Set Your Lineup For Week 13

Hey #4EYEDfans,

1 week until the fantasy playoffs start.

At this point in the season, it’s getting harder and harder to call this a “Starts & Sits” article and more of a “Starts & Temper Expectations” article. Chances are the players I’m telling you to sit this week are kind of locked in as your starters already and with many of you fighting to get into the fantasy playoff rocking the boat is not something you’d be too keen on. Therefore, this article is for YOU fantasy managers who’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell of getting into the playoffs and therefore are willing to go the extra mile to help secure yourselves a win despite the odds.

Therefore, let’s skip the rest of the pleasantries and GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!

Here is a list of teams that are on a bye this week: Bucs & Panthers

Here are your 4-EYED STARTS & SITS For Week 13!

Quarterback

Mitchell Trubisky vs. Detroit Lions: START

Averaging 23 fantasy points per game over the last three outings against the Detroit Lions, Mitchell Trubisky looks to keep that streak going this Sunday facing a Lions team, who against them in Week 1, put up 242 passing yards, 26 rushing yards, 3 TDs, & 24.3 fantasy points against them.

What’s his advantage? The home run ball! He’s the QB5 in deep-ball completion percentage on the season and given the likes of the poor cornerback coverage his wide receivers are likely to face this Sunday look for Mitch to have at least one last big hurrah before he rides off into the sunset after this season for the Bears.

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Washington Football Team: SIT

On a team with so many high profile receiving weapons, Ben Roethlisberger has been somewhat inconsistent from a fantasy perspective lately. Over the past 6 games, he’s scored you 15.6, 15.3, 25, 29.3, 17.7, 13.3 fantasy points. Lots of ups and downs there. Whatever the case for that, Ben faces a Washington Football Team this week that has allowed on average just 17.8 fantasy points per game to the QB position as well as the fewest passing yards per game with 216. Stream someone better this week!

Running Back

David Montgomery vs. Detroit Lions: START

The RB6 last week with 22.8 fantasy points, David Montgomery, has an extremely favorable matchup against the Detroit Lions this week. The Lions have been giving up on average this season the most fantasy points per game to a running back (30.7),  the 4th most rushing yards per game, and the most rushing AND receiving TDs to opposing running backs this season. With his target share starting to increase during the latter half of the season combined with his favorable schedule between now and through the fantasy playoffs it looks like the stars are aligning in Chicago for this Bears running back.

Kenyan Drake vs. Los Angeles Rams: SIT/Temper Expectations

The Rams are limiting opposing running backs to the 6th fewest fantasy points and rushing yards per game on the season. Kenyan Drake, meanwhile, has been getting more involved in the passing game along with his customary running game usage for the Cardinals. While he did have an impressive outing against New England in Week 12 look for the Rams to limit just enough to be more of a mid RB2/FLEX option this week.

Wide Receiver

Cole Beasley vs. San Fransisco 49ers: START

With outside wide receivers for the Bills drawing tough cornerback coverage this week, look for Cole Beasley to pick up the slack in the receiving game. He’ll be squaring off against slot cornerback Emmanuel Mosely who is the poorest graded starting cornerback on the team for San Fransisco according to PFF. With the 49ers’ front seven starting to reassert themselves as a unit to be feared combined with Bills’ offensive line starting to crack in terms of durability, QB Josh Allen is going to need to get the ball out quickly this week. Who better to be the beneficiary of that strategy than a shift slot WR.

Tee Higgins vs. Miami Dolphins: SIT

While he’s been one of my favorite rookie wide receivers to watch this season, Tee Higgins will have his work cut out for him this week as he’ll face one-on-one coverage against Dolphins CB Xavien Howard. Howard, on the season, is only allowing a catch percentage 48% and coupled with what is likely to be an overall tough defensive matchup for the Bengals leave Higgins on your bench this week.

Tight End

Anthony Firkser vs. Cleveland Browns: START

Inheriting Jonnu Smiths’ 16.1% target share in the Titans passing offense this week will be fellow tight end Anthony Firkser. Going back to his last spot start for the Titans, Firkser led the team in target percentage with 22% and tallied 21.3 fantasy points in half PPR scoring. Facing a Browns team that has allowed the 6th most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends on the season, look for Firkser to provide you with a solid floor at the position this week.

Hunter Henry vs. New England Patriots: SIT

The Patriots are remarkably good at limiting tight end fantasy production, allowing them an average of 7.2 fantasy points per game and only 47.3 receiving yards per game on the season. If you’re looking for big-time upside at the tight end position, look elsewhere this week for someone other than Hunter Henry.

IDP CONTENT

As we do every week, when discussing IDP players we reference their fantasy point production using the FantasyPros IDP scoring rubric:

Linebackers

A.J. Klein  vs. San Fransisco 49ers: START

A.J. Klein, assuming Matt Milano doesn’t return from injury this week, should benefit from facing a fairly run-heavy oriented offense of the San Fransisco 49ers. Klein, over the past two weeks, has averaged 10 solo tackles per game which is extraordinary. With San Frans’ zone-running scheme, outside linebackers are typically the defenders to get the first crack at tackling the opposing team’s running backs. The way Klein has been playing it wouldn’t shock me in the least if he gets another 10 solo tackles this week.

Corey Littleton  vs. New York Jets: SIT

Corey Littleton just hasn’t lived up to his free-agent billing coming over from the Rams in the offseason. His coverage skills are poor, his tackle volume is barely existent, and even against a poor performing team like the New York Jets, you shouldn’t pin your hopes on this Raider linebacker this week.

Defensive Backs

Jeff Gladney vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: START

Mike Hilton vs. Washington Football Team: SIT

Despite starting the season as the DB1 in terms of FantasyPros IDP scoring, ever since coming back from injury, Mike Hilton has barely seen the field, and when he has he has only averaged 1.5 tackles per game. Whatever the reason for his poor production, one thing is for certain…you cannot trust him in your IDP lineup this week and potentially going forward.

Defensive Linemen/Edge Rushers

Chase Winovich vs. Los Angeles Chargers: START

Since switching to outside linebacker Chase Winovich has been seeing a rise in fantasy production on the season, averaging 8.25 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks and is coming off an impressive outing versus Cardinals offense where he tallied 5 solo tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 sack. Look for him to keep his hot streak going, especially against a running game of the Chargers that likes to run & pass it to the outside to running backs.

Khalil Mack vs. Detroit Lions: SIT

With the return of Akiem Hicks likely this week, expect Khali Mack to return to decoy duty from a fantasy perspective and absorb a lot of the Lions offensive line protection setting up defensive tackle Akiem Hicks for big-time production this week.

Thanks for reading, #4EYEDfans!

Good luck in Week 13!

*References provided by:

• FantasyData
• ProFootballFocus
• ProFootballReference
• Player Profiler
• FantasyPros
• Football Outsiders
• StatHead.com