With week 13 of the NFL regular season coming to a close, every fantasy football league is nearing (or has already begun) the playoffs. Now is the most important time of the fantasy football year, the moments everybody have been waiting for. However, to ensure that you move on in your playoff bracket (or consolation bracket), you need to know who to put in your starting lineup and who to leave on your bench. Note that all statistics were taken from ESPN’s website. Also, these recommendations are based off of ESPN’s regular scoring rules, and are not directed towards PPR league members but those who are in PPR leagues may still find use in these rankings.
Quarterback
Start:
Start of the Week: Jameis Winston vs. New Orleans Saints
Although Winston’s recent games have not put up numbers that should raise any eyebrows, he still performs very well in each game. With a matchup against the Saints, Winston should see an increase in pass-yards and overall performance, seeing that the Saints have allowed more than 270 passing yards per game. With a wide receiver like Mike Evans that can tear up the Saints defense, Winston may finally see another big game.
Matthew Stafford vs. Chicago Bears
Stafford has had a surprisingly good year without Calvin Johnson on the receiving ends of his passes, and has shown that he isn’t dependent on star receivers to catch his attempts. He too should see more fantasy value this week with the Bears allowing about 24 points per game to the other team.
Russell Wilson vs. Green Bay Packers
The Packers have let up more than an average of 26 points per game, and Wilson has averaged about 250 yards per game. Many of the yard will very likely be touchdowns, racking up the points for Wilson this week.
Sit:
Sit of the Week: Andy Dalton vs. Cleveland Browns
It is definitely very surprising to see a player in the sit column when they are playing against the Browns. However, the Browns’ defense is a bit stronger in passing than rushing, so Dalton won’t get as much production. Take a look at week 11, for example. Roethlisberger only got 8 fantasy points, while Le’Veon Bell got 25. Expect this to be the case with Dalton and Hill/Bernard.
Marcus Mariota vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos have let up the least amount of passing yards per game in the entire NFL, with the rush defense being much worse than their pass defense. No matter how good any quarterback is, going up against the Broncos, scoring more than 18 is unlikely. Mariota, being a less-than-astounding quarterback, should see less than the expected high of 18.
Andrew Luck vs. Houston Texans
Luck is just recovering from an injury, and is coming back to a defense that has let up about only 21 points per game on average. In addition, the Texans’ run defense is much more vulnerable and exploitable than their pass defense, so Gore should definitely be in the spotlight for most of this game with Luck throwing the occasional pass to get past long second and third down situations.
Running Back
Start
Start of the Week: Latavius Murray vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Murray has had some very good weeks recently, and this Chiefs defense have allowed more than 120 rushing yards per game to running backs. Murray should see almost all of the carries with a touchdown or two as well, as the Chiefs defense have let up an average of about 20 points per game.
Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts
Miller has had a nice year with the Texans, getting lots of carries because of Brock Osweiler’s underwhelming performances. He is facing the Colts rush defense this week, who have allowed almost 28 points per game to the opposing team. Lots of these points should come from Miller’s rushing touchdowns.
Bengals Running Backs vs. Cleveland Browns
If you have either Giovani Bernard or Jeremy Hill, they should be in your starting lineup this week. The Browns rush defense is one of the worst in the league, so this dynamic duo should get more points than usual this week.
Sit
Sit of the Week: Terrance West/Kenneth Dixon vs. New England Patriots
These two running backs have been recently splitting time, but neither have been totally underwhelming. However, this week they will be facing a defense that have let up less than 100 yards per game against the rush game of the opposing team. Expect both running backs to have a decrease in carries and fantasy points.
Carlos Hyde vs. New York Jets
The Jets’ defensive line are arguably the best in the league; they are facing a San Francisco offensive line that can’t hold up for Hyde to run through. Hyde may have a few wide rushed and maybe a few pass routes, but his productivity will ultimately have a drop this week.
Rob Kelley vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Kelley has shown in recent weeks that he is a strong starting running back for the Washington Redskins. The Eagles will shake the Redskins offense, especially their offensive line, and try to dig away at Kelley’s comfortability with his offensive linemen. The Eagles will slow this run game to a halt, so don’t look for Kelley to put up big numbers again.
Wide Receiver
Start
Start of the Week: Doug Baldwin vs. Green Bay Packers
Baldwin has followed up last year’s incredible performances near the end of the regular seasons and during the playoffs with another great year. The Packers, on the other hand, have not continued to have as great of a team as last year, especially on defense, where they have allowed more than 26 points per game. Baldwin should get a good amount of these points and dig into the Packers weak pass defense.
Quincy Enunwa vs. San Francisco 49ers
Enunwa has been Eric Decker’s replacement as the Jets’ secondary wide receiver, and he has filled the void of Decker very successfully. He has 3 weeks with more than 10 points since Decker got injured, and should see another 10 or more point week against one of the worst defenses in the league.
Sit
Sit of the Week: Michael Thomas vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thomas is probably the most “boom-or-bust” player in the league—meaning that he will either have an incredible fantasy week or a terrible week. He has had 6 weeks with over 10 points, but also 6 games with under 7. Thomas can be foreseen having a “bust” week against a defense that has just recently found their sweet spot where they can dominate on the field.
Terrelle Pryor Sr. vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals defense have allowed only about 240 yards per reception to wide receivers this year, and the Browns will most likely not even reach that mark. Pryor will still get some yards, but these yards will be a downgrade from previous weeks because the rushing game of the Browns will be used to take advantage over the Bengals weak rushing defense.
Tight Ends
Start
Start of the Week: Vance McDonald vs. New York Jets
This San Francisco tight end is one of the (if not the only) 49ers’ strong players. McDonald has been flying under the radar recently, so if you are in need of a tight end (one that has scored an average of about 8 points per game), pick up this one against the Jets.
Sit
Sit of the Week: Antonio Gates vs. Carolina Panthers
Gates has recently started to slow down from his break out in week 8, where he consistently score more than nine points for three games straight. However, since then, he has not scored more than nine points in one game. Expect Gates’ value as a fantasy tight end to go down in this week and the weeks to come.