When giving advice on who to play I prefer not to say ‘Start player x’ or ‘Sit player y’ because I don’t know who everyone has on their bench.  Telling you to sit a borderline QB when all the options available to you in your league are worse doesn’t do you much good.  So instead I’ll make references to the classic spaghetti western.  Assume the players who aren’t mentioned here should produce within their usual point range.

Feel free to ask questions about your specific scenario in the comments section below and I’ll try and answer before game time.  Make sure you include league type, number of players, etc.

Legend:

Good – These players have promising match ups and should provide owners with 10-25% above their usual fantasy production.

Bad – These players have challenging match ups and will likely produce 10-25% less than their usual fantasy points.

Ugly – These players should not be started this week if at all possible.

Week Thirteen

Now is not the time to adhere to the theory ‘always start your big name guys even if they’re struggling’.  That’s fine for the first half of the season but if you’re fighting to make the playoffs or just barely clinging to that last spot you can’t start players hoping they’ll come around.  You may be surprised at some of the sit recommendations, but sometimes in fantasy you gotta make bold moves and let the chips fall where they may.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills

Weather: 54f Overcast, Chance of Rain 90%, Wind up to 20 mph

Playing Surface: Artificial Turf

Good:

C.J. Spiller

Fred Jackson

Spiller would be Gold if not for the ever present time share with Fred Jackson.  Both runner’s should have success as I imagine Chan Gailey will split the workload, despite his repeated claims he would get Spiller the ball more.  Spiller is near the top of the RB1 pile while Jackson may also be able to put up RB1 numbers but is a safer bet as your RB2.  Neither Ryan Fitzpatrick nor Chad Henne are very good starting options this week.  Rashad Jennings has shown he can’t be counted on as a fantasy point-getter.  Scott Chandler is a viable TE1 option.  Steve Johnson is no better than a WR3 this week while Cecil Shorts is a solid WR2 and Justin Blackmon squeaks onto the WR3 list.  Mercedes Lewis doesn’t make the cut as a TE1.

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

Weather: 57f Overcast, Chance of Rain 30%

Playing Surface: Grass

Ugly: Both Passing Attacks

Where to start?  Even with Cutler back I don’t expect he or any of the Bears receivers to have much success against the Seahawk pass defense.  Ditto for the Seahawks with Russell Wilson going against the Bears vaunted D.  Brandon Marshall is a low end WR2 / high end WR3 but otherwise I don’t see a viable fantasy start in the bunch.  Due to injury concerns Matt Forte slides down into high end RB2 territory, he is expected to play.  Michael Bush also grades out as an RB2.  Marshawn Lynch will play and is a good RB1.  Golden Tate is not a starting option.

San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams

Weather: Dome

Playing Surface: Artificial Turf

Good:

Frank Gore

The San Fran running game has been on fire of late, and the Rams run defense is middle of the pack.  I expect Gore to be a solid RB1 this week.

Bad:

Everybody Else

Not much else to like in this match up although Kaepernick is the wild card here.  With Alex Smith the Niners passing attack was near the bottom of the league from a fantasy perspective but the new guy could turn that around.  Still I don’t think there’s enough to make it any more than an average match up.  Steven Jackson is listed as probable and is a valid RB2.  Kaepernick is just below QB1 worthy.  Danny Amendola is doubtful, if he starts he’s just a WR3, there’s a decent chance he doesn’t last the whole game.  That helps make Chris Givens a low end WR3 as well.  Brandon Gibson isn’t a valid starting option.  Vernon Davis hangs onto his TE1 designation by a thread after his zero catch performance last week.  If you have another quality option I’d make the move, you can’t afford another goose egg.

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Weather: 72f Fair, Chance of Rain 20%, Wind up to 23 mph

Playing Surface: Grass

Good:

Tom Brady

Wes Welker

Brandon Lloyd

Julian Edelman

Aaron Hernandez

Brian Hartline

Davone Bess

As is usually the case with the Patriots, both teams passing attacks should be a solid play.  Also as usual with the Pats everyone including the waterboy is listed as questionable this week.  Check the injury reports before game time to be sure, but other than Gronkowski they should all play.  Brady is a QB1 of course, and Welker a WR1.  It’s not an attractive enough match up to start Tannehill, he’s no better than a mid-level QB2 this week.  Either Hartline or Bess could be the one to get behind the Pats secondary this week to cap off a good day.  I have them both as WR2 this week with Hartline the better option.  Start Lloyd and Edelman as WR3’s and hope they pop for a big day.  Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas both sit as RB2’s.  Stevan Ridley is an RB1 again this week.

