Week 13 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Decisions: Joe Flacco, Jake Browning, Josh Downs, Brevin Jordan
Discussing Week 13 trending fantasy football players in the FantasySP start/sit tool.
The Sunday slate of week 13 is just about here, and the FantasySP start/sit tool is full of trending decisions. Let’s take a look at a few popular players and help you make a decision.
We’ll discuss Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, as well as Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Browning. At the wide receiver positions, Indianapolis Colts’ Josh Downs is a popular name. We’ll round things out by discussing Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan.
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Quarterback Debate
Flacco will start for the Browns on Sunday in an afternoon game against the Los Angeles Rams. It will be his first start this season after recently signing with the team.
Flacco played for the New York Jets last year, going 1-3 in his four starts - he played in five games total. He completed 57.6% of his passes and threw for 1,051 yards and five touchdowns, while tossing three interceptions. Flacco doesn’t add much as a runner.
The matchup with the Rams is a pretty average one for Flacco. LA allows opposing quarterbacks to score 17 fantasy points per game. The Browns should have most of their other offensive skill players, so as long as Flacco can take care of the ball, he’s got a chance to be an average fantasy QB in week 13.
Browning will start again for the Bengals in week 13. Cincy plays the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.
In his first start in week 12, Browning completed 19-of-26 passes for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He added 9 rushing yards on three attempts. The Bengals should have all their offensive playmakers out there, including Tee Higgins, so if Browning can take of the ball, he’s also got the chance to be an average fantasy QB.
The matchup with Jacksonville is a favorable one for Browning. The Jaguars’ defense allows 20 fantasy points to opposing QBs, which is tied for the third most in the NFL.
Browning and Flacco are part of one trending decision at the quarterback position. Browning also is pitted against Rams’ Matthew Stafford, Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis and New Orleans’ Derek Carr. Flacco is part of additional trending decisions with Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young and Levis.
In the decision between Browning and Flacco, Browning is the preferred starter. Browning is also favored over Levis, but not preferred over Stafford or Carr. Flacco is currently tied with Young and Levis.
Of these quarterbacks, Levis has the best projection, sitting in 16th overall. Young is 17th, Carr 18th, Stafford 19th, Browning 21st and Flacco 23rd.
With all these quarterbacks pretty evenly matched, I’d want to go with the best matchups. Several of the quarterbacks have similar favorable matchups, so it’s really a toss up. I’d take the quarterbacks who are facing defenses that pick off quarterbacks less.
I’d take Carr first amongst these six quarterbacks. He faces a Detroit Lions defense that’s been shredded the last couple weeks. I’d go with Young against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with my second choice.
I’d take a gambe on Flacco next, as the Rams don’t intercept opposing quarterbacks all that much. Unfortunately, they don’t throw many touchdowns either, so Flacco might be in for an average afternoon. I’d take Browning against the Jaguars next.
I’d take Stafford over Levis for my last option here. Stafford’s clash with the Browns is really tough, but I think he will pass enough to overcome a turnover or two. I’d go with Levis last against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts’ defense intercepts over a pass per game, and I think the Titans will lean on their running game.
Wide Receiver Debate
Downs is coming off another strong showing in week 12 and has a favorable matchup against the Titans ahead. Tennessee allows 38 fantasy points to opposing wideouts.
For the season, Downs has caught 48-of-73 targets for 566 yards and two touchdowns. He was targeted 13 times in week 12.
Downs has topped 50 receiving yards four times this season and finished with over 35 yards in all four games. He’s got a catch in every contest, and has five or more grabs in six games.
Downs is part of trending decisions with Cincinnati’s Higgins, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Diontae Johnson, Green Bay Packers’ Christian Watson and New Orleans Saints’ Chris Olave.
Of these four receivers, I like Olave the best, granted he plays (obviously). He’s got the best chance to serve as his team’s No. 1 wideout.
Downs and Johnson are close to me, so I’d follow the matchups and give Downs the edge. Watson’s matchup is tough, and he’s been too inconsistent to take over the other wideouts.
Tight End Debate
Jordan will start in place of the injured Dalton Schultz in Houston’s matchup with the Denver Broncos in week 13. The reason Jordan’s name is trending is because Denver’s defense allows the most fantasy points (17) to opposing tight ends.
Jordan hasn’t done much this season. He’s caught six passes for 60 yards and a touchdown on seven total targets. Schultz has been one of the team’s top pass catchers.
Jordan is part of trending decisions with Atlanta Falcons’ Kyle Pitts, Saints’ Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill, New England Patriots’ Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers’ Gerald Everett and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Cade Otton.
Among these tight ends, I’d take Hill against the Lions as my top option. I’d then want Henry against the Chargers, followed by Everett against the Patriots.
I’d next take Otton against the Panthers. I’d then take my chances with Jordan against the Broncos. I’m not a huge fan of Pitts, but believe he’ll be a bit better than Johnson against the Lions this week.
