Week 13 2021/2022 Fantasy Season

Week 12 in the NFL saw some big upsets and also more players getting injured which again opens up some value for picking up players on the waiver wire. Four teams are also on byes in week 13 including red hot Aaron Rodgers and the Packers as well as the Browns, Panthers, and Titans that will bring some less common players into fantasy lineups.

Let’s get into the best waiver wire pickups, players to sit and start, and also compare some players one on one for your fantasy roster this week.

RB’s for Week 13

Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders

To start off with the best waiver wire pickups we look at running backs to start. Philadelphia has turned into a dynamic running team with Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders but Sanders can’t seem to stay on the field constantly picking up injuries. Sanders got another injury in week 12 that should keep him out in week 13 and maybe longer which again opens up running back snaps for others in Philadelphia.

Boston Scott

The main beneficiary in week 12 was Boston Scott who got 15 carries in limited time after Sanders had nine carries before the injury. In this offense Scott should be guaranteed at least 15 carries again and he gets to play the New York Jets which is a good matchup for him. This makes Scott the best running back waiver wire pickup and probably the best pickup overall on the week.

Jamaal Williams vs Deandre Swift

Jamaal Williams for the Detroit Lions is another quality pickup at running back to target this week as Deandre Swift is considered questionable to play this week. Even if Swift does play, Williams has had five games this year with at least 12 carries so is a decent fill in play even if Swift isn’t out. The Lions also get a decent matchup against the Minnesota Vikings who gave up over 100 yards rushing to 49er’s rookie running back Elijah Mitchell in week 12.

WR’s for Week 13

Looking at the wide receivers to target in week 13 there are some quality players that should be available in over 60% of leagues.

Kendrick Bourne

First we start out with the New England Patriots wideout Kendrick Bourne. Bourne had a big week 12 with two touchdowns for the red hot Patriots. Bourne has proven that he can be a big play wide receiver as he has a 75 yard touchdown catch in a game this year and has a nose for the end zone. He is quickly turning into the No. 1 option in New England and has fit in nicely with Mac Jones.

Even in minor roles the past seasons with the 49ers he managed seasons with four and five touchdowns in seasons where he had only 40 catches. In the last three games this year for the Patriots he has managed at least four catches in each game with three total touchdowns and one game with 98 yards.

Devante Parker

Another wide receiver to pickup is Devante Parker for the Miami Dolphins who has been good when he is in the lineup. He looks like he will return to the lineup in week 13 and the Dolphins have been getting it done recently in the pass game.

Parker should be able to slide into a No. 1 or 2 receiver role for the Dolphins and get back to his early season success where he had three games with 77+ yards out of just five games played this year.

QB’s for Week 13

Taysom Hill is the Top QB for Week 13

The top quarterback pickup of the week is Taysom Hill for the New Orleans Saints on the rumor that he is getting the starting quarterback reps during practice. Hill is a dynamic fantasy quarterback with his rushing upside and especially his upside to get rushing touchdowns in the red zone.

If Hill is named the starter for week 13 then he should be close to a top 10 quarterback play this week and a good long term fantasy quarterback option for the rest of the year.

Tua is another option if Hill is not named the starter for this week

Looking for another option if Hill is not named the starter for this week look at Tua from the Miami Dolphins. Tua has been really good when in the lineup and faces the New York Giants in week 13 in a fantasy friendly matchup for him.

TE’s for Week 13

Tight end pickups on the waiver wire are slim as usual but there is some value and good fill in players here.

Cole Kmet

The first is Cole Kmet who has been really consistent for the Chicago Bears this year. In his last five games he has had at least six targets in each game besides one, including his last game with 11 targets and eight catches. The Bears passing attack is better with Andy Dalton at the helm and should benefit Kmet in week 13.

Tyler Conklin

The other tight end to consider in week 13 is Tyler Conklin for the Minnesota Vikings who has been fairly consistent with no games with fewer than two catches in every contest this year. He also is a top red zone target for Kirk Cousins and the Vikings which increases his potential ceiling for the week and against the Detroit Lions his chances of scoring should be even higher.

