Fantasy Football Week 13 Start Decisions Involving Lions and Packers: Christian Watson, David Montgomery, Jared Goff and More

Week 13 of the NFL regular season has three Thursday games, so start/decisions are ramping up as Thanksgiving approaches. Let's start going over the matchups, beginning with the Lions and Packers clash.

Check back later as we check out the Chiefs/Cowboys and Bengals/Ravens games.

Having trouble deciding who to start? Let the FantasySP start/sit tool help you make a decision.

Quarterbacks

Jordan Love leads the Packers into the game, while Jared Goff quarterbacks the Lions.

Goff has the tougher fantasy matchup, as Green Bay allows opposing QBs to score just 13 fantasy points per game. Detroit allows 19, making the matchup an above-average one for Love.

Love got banged up in week 11, and wasn't asked to do a lot in week 12. That injury has me a bit concerned about him. Goff isn't on the injury report. 

Both are solid fantasy starting options, but I like Goff over Love. I have Goff ranked 12th for week 13, while Love comes in 17th. I have every starting quarterback around the league listed in that article, so check there if you have Goff or Love and another viable starting option.

Running Backs

Josh Jacobs is the top back for the Packers, but is dealing with a knee injury. If he cannot play, Emanuel Wilson will lead the backfield. If Jacobs is out there, Wilson should still get plenty of touches in an effort to not overexert Jacobs.

Detroit has Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to power its backfield.

The matchups for the running backs in this game are both well below average, with Green Bay allowing 20 fantasy points per game to backs, while Detroit gives up just 17.

Gibbs is the top fantasy back, and went for 50 yards on 19 touches in the week 1 battle between these teams - 10 of those were receptions. Montgomery had 43 total yards on 15 touches.

Jacobs had 70 total yards and a score on 20 touches in the opener. Wilson had a single touch, a 4-yard rush.

Gibbs is my favorite back from this game, even if Jacobs suits up. Gibbs is No. 4 in my week 13 RB rankings, while Jacobs is seventh. Wilson would rank in the early teens if Jacobs doesn't play, and Montgomery checks in 29th. 

All four are standard league options, with Gibbs and Jacobs being locked-in starters. If Jacobs cannot go, Wilson would be a good starting option despite the tough matchup, otherwise I'd only consider him in deeper leagues. Montgomery is a flex-level guy this week, but I bet you have a better option for standard leagues - he can start in deeper leagues still.

Wide Receivers

Detroit is pretty healthy with its wideouts, at least the go-to guys, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams are on the injury report, which makes up just about the entire wide receiver room in Green Bay.

The Packers have an above-average matchup, with the Lions giving up 35 fantasy points per game to wideouts. Green Bay allows just 28 points, so Detroit's wideouts have a below-average test.

St. Brown is easily the top fantasy wideout in this contest, and I had him ranked fifth for week 13. The only other receiver from this game to crack my top 30 was Watson, who I ranked 30th.

St. Brown was “limited” to 45 yards on four grabs and six receptions in week 1 against Green Bay, so that's why he fell to fifth this week. Williams was out of my top 30 because of the goose egg he had last week - he finished with 23 yards on four grabs and five targets in week 1.

Watson has been the best Packers' wideout pretty much since he returned from injury. He didn't play against Detroit in week 1. Reed, who needs to be activated off the injured reserve list still, had 45 yards and a score on three receptions and five targets against the Lions.

Doubs had 68 yards on two catches and four receptions in week 1. Wicks had 30 yards on two catches and targets, while Golden caught both of his targets for 16 yards. Williams caught a 1-yard pass on his lone target in the opener.

I have ARSB as a locked-in fantasy starter in all leagues. Watson is more on the flex line (but should be started in a WR spot if you choose to play him), and while he's a better deep-league option, I'd be fine starting him in standard leagues for week 13.

Williams is the guy I like next from this game after the top two. I'm benching him in standard leagues if I can this week, but still firing him up in deeper leagues.

After him, I'd take Doubs, Reed (if he plays), Golden, Wicks and Williams. They are all better deep-league plays in week 13, even though a big play or two could help them to top-30 fantasy finishes. 

Tight Ends

Since Tucker Kraft was lost for the season, no tight end has really stepped up for Green Bay. Luke Musgrave has been the most involved, but he has little-to-no fantasy relevance right now. John FitzPatrick and Josh Whyle have also been a bit involved.

Sam LaPorta is out for the season most likely, so Detroit has Brock Wright filling in. He has a neck injury and hasn't practiced this week, so Ross Dwelley might lead the way in snaps for week 13.

None of these tight ends made my top-25 list for week 13, which shouldn't be a surprise. The matchup for the Lions' tight ends is better, as Green Bay allows 14 fantasy points per game, with Detroit allowing 12 points per game. 

Wright and Musgrave are the only ones I'd want to consider in deeper leagues, and even in those leagues, I'd try to stay away from them. If Wright is out, I'm skipping Dwelley too.

This matchup is a chance for both defenses to really improve their numbers against fantasy tight ends, as I don't see anyone doing much.

Defenses/Special Teams

The Packers DST and Lions DST are each projected for seven fantasy points in week 13. 

Detroit is being started in 71% of leagues right now, with Green Bay starting in 68% of leagues.

I'm not really that big of a fan of either of these DSTs, as both these offenses are capable of going off. I also prefer the Packers DST more, as they've been the better fantasy asset of late.

Tread carefully if you are starting either of these DSTs in week 13. 

Kickers

Brandon McManus is kicking for the Packers still, while Jake Bates kicks for the Lions. Both are projected for seven fantasy points.

McManus has been injured this season, so his numbers are worse than Bates. Both could be good assets in a game with an over/under of 49. 

Bates is starting in 86% of leagues, while McManus is at just 5%. I think McManus deserves more fantasy love going into this matchup. I'd take Bates between the two, but think McManus could easily outscore him too.

Trending Start Decisions

There's just a couple players from this game who are involved in trending start/sit decisions on the FantasySP tool.

Goff is in a decision against Bo Nix, with fantasy owners liking Goff over Nix, but it's really close. The projections like Nix, and so do I, as I have him ranked sixth, so comfortably ahead of Goff at No. 12.

Montgomery is up against Woody Marks, with fantasy owners liking Marks, and starting both 36% of the time. The projections actually favor Montgomery, but I'm with fantasy owners, liking Marks more. While Montgomery ranked 29th, I have Marks at 26th.

St. Brown is in a decision with Michael Wilson, but he's never being benched for Wilson - both are starting nearly 73% of the time. The projections like St. Brown by a good deal, and I do too. While ARSB ranked fifth, I had Wilson at No. 22, and that's if Marvin Harrison is out - I'd only be starting both if Harrison is out again, otherwise Wilson is a better deep-league option.

Watson is the only Packer in a trending decision right now, going up against Quentin Johnston. Fantasy owners like Watson, and are starting both just 5% of the time. The projections like Johnston, and so do I, as he ranks a spot ahead of Watson - I'd only start one of them in a standard league if I could help it.

Keep utilizing the start/sit tool as you debate which Packers and Lions to put into your week 13 fantasy football lineups!