Week 13 Fantasy Football Quarterback Start/Sit: Jameis Winston, C.J. Stroud, Bo Nix and More
Three quarterbacks to start and three to sit in Week 13 of the fantasy football season.
No team is on bye this week, meaning we have the full complement of fantasy players at our disposal. Not every week is created equal due to matchups, injuries, and players on bye, so it’s nice to be able to take advantage of having all your stars in the lineup.
For those who stream quarterbacks, that also means more options because 32 QBs are in action and all the bad teams are playing (the latter part is probably most important). This is a week to not settle for middling: instead, find the best players and matchups. The options are plentiful if you’re willing to put in a little time.
Let’s look at three quarterbacks to start and three to sit in Week 13. I used stats from NFL.com and our FantasySP defensive fantasy rankings to help determine the best and worst matchups and will reference those numbers often. Everything is true before Thursday's games.
Start
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns
Nix has been on fire over the last month: In five games, he has averaged 260.4 yards with nine touchdowns and just one interception. Nix is also a threat to run the ball, though he has just 45 yards and a touchdown during this latest stretch.
The Browns have allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and eighth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Despite stars at multiple levels of the defense (Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, to name two), Cleveland has struggled in every facet on D. They are also among the 10 worst teams in yards per rush attempt allowed.
Nix is set up to continue his run of success. He is owned in a lot more leagues than just a few weeks ago, but he’s still available enough to be a possible streamer if you need a QB.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Stroud has taken a big step back from his spectacular rookie season:
- 2023: 8.2 yards per attempt, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 38 sacks
- 2024: 7.3 yards per attempt, 14 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 39 sacks
He was never going to continue at that initial level, but this is a stark difference in play. Stoud looks like a second-year quarterback rather than a budding superstar. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it severely hurts his fantasy value.
The Jaguars offer the best matchup for a quarterback: They have allowed the most yards per pass attempt and the most fantasy points per game to QBs. What else can I say? Start every quarterback against Jacksonville.
Stroud is a must-start player in Week 13 with QB1 upside.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Wilson played well in the snow against the Browns last Thursday, throwing for 270 yards on 9.6 per attempt with a touchdown and no interceptions. It was his team’s first loss in the five Wilson has started, but not because of their QB’s effort with a great matchup.
The matchup is good again in this one, as the Bengals have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. They are right at average in yards per pass attempt allowed, but Cincinnati is tied for ninth in most pass touchdowns allowed and tied for 11th in least interceptions.
Wilson is a good two-week streamer: he matches up with the Browns again in Week 13 before seeing the tough Eagles in Week 14. Anyone streaming at quarterback has a nice play here with the Pittsburgh quarterback.
Sit
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers @ Buffalo Bills
Lawrence and Purdy are both in the same situation: They each have a tough matchup and are in danger of not playing because of an injury. There aren’t a lot of other guys to put in the “Sit” category unless you want to go for stars like Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, so we’ll highlight the two questionable quarterbacks.
Houston is near the middle in fantasy points allowed to QBs, but they have allowed the sixth-least yards per pass attempt. We talked about Stroud above and how he has been struggling to replicate his rookie success, and the defense has instead picked up the slack and pushed the team to the division lead.
The Bills have given up the seventh-least yards per pass attempt and eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. The offense has been successful in Buffalo also, so their top-tier defense makes them a true Super Bowl contender.
It’s worth benching both quarterbacks if they play. Their backups don’t have any fantasy value either if the starters do miss the game.
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos
Winston has been better than Deshaun Watson; that’s not saying much, but it’s something. He ebbs and flows with the matchups, having gone for over 330 yards in games against the Ravens and Saints but topping out at 235 against the Chargers and Steelers. Winston is a fine fantasy streamer.
This isn’t the week to try him out, though, as the Broncos have allowed the second-least yards per pass attempt and fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Denver is in the top 10 in both least pass touchdowns allowed and most interceptions. They have a superstar in Pat Surtain II in the defensive backfield and solid players at every level.
Winston is worth starting in fantasy some weeks, but this isn’t one of them. He’s likely to be held down against a tough defense, and a turnover or two might be in line if they start forcing things.
