After a two-week hiatus to take care of family matters, I am back with the information you need to take down your DFS pool. This week, there are the typical three “prime time” games and four more teams on bye. Week 14 will mark the final bye week of the season.
In terms of the prime time games, the three games are as follows: 1) Thursday Night – the Cowboys defeated the Saints 27-17; 2) Sunday Night – the Broncos travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs; 3) Monday Night – the Bills host the Patriots. The four teams on bye are 1) Titans; 2) Packers; 3) Panthers; 4) Browns. Needless to say, there is a significant amount of talent missing from the “main slate” player pool.
Quarterback:
Derek Carr (Raiders) – $6k – Washington Football Team: On the season, Carr has completed 278 of 413 pass attempts (67.3 percent) for a league-leading 3414 yards and 17 touchdowns. On Thanksgiving Day, he threw for 373 passing yards and a touchdown in a 36-33 win over the Cowboys.
In Week 13, he will take on a Washington defense that allows the most fantasy points to QBs. With an implied total of 26, fantasy managers should view Carr as a top ten option. His price tag offers roster flexibility elsewhere.
Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins) – $5500 – vs Giants: Just like his team, who has won three straight games, Tua has shown marked improvement in his performance over his last two games. Over that span, he has completed 54 of 64 pass attempts (84.3 percent) for 503 yards and three touchdowns.
Tagovailoa takes on a Giants defense that gives up the 12th most fantasy points to QBs on the season. With a soft matchup and his recent uptick in play, Tua should be used as one of the best streaming options at his position.
Running Backs:
https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/fantasy-football-week-13-start-sits-2021
Antonio Gibson (Washington Football Team) – $5700 – @ Raiders: Over the last three weeks, Gibson has finally performed like the elite running back that most fantasy owners had hoped for during the preseason. He has amassed 270 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 72 carries while adding nine catches for 49 yards during those three games.
Fellow running back J.D. Mckissic will miss this week’s game with a concussion, so Gibson will maintain his enormous workload. Facing a Raiders’ defense that allows the fourth-most fantasy points to RBs, Gibson should finish the week as a top ten running back.
Miles Sanders (Eagles) – $5200 – @ Jets: Since returning from an ankle injury in Week 11, Sanders has registered 158 rushing yards on 25 carries (6.32 YPC). Unfortunately, he left the Week 12 game midway through the quarter with an aggravation of the ankle injury.
In Week 13, he takes on a Jets defense that gives up the most fantasy points to RBs. Although QB Jalen Hurts (ankle) and fellow RB Boston Scott (non-Covid illness) are both listed as questionable, I would expect them to play. That being said, I would anticipate Sanders getting the lion’s share of the touches. With any role in the passing game, or his first touchdown of the season, Sanders should finish the week as a borderline RB1/RB2 option.
Wide Receiver:
Fantasy Football 2021: Week 13 Only Start Sit Advice You Need
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Brandon Aiyuk (49ers) – $5600 – @ Seahawks: With fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel out with a groin injury, Aiyuk will be the 49ers’ WR1 this week. Over the last four games, Aiyuk has amassed 19 catches (on 25 targets) for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite having a somewhat difficult matchup vs the Seahawks, the increased opportunity will provide a setting in which Aiyuk is fully capable of finishing as a top 15 wide receiver. With an implied total of 24, I am more than willing to gamble on the upside at his price point.
Rashod Bateman (Ravens) – $4900 – @ Steelers: Despite having yet to score his first NFL touchdown, Bateman continues to offer a solid weekly floor. He has registered 25 catches (on 38 targets) for 301 yards through six games.
This week, the Steelers offer an enticing matchup as they give up the 9th most fantasy points to WRs. With an implied total of 24, the conditions are ideal for Bateman to nab that first elusive score. DFS players should use Bateman as a price-friendly flex, who allows an opportunity to pay up at other positions.
Tight End:
Embed from Getty ImagesPat Freiermuth (Steelers) – $4200 – vs Ravens: Despite suffering a concussion at the end of Week 12’s game against the Bengals, Freiermuth was not on the final injury report this week. Over the last six games, Freiermuth has accumulated 29 catches (on 40 targets) for 227 yards and five touchdowns.
With a matchup against a Ravens’ defense that allows the fifth-most fantasy points to TEs looming, Freiermuth will look to continue his recent hot streak. Despite the horrid showing against the Bengals (a 41-10 loss), I look for the Steelers to make this one more competitive. Freiermuth has every opportunity to be a top-five TE this week.
Foster Moreau (Raiders) – $2700 – vs Washington Football Team: As the back half of an inexpensive contrarian stack, Moreau looks to take advantage of the opportunity provided by Darren Waller’s knee injury. Waller is currently listed as doubtful but is fully expected to sit out this one.
In his only start of the season (Week 6), Moreau played 100 percent of the snaps and had 6 catches (on 6 targets) for 60 yards and a touchdown. Although the matchup against Washington may be somewhat challenging (Washington allows the 14th most fantasy points to TEs), Moreau should be viewed as a volume-based TE1, at worst.
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