Fantasy Football Week 13 Quarterback Start Decision: Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Bo Nix, Justin Herbert and More

Week 13 of the NFL regular season is a unique one, with every team in action, but also four games being played before Sunday. That means your fantasy football lineup decisions need to be made earlier.

FantasySP is here to help. Here, we’ll go over some quarterbacks.

We’ll discuss Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, Caleb Williams, Jordan Love, Bo Nix, Anthony Richardson, Drake Maye, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Cooper Rush, Tommy Devito or Drew Lock, Kyler Murray, C.J. Stroud, Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow, Sam Darnold and Jayden Daniels.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Season Stats

Goff has 2,761 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 72.9% passing this season. He’s added 39 rushing yards. Goff only scored 11 fantasy points last week, and has only topped that mark once in the past four games.

Stafford has 2,800 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and seven picks on the season. He’s completed 66.5% of his passes and only added eight rushing yards. Stafford scored 19 points last week, and has 18 or more points in four of the past five contests.

Williams is up to 2,356 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He’s also completed 62.6% of his passes and rushed for 333 yards. Williams scored 27 fantasy points last week and had 16 the week before that.

Love has completed 61.8% of his passes for 2,244 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He’s rushed for 48 yards and a score. Love scored 15 points last week and had 20 the week prior.

Nix now has 2,548 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 64.9 completion percentage. He’s added 300 rushing yards and four scores. Nix scored 19 points last week and has 16 or more in five straight. 

Richardson is up to 1,402 passing yards, five touchdowns and seven picks on 47.1% passing. He’s also got 335 yards and three scores on the ground. Richardson scored 28 fantasy points in week 11 and 13 more in week 12 (without a score).

Maye has accumulated 1,458 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and seven picks on 65.6% passing. He’s also rushed for 286 yards and an additional score. He scored 13 fantasy points last week and has 12 or more in each start.

Tagovailoa has racked up 1,760 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions on 73.3% passing. He’s rushed for 41 yards. Tagovailoa scored 28 fantasy points last week and has 52 over the past two weeks combined.

Herbert has totaled 2,404 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and one pick on 62.9% passing this season. He also has 211 yards and two scores on the ground. Herbert scored 18 points last week, his lowest mark in the past five games.

Rush, who is dealing with a knee injury, scored 18 fantasy points last week and had 16 the week before that. He has 813 passing yards, four touchdowns and two picks on 61.1% passing for the season, while adding in just 10 rushing yards.

Devito and Lock are listed together because Devito is uncertain for Thursday’s game with a right forearm injury. Devito scored 11 fantasy points last week. Lock has barely played this season, but does have starting experience in the past.

Murray is up to 2,343 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions on 68.7% passing. He also has 380 rushing yards and four more scores. Murray scored only 10 fantasy points last week - over the past five weeks, he has two games at or below 10 points and the other three are over 20 points.

Stroud has racked up 2,875 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and nine picks for the season. He’s completed 63.1% of his passes and rushed for an additional 192 yards. Stroud scored 16 fantasy points last week, his most in the past six contests.

Mayfield is at 2,799 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 71.4% passing. He’s also rushed for 221 yards and three scores. Mayfield got back on track with a 19-point fantasy performance last week.

Burrow already has 3,028 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and just four picks. He’s completed 67.2% of his passes and rushed for 151 yards and a score. Burrow scored 29 fantasy points in his last game out, which is his lowest mark over the past three games.

Darnold has 2,717 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 67.6% passing this season. He’s rushed for 165 yards and a score. Darnold scored 21 points last week and had 24 the week prior.

Daniels has passed for 2,613 yards, 12 touchdowns and five picks this season. He’s completed 68.4% of his passes and rushed for 556 yards and five scores.

Week 13 Matchups

Williams and Goff square off in the first of three Thanksgiving games this year. Devito or Lock will take on Rush in the second game. Tagovailoa and Love face each other in the nightcap.

On Sunday, Herbert will take on the Falcons. Burrow faces the Steelers, while Stroud battles the Jaguars. Murray and Darnold are part of the same game.

Richardson and Maye also are part of the same contest. Daniels faces the Titans, while Mayfield goes up against the Panthers. Stafford will take on the Saints, while Nix faces the Browns on Monday night.

Stroud has the most favorable matchup, as the Jaguars allow opposing quarterbacks to score 23 fantasy points a game. Herbert’s battle with Atlanta and Mayfield’s test against Carolina are also favorable, with the Falcons and Panthers giving up 21 points each.

Devito or Lock have a good matchup, as Dallas allows 21 points a game. The Browns are another favorable matchup, allowing 20 points a game.

The Giants, Titans, Patriots and Colts all give up 17 points a game. The Vikings, Cardinals and Saints give up 15 points. 

The Packers and Lions only allow 13 points a game. The Dolphins, Bears and Steelers surrender just 12 points.

Projections and Starting Recommendations

In the weekly projections, Daniels and Stroud lead this group of quarterbacks with 19 projected points each. Goff and Burrow are at 18 points each.

Herbert, Mayfield and Darnold are projected for 17 points, while Murray, Stafford, Williams, Love, Richardson and Tagovailoa are part of a big group at 16 points.

Nix and Maye check in at 15 points each. Rush and Devito are at 14 points each - I’d assume Lock also gets the 14-point projection if he gets the start.

I already looked at the six Thursday quarterbacks in a different story, but we’ll still rank them amongst the rest of these QB options. Spoiler: I really don’t like the Thursday options very much.

Stroud is my top choice for week 13. I know he hasn’t played super well of late, but that matchup is fantastic and I think he gets going this week.

I’d take Mayfield in his favorable matchup next. He’s been one of the best fantasy QBs all season, and I think he finishes up there again this week.

I’d take Herbert in his favorable clash next. I still think Herbert is underrated as a fantasy QB, and this week looks destined for a big fantasy score.

I’d take Daniels next. The matchup isn’t the best, but I think Daniels got back on track last week and will deliver a good score with his arm and legs this week.

I’d take Burrow here, which seems crazy, but the matchup is tough. He and the Bengals’ offense are good enough to overcome the matchup, but I’m most comfortable ranking him here. 

I like Nix next, and think he’s really underrated this week. He’s been good over the past several weeks and has a favorable matchup… sign me up!

I’d take Richardson next. He’s played much better over the past two weeks, and the matchup is right to post another good fantasy total.

I’d take my first Thursday quarterback here, Tagovailoa. The matchup isn’t great, but I think the Dolphins will be forced to pass to keep up with the Pack, and that’ll help Tagovailoa to a good score.

Give me Darnold here, and then Murray from the same game. Darnold has earned the benefit of the doubt this season, while I think Murray and his dual-threat ability is worth a start most weeks.

I’ve got Goff next. The matchup is tough, but this Lions’ offense can deliver against anyone, and Goff should post an average score at least.

Stafford falls here for me. He’s got Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and that means I’m fine starting Stafford against pretty much every week.

I’d take Love here. He’s capable of a big game, but I see Green Bay running a lot on Thursday night. Love is still a solid starting option in standard leagues.

Maye goes next, and is yet another QB I wouldn’t mind starting this week. The matchup is solid and I think Maye outperforms his projection.

Rush is right on the start/sit line for me, but after what he’s done the past couple weeks, I also wouldn’t mind starting him.

Williams is the first quarterback to fall below the sit line for me. He’s been better of late, but a tough road test against the Lions seems like a recipe for disaster.

Devito or Lock fall to my last spot. The matchup is right to produce a good fantasy showing, but I don’t see it happening.