Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 13: Wide Receivers - Sleepers, Fades, Matchups, DFS Bargains
Week 13 Start ‘Em: Wide Receivers
Byes: Buccaneers, Panthers
Start of the Week
Justin Jefferson vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Jefferson has been on quite a hot streak, scoring 17-plus fantasy points in three straight games, including two with more than 21. He's set up for another solid stat line this week too, as the Vikings host the Jaguars. Their defense is an absolute mess of injuries, and it's struggled to stop receivers lined out wide. In fact, the position has averaged nearly 24 fantasy points a game. Jefferson will be a high-end No. 2 fantasy option.
Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
- QUARTERBACKS
- RUNNING BACKS
- WIDE RECEIVERS
- TIGHT ENDS
- KICKERS
- TEAM DEFENSES
Be sure to check out my Week 13 rankings before finalizing any lineup decisions or if your league has special scoring rules, sign up for SI Fantasy+ for customized rankings.
MORE: Week 13 Rankings, Articles, Reports & Tools Hub
Start ‘Em
DeVante Parker vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Fantasy fans with Parker received what I would call an early Christmas gift, as Ryan Fitzpatrick started in place of an injured Tua Tagovailoa. That decision was huge for Parker, who scored 19.9 points in a win over the Jets. He does lose some luster with Tua Tagovailoa back under center this week, but the matchup is still favorable. The Bengals have allowed 12 touchdowns and the fourth-most points to receivers lined out wide.
Brandin Cooks vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Cooks has emerged into one of the most reliable wideouts in fantasy leagues in recent weeks, and his ceiling just got higher with the news of Will Fuller being suspended for the rest of the season. His absence creates a huge void in terms of target share (21.4 percent), and some of those chances will fall into Cooks’ lap. While the matchup isn’t great on paper, it’ll still be pretty hard to sit Cooks in fantasy football leagues this week.
D.J. Chark at Vikings (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Chark (ribs) missed last week’s game against the Browns, but he's been removed from the injury report for Week 13 and is good to go in a plus matchup in Minnesota. I’d start him as a No. 3 wideout or flex option against a Vikings defense that has struggled against opposing wideouts. In fact, this unit has given up 18 touchdown catches and the third-most fantasy points to the position. Game script could be in Chark's favor, too.
Corey Davis vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Davis is the WR34 going into Week 13, but he’s averaged a respectable 13.5 fantasy points and this week's matchup against the Browns is favorable. Their defense has allowed eight touchdowns and the most fantasy points to home wide receivers. What's more, Denzel Ward is expected to be out, safety Ronnie Harrison is also hurt, and Greedy Williams has no timetable for his return from an injured shoulder. Start Davis this week.
More Starts
- Deebo Samuel vs. Bills (MNF 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Jarvis Landry at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Nelson Agholor at Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
DFS Bargains
- Nelson Agholor at Jets (DraftKings: $5,200)
- Jamison Crowder vs. Raiders (DraftKings: $5,100)
- Corey Davis vs. Browns (DraftKings: $5,100)
Week 13 Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers
Sit of the Week
Tee Higgins at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Higgins saved his stat line last week with a late touchdown, and he’s now scored 14-plus fantasy points in five of his last six games. Still, the presence of Brandon Allen under center makes Higgins a risk in fantasy leagues. The rookie also has to face a Dolphins defense that’s given up just eight touchdown catches to wide receivers, so he’s a tough sell. At best, Higgins is a potential low-floor, risk-reward flex starter this week.
Sit ‘Em
Christian Kirk vs. Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): Kirk was on absolute fire earlier in the season, but he’s now failed to score more than nine fantasy points in each of his last three games. The numbers suggest he won’t break out his funk this week either, as the Rams have allowed just six touchdown catches and the fewest points (29.8 PG) to opposing wide receivers. Kyler Murray hasn’t looked all that good in recent weeks either, making Kirk even less attractive as a starter.
CeeDee Lamb at Ravens (Tues. 8:05 p.m. ET, FOX): Lamb’s numbers have been up and down in recent weeks, but he’s scored fewer than nine points in three of his last five games. His numbers aren’t likely to increase this week, as a difficult road matchup in Baltimore awaits. Their defense has been tough on slot receivers, allowing just one touchdown catch to the position. There's not many Cowboys to like in this game, and Lamb is a flex starter at best.
Marvin Jones Jr. at Bears (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Jones has had some solid numbers when the matchup is right this season, but that’s not the case this week. The Bears have been tough on receivers lined out wide, allowing just four touchdown catches and the third-fewest fantasy points to the position, Jones also failed to do much against them back in Week 1, posting four catches and just 9.5 fantasy points. I’d fade the veteran wideout in this NFC North tilt at Soldier Field.
Jerry Jeudy at Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Jeudy's point totals have fallen in four straight games (including last week, when the Broncos had to start practice squad WR Kendall Hinton at quarterback). Regardless, the rookie is still difficult to start with confidence against a Chiefs defense that’s been tough on wideouts. The position has scored a mere six touchdowns and averaged the fourth-fewest points against Kansas City, so Jeudy is off the radar in most leagues this weekend.
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More Sits
- Travis Fulgham at Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Jakobi Meyers at Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Mike Williams vs. Patriots (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
DFS Fades
- Michael Thomas at Falcons (DraftKings: $7,000)
- Marvin Jones Jr. at Bears (DraftKings: $5,700)
- Christian Kirk vs. Rams (DraftKings: $5,200)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all of the latest breaking fantasy football news and the best analysis in the business!
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