Start and Sit Week 13

It's December, the holiday bells are ringing and the playoffs are dead ahead! Let's get those wins this week! Remember, you're starting your studs no matter what. Don't get cute by sitting them over the players you see here.  This article focuses on who we feel can give you an edge this week. 

Starters at Quarterback:

Jared Goff, QB - Detroit Lions

Jared Goff is a Jekyl/Hyde quarterback with his home and road splits this year. Goff sure loves that home cookin', and the Jaguars give up the sixth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. In yet another potential offensive shootout under the dome, look for Goff to shine. - Matt Miles @DirtyAirFC

Trevor Lawrence, QB - Jacksonville Jaguars

This Jaguars versus Lions game has the oddsmakers predicting a shootout with an over/under of 51 for the point total. Trevor Lawrence is starting to get back on track by throwing for 580 yards and five touchdowns over his last two contests. Additionally, the Lions are allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, and that makes Lawrence a start for me this week. - Leo G. @smooth1074

SITTERS at Quarterback:

Geno Smith, QB - Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll is known for getting conservative when things look good for his teams.  The Seahawks are one game out of a wild card slot and travel to Los Angeles to face the sinking Rams, with one of the lowest implied totals of 16.75 points this week. I'm staying away from Geno Smith this week. - Matt  

Tua Tagovailoa, QB - Miami Dolphins

It’s tough putting Tua Tagovailoa on the sit list because he and the Dolphins’ offense have been so awesome this year, but so has the 49ers’ Defense. There have been only been two quarterbacks to score over 20 fantasy points against the Niner defense this season, Patrick Mahomes and Marcus Mariota's three total touchdown performances. That’s it! This will really be a true test for Tagovailoa and the gang to show the world their here to play. So start him if you must but be cautious of the outcome, because it may not be pretty. - Leo  

Starters at Wide Receiver:

Zay Jones, WR - Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars received their charter 29 years ago and the NFL's third Florida Franchise has one of the best-kept WR secrets in the NFL.  Zay Jones, touted this summer by Fighting Chance Fantasy's own Brian Drake, Jones has been a solid WR2, that is looking like he might have the ceiling of a WR1.  With Trevor Lawrence getting better with each game, look for Jones to keep producing. -Matt

Garrett Wilson, WR - NewYork Jets

What a difference a quarterback change can make on the offense. With Zach Wilson behind center, the Jets were constantly sputtering around never letting these offensive weapons grow. But one game with Mike White at the helm of the Jets' offense looked for real. Garret Wilson was one of the beneficiaries of the change as he was targeted eight times and produced five receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Hell, White even made Elijah Moore fantasy relevant for the first time this year. The Jets may have to air it out if their defense can’t control the high-octane Vikings' offense in order to try and keep up with them. The Vikings are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this year making Wilson a must-start in Week 13. - Leo 

Sitters at Wide Receiver: 

Any Baltimore Wide Receivers, WR - Baltimore Ravens

Usage doesn't always beget fantasy points. This week's case study is on Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace, and Demarcus Robinson. Lamar Jackson has been figured out by defensive coordinators, and without Rashod Batemen and Hollywood Brown, Jackson has only been able to utilize Mark Andrews.  - Matt   

Allen Lazard, WR - Green Bay Packers

Allen Lazard has become second fiddle to Christian Watson over the last few weeks. With Watson’s rise, Lazard’s target share has taken a huge hit, and has now become an inconsistent player and hard to trust on a weekly basis. The last time Lazard faced the Bears he was held to under 10 fantasy points and I can see a similar outcome on Sunday.  - Leo  

Starters at Running Back:

Tony Pollard, RB - Dallas Cowboys

Tony Pollard is almost considered a weekly starter outright, but this week, Pollard is in a smash spot. Indianapolis gives up the 10th most fantasy points to running backs, and the Colts' defensive unit just made Benny Snell look like a Pro Bowl candidate. - Matt 