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Jets

Weather: 56f Cloudy, Chance of Rain 20%

Playing Surface: Artificial Turf

Good:

NY Jets ground game

Unfortunately Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell appear to be in the dreaded timeshare so despite the positive match up they are both no more than RB2 options.  Either could have a big day but you can’t bank on which one.

Bad:

Larry Fitzgerald

Andre Roberts

Dustin Keller

Jeremy Kerley

Roberts is the only reasonable starting option here, and he’s at the bottom of the WR3 list.  He’s also injured and will be a game time decision.  If he doesn’t play then Michael Floyd could be a desperation play.  Yes I know Fitzgerald is the big name for the Cards but the numbers just don’t support starting him this week.  ‘He could go off any given week’ doesn’t cut it from here on in.  Look elsewhere if you have any other valid option.  Beanie Wells doesn’t thrill me either but could be a viable RB2 start.  He’s listed as questionable but should play.  Keller is not a starting option.

Indianapolis Colts @ Detroit Lions

Weather: Dome

Playing Surface: Artificial Turf

Good:

Calvin Johnson

Ryan Broyles

Brandon Pettigrew

Matthew Stafford

Plenty to like on the Detroit side, Megatron and Stafford are must-starts obviously.  I like Broyles as a decent WR2 and Pettigrew a solid TE1.  Mikel Leshoure is a borderline RB1 option this week.  Andrew Luck and Reggie Wayne are solid QB1 and WR1 respectively.  I like TY Hilton as a WR2 and Donnie Avery is a borderline WR3.  Due to the time share I don’t recommend starting either Donald Brown or Vick Ballard.  Dwayne Allen is barely a viable option at TE this week.

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

Weather: 48f Partly Cloudy

Playing Surface: Hybrid Grass

Bad:

Kyle Rudolph

Jarius Wright

Christian Ponder

Rudolph is barely TE1 worthy, with Percy Harvin out Wright moves from mid WR3 to low end WR2 despite the poor match up.  Ponder needs to sit this week, if you were previously using him as a spot starter.  Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson are their usual must-start selves, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are both WR1 with James Jones a low end WR2 and Greg Jennings a high end WR3 until he gets into game shape.  Jermichael Finley is not a starting option there should be more productive options available to you.  Likewise for Alex Green and James Starks, they shouldn’t start.

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

Weather: 69f Partly Cloudy, Chance of Rain 20%, Wind gusting to 25 mph

Playing surface: Grass

Good:

Arian Foster

Matt Schaub

Andre Johnson

Owen Daniels

Foster is RB1 of course, he’s my highest ranked running back this week.  Schaub is a usable QB1 and Johnson has worked his way back to WR1 status after his two week monster performance.  Daniels is a definite TE1.  Justin Forsett could be a viable RB2 as well if you need somebody.

Bad:

Chris Johnson

Although the Texans defense has looked a little leaky the past couple of games, look for them to rebound in this divisional match up.  Since he’s gotten his season – and maybe his career – back on track the past several weeks he’s a quality RB2.  Jake Locker is not QB1 material, Nate Washington and Kendall Wright are worth a look as WR3’s.  Jared Cook sneaks in as a TE1 in my rankings.

Carolina Panthers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Weather: 67f Mostly Sunny

Playing Surface: Grass

Good:

Jamaal Charles

Cam Newton

Greg Olsen

Brandon LaFell

Steve Smith

Charles is a solid RB1 start but as always there’s a risk of KC falling too far behind and abandoning the run.  I don’t see it happening here though.  Newton is a solid start, and both LaFell and Smith look like they’ll be good at WR2. Olsen is a solid TE1.  Jonathan Stewart is out so DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert are low end RB2’s at best.

Bad:

Dwayne Bowe

Bowe is not worth starting this week.  Find someone else if you can.  If you were even thinking about starting anyone else on the Chiefs, don’t.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Denver Broncos

Weather: 37/67f Mostly Sunny

Playing Surface: Hybrid Grass

GOLD:

Peyton Manning

Demaryius Thomas

Eric Decker

Brandon Stokley

Joel Dreessen

This is such a tasty match-up I’m tempted to list Brock Osweiler as he might put up 15 fantasy points from the bench in this one.  Manning should be the top fantasy QB this week.  Thomas and Decker are both solid WR1’s.  Stokley is questionable but if he plays rates a top WR3.  Dreessen is a usable TE1.

Bad:

Knowshon Moreno

This is not the week to be getting your first start of the season, but Moreno could put up decent RB2 numbers.  Especially if Denver gets a nice lead and tries to run out the clock.  Josh Freeman just sneaks into QB1 for this week, while Doug Martin is a top RB1.  Vincent Jackson is a decent WR1 and Mike Williams a low end WR2.

