ em – Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle –After four weeks of mediocre production the Cowboys fed Dowdle on Sunday against the Commanders. I expect more of the same on Thanksgiving against the hapless Giants. And speaking of the Giants, it’s hard to believe that they haven’t given up. Teams have run on them all year. Remember that Dowdle got in the endzone in their first meeting, and I expect the same on Thursday.

Sit ’em – Najee Harris

Najee Harris – For about a month Harris was a superb fantasy start but that all changed with the return Jaylen Warren. The last three weeks Warren has 53 touches! And lastly, per SI.com, the Bengals have allowed just one running back to go for more than 14 points since week 7. If you have better options, I’d consider them.

Wide Receiver

Start ’em – Ladd McConkey

Ladd McConkey – After a couple down games it looks like McConkey is back after 18.3 and 14.3 performances the last two weeks. And that’s without scoring a TD. I think he gets a high number of targets and there’s a good possibility he scores a TD against a leaky Falcons defense.

Sit ’em – Zay Flowers

Zay Flowers –Seriously, what are we supposed to do with Flowers? The talent is there, and the Baltimore defense is explosive but where are the numbers? Over the last three games he’s averaged just 10.1 points while the team has gone over 30 points in two of those games. So, who knows, he could come through this weekend, but the Eagles secondary has been stingy to say the least. Several projections have Flowers around 13 points this week. It’s a gamble but can you do better?

Tight End

Start ’em – Cade Otton

Cade Otton – Last week the Panthers allowed two TD to Noah Gray. In fact, the last month they’re bottom five in the league against TE. Combine that with my belief that Baker and company score a good amount this week and that equals me loving the matchup.

Sit ’em – Cole Kmet

Cole Kmet – I want to buy into Kmet and the new look Bears offense but I’m not quite ready. Last week he had 10 targets which is the most since week 3! But really, it’s about the matchup. The Lions have allowed just one TE to hit double digits this season. Kmet is too just risky and too much of a boom or bust player for my liking this week.

Defense

Start ’em – Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys – Rostered in only 36.3% of ESPN leagues I think the Cowboys could be one of the big plays of the weekend. They scored 19 points against a good offense in Washington last week and now into Big D comes the pathetic New York Giants offense. Perhaps they’re better with Drew Lock than Tommy Cutlets, but the Bucs ran amok last week sacking them four times and allowing just seven points.

Sit ’em – Miami Dolphins

Dolphins – Miami scored 13 points last week but that was against the bottom feeder Patriots. I just don’t see it this week as the Dolphins are usually pathetic in the cold.