Happy Thursday to all and welcome back to my weekly Start/Sit HUB! Mike here, providing you with information that can help you win your fantasy league week in and week out. For all things fantasy football, follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard).
Thanksgiving was a week ago now and it’s time to get week 13 going. Fantasy playoffs are lurking around the corner so it’s a pivotal time to make informed decisions. The game tonight belongs to the Seahawks and the Cowboys. The 6-win Seattle team has lost 3 of their last 4 while the Cowboys have 8 wins and have won 5 of their last 6. Teams going in opposite directions it seems and no tougher place for an opponent right now than Dallas. The line favors the Cowboys by 9 points and the over/under is set to 47.5. My prediction for this game is a rather easy blowout win for the Cowboys at home. Give me Dallas 38 Seattle 13.
I’m here every week during the fantasy football season with start and sit suggestions that can impact your team each week. My decisions as always include obvious and not so obvious picks. I would also like to clarify that my sit suggestions are based on the assumption you have or can add a player that has a better chance at success. Good luck this week and continue to check out my weekly articles.
TNF START/SIT
Seahawks @ Cowboys
Start – Dak Prescott – I think Tony Pollard is in the best spot to produce in this game, but I can’t go against Dak right now, especially the way he plays in Dallas. Dak has thrown 4 TD passes in each of his last 3 home games. That’s 12 TDs with just 2 INTs in those 3 home games alone. His opponent Geno Smith has 12 TDs on the entire season. Dak should have his way with Seattle who is in a tough stretch of their schedule that isn’t letting up anytime soon. I think Dak has another solid performance at home. Give me all the Lamb and Cooks and Ferguson.
Sit – Zach Charbonnet – Zach is going to be RB1 in Dallas this week with Kenneth Walker listed as doubtful with an oblique injury. Zach is a talented rookie, but he has to travel to Dallas. Seahawks enjoy running the ball but I’m going to assume Geno will have to throw a ton to stay competitive. Because he should get decent opportunities at least early in the game, Charbonnet is just outside my top 20 RBs this week. Still playable obviously but proceed with caution.
Welcome back to my Start/Sit Hub for week 13, hope you had a great week and are ready to keep pushing for fantasy greatness. Week 13 began on Thursday with a matchup between the away Seahawks and the home Cowboys. In what I thought would be more lopsided, the Cowboys managed a 41-35 victory over the Seahawks who had done almost enough to escape with a win. Next week we get a TNF game between the Steelers and the Patriots. Steelers are the home team and are sure to be the favorites.
The games that I’m looking forward to watching in week 11 include the 49ers/Eagles, the Lions/Saints, the Broncos/Texans, and the Chiefs/Packers. Enjoy your weekend of football and good luck getting that fantasy W.
WEEK 13 BYES – BUFFALO BILLS, CHICAGO BEARS, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS, NEW YORK GIANTS, BALTIMORE RAVENS
START OF THE WEEK
Start – Zach Moss – Welcome back to RB1 mode Zach Moss. Jonathan Taylor will be out this week due to surgery on his finger. Moss was an elite RB to start the year in fantasy football and that’s what I’m thinking we get back to this week. Weeks 2 through 5 Moss has an average of over 22 carries each game and accounted for 4 total TDs. This week he gets Tennessee which shouldn’t be a problem for Zach. He faced them already back in week 5 and had his best game of the year by far. 23 carries for 165 yards and 2 rushing TDs, not to mention 30 receiving yards. Fire him up!
Chargers @ Patriots
Start – Rhamondre Stevenson – Rhamondre Stevenson is a tiny bright spot for New England right now amongst the doubt and just bad football. Mac Jones might have dug his own grave, but Stevenson is starting to heat up. Rhamondre has rushed for 98 yards, 88 yards, and 87 yards in his last 3 games and scored 2 rushing TDs. He also has been involved in the passing game being targeted 4+ times in each of his last 6 games. Chargers are a team most can score on, but Stevenson can’t do it all alone. He’s in a great spot this week.
Sit – Gerald Everett – Yes Everett scored a TD last week for the Chargers, but he isn’t a TE I would want to start. He is outside my top 15 TEs this week. Everett doesn’t get consistent targets each week and has become very TD dependent. Not to mention the Patriots have been locking down most opposing TEs this season.
