Fantasy Football Week 13: Starts, Sits, and Sleepers

Photo: Reinhold Matay, USA Today Sports

Week 13 of NFL action has stars like Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley, and Stefon Diggs on bye weeks, leaving fantasy managers with fewer clear choices to make in their lineup. This weekly article is meant to make those lineup decisions a little bit easier. You can always listen to The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show, which releases episodes every weekday - also, check out the free Week 13 Player Rankings.

QUARTERBACKS

START: Brock Purdy vs PHI

• Avg Fantasy Points: 18.5
• Opponent vs QBs: 32nd
• Week 13 Rank: QB6
• Projected Points: 21.3

The Eagles have allowed three quarterbacks to pass for at least 339 yards over their last four games while also allowing a total of 11 passing touchdowns in that same span. Brock Purdy was downright surgical in weeks 10 and 11, throwing for over 600 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. Before last week, Purdy had scored at least 20 fantasy points in three straight games. I expect him to remain busy throwing the ball in this matchup - over the last three games, opposing quarterbacks have thrown the ball an average of 46 times per game against the Eagles.

SIT: Matthew Stafford vs CLE

• Avg Fantasy Points: 14.1
• Opponent vs QBs: 31st
• Week 13 Rank: QB21
• Projected Points: 15.8

The tradition of benching quarterbacks against the Browns continues! Last week, Russell Wilson finished admirably as the QB11, largely due to a rushing touchdown. Wilson was still held in check in the passing game, only throwing for 139 yards, 1 touchdown, and a 59.1% completion rate. While Stafford looked great last week against the Arizona Cardinals, he's been wildly unreliable. He only has two multi-touchdown games all season, while he's only finished as a Top-12 fantasy quarterback once - that was last week. Even with three fantasy starters on bye this week, I'd much rather play someone like Gardner Minshew or Russell Wilson in week 12.

TIGHT ENDS

START: Taysom Hill vs DET

• Avg Fantasy Points: 14.4 (Since Week 6)
• Opponent vs TEs: 20th
• Week 13 Rank: TE7
• Projected Points: 11.1

There aren't many playmakers left for the Saints right now. Chris Olave is in concussion protocol, Rashid Shaheed is dealing with a thigh injury, and Michael Thomas is on IR. Even if Olave is available to play, Hill is a high-upside play at a very unstable tight end position. He's not your traditional tight end, so the opponent doesn't really matter in this case.