The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 13
Happy Thanksgiving week! This year, I am thankful for the no-byes and the many island games this week. Building your roster and formatting where players land will make for a fun and exciting week! If you are nervous or struggling with what to do, it’s time to strap in for an extended episode known as THE MEGALODON! Also, if you are traveling, this is a perfect time-filler for your drives, flights, or whatever kind of journey you are on. Andy, Mike, and Jason stuff three days’ worth of episodes into one giant Thanksgiving feast-sized edition of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast. To watch the full episode on YouTube, click below.
Now, if you still need more guidance, or as the week goes on and news breaks, you can always head to thefantasyfootballers.com or use the mobile app to find the latest player updates and rankings the Ballers have to offer. But it’s time to break down The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 13, so let’s get to it!
Andy’s Starts of the Week
Andy is requesting full underpants on every one of his picks this week as he tries to give fantasy players confidence in some guys who have not performed as well as everyone hoped.
QB – CJ Stroud @ JAX
It has been rough sledding this year with Stroud. He has only been in the top 12 three times, which, at the draft price you took him with, has to feel terrible. The good news is that he faces a Jacksonville defense that he has been destroyed every time Stroud has played them, finishing as the QB12, QB4, and QB5 this year when he threw for 345 and two touchdowns. That Jaguar defense currently ranks last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs, explosive pass plays allowed, and yards per pass attempt. The Jaguars are terrible, and Stroud should finally deliver another high-end performance.
RB – Rico Dowdle vs. NYG
As Andy has been telling Mike all offseason, Dowdle can work for fantasy. Since the random Week 8 illness game, Dowdle has seen a healthy 76% of the RB attempts, and he is averaging over three receptions per game. Now Dowdle gets to face a Giants defense that ranks 28th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs and 25th in EPA per rush attempt. If the Cowboys have success, Dowdle should also produce a decent week fantasy-wise.
WR – Michael Pittman Jr. @ NE
This choice is a simple belief in a player we all believed in for so long, and it showed last week why that faith was warranted. Pittman led the Colts last week in targets with seven, catching six of them for 96 yards. He has looked better this year with Richardson than with Flacco, and that is who his QB is this week. He also faces a New England defense that ranks 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. This matchup should be another solid week for Pittman.
TE – Pat Freiermuth @ CIN
The Muth should be your target if you are searching for a player off of waivers to fill in at TE. Last year, when he played Cincinnati, he was the TE2 with 11 targets, catching nine for 120 yards. Since Week 5, the Bengals have been 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. The Ravens’ TEs had three touchdowns, Njoku had 10 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, Bowers had five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown, and Dissley had four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. If the trends continue, the Muth could get Luth on Thanksgiving weekend.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB – Baker Mayfield @ CAR
Laser Mayfield has been a revelation this season! Even last week, when he didn’t throw a touchdown, he was still excellent and in control of the offense. This week, the Bucs have the third-highest team-implied total at 26 points. The Panthers’ defense, meanwhile, is very consistent, ranking 29th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs and 29th in yards per attempt allowed. Baker will continue his outstanding season and should provide fantasy gold again.
RB – Jonathan Taylor @ NE
Over the last month, Taylor has had zero touchdowns, which is always a concern with a running quarterback like Richardson. This week is the matchup to get himself back on track; the Colts’ offensive line ranks third in PFF’s run-blocking grades and seventh in adjusted line yards before contact. Those rankings set up well against a Patriots defense that ranks 26th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs and 29th in rushing yards allowed to RBs on the season. It is time for Jonathan Taylor to remind the world that he is an elite RB.
WR – George Pickens @ CIN
Pickens has WR1 potential this week. He has a 29% target share and has averaged 70 receiving yards per game. He went nuclear against the Bengals last year in Week 16 when he had 195 yards and two touchdowns. This year, the Bengals rank 26th in EPA per pass attempt and 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. Pickens must be in your lineups because he could give you a week-winning performance.
TE – Jonnu Smith @ GB
Jason has been clear about how impressed he has been with Jonnu and how integral he has been for the Dolphins. Jokes aside, Jonnu’s role is legitimate for Miami, which is why he has been the TE1 in total points since Week 7. Since Tua has returned, Jonnu has been targeted on 28% of his routes and has 27 receptions for 299 yards to lead his team. Smith’s 2.4 yards per route run in that span also puts him above players like Jefferson and Kupp. Jonnu is the Ballers’ TE8 against a Packers secondary that ranks 25th against fantasy TEs. Keep rolling with Jonnu; he is vital to making this offense tick.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB – Russell Wilson @ CIN
Mike is returning for more Russ after making him his Stream of the Week. This matchup has the potential for an actual shootout, though. The over/under is 47 points, and even as a divisional game, the Bengals are desperate. Russ is averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, and this week is an excellent matchup for his patented moon ball. Cincinnati’s defense ranks 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs and 25th in EPA per pass attempt. This matchup should be one of those divisional explosion games that will bring fantasy goodness to Russell Wilson.
RB – Kareem Hunt vs. LV
It has been a disappointing last two weeks for Hunt managers, and with Pacheco returning soon, this could be the last chance for Hunt to deliver a big week. The good news is that Kansas City is a substantial 12-point home favorite on Black Friday, which means they could be running a lot to finish the game. Meanwhile, the Raiders rank 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. It should be a last hurrah for Hunt this week.
WR – Marvin Harrison Jr. @ MIN
It has been very hot and cold all year for Marv, but this is a matchup you can’t miss out on. Minnesota plays two high safeties at the highest rate in the NFL at 68%. Marv has a 40% air yards share versus that look, which ranks eighth among all WRs. He has also converted six of his end zone targets against that look for four touchdowns, the third-best in the NFL. You have to throw on the Vikings, as they rank 28th in passing yards per game and 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. It is time for Marv to give another elite week for fantasy managers.
TE – Cade Otton @ CAR
After two horrendous TE matchups, it could be tempting to move away from Otton, especially with Mike Evans back. Otton is averaging 6.6 targets per game, tied for sixth-best among TEs. He faces a Carolina defense that ranks dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs and the most receiving touchdowns to TEs in the NFL. It could be a week where Otton comes back into form as a fantasy TE you can trust.