Cleveland Browns @ Oakland Raiders

Weather: 49/62f Rain, Wind up to 21 mph

Playing Surface: Grass

Good:

Carson Palmer

Denarius Moore

Brandon Myers

Darius Heyward-Bey

Trent Richardson

Palmer’s a low end QB1 this week, Moore is a high end WR2 and Heyward-Bey a mid level WR3.  Myers looks to be a solid TE1.  Trent Richardson is a solid RB1 as usual.

Bad:

Darren McFadden/Marcel Reece

Not a good match up for what appears like it will be a time share unless McFadden looks good out of the gate.  Start McFadden as a low end RB2 if he plays, and hope he’s recovered enough to out gain that position.  Reece could also be used as an RB2 but I would try and find a better option.  Brandon Weeden is not a starting option if he plays, and Josh Gordon is a low end WR3.  Greg Little isn’t a starting option.

Cincinnati Bengals @ San Diego Chargers

Weather: 57/69f Cloudy

Playing Surface: Grass

Good:

A.J. Green

Andrew Hawkins

Jermaine Gresham

Andy Dalton

Green is my top rated WR this week, not a tough call there.  Hawkins can be started as WR3 and Gresham is a top TE1.  Dalton is a solid QB1.  If you’re desperate you could also stick Brandon Tate as a WR3 but I wouldn’t take that gamble.

Bad:

Danario Alexander

Malcom Floyd

Antonio Gates

Philip Rivers

Cedric Peerman

Ryan Mathews

Alexander is a WR2 and Floyd slots in as a WR3.  Gates is barely a TE1 this week, see if you can snag a better option.  Rivers should be on your bench along with Peerman.  Mathews is a still a good RB2 in this one.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

Weather: 47/57f Cloudy, Wind up to 14 mph

Playing Surface: Artificial Turf

Bad:

Almost Everybody

The Steelers run game is the only area that graded positively in this one, but not enough to get into the Good.  Ben Roethlisberger is out as expected.  Joe Flacco isn’t a good starting option either.  Jonathan Dwyer looks to be the starter in Pittsburgh but he probably shouldn’t be starting for you, he’s barely an RB2.  Try and find another running back for this week.  Ray Rice is still an RB1 as always.  Mike Wallace is barely a WR3 and the other Steelers receivers should sit.  Torrey Smith is probable and looks to be a WR2 this week, while Heath Miller hangs on to his usual TE1 status by a hair.

Ugly:

Charlie Batch

If Batch plays, sit any Steelers wideout you were thinking of starting and obviously don’t start Batch.  This would however make Dwyer a more viable RB2 since Batch’s primary job should be to hand the ball off.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

Weather: 62/81f Partly Cloudy

Playing Surface: Artificial Turf

GOLD:

Tony Romo

Romo is a solid QB1 option this week, look for him to put up some real good numbers.

Good:

Jason Witten

Dez Bryant

Miles Austin

All three should benefit from a great match up.  Bryant and Austin are both WR1’s this week although Austin is questionable so check the injury reports. Witten is near the top of TE options.  Despite the bad match up I think Bryce Brown can be a serviceable RB2 this week.  Dwayne Harris even makes it into WR3 territory.

Bad:

Felix Jones

DeSean Jackson

Jeremy Maclin

Jones is an OK RB2 assuming he plays, both Jackson and Maclin probably should sit this one out on your fantasy squad but if necessary can be WR3’s.  Nick Foles obviously sits, as should Brent Celek.

New York Giants @ Washington Redskins

Weather: 48/66f Partly Cloudy

Playing Surface: Grass

GOLD:

Victor Cruz

Hakeem Nicks

Martellus Bennett

Great match up for the G men.  Start Nicks as a high end WR2 and hope for more.  Cruz is a top WR1 and Bennett a solid TE1.

Good:

Eli Manning

Alfred Morris

Manning doesn’t quite get into the Gold category but it’s close.  The bye week seems to have rejuvenated him so I wouldn’t be surprised if he went off this week and put up huge numbers.  As it is he’s grades out as a decent QB1.  Morris is a solid RB1 in this one.  RGIII makes a real good QB1 as usual.  Santana Moss is an OK WR2 as is Pierre Garcon.

Bad:

Ahmad Bradshaw

Bradshaw’s a high end RB2 this week despite the bad match up.  David Wilson may finally get his chance and could put up reasonable RB2 numbers too but it’s a pretty big gamble.

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