Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Wide Receivers Fantasy Football Week 13: Brandon Aiyuk’s Big Season Continues
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.
Fabs’ Top 10 Wide Receivers
1. Tyreek Hill at Commanders
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown at Saints
3. CeeDee Lamb vs. Seahawks (Thur.)
4. A.J. Brown vs. 49ers
5. Keenan Allen at Patriots
6. Brandon Aiyuk at Eagles
7. Michael Pittman Jr. at Titans
8. Jaylen Waddle at Commanders
9. DeVonta Smith vs. 49ers
10. Mike Evans vs. Panthers
Week 13 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES
Byes: Bears, Bills, Giants, Raiders, Ravens, Vikings
Week 13 Start ’Em: Wide Receivers
Start of the Week
Sergio Estrada/USA Today network
Brandon Aiyuk at Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Aiyuk posted a modest 13 points in last week’s win over the Seahawks, but I like him to explode this week in what is a plus matchup in Philadelphia. The Eagles defense has been awful against the perimeter, allowing 12 touchdowns and the most fantasy points to the position. In what could be a high-scoring affair, I’m starting Aiyuk with a lot of confidence.
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Start ’Em
Michael Pittman Jr. at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pittman continues to shine in the stat sheets, scoring 20.7 points in last week’s win over the Buccaneers. He has another nice matchup this week, facing a Titans defense that’s allowed the fifth-most points per game to perimeter receivers in the last four weeks. So, despite being held to 10.2 against them back in Week 5, Pittman is a nice start ’em.
Christian Kirk vs. Bengals (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Calvin Ridley has been the best Jaguars wideout in the last two weeks, but I’m sticking with Kirk as a flex option. He just missed scoring a touchdown last week in Houston, which would have bulked up his stat line, and an upcoming matchup against the Bengals is favorable. Their defense has allowed the ninth-most points a game to the slot.
Marquise Brown at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Brown woke up last week, as he was targeted 12 times and scored 14.8 points despite missing practice. With six teams off this week, I’d start him against the Steelers. Their defense has allowed 12-plus points to wideouts 12 times, including five with more than 19 points and three with over 30 points. As long as he’s active, Brown is a viable flex option.
George Pickens vs. Cardinals (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Steelers offense was far more productive in its first game without Matt Canada at the helm, but Pickens still scored just 8.8 points. I have a feeling he’ll get off the schneid this week, though, as the Cardinals have allowed the fifth-most points per game to the perimeter. I’d also expect Pickens to see more targets after Diontae Johnson dogged it last week.
More Starts
Adam Thielen at Buccaneers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
Courtland Sutton at Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Terry McLaurin vs. Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
DFS Bargains (DraftKings)
Courtland Sutton at Texans ($5,400)
Marquise Brown at Steelers ($5,200)
George Pickens vs. Cardinals ($4,800)
Week 13 Sit ’Em: Wide Receivers
Sit of the Week
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Drake London at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Fox): I was wrong about London last week, as he put up 14.1 points in a win over the Saints. I’d still be wary of starting him this week though, as the Jets have allowed the fewest points per game to perimeter receivers. What’s more, their defense hasn’t allowed a single touchdown catch to a receiver who lined up wide. At best, London should be seen as a risky flex.
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Sit ’Em
Puka Nacua vs. Browns (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Nacua has struggled in the stat sheets since the return of Cooper Kupp, scoring single digits in the three games Kupp played and finished. That includes last week, when he posted a 6.7-point stinker despite a great matchup in Arizona. Next up is a matchup against the Browns, who have allowed the fewest points to wideouts. Nacua is a gamble.
Chris Godwin vs. Panthers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Godwin has been a huge dud over the last month, scoring single digits in four straight games. He’s still tough to sit with six teams on a bye, but keep in mind that Godwin faces a Carolina defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest points per game to wideouts. What’s more, the Panthers have also allowed two scores and the second-fewest points to the slot.
Christian Watson vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Watson woke up in the stat sheets last week, scoring a season-best 20.4 points versus the Lions. I’d beware the wideout this week, however, as he had failed to score more than 11.6 points in all seven of his previous games. He also has a bad matchup against the Chiefs, who have allowed nine touchdowns and the fourth-lowest catch rate to receivers.
Jerry Jeudy at Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Jeudy has been hard to trust this season, as he's scored fewer than 14 points in every game and has posted single digits five times. Next up is a date with the Texans, who have allowed allowed just six touchdowns to opposing wide receivers. While their defense has given up the ninth-highest catch rate this season, Jeudy has just been too inconsistent to trust.
More Sits
Amari Cooper at Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Romeo Doubs vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
Tyler Boyd at Jaguars (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
DFS Fades (DraftKings)
Cooper Kupp vs. Browns ($7,800)
Puka Nacua vs. Browns ($7,000)
Chris Godwin vs. Panthers ($6,300)