Running Backs to start in Week 13

Antonio Gibson

A great running back to start in week 13 is one who has recently been featured by his team in the run game. That is Antonio Gibson for the Washington Football Team who has gotten at least 19 carries in the past three weeks including a game with 24 carries and last week he had 29.

In what should be a close game against the Las Vegas Raiders he should continue to see work in the receiving game as well as he had seven catches in the last game. The Football Team may also be without one of the best pass catching backs in the NFL in J.D. McKissic in week 13.

Alexander Mattison

One of the best players to start at running back is Alexander Mattison for the Minnesota Vikings as he should be in line to start with Dalvin Cook out of the lineup. Whenever Cook is out, Mattison has a massive usage rate.

In the two weeks Cook was out for the Vikings Mattison had 26 and 25 carries and faces the Lions in week 13 for a nice matchup.

Running Backs to sit in Week 13

Players to sit this week are the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots running backs. Both of these teams have running back splits where all the running backs on the team are not likely to see more than 15 carries per week.

It is unfortunate because Devonta Freeman and Damien Harris were so good earlier in the year but have such a low floor now in these split situations.

Wide Receivers to start in Week 13

Looking at wide receivers to sit and start there are some in good spots this week and others that are not.

Darnell Mooney

Darnell Mooney looks to be in one of those good situations for the Chicago Bears as he has flourished with Andy Dalton at quarterback. Even in a low scoring game in week 12 Mooney had 123 yards, his second straight game with 120+ yards. He is the clear No. 1 option with Allen Robinson out and he has been producing recently.

Darren Waller  is out so Hunter Renfrow should continue

Another wide receiver to start is the now clear No. 1 option in Las Vegas for the Raiders is Hunter Renfrow. With Darren Waller out this week, Renfrow should continue where he left off in week 13. He had 134 receiving yards on nine targets. That is the third time in the last four games that Renfrow has seen nine targets and he may even be in line for more than that this week.

Wide Receivers to sit in Week 13

A player to sit in week 13 is Cole Beasley for the Buffalo Bills. Beasley hasn’t had more than 46 receiving yards in his last four games and hasn’t scored a touchdown since week six. He also has a tougher matchup against the Patriots.

Mike Williams is another player to consider sitting in week 13. He is so dependent on getting a long touchdown catch that it is hard to trust him week in and week out. In a tough matchup against the Bengals he could be left on the bench.

Quarter Backs to start in Week 13

Kirk Cousins

A quarterback to start this week is Kirk Cousins who has a great matchup as the Minnesota Vikings take on the Detroit Lions. Cousins has had at least two touchdown passes in his last four games and has four games with three touchdown passes this year.

This week should be another three touchdown effort for Cousins. Cousins has great wide receivers to throw to and probably will be without their star running back which could increase the emphasis on the pass game this week.

Quarter Backs to sit in Week 13

Matt Ryan is a quarterback who can be left on your bench this week. The Atlanta Falcons have been terrible offensively in the last three games and Matt Ryan’s weapons have not been producing. Calvin Ridley is out for them and Kyle Pitts’ production has fallen off from earlier in the year. The Falcons have a tough matchup as well in week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tight Ends to start in Week 13

Logan Thomas

Logan Thomas is back and looks like he will yet again be a fairly consistent tight end for fantasy owners. Last season he was third in tight end catches and back in the lineup in week 12 he received six targets. He also has a nice matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Tight Ends to sit in Week 13

Evan Engram is a player who can be sat on the bench in week 13. The New York Giants are returning some of their weapons which means they should utilize Engram even less. He hasn’t had more than 44 receiving yards since week five and now faces a resurgent Dolphins’ defense.

One on one comparison of players for Week 13

For the last part of the week 13 breakdown we will look at some players that could be on your roster and compare them one on one to see who you should be starting this week.

RB’s comparison for Week 13

Josh Jacobs or Myles Gaskin

Starting off at running backs there is a player who saw the most rushing yards he has had all season in week 12 in the Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. He managed to get 22 carries and a touchdown in a great game for him. Still this week he finds himself as a fringe RB2 which makes him an interesting player to look at for your week 13 rosters.