David Montgomery, RB - Chicago Bears

The last time David Montgomery faced the Packers earlier this season, he rushed 15 times for 122 yards. With Khalil Herbert still on injured reserve, look for Montgomery to keep it rolling against the Packers in Week 13, as they are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs this year. - Leo

Sitters at Running Back:

Brian Robinson, RB - Washington Commanders

I love Brian Robinson's Big Hat, and love how he is supporting his entrepreneurial friends.  I love that he overcame being shot 3 months ago to be in a strong role on an underdog team.  However, I don't love the maddening flip-flopping of his usage with Antonio Gibson.  This week's match-up features a stout run defense on the road in New York against the Giants, and Ron Rivera isn't one to necessarily ride the hot hand.  - Matt 

Jeff Wilson, RB - Miami Dolphins

This is a coming back home game not only for head coach Mike McDaniels but also for Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert.  All three were part of the 49ers for the last few years. As for Wilson’s prospects for this game, are not looking too good. The 49ers allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2022. Over their last three games, they allowed only 33.7 fantasy points to Austin Ekeler, James Conner, and Alvin Kamara. That’s only an 11.2 average in that span. If you have other options, you may want to consider sitting Wilson this week if you can.  - Leo  

Starters at Tight End:

Pat Freiermuth, TE Pittsburg Steelers

In four of his last five games, Pat Freiermuth has been targeted at least seven times. During that span, Freiermuth has averaged 11 PPR fantasy points. The tight end should at least reach that plateau against the Falcons this week since they allow the tenth-most fantasy points to tight ends this Fall. - Leo

Gerald Everett, TE Los Angeles Chargers

Another tight end that should be in consideration for your starting line-ups this week is Gerald Everett. In Week 1 when he first went up against the Raiders, Everett caught four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown. The veteran tight end should be hovering around the double-digits fantasy points once again this week. - Leo 

Sitters at Tight Ends:

Tyler Higbee, TE - Los Angeles Rams

The Rams' offense is in complete injury mode. Tyler Higbee was called upon last week to block, and this week, Higbee will likely need to keep whoever the Rams' quarterback is this week from having their head ripped off by the Seahawks' defense this week. - Matt 

Robert Tonyan, TE - Green Bay Packers 

The last time Robert Tonyan had a productive fantasy day was back in Week 6 when he received 12 targets. Since then he has not seen anywhere near that target share only seeing a high of six targets just once. With the development of Romeo Doubs prior to his injury and now Christian Watson, Tonyan is an afterthought in the Packers' offense and he should be nowhere near your starting roster this week. - Leo  

Starters at Defense/Special Teams:

Dallas Cowboys Defense/Special Teams 

The Dallas Cowboys D/ST face Jeff Saturday and the Indianapolis Colts who just ran a baffling sequence of downs on a potentially game-winning drive against the Steelers this week. Many feel Dallas can make a deep playoff run this year, and Indianapolis, well, won't.  - Matt 

Cleveland Browns Defense/Special Teams

Last week the Houston Texans were the gift that kept on giving. The Dolphins’ defense went off last week for multiple sacks and turnovers. This week the Cleveland Browns D/ST gets to tee off on the Texans and should be considered a streaming option for Week 13. - Leo 

Sitters at Defense/Special Teams:

Cincinnati Bengals Defense/Special Teams

The Cincinnati Bengals D/ST are still fighting injuries in their secondary, and they are headed to Kansas City to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in a match-up that Vegas has with the highest implied point totals and highest over/under. -Matt

Denver Broncos Defense/Special Teams

What has happened to the Denver Broncos D/ST and the team in general? Yikes! A once-promising defense has faded fast. The last time they provided double-digit fantasy points for fantasy managers was Week 5. This week the Broncos' Defense faces the Baltimore Ravens who allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses. Look elsewhere for a defense to start this week. - Leo

Matt Miles wants you to win in fantasy football.  Follow him at @dirtyairfc on Twitter!

If you would like to discuss this further or have any questions feel free to reach out to me on Twitter at @smooth1074.