Fantasy Football Week 13 Start Decisions Involving Cowboys and Chiefs: Isiah Pacheco, Dak Prescott, Xavier Worthy and More

Let's continue our look at the fantasy football players on Thursday by going over the Chiefs and Cowboys clash.

That's the second game of the day. The first game is the Packers and Lions, which we covered already. Check back later today for a preview of the Bengals and Ravens game.

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

Quarterbacks

Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes and Dallas' Dak Prescott will square off in this quarterback battle.

Mahomes is on the injury report with a groin issue, but it's not expected to hold him back at all. Prescott is healthy at this point of the season. 

Mahomes has the best fantasy matchup a quarterback could have in week 13, as Dallas allows fantasy QBs to score 24 points per game. Kansas City will be a tougher test for Prescott, as the Chiefs allow 16 fantasy points per game. 

I'm loving Mahomes' matchup, so much so that I have him ranked first for week 13. Prescott is in the top 10 as well, ranking ninth, even in a tougher test. 

Running Backs

Kansas City is expected to get Isiah Pacheco back for this contest. Kareem Hunt is still likely to be pretty involved even if Pacheco is back in the mix.

Dallas has Javonte Williams who has been having a nice season. Malik Davis has been the top backup of late, but isn't a fantasy threat.

It'll be a tougher matchup for Williams, as KC's defense allows fantasy backs to score just 18 points per game. The KC backs have a favorable matchup, as Dallas gives up 24 fantasy points per contest.

Williams ranks 11th for me in week 13, even in the bit tougher test. I had Pacheco or Hunt ranked 30th - if Pacheco is active, he gets that spot, but if he's out again, then Hunt takes that spot.

Williams is a locked-in fantasy starter in all formats, while Pacheco or Hunt are more flex-level options. I'd be tempted to start the KC starter because of the matchup though.

Williams, Pacheco and Hunt are all good deep-league options this week, while I'd stay away from Davis.

Wide Receivers

There's some great fantasy wide receivers in this game, including KC's Rashee Rice and Dallas' CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

Pickens is on the injury report, but is expected to play through knee/calf injuries. Rice is on the injury report, as is teammate Xavier Worthy, but both practiced in full and should play on Thursday.

The Chiefs' wideouts have the second-best fantasy matchup in week 13, as the Cowboys allow 39 fantasy points per contest. KC gives up just 27 points a contest, so it's another tough matchup.

I have Lamb ranked sixth for week 13, even though Pickens has been better of late. Pickens checks in ninth, and between them is Rice at No. 7. Those are the three wideouts I'd be happy to start in all fantasy leagues.

Worthy is a standard league option, but I like him more in deeper leagues. In a good matchup though, I expect him to start in a lot of standard leagues.

Everyone else from this game is just a deep-league option in my eyes. I'd rank them as follows: Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, KaVontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Tolbert. 

Tight Ends

Travis Kelce is the top Chiefs' tight end, and Jake Ferguson leads the Cowboys.

The matchup will be pretty average for Kelce, while Ferguson has a tougher test. KC gives up just 11 fantasy points per game, while Dallas surrenders 14 per game. 

Both are top-10 fantasy options at tight end in my eyes for week 13. Kelce ranks fourth, while Ferguson is ninth.

If you have both guys, I'd definitely take Kelce over Ferguson, then maybe benching Ferguson in a tougher matchup, unless you have multiple TE spots to fill.

Defenses/Special Teams

I like the Chiefs DST more than the Cowboys DST, but the projections say Dallas is going to score a point more (7-6).

Dallas' DST has scored more fantasy points of late, but neither are really great options considering some of the offensive players featured in this game.

The Cowboys DST is starting in just 9% of leagues, while the Chiefs DST is at just 12% started. I'd also take the Chiefs DST over the Cowboys DST, but really think there's better options out there.

Kickers

Harrison Butker kicks for the Chiefs, while Brandon Aubrey is the Cowboys' kicker. Both are projected for nine fantasy points on Thanksgiving.

Aubrey is starting in 91% of leagues, while Butker is at 63%. I also like Aubrey over Butker, even though it wouldn't surprise me to see Butker score more fantasy points - it all depends on how the game goes.

You can't really go wrong with either of these kickers, as the game has an over/under of 52.

Trending Start Decisions

There's a ton of players in trending start/sit decisions on the FantasySP tool, so let's dive into them.

Mahomes is part of a trending decision with Matthew Stafford, with fantasy owners liking Mahomes over Stafford. The projections favor Mahomes by a good amount, as do I, as I have Stafford ranked seventh.

Mahomes is in another decision with Lamar Jackson, with owners liking Mahomes over Jackson. The projections like Jackson, but I have him ranked fourth, so I have Mahomes comfortably over him.

Between the two KC backs, fantasy owners are starting Hunt over Pacheco, although that should change once Pacheco is cleared to play. I'd avoid playing both guys in standard leagues.

Hunt is in a trending decision with Kenneth Gainwell, with owners taking Gainwell, but starting both guys 28% of the time. The projections like Gainwell, as do I, as I have the Steelers' back ranked 24th.

Woody Marks is also up against Hunt, with fantasy owners taking Marks, but starting both 23% of the time. The projections like Marks, and so do I, with Marks ranked 26th this week.

Hunt is also in a trending decision with Troy Franklin, with owners liking Hunt, but starting both 19% of the time. The projections favor Franklin by a healthy amount, and I would too if deciding on a flex spot between those two. 

Worthy is up against Quentin Johnston, with fantasy owners heavily on Worthy, and starting both 14% of the time. The projections like Worthy, but I'm against the projections and most fantasy owners, as I have Johnston ranked 29th, while Worthy wasn't in my top 30.

Kelce is in a trending decision with Tyler Warren, with fantasy owners taking Kelce, and starting both 28% of the time. The projections like Kelce by a bit, and I have Kelce ranked a spot ahead of Warren, so I agree. I'd start both guys if I could in most leagues.

Brock Bowers is also pitted against Kelce, with fantasy owners taking Bowers, but starting both 47% of the time. The projections are in favor of Bowers, and so am I, with Bowers ranked third. 

Prescott is in a trending decision with Stafford as well, with Stafford coming out on top there. The projections like Stafford a bit more, and so do I, with Stafford ranked two spots before Prescott.

Prescott is also in a decision against Justin Herbert, with owners taking Prescott by a good margin. The projections say Herbert will have a better week, but I agree with fantasy owners, with Prescott two spots ahead of Herbert.

Williams is up against Rico Dowdle, with Williams starting over him most often, but fantasy owners starting both 63% of the time. The projections like Williams by a bit, and I agree, with Williams ranked four spots ahead of Dowdle.