Myles Gaskin is another fringe RB2 for week 13 and a good player to compare against Jacobs. Jacobs seems like the better play here as the Raiders should be focused again on smashing the ball on the ground and he should have a lot of opportunities against Washington to get goal line carries.

Gaskin has a good matchup but is wildly inconsistent and won’t have as many guaranteed touches as Jacobs.

James Robinson

James Robinson finds himself in a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Rams when the Jaguars take them on in week 13. Robinson seems to always find a way to make value in any matchup as against the 49ers two weeks ago he only had 29 rushing yards but managed a touchdown and last week he had 89 rushing yards in a loss.

Ezekiel Elliott better than Saquon Barkley?

Another running back to look at who is now a fringe RB2 is Ezekiel Elliott. He hasn’t had more than 51 rushing yards since week six and now gets a tough matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Antonio Gibson is a workhorse and looks like a better play on the Football Team as they take on the Raiders. Elliot still looks better than Saquon Barkley who didn’t to look good in his return. Barkley now faces a difficult matchup against the Dolphins and just won’t get many good opportunities to do anything with the ball.

WR’s comparison for Week 13

Brandon Aiyuk is a better bet this week than Devonta Smith

Looking at wide receivers for week 13, one that will be intriguing to see how they are used is Brandon Aiyuk for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers lost Deebo Samuel for at least a week and Aiyuk should see an increase in usage because of it.

Samuel has been getting used as a running back the last few weeks which has increased his touches and touchdowns. Aiyuk is a similar player and could fill that role too. This makes him a good WR3 candidate for week 13.

Aiyuk has been solid himself with three games over 84 yards or more in his last four games and two touchdowns in those games. He looks to be a better bet this week than Devonta Smith who is so hit or miss. Aiyuk should have more targets and a better path to scoring more fantasy points.

Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle is a receiver who should be started over Aiyuk. He has done it all year basically and is a target and catch monster. He had a breakout game last week and the Dolphins get a great matchup in week 13 so he should be featured again and is fairly consistent.

Tee Higgins seems like a better play than Brandin Cooks

Another wide receiver to look at is Brandin Cooks for the Houston Texans. Cooks is so touchdown or deep ball dependent that he is really hit or miss. Still he has value because he seems to do one or the other every week.

Tee Higgins seems like a better play than Cooks for the Bengals as he finally broke out last week and should have had two touchdowns. The Bengals should be in a shootout against the Chargers as well. Still Cooks has a higher upside than the two Rams wide receivers in OBJ and Van Jefferson but not Cooper Kupp, obviously.

Joe Burrow for the Bengals seems like a better play Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson has not been the same since returning from a finger injury as he has been wildly inaccurate on short passes. This has been a problem for the Seahawks and now they face the 49ers who have been good defensively. He should be considered to start if this is the week you think he figures it out, however.

Joe Burrow for the Bengals seems like a better play than him this week in what should be a high scoring contest against the Chargers. Burrow has been great recently as well and got robbed of a second touchdown last week on a challenged play down at the one yard line in a blowout win.

Wilson does make a better play this week than Taysom Hill for the Saints though. It is unknown of how Hill will throw the ball against the Cowboys in week 13 with a suspect wide receiver group in New Orleans. We know he should get opportunities to carry the ball but that will determine how he does fantasy performance wise and Wilson seems to be a better upside play.

One on one comparison of TE’s

T.J. Hockenson has suddenly disappeared

A tight end who was one of the best to start the season has suddenly disappeared. That player is T.J. Hockenson for the Detroit Lions. The year started for him with two games with eight catches each and a touchdown in each.

Since week two, his next touchdown came last week in week 12 and he hasn’t had eight catches either since week eight. He is still playable but there are some other options that could be better than him now in week 13.

Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz has made his mark in Arizona and has been a great option for the Cardinals. With Deandre Hopkins out, Ertz has been the No. 1 option arguably. With 88 yards, eight catches, and two touchdowns last week, he looks like another good play this week. Kyler Murray is also returning which should benefit Ertz even more.

Hockenson or Dalton Schultz

Hockenson still looks better than Dalton Schultz who has been good for the Dallas Cowboys but not dominant. With Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb probably returning in week 13, Schultz should see his usage dip even more.