Week 13: Fantasy Football Running Back & Wide Receiver Streaming Options
It’s more popular to stream quarterbacks and tight ends than running backs and receivers, but with the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers getting a rest this week, it’s pivotal to identify a few potential streamers at the running back and receiver positions. With so many playmakers out of the backfield on bye weeks such as Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Dontrell Hilliard, and Chuba Hubbard, fantasy owners are likely scrambling to find an RB2 or flex option. Fortunately, the four teams on bye lack strong wide receivers outside of Davante Adams, D.J. Moore, and the injured A.J. Brown.
The injury bug is also affecting fantasy rosters. Top-tier running backs D’Andre Swift, Dalvin Cook, and CMC all suffered injuries in Week 12. And while Alvin Kamara was expected to suit up for tonight’s primetime matchup on Thursday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, he has officially been ruled out. Even Jacksonville’s James Robinson and the Rams’ Darrell Henderson are both trending towards being inactive in Week 13. Check out the rest of the injury news here!
With four teams on bye and so many injuries across the NFL, it’s time to dig deep for potential streaming options at the running back and wide receiver positions in Week 13. There is not a lot of talent left to potentially stream so keep in mind that these recommendations come with great risk.
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Week 13 Fantasy Football Running Backs To Stream
RB Tevin Coleman, New York Jets
With rookie running back Michael Carter still sidelined, the Jets turned to Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson in the backfield. Although Coleman failed to find the end zone in New York’s victory over the Houston Texans last week, he had plenty of opportunities to accrue fantasy points. Coleman tallied 70 total yards on 16 carries and two receptions. Coleman spent some time in San Francisco with head coach Robert Salah, and the veteran has clearly earned his coach’s trust. The Jets have a Week 13 matchup against an Eagles team that just lost to the lowly Giants. Philadelphia’s rushing defense isn’t all that scary, as they allow the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the position. As long as the Jets can keep this game competitive against a banged up Eagles offense, Coleman has a shot at producing double-digit fantasy points and perhaps finding the end zone. He’s the preferred option when New York gets into the red zone, though admittedly, the Jets don’t find themselves in scoring situations all that often.
RB Matt Breida, Buffalo Bills
With Zack Moss a healthy scratch for Buffalo’s Thanksgiving day matchup with the New Orleans Saints, Breida looked like the Bills’ most capable ball carrier. Despite splitting time with Devin Singletary, Breida saw 11 touches and turned that into 55 total yards and a receiving touchdown in which he broke multiple tackles and made the New Orleans defense look silly. Breida possesses both speed and explosiveness and could provide significant value as we inch closer to the fantasy football playoffs. Buffalo’s high-powered offense should create ample opportunity for Breida to finish off drives in the red zone. He has a difficult matchup on the horizon against the New England Patriots, but Breida can accumulate fantasy points in both the running and pass game. If Moss is inactive again in Week 13, Breida should get a few chances to finish off Buffalo’s drives. And although New England is very good against the pass, they allow 101.9 rushing yards and 56.3 receiving yards to opposing running backs. I expect Breida to easily tally double-digit fantasy points in PPR formats.
RB Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Leonard Fournette is the workhorse back in Tampa Bay’s offense and Jones has served as nothing more than a change-of-pack back. Although Jones has been leapfrogged on the depth chart, he has managed to score a touchdown in each of his previous two contests. Jones is a touchdown-or-bust play, but so are most of the potential streaming options at the running back position. This week, the Bucs face an Atlanta Falcons defense that is allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Tom Brady and the Bucs are 11-point favorites so Tampa Bay will likely feed the ball to their running backs late in the game to eat up the clock. Considering the matchup, Jones has a chance of increasing his touchdown-streak to three consecutive games.
Week 13 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers To Stream
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Bateman has failed to find the end zone this season, but he’s been consistently involved in Baltimore’s passing game since making his professional debut in Week 6. Bateman has corralled 25 receptions for 301 yards, averaging 12.0 yards per catch. Last week, quarterback Lamar Jackson had one of the worst outings of his career, but the Ravens face a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that is currently surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Bateman is still the third option in the passing game behind Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews, but Bateman is getting plenty of snaps after leapfrogging Sammy Watkins on the depth chart. Bateman has the talent, the targets, and the matchup to score his first touchdown in the NFL in Week 13.
WR Kadarius Toney / Kenny Golladay, New York Giants
With Sterling Shepard highly questionable for New York’s Week 13 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, Golladay and Toney should be peppered with targets, especially considering tight end Evan Engram’s struggles this season.
The Giants tried to get the overpaid Golladay more involved in the offense in New York’s upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Golladay was targeted seven times, the most he has seen since Week 4. He only caught three passes for 50 yards, but the Giants are clearly trying to get Golladay the ball more often.
With Daniel Jones out this week with a neck injury, journeyman backup Mike Glennon will start under center for the G-Men. The electric rookie, Kadarius Toney, missed last week’s contest with a minor injury but is expected to be back against a Miami secondary that allows the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. Toney is the most talented playmaker on the Giants’ roster outside of Saquon Barkley. If Glennon can get Toney the ball in space, he could absolutely dominate in Week 13.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
It’s hard to recommend anyone on the Lions outside of Jamaal Williams and T.J. Hockenson, but if any receiver is due for a breakout performance, it’s St. Brown. The Lions face a Minnesota Vikings defense that permits the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. Although the rookie has failed to find the end zone this season, his catch rate is extremely high. In his last four games, St. Brown has caught 15 of the 19 balls thrown his way. He only has one PPR double-digit performance over that span, but with the lack of available options at the position, you can certainly do worse than the rookie in Week 13. Jared Goff will need to throw the pigskin early and often if they are going to keep up with the Vikings.
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