Cardinals @ Steelers
Start – Trey McBride – Be cautious here due to the fact that McBride is dealing with a groin issue but still could play. Trey and Kyler Murray have quickly gelled into a solid QB/TE duo. McBride has demanded 25 targets, 20 receptions, and 234 receiving yards just in the last 3 games combined. He also had a bananas day in week 8 where he went for 10 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD, and was targeted 14 times. Steelers will need to keep a close eye on Trey this weekend.
Sit – James Connor – Connor is in my sit spot this week mainly because since he returned from injury, James hasn’t been great. He hasn’t been bad, but he is seldom in the pass game when it comes to yardage, and he has not scored. It’s not easy scoring rushing TDs when your QB is Kyler Murray, and he likes to sneak his way in for rushing TDs which now seems weekly. Arizona will have their work cut out for them, but I don’t see them running over Pittsburgh.
Colts @ Titans
Start – Zach Moss – SEE START OF THE WEEK ABOVE
Sit – Will Levis – Will had a crazy good season debut in week 8 throwing 4 TDs in a win over Atlanta. Since week 8 he has played in 4 games and accounted for 2 passing TDs and 2 INTs. His rushing abilities are not very strong, but luckily the Colts defense is middle of the pack defending opposing QBs. I expect a heavy dose of Derrick Henry and Zach Moss in this game.
Broncos @ Texans
Start – Russell Wilson – Wilson is getting the start here for me due to the Texans secondary underperforming. Russell’s stats aren’t eye popping by any means, but he is getting it done for Denver looking for his 5th win in a row. In those 5 wins Wilson has thrown 8 TD passes and has not thrown an INT. He is also coming off his first rushing TD of the year. This could be a big game for Courtland Sutton.
Sit – Jerry Jeudy – As I said above, this game could be big for Courtland Sutton. Jeudy is perfectly capable of popping off in this game, but nothing leads me to believe that is coming. Jeudy scored his lone TD of the year in week 8 and has just 10 targets total in his next 3 games. Russell Wilson should be able to throw on Houston’s secondary which is beneficial for Jeudy, but I can’t start him unless I’m in a really stuck situation.
Lions @ Saints
Start – Sam LaPorta – Sam LaPorta gets the Saints this week who struggle with defending opposing TEs. LaPorta has been a beast for Detroit in his rookie year catching 5 TDs this season. He has 3 games with double-digit targets and his average on the entire season is 7 targets per game. Sam is 2nd to Amon-Ra St. Brown in every receiving category except for receiving TDs which they are tied with 5. Lions have a lot of offensive weapons and LaPorta is no exception.
Sit – Derek Carr – Carr is having a rather rough season with the Saints playing in more games (11) than TD passes thrown all season (10). Saints are on a 2-game losing skid in which Carr didn’t account for any TDs but did throw an INT. The Saints offense isn’t clicking like it should. But if you are a Kamara owner I’m sure you’re happy with the continuous dump offs.
Falcons @ Jets
Start – Breece Hall – Hall is in a sneaky spot to produce here. He has been struggling with his rushing ever since his dominant performance over Denver in week 5. Atlanta has been great stopping the run; however they lost a key part of their defensive line which could open up the run game a little. Even if Hall is not productive rushing, he is a great pass catcher. He is coming off his 2nd 9 target performance of the season which is promising since his QB was Tim Boyle. Breece can hurt you both ways once he is in the open field. I would look to target him in this game.
Sit – Drake London – London has a tough spot here facing the Jets. First off, the Falcons have become a very run heavy offense which obviously lessens opportunities for London. The Jets have the best defense when it comes to outside WRs this season. London is outside my top 35 WRs this week.
Dolphins @ Commanders
Start – Sam Howell – Sam Howell may not be winning many games, but he is producing in fantasy. His last 2 weeks were rough throwing 4 INTs, but he did throw a passing TD, rushed for 2 rushing TDs, and throw for 556 passing yards. If Howell can limit the turnovers, he would be an even better fantasy option. Washington throws the ball a ton which is helpful for his fantasy owners. Howell throwing a bunch and being comfortable enough to have over 200 yards rushing on the season with 3 rushing TDs makes him dangerous, even if Miami win convincingly. Hoping for a high scoring affair.
Sit – Jahan Dotson – This is a scary sit spot for Dotson who has 4 receiving TDs this year which leads Washington. Dotson can go off for 108 yards and a score like he did against Philly, but then again, he has played 6 games this season where his receptions didn’t surpass 3 including 2 of his last 3 games. Howell sure chucks the ball down field, just need more to go Dotson’s way.
