Fantasy Football Week 13 FantasySP Expert Picks: Russell Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., C.J. Stroud and More
The experts at FantasySP answer a handful of questions in advance of Week 13 of the NFL season.
Thanksgiving makes things weird from a fantasy perspective because you almost have to go through the lineup-setting process twice. With just the Sunday/Monday games remaining, we can now treat it more like a normal week.
And these normal weeks are running short, as most fantasy leagues will start their playoffs in Week 15. In the penultimate regular season week for many players, it's important to get the biggest decisions right if you are fighting for position in the fantasy postseason.
The experts at FantasySP have once again convened to answer five questions in advance of Week 13 of the fantasy football season. Morgan Rode, Mark Morales-Smith, and Daniel Hepner gathered around one Google Doc to help you prepare.
Let’s start with a quarterback who can step in as a one-week streamer.
Morgan: I like Matthew Stafford. Anytime he has Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out there, Stafford is capable of big-time fantasy numbers. His matchup against the Saints is only slightly below average.
Mark: You have to love Russell Wilson against the Bengals this week. That Cincy pass defense is just so horrible, and they get torched by true WR1s, which George Pickens is quickly becoming