Fantasy Football: Starts And Sits Week 13 2021
By Pat Pitts
We are officially in the End Game of the fantasy football regular season. This week will be MASSIVE for teams in your league, or even your own, to clinch a spot in the fantasy playoffs. Let's assemble your best lineup to help you earn a spot in a battle in Ragnarok's colosseum.
START
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts @ NYJ
Hurts struggled against the Giants in his worst game of the season. The Jets provide fantasy’s QB2 some redemption. The Jets’ defense ranks as one of the worst in the league at defending the pass. Hurts has a real chance to be the overall QB1 this week.
Mac Jones @ BUF
Call me crazy, but I’m doing it. Mac Jones has shined over the Patriot’s six-game win streak. The Bills star cornerback, Tre White, was lost for the season with an ACL injury on Thanksgiving. Jones finished as a Top-10 fantasy quarterback. Roll the dice on the Big Mac.
Derek Carr vs WFT
Carr leads the league in passing yards squaring off against the Washington Football Team defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season. Carr deserves way more respect than he’s been given. He is locked in as a QB1 this week.
Running Backs
Leonard Fournette vs ATL
Fournette’s four touchdowns against the Colts launch him into starting lineups this week as fantasy managers hope for some repeat magic. The Falcons do not provide much of an obstacle for him to run wild again, so keep him in your lineups.
Alexander Mattison vs DET
The Lions have allowed the third most fantasy points to RBs this season. Mattison has proven that he can handle an RB1 workload when Dalvin Cook is absent from the Vikings lineup. Don’t throw away your shot and start this fill in bell cow.
J.D. McKissic vs LV
McKissic has taken over as the RB1 in Washington. The Raiders rank in the Top-5 of most rushing yards allowed to opponents this season. McKissic is my FLEX play of the week.
Wide Receivers
Michael Pittman Jr. vs HOU
Pittman vanished in his last game against the Texans, only catching two passes. He seeks redemption after launching himself to WR18 rank across all fantasy platforms. Houston has a problem with him this week; do not let it be yours too.
Hunter Renfrow vs WFT
Renfrow averages just under nine targets per game since the Raiders’ bye week. He caught eight of his nine targets last week for 134 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys defense is not much better than Washington’s. Slot the receiver in your lineup.
Tight Ends
Foster Moreau vs WFT
With Darren Waller unlikely to play on Sunday, Foster Moreau immediately jumps into the TE1 spot for Las Vegas. He has put up TE1 numbers in games Waller has missed this season, which gives off the impression it is bound to happen again this week against a bad Washington defense.
Pat Friermuth vs BAL
The Ravens have been a favorable matchup for TEs this season, allowing the second most fantasy points to the position. Friermuth is simply in the right place at the right time. His play this season only enhances my point.
Dawson Knox vs NE
If there is one thing I know about the Patriots, it is that they love giving up touchdowns to tight ends in the red zone. Dawson is already Knoxing at the doorstep and ready to Hulk Smash his way to a big fantasy day.
SIT
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson vs SF
The Seahawks officially stink. If you took anything away from Monday night, it is that Russ belongs on the waiver wire until he finds a new team.
Matt Ryan vs TB
Ryan has been too inconsistent for my liking. With no clear WR1 in the system, it makes it hard to put him as a QB1 in fantasy lineups.
Joe Burrow vs LAC
The Chargers defense operates differently with Derwin James. They have shut down opposing air attacks, allowing the lowest amount of yards and scores to QBs. Burrow gets the bench this week.
Running Backs
James Robinson @ LAR
Robinson has the uphill battle facing a front-seven that includes Aaron Donald and Von Miller. The Jags are fresh meat this week for a Rams team looking to get back on track, and no player is going to do well on that team this Sunday.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs DEN
Edwards-Helaire finished as RB11 in his last game, but missed five games before that. He comes back from the bye still not proving he deserves a starting spot. He needs another game before entering that conversation.
David Montgomery vs ARI
The Cardinals defense ruins their opponents day, halting any momentum that an offense may have had in previous weeks. Montgomery did not see enough volume against the Lions, who are awful stopping the run. He can sit out a week.
Wide Receivers
Stefon Diggs vs NE
Diggs is going to struggle to get open on Monday night as the Patriots defense has allowed 26 points in their last four games. If there’s a better matchup, slot that player into your lineup.
D.K. Metcalf vs SF
Metcalf has been a giant disappointment over the last month or so. He has totaled 15 points over his last three games. The Seahawks offense has problems you do not need to partake in.
Chase Claypool vs BAL
Big Ben looks disheveled. His play symbolizes a dad reminiscing the glory days in the backyard with his kids, not like an NFL passer. Claypool is just a casualty that will be affected for the foreseeable future.
Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson vs MIN
The Vikings have allowed the fewest amount of touchdowns to opposing TEs this season. Hockenson continues to struggle along with the rest of the Lions offense. Keep your distance from him this week.
Cole Kmet vs ARI Another Bears player gets the boot this week, but for a good reason. The Cardinals have allowed an average of three fantasy points to TEs this year. There are a ton of better options left over on the waiver wire.
Jared Cook @ CIN
Cook has lost his job to Donald Parham. His play and volume declined over the past few weeks. He should be dropped at this point.