Fantasy Football Wide Receiver & Tight End Start/Sit Week 13: Logan Thomas, Josh Downs, Drake London
Lou breaks down some of the toughest Start/Sit decisions at the wide receiver and tight end positions for fantasy football in Week 13.
The importance of knowing who to start and who to sit can make or break a fantasy week and your matchup. People like to say, “Start your studs,” and typically speaking, that is the way to go, especially early in the season, but sometimes a player's matchup gives them more value in a certain week. On the flip side, a player can also have a poor matchup that could give you a reason to bench them.
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Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Week 13 Starts
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
Downs had been great this season until Weeks 9 and 10 where he only saw four targets combined, catching three passes for just 50 yards while dealing with an injury. After the Colts' Week 11 bye, though, Downs saw 13 targets in Week 12, a season-high for him. Clearly, getting him the football became a priority during the bye week, and he is the clear number-two pass catcher behind Michael Pittman in the offense. This week, he faces a Titans defense that ranks 27th in fantasy against the WR position in a game the Colts should win as they continue to make a push for an AFC wild-card spot. Get Downs into your lineups.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers vs Kansas City Chiefs
Reed continues to impress. Over the past five weeks, he has become much more involved in the offensive game plan and has made the most of it. He has seen at least six targets in four of the five games, scoring three TDs and topping 80 total yards three times. He has gotten involved in the running game as well and looks to be the new favorite target of QB Jordan Love, who happens to be playing his best football right now. The matchup vs. the Chiefs is a tough one: They rank fourth in the NFL vs. the pass and eighth in fantasy against WRs, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting a hot player like Reed into your lineups this weekend.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Week 13 Sits
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets
Although London has become a solid option in fantasy since the start of Week 5, the Falcons' passing game still leaves a lot to be desired. London has topped 80 yards only twice this season and topped six catches in a game just once. He isn’t reliable enough for shallow leagues and has a really tough matchup this weekend against an excellent Jets secondary. The Jets rank sixth in the NFL against the pass and second in fantasy against WRs, which is why London is best left on your bench unless you play in 14 or 16-team leagues.
Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams vs. Cleveland Browns
Atwell certainly has big play potential and is a home-run type of play most weeks. We have to consider a few things here, though. Firstly, there is no safe floor in this play. Secondly, he is the third or fourth option in the passing game and fourth or fifth option overall in the Rams' offense behind Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and maybe even Tyler Higbee. Lastly, he faces a Browns defense this weekend that ranks first in the NFL against the pass and first in fantasy against opposing WRs. So yes, Atwell could catch a long TD pass, but to rely on that one big play is not a smart move in fantasy. He should be benched in most league sizes and formats in this matchup and/or until there is a key injury to a Rams pass catcher and his target share rises.
Fantasy Football Tight End Week 13 Starts
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions
He has an intriguing matchup this weekend against a beatable Lions defense that ranks 20th in the NFL against the pass and 20th in fantasy against TEs. More importantly, the Saints are banged up at the WR position with Michael Thomas on IR, Chris Olave in concussion protocol, and Rashid Shaheed battling a lower-body injury. If all three of those WRs miss this Week 13 game, Johnson is going to see a massive increase in his target share, and if even just one of Olave or Shahid misses the game, Johnson will still see a lot more action. He should be considered as a start in all but 10-team leagues, and he could be your best option even in 10-team leagues with six teams on a bye this weekend.
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders @ Miami Dolphins
Thomas appears to be very matchup-dependent this season. He has been incredibly inconsistent from week to week, which can be very frustrating as a fantasy manager. This week, though, with many teams on a bye and a good matchup, Thomas should be in your lineups. This game between the Commanders and Dolphins should be high-scoring, and the Dolphins rank 23rd in fantasy against opposing TEs compared to 11th overall against the pass.
Fantasy Football Tight End Week 13 Sits
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots
Even with injuries to both Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer, Everett isn’t seeing enough targets to be relied upon on a weekly basis. Donald Parham, the Chargers' other tight end is seeing as many if not more targets, and it limits Everetts’s appeal. Furthermore, his matchup is a bad one this weekend against a Patriots defense that ranks third in fantasy football against the TE position. It seems to be TD or bust with Everett these days, and this week looks like a bust.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers
Otton has actually been pretty good as of late. He has at least four catches in five of his past six games and has topped 40 yards in four of those games. Even with that being said, he has double-digit PPR points in just one of those games and isn’t someone who can be trusted. If his matchup this weekend weren’t so tough, I’d consider him as a starting option; however, he is facing a Panthers defense that is fifth in the NFL against the pass and seventh in fantasy against the TE position. He can safely be left on your bench.
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