Panthers @ Buccaneers
Start – Rachaad White – White is on a hot streak despite losing 6 of their last 7 games. White is coming off a 100-yard rushing performance which is the 2nd time in his young career he has done so. White has scored 4 total TDs in his last 4 games and is a huge threat out of the backfield as a pass catcher. White has 364 yards receiving this season which averages out to about 33 receiving yards per game. Carolina can play defense mainly against the pass, so Rachaad has a great opportunity to pad some rushing stats this week.
Sit – Baker Mayfield – This matchup is just terrible for Baker. The Carolina Panthers are a top 5 defense when it comes to defending QBs. For Example, Carolina held both Dak Prescott and rookie CJ Stroud to under 200 passing yards each. Baker was also nursing an ankle injury but appears to be fine to play. Run the ball Tampa.
49ers @ Eagles
Start – Brock Purdy – Brock Purdy finally gets to play Philly since he was injured in the NFC Championship game last season. Many assume that the 49ers would have won that game if he hasn’t been injured. Well, this is the week to put your money where your mouth is and show them you mean business. Philly has struggled immensely defending QBs, WRs, and TEs. 49ers offense appears healthy so Purdy should have the green light to throw all over Philadelphia. Christian McCaffery is sure to get a tall workload, but it may be more difficult against the Eagles defensive line.
Sit – Kenneth Gainwell – I chose Gainwell in this spot mainly because both teams have a handful of weapons you simply don’t ever want to bench, especially at this point in the fantasy season. Gainwell has been decent in his role, but unless D’Andre Swift was to get hurt, his role should remain as is. 49ers have a top tier defense so that dampens some hope on a Gainwell solid day.
Browns @ Rams
Start – David Njoku – Njoku is a top 5 TE this week, yes you read that correctly. The Browns TE has really come into his own this season with so much promise and hope for more. David has 8+ targets in 5 of his last 6 games. In those 5 games with 8+ targets he finished with a minimum of 54 receiving yards. Njoku scored TDs in back-to-back games in week 8 and 9, so he must be hungry to get back there and keep gobbling up targets.
Sit – Tyler Higbee – Higbee scored 2 TDs last week which was his best fantasy output on the season. He had not scored prior to last week and on the entire season he is averaging a low 30 yards receiving per game. Next up is Cleveland who has been playing great defense all year and especially against opposing TEs.
Chiefs @ Packers
Start – Isiah Pacheco – Pacheco had a great game in week 12 where he rushed 15 times earning 55 yards and reaching the end zone twice. He also contributed 30 yards to the pass catching game. That was Pacheco’s first score since week 7 when he caught a TD and all the way back to week 5 when he last rushed for a TD. This game will be a SNF matchup and Green Bay’s defense has to be up for the challenge because they have not been good defending opposing RBs. I could see Pacheco being heavily involved in both the rushing game and the receiving game.
Sit – Jordan Love – It’s tough to put a QB in my sit spot after throwing for multiple TD passes in 3 consecutive games. However, the packers will be playing the Chiefs. Kansas City’s defense has been locking up basically every position on offense played against them. Love has been good, but he needs to be great this week to have a chance at taking down the reigning champs. Love is a streaming option this week, but hopefully you have better options.
Bengals @ Jaguars
Start – Evan Engram – Engram has been a steady target for Trevor Lawrence this season. He leads the Jaguars in receptions, is 2nd in targets, and is 3rd in receiving yards. Engram is still looking for the 1st TD of the season for him and this week should give him a decent shot at it. Since his 5 targets in week 1, Engram has been targeted 6+ times in every single game. For such a reliable pass catcher you can only hope he is relied on more in the red zone. The Bengals are amongst the worst defenses in defending TEs this season.
Sit – Tyler Boyd – To be honest there isn’t really anyone on the Bengals I want starting for me right now with the exception of Ja’Marr Chase who has proven he can be matchup proof. Even with Tee Higgins active or not playing, Boyd hasn’t been consistent enough. Tyler went off on Houston just weeks ago, but with no Joe Burrow his fantasy stock plummets with Jake Browning throwing to him. Boyd has just 6 receptions in his last 2 games combining for a lousy 45 receiving yards.