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Here are my Fantasy Football FLEX Plays for Week 13 (2023).
#1 George Pickens Vs. The Cardinals
The Cardinals are ranked 15th against the pass so far this season. With the firing of Matt Canada two weeks ago the Steelers put up 400 plus in total offense. This is a yard mark that this offense hasn’t reached in 55+ games. The Cards this season have mostly played man coverage in the passing game. It has been somewhat effective as well. Pickens has been a better zone receiver than man under Canada but Pickens has never been a great separator anyway, Pickens will beat almost anyone who covers him when the ball is in the air. I believe that with the uptick in offensive production combined with the firing of Matt Canada, this offense will be 10 times better and Pickens will be a part of that to go along with this average pass defense in the Cardinals Pickens is doing for a pretty solid game. You can finally take Pickens off your bench and flex him starting this week.
#2 Josh Downs Vs. The Titans
Josh Downs against the Titans is going to be a smash flex play for this week. The Titans will shut down your run offense with no problem but that’s because they will sell out on the pass. This has been the Titans thing all season. They give up an average of 224.5 yards a game against opposing offenses in the air. That is an awesome sign for the number 2 receiver for the Colts. The focus will be on Pittman for the defense. Downs has seen a percent snap share and is getting 20 percent of the team’s targets. He ranks 10th in the NFL in route win rate and has been a favorite target for Minshew. If you haven’t been putting Downs in your flex spot in the past, then you should plug him in this week. He will be a nice flex add with a possible WR2 output.
#3 De’Von Achane Vs. The Commanders
Everyone in the football world knows the explosiveness of Achane. He has been injured the past 5 weeks and now he is fully healthy and back in the mix. He is one of the very few players who do not need a full workload to have a great fantasy output. In weeks 3-4 in half-PPR formats, Achane has given your team an output of 49.3, 25.5, and 21-point outings, with an average of 19.6 points per game this season. He is going up against the Commanders this week, a team that has gotten rid of a big chuck of their playmakers along that defensive front. They are 17th against the run which is still middle of the pack but this defense has not had Achane coming at them yet. He will be a smash for your flex spot this week and will give you a huge play or two that will put him in the RB2 range.
#4 Noah Brown Vs. The Broncos
Noah Brown is finally healthy and has played great ball when he is healthy, and now he is finally ready to go. He has been injured most of the season, but every time he is on the field, he is getting the opportunities. He has been on the field for 50% of the snaps every time he has been able to play. He has also received no less than four targets a game while on the field. For the past two weeks, he has produced WR2 numbers in half-PPR formats. Stroud will need him this week against a Broncos defense that has come on as of late but is still vulnerable to the pass, ranking 22nd in the NFL at yards given up through the air. Stroud will have his work cut out for him this week and he will be dependent on Noah Brown to help him out. Play Brown with confidence this week in your flex spot.
#5 Juwan Johnson Vs. The Lions
Now normally I am against playing two TEs in your lineup unless the format requires it but this week I believe that with the combination of playing against the Lions and the injuries to the Saints wide receiver corp, Juwan Johnson will give you the assistance that you need in a pinch. Last week he played 58 percent of the snaps and received seven targets against the Falcons. The Lions give up the 4th most fantasy points to the TE position. I like the play of Johnson this week, so this is one of the very few times that I would flex a TE, but this week do it and feel good about it.