Welcome to our Fantasy Football Plays and Fades for Week 13 (2024)! We have entered the bye weeks and injuries are happening everywhere, which makes setting your lineups difficult. This is where we break down matchups to help you find the right players to play and which players to avoid each week. week.
A little confession on my part. On top of being a fantasy football bro, I also happen to be a huge fan of musical theater adaptations in movies.
So, indulge me as I get “Wicked” this week with my Week 13 picks.
With the playoffs coming up, the “Popular” players are well-established. I missed whole-heartedly on Saquon Barkley last week. I preferred not to be a Cowardly Lion with that call.
Come to find out, when you’re out on a ledge like that, you’re not in Kansas anymore.
So, with that said, we’re still doing everything we can to ensure we’re still “Defying Gravity.” Without further adieu, let’s get into our Week 13 Plays & Fades, which I hope will leave your teams great and powerful heading into the playoffs.
Quarterbacks
Plays
- C.J. Stroud @ JAX
- Stroud has been more down than up this season. Part of that is usage. Other parts of that are injuries to his receiving corps and some of that is the emergence of Joe Mixon as the Texans’ bell cow back.
- However, Stroud turned in a QB11 performance last week, his first since Week 4, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He threw for a season-high 345 yards and a pair of touchdowns in that game. The Jags are the best matchup for quarterbacks, so it’s a start-with-confidence spot this week.
- Anthony Richardson @ NE
- Richardson struggled against the Lions last week, but who hasn’t?
- It’s a much better matchup against the Patriots this week. Richardson maintains a high rushing floor, and with the Patriots generally being friendly to fantasy quarterbacks, it remains a good spot for Richardson to turn in a borderline-QB1 finish.
- Bryce Young vs. TB
- Quarterbacks need time to develop under good coaches and new systems, who would’ve thunk it?
- Since returning to the starting role, Bryce has looked more comfortable than he has in his career. Last week, he looked downright good against the Chiefs’ defense, throwing guys open and taking care of the football.
- He’s still being ranked in the bottom tiers of starting quarterbacks. In two-QB formats, Bryce has a chance to put in a third consecutive week of QB2 performance.
Fades
- Joe Burrow vs. PIT
- I’m good for at least one hot take destined to blow up in my face weekly.
- Idiots don’t learn; they double down. Pittsburgh is the most difficult matchup for fantasy quarterbacks, and Burrow is ranked inside the Top five.
- He’s been within the top two quarterbacks in fantasy for the past two weeks. Before that, he was QB17, 17 and 23. If there’s a spot to return to earth, it’s this one.
- Kyler Murray @ MIN
- Minnesota has been giving quarterbacks fits all season, and Kyler hasn’t eclipsed 25 rushing yards in any of the past four games.
- Without the rushing upside, Kyler’s upside is limited. I expect that trend to continue and for Murray to underperform this week.
- Jared Goff vs. CHI
- Last week, I said you start your Lions no matter what.
- The problem with that logic regarding Goff is that he’s highly touchdown-dependent as a fantasy quarterback. Detroit loves using their backs down in the red zone, so it limits Goff’s upside.
Running Backs
Plays
- Josh Jacobs vs. MIA
- Bread and butter are staples of any Thanksgiving meal. Jacobs has been a RB2 or 1 for seven weeks running.
- Let’s talk turkey. Jacobs is the constant in this offense right now and you ride that until it proves to otherwise be true.
- Chase Brown vs. PIT
- Consistent 80 percent snap shares and 24 or more opportunities each of the last three weeks. It’s not complicated.
- Chase Brown is efficient and plays a ton. Start those guys.
- Bucky Irving @ CAR
- Back-to-back RB1 weeks and the best matchup for running backs.
- This backfield is split with Rashaad White, and it doesn’t matter. Irving has a clearly defined role, and he’ll continue to be strong in it.
Fades
- Bijan Robinson vs. LAC
- It is the fourth-most difficult matchup for running backs.
- I’m buying the passing game this week in Drake London, so I must sell somewhere.
- Bijan will probably make me look silly in this spot. But I’m trusting the data here.
- Aaron Jones vs. CHI
- I didn’t anticipate Cam Akers impeding both Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler production.
- But Jones has been boom-or-bust over the past six weeks. With a team that is pretty good against the run in Arizona, I’m anticipating a miss week.
- Tyrone Tracy @ DAL
- Tommy DeVito ruins things. Tommy DeVito will ruin Malik Nabers. Tommy DeVito will ruin Tyrone Tracy.
Wide Receivers
Plays
Courtland Sutton vs. CLE
- Bo Nix has a type. His type is Courtland Sutton.
- Sutton has gotten 70 receiving yards or better each of the past five weeks. He’s now the go-to guy with a quarterback that is growing in confidence.
- Off-topic, Bo Nix will be the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Here’s a little betting advice: Bo Nix is at +120 on Draft Kings to win ORoY. I’d jump on that before it’s too late.
Brian Thomas Jr. vs. HOU
- Trevor Lawrence is back at practice, which gives us the off chance that he plays.
- Even if he doesn’t, BTJ, which is outside of the top 25 in wide receiver rankings, is a good place to get some value back in a flex spot. I like him as a WR2 this week.
Drake London vs. LAC
- It’s a high over/under game with an underdog team.
- Drake is due for a rebound week, and against the Chargers’ middle-of-the-road pass defense, it feels like a good spot to make that happen.
Fades
Tee Higgins vs. PIT
- Tee Higgins, when healthy, is a target hog.
- But someone has to fade if I’m fading Burrow and trusting Chase Brown and Ja’Marr Chase.
- Sorry, Tee.
Malik Nabers @ DAL
- Nabers has been an overrated fantasy asset.
- He hasn’t posted even a WR2 week since Week 4.
- He’s got a bad quarterback playing, and the sulking has begun. Bad recipe here.
Garrett Wilson vs. SEA
- I’ve lost faith in this Jets offense. It might be time to shut down Wilson soon and prepare for next season.
- He’s got an elite target share, but I’m always hesitant to start either guy in these offenses with two prominent receivers.
Tight Ends
Play
Travis Kelce vs. LV
- Kelce against Vegas. What more do you need?
- Yes, Noah Grey has had a solid couple of weeks. Are we going to bet against Kelce despite that?
Jonnu Smith @ GB
- Jonnu SZN continues. He’s been a top-three tight end in the past two weeks and has had 19 targets.
- Strangely enough, he is more valuable than Tyreek in fantasy football. Ride the wave.
George Kittle @ BUF
- Kittle has been reliable as the Niners’ top pass-catching threat this year.
- He has been a TE1 in every game he’s played this season. We don’t bet against that level of consistency, no matter the matchup.
Fades
David Njoku @ DEN
- Njoku has a tough matchup with the Broncos this week.
- Another hit-or-miss guy that I can’t put trust in right now. But, since the upside is there and this position is tough right now, start ’em if you got ’em.
Cole Kmet @ DET
- I wanted to believe in Kmet, and I did. But it’s the toughest matchup for tight ends, and Caleb has been wildly inconsistent this year.
- He hit last week, so he probably misses this week.
Dallas Goedert @ BAL
- I fumbled the bag with Saquon last week. Never again.
- Goedert, at best, is the fifth option in the Eagles offense when everyone is healthy.
- Everyone is healthy right now. Fade Goedert.
Plays
Kansas City vs. LV
- Matchups matter. What happened to the Chiefs last week won’t happen two weeks in a row.
Dallas vs. NYG
- Talented defense. Bad offense. Get right spot.
- Make that happen, captain.
Detroit vs. CHI
- Elite defense plays an inconsistent offense. I like the sound of that every time.
- What is the moral of the story on D/ST Plays? Trust your matchups.
Fades
Miami @ GB
- Josh Jacobs has been really good over the past six weeks, and the Dolphins’ RB matchups over the past three weeks have skewed the data.
- I’m trusting Jacobs and his heater here.
L.A. Chargers @ ATL
- This feels like a spot where the Chargers pass defense will be had.
- Love Drake London this week. Darnell Mooney has been solid all season. Let’s continue to buy into that.
Buffalo vs. SF
- If Brock Purdy is back, the Niners offense is back.
- I don’t expect another performance out of that team like we had last week.
