Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and happy week 13 of the 2024 NFL season! 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).
This Thanksgiving we get 3 games to feast on and also a Black Friday game to watch. The games I am looking forward to most are the Bears/Lions and the Dolphins/Packers. Both games have a good chance of high scoring. I have Detroit, Dallas, Green Bay, and the Chiefs winning in the next 2 games. Give me all the home teams.
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.
THANKSGIVING & FRIDAY START/SIT
Bears @ Lions
Start – Amon-Ra St. Brown – Amon-Ra caught 6 of his 7 targets last game resulting in 62 receiving yards. It was the first game he didn’t catch a TD since week 2. That just means he’ll make up for that this Thursday, right? St. Brown has caught 6+ receptions in 4 consecutive games and seeing what both Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson did to Chicago last game just shows how good a game St. Brown could have.
Sit – Cole Kmet – Cole is in a bad matchup with Detroit who are the best at defending opposing TEs in fantasy this season. Cole was targeted 10 times last game and finished with 6 receptions for 64 yards and no score. That was his best game in a while, He has 3 TDs this season but none since week 6 and from his week 7 BYE to week 10 he had just 6 receptions for a total of 69 yards.
Giants @ Cowboys
Start – Rico Dowdle – Rico is in a good position to feast on Thanksgiving. He gets a soft Giants defense in Dallas. Dowdle is involved both in the run game and the pass game. Rico almost hit the 100 total yards mark last game against Washington. He hasn’t scored a TD since week 9 but that could change tomorrow.
Sit – Devin Singletary – It is known that this is now Tyrone Tracy’s backfield to lose after the Rookie has burst onto the scene. Cowboys’ defense isn’t worrying anyone, but the volume for Singletary is what worries me. Drew Lock gets the start for the Giants, and I think he is going to try to air it out in Dallas like many have this season.
Dolphins @ Packers
Start – Jonnu Smith – All aboard the Jonnu bandwagon. The experienced TE has back-to-back impressive games for the Dolphins and will look to keep the momentum going. He caught 6 of 8 targets in week 11 for 101 receiving yards and found the endzone twice! How does he follow that up? He catches 9 of 11 targets in week 10 for 87 yards and scored yet again. Smith should be excited to take on the Packers who aren’t the best defensively, especially against TEs.
Sit – Christian Watson – Chose Watson here for a couple of reasons. First reason is he is just too inconsistent this season. He caught 4 of 4 targets in week 11 for 150 yards and no scores, but then the following week he doesn’t record a reception. The other reason is their opponent. Miami has a strong secondary that has been keeping opposing WRs in check this season.
Raiders & Chiefs (FRIDAY)
Start – Travis Kelce – I really wanted to put Noah Gray in this start spot after scoring 4 TDs in his last 2 games but thought better of it after looking at Kelce and how he played against Vegas back in week 8. He had 1 of his best games of the season posting 10 receptions for 90 receiving yards and a TD. Gray could cut into those red zone looks, but he is Travis Kelce and shouldn’t be doubted.
Sit – Zamir White – It is unclear who will be healthy and able to play in this game out of the 3 RBs used including White, Mattison, and Abdullah. To be honest I don’t like any of them this week. Chiefs have shut down opponents RBs most of the season and I don’t see this being different. Mattison has the best chance at volume, and Abdullah has a better chance than White in the receiving game. Best to just avoid the Vegas RBs this week and focus on Bowers and WRs.
Yesterday we had 3 Thanksgiving games which resulted in 3 home team wins in the Lions, the Cowboys, and the Packers. Now we get the Chiefs and the Raiders on this Black Friday. Next week we get a TNF matchup between the Packers and the Lions which should be a good one since they have 20 combined wins.
The games I am looking forward to watching most this weekend include the Eagles/Ravens, 49ers/Bills, Cardinals/Vikings, and Steelers/Bengals. Saquon and Hurts v Henry and Lamar. Josh Allen in a cold home game. Vikings looking for their 10th win. And Steelers @ Bengals much watch tv.
