The Fanatics Start/Sit Advice for Week 13
It’s the final week of the fantasy football regular season, and your season very well may hang in the balance. The player pool has thinned out just a bit with three games already being played on Thanksgiving day. Those players were excluded from consideration for this article, but there are plenty of situations to exploit and some to avoid with who’s left. As I’ve said before, you won’t see the likes of Dalvin Cook, Tyreek Hill, or any other “must starts” on this list. These are the guys a step below the studs who I see over- or under-performing based on match-up or other factors.
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Quarterback
The Fanatics QB Start of the Week
Sam Darnold (NYJ) @ CIN
Back to the well once more, Sam Darnold was my recommendation last week and he came through with 315 passing yards and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). That’s back to back games of over 30 points (6 point passing TD’s) and three straight with over 20. Darnold heads to Cincinnati to face a Bengals defense that gives up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. I’d start Darnold over Kirk Cousins, Tom Brady, and my sit of the week, Jimmy Garopollo.
Other Starts
The Fanatics QB Sit of the Week
Jimmy Garropolo (SF) @ BAL
(note: This is for 1QB leagues. It’s hard to sit any QB in Superflex/2QB)Â
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Jimmy Garoppolo has been over 20 fantasy points in three of the past four games and over 30 twice. With that being said, two of those games were against the Cardinals and that’s where he’s done most of his damage. This week he faces a Ravens defense that is scorching hot, raking as the 4th worst fantasy match-up for opposing quarterbacks and has only given up over 20 fantasy points to one quarterback this season (Patrick Mahomes, so no shame in that). They’ve held their past three opponents to under 14 points and continued their streak of at least one interception in every game since Week 4 by adding two more in Week 12. You’re looking to sit just about any QB playing Baltimore, and this week it’s Jimmy G who gets to ride the pine.
Other Sits
- B. Mayfield (CLE) @ PIT
- P. Rivers (LAC) @ DEN
Running Back
The Fanatics RB Start of the Week
Miles Sanders (PHI) @ MIA
When Philadelphia signed free-agent and former Eagle Jay Ajayi going into Week 11 against New England, it signaled Jordan Howard would likely miss more than one game. With Howard expected to miss his third straight game, Miles Sanders is in line for a potentially huge game. Although he hasn’t done much with the extra touches in the past two games(28 touches, 18.3 combined points), he faced two of the toughest fantasy match-ups for opposing running backs (New England gives up the fewest points to RBs, Seattle 10th fewest). Miami gives up the fourth-most fantasy points to the running back position, has allowed 12 running backs to score double-digit points, with six of those 12 scoring over 20. As long as Howard is out, Sanders is a rock-solid RB with an extremely high upside.
Other Starts
- P. Lindsay (DEN) vs LAC
- R. Jones (TB) @ JAX
The Fanatics RB Sit of the Week
Carlos Hyde (HOU) vs NE
Carlos Hyde has been a pleasant surprise this season, well on his way to rush for over 1,000 yards as the early-down back for the Texans. He’s been a solid bye week replacement and flex play in the right match-up. This week isn’t one of those, however, as he faces a Patriots defense that has gives up the least fantasy points per game to opposing running backs and only allowed five rushing touchdowns all season. Hyde is a borderline flex play, and I’d start Kareem Hunt, Ronald Jones, even Benny Snell over Hyde.
Other Sits
- C. Carson (SEA) vs MIN
- T. Coleman (SF) @ BAL
Wide Receiver
The Fanatics WR Start of the Week
D.K. Metcalf (SEA) vs MIN
Although the Vikings boast one of the best rush defenses in the league, their pass defense is on the opposite side of the spectrum. Minnesota is tied for the ninth-most passing touchdowns given up (19) and allows over 244 passing yards per game. They’ve allowed opposing wide receivers to score double digits in all but one game (Week 8 versus Washington, with a mixture of Dwayne Haskins and Case Keenum under center). The Vikings have given up the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including big games from secondary receivers (Marvin Jones – 43.3, Randall Cobb – 22.6, Darius Slayton – 16.2). He’s a WR2 with upside in one of the few games this week with a projected total over 50.
Other Starts
The Fanatics WR Sit of the Week
A.J. Brown (TEN) @ IND
This recommendation is more about opportunity and less about match-up or talent. Although Brown is coming off one of this best games of the season (four catches, 135 receiving yards, one touchdown), he took a short pass from Ryan Tannehill to the house for a 65-yard touchdown to pad an otherwise pedestrian stat line. It’s not to say that the play didn’t happen and Brown hasn’t impressed as a rookie, but the Colts aren’t a pushover match-up, giving up the 15th most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. The Titans offense runs through Derrick Henry, and Brown only has two games all season with more than five targets. He’s always a candidate to make your day by breaking for a long touchdown, but he’s not someone you can trust on a weekly basis.
Other Sits
- C. Sutton (DEN) vs LAC
- L. Fitzgerald (ARZ) vs LAR
Tight End
The Fanatics TE Start of the Week
Dallas Goedert (PHI) @ MIA
With Zach Ertz battling a hamstring injury and missing some practice time this week, Goedert is likely to get even more run this week than usual. If Ertz misses the game, Goedert is a rock-solid TE1 and shoots to a top-5 option against a putrid Dolphins defense that gives up a league-high 31.5 points per game. Even if Ertz plays it’s highly likely his snaps would be limited, and if the Eagles can get out to a big lead, he may watch the end of the game from the sideline. The Eagles offense has struggled lately and is looking to get on track, so don’t be surprised to see them use Miami as a get right spot. Goedert is a back end TE1 if Ertz plays, and a must-start if Ertz is out.
Other Starts
- J. Doyle (IND) vs TEN
- R. Griffin (NYJ) @ CIN
The Fanatics TE Sit of the Week
Darren Fells (HOU) vs NE
From Week 3 to Week 8 Darren Fells scored double digits in four of six games, including a two-touchdown, 23.8 point performance against the Raiders. Since that game, Fells has failed to catch more than a single pass, has not exceeded three targets, and is virtually tied with Jordan Akins in total points (Akins – 13.5, Fells 13.3). Fells faces a Patriots defense that has only allowed two tight ends over 50 yards and only three touchdowns to the position. New England has given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to tight ends, and Fells is someone I’d only be starting in two tight end leagues.
Other Sits
- N. Fant (DEN) vs LAC
- K. Rudolph (MIN) @ SEA
Defense
The Fanatics Defense Start of the Week
Philadelphia @ MIA
A winning strategy to stream defenses this year has been to target whoever is playing the Dolphins. They give up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses, thanks to an inept defense themselves that leads them to have to play catch up in almost every game. With Ryan Fitzpatrick not afraid to sling the ball and no stranger to turnovers, its a perfect recipe for fantasy points for a defense. The Eagles haven’t been an every-week starter by any stretch of the meaning this season, but they are my number DST1 on the week.
Other Starts
- Carolina vs WAS
- Green Bay vs NYG
The Fanatics Defense Sit of the Week
San Francisco @ BAL
It’s pretty simple, don’t start a defense against Lamar Jackson.
Other Sits
- Minnesota @ SEA
- Jacksonville vs TB
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