START OF THE WEEK
Start – Bucky Irving – Bucky Irving season continues to roll on but in Carolina this week. Bucky has scored in back-to-back games and has 3+ receptions from Baker in 5 consecutive games. Irving continues to make a substantial impact for fantasy and for Tampa Bay even with the presence of Rachaad White still getting a decent workload. Carolina’s defense might be the worst against opposing RBs, so I expect more Bucky success this week. FYI, I like Chuba Hubbard in this game a lot too.
Colts @ Patriots
Start – Michael Pittman Jr – It is wild how Pittman can go from starter, to bench, to dropping, to adding, and starting again in fantasy. Well here we are, with Pittman in a start spot against the Patriots. Pittman could be the WR1 this week with Josh Downs availability in question after sustaining an injury. Pittman has 15 targets in his last 2 games with Anthony Richardson and is coming off his 2nd best receiving yard game with 96 yards.
Sit – Antonio Gibson – Gibson has not had a significant impact in fantasy this season and specifically lately. The RB2 for New England has not seen double digit carries since week 6 and has not caught more than 1 pass since week 6 as well. I like the matchup with the Colts, however Rhamondre Stevenson is coming off a bad game and I could see him getting 20+ carries this week.
Steelers @ Bengals
Start – Jaylen Warren – Warren has been playing well and is a nice compliment to the a Steelers offense alongside Najee Harris. Warren has 40+ rushing yards in 5 consecutive games and 2+ receptions in each of his last 6 games. Pittsburgh will use both Warren and Najee but Warren has the bigger upside in my opinion.
Sit – Mike Gesicki – Gesicki had just 2 targets in his last game prior to the Bengals BYE week. That is concerning for Gesicki because Joe Burrow has his main weapons back. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown get the majority of targets and receptions when healthy which leaves Gesicki at least 4th in options to target. Also playing against the Steelers is never ideal.
Chargers @ Falcons
Start – Ladd McConkey – The rookie out of Georgia is playing great for the Chargers this season and gets a good matchup with the falcons defense this week. McConkey has 6+ targets in all but 2 games this season and has 5+ receptions in 7 games this season. He has not scored since week 8 so he is overdue and what better time than this week.
Sit – Kyle Pitts – Pitts has been targeted 10 times total in his last 3 games combined. He had 55 yards and 4 receptions in week 10, but that is the best he has done lately. He exploded in week 8 and has had a couple dud games and a BYE week. If you combine week 9 and week 11 against the Cowboys and Broncos, you get just 2 receptions for 20 yards and no scores. There are better pass catchers in this game for both sides that I am more comfortable with over Pitts.
Seahawks @ Jets
Start – Kenneth Walker – Walker gets the Jets defense this week which indicates he should get plenty of work as offenses find it easier to run on the Jets compared to throwing on them, Walker has 14+ carries in 5 of his last 6 games and is always a threat to catch and run. He has 2 receptions in every game he has played in and that includes 5 games with 4+ receptions.
Sit – Tyler Lockett – Going with Lockett here simply because it is harder to throw on the Jets and Lockett has 2 receptions in each of his last games and neither eclipsed 20 receiving yards. Keep in mind that both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are currently questionable. It is no secret Lockett is below DK, Smith-Njigba, and Walker for pass catching priorities.
Texans @ Jaguars
Start – Joe Mixon – Mixon has been bottled up in 2 of his last 3 games averaging 1.6 yards per carry against the Titans and 1.8 yards per carry against Detroit. Luckily, it is the Jacksonville Jaguars defense he is playing which leads me to believe Mixon will go off. Jags have let RBs feast all year long and this should be no exception.
Sit – Dalton Schultz – Dalton is not high on my TE rankings this week and it is due to Nico Collins being a healthy powerhouse, Joe Mixon absolutely eating, and the threat of the Tank Dell deep ball. Houston could get up early in this one and just feed Mixon the rest of the way. Schultz has had under 35 receiving yards in a whopping 10 games this season. He only has 2 games with more than 35 yards and has yet to find the end zone.
Cardinals @ Vikings
Start – Aaron Jones – Jones has a terrific matchup with Arizona and is coming off one of his best games of the season. He gets a home game this week and will look for his 10th win this season. Aaron Jones has 14+ carries in 9 of the 11 games he has played in this season and has 2+ receptions in 9 of 11 as well. In games that Jones has 4+ receptions and games where he has 20+ carries, Jones and the Vikings have won all of those games.
Sit – Michael Wilson – I like what I see with Wilson out there and this matchup is quite good, but since early in the season he has been too TD dependent. He only has 3 TDs this season and has over 3 receptions just 3 times as well. Stick with McBride and Harrison this week. Cannot risk a low outing.
Titans @ Commanders
Start – Tony Pollard – This is a great spot for Pollard this week and for the Titans offense. Washington has given up 26+ points in 3 consecutive games and they lost all 3. Pollard is coming off his fourth 20+ carry game and now has eclipsed 100 rushing yards twice. Pollard also is involved in the pass catching game with 2+ receptions in every game this season. Heavy dose of Pollard this week.
Sit – Tyjae Spears – Spears is dealing with a concussion, so he is currently questionable to play Sunday. Even if he is a full go I would rather sit him this week. Tony Pollard should get the majority of looks and touches as long as he continues to stay healthy.
Buccaneers @ Panthers
Start – Bucky Irving – SEE START OF THE WEEK TOP OF PAGE
Sit – Jonathan Brooks – I know many people have has Brooks stashed on their bench until he is finally active, but he was active last week and it was underwhelming. He had just 2 carries for 7 yards in his debut. Chuba Hubbard has played fantastic and that’s a big impact on the amount of volume Brooks will get. I have not seen enough to feel comfortable starting Brooks so back to the bench he goes.
Rams @ Saints
Start – Taysom Hill – Do not get me wrong, Kamara is the obvious must start here, but Taysom Hill has such a high upside as well. The TE/WR/RB/QB can be a threat anywhere at anytime in any position. Before their week 12 BYE, Taysom had a 3 TD game. The Ram’s defense is not very scary, so I see Hill getting more opportunities like he did last game.
Sit – Demarcus Robinson – Robinson has 6 receiving TDs this season, but he is still in my sit spot. Demarcus has 2 receptions or less in 5 of his last 6, and 8 total times this season. He clearly can score so he is extremely TD dependent which is scary when you have a healthy Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua at WR1 and WR2.
Eagles @ Ravens
Start – Jalen Hurts – In a game featuring both Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, I am picking Jalen Hurts. Both RBs should produce highly per usual, but Jalen might be in the best spot for success. The Ravens defense has looked rather bad at times and has given up 25+ points in 8 of their 12 games. We have seen Barkley win games on his own, but Jalen has all his weapons back and will want to use them alongside their heavy rush approach.
Sit – Isaiah Likely – Likely was not targeted in his last game played. He had a decent game against the Steelers in week 11 but has not been very productive otherwise in a while. Mark Andrews is continuing to get looks so Likely is very haphazard and against the Eagles recent defense I am going to assume it is a miss rather than a hit.
49ers @ Bills
Start – Josh Allen – This game is projected to be very cool and could be a heavy snow type of game in Buffalo, that’s a huge advantage to The Bills and specifically their QB Allen. I can see Allen running around in a snow game taking matters into his own hands against a defense used to playing in California. San Fran’s defense is good, but MVP candidate Josh Allen is superior.
Sit – Ricky Pearsall – First off, hopefully Purdy is healthy and can play in this game because without him they seemed a mess. The weather is going to be cold, and the 49ers have too many weapons to feel confident in Ricky,
Browns @ Broncos
Start – Courtland Sutton – I am never generally high on Sutton, but he has proven me wrong and then some. Sutton has 3 TDs in his last 3 games and has 70+ receiving yards in 5 consecutive games. The Browns defense has shown up in some big games, but Denver has been playing great behind rookie Bo Nix. I like Sutton to continue his dominating play.
Sit – Cedric Tillman – Tillman has come back down to earth after having 3 amazing games spanning from week 7 to 9. Since then, he has not had a game with more than 3 receptions. Jerry Jeudy has the hot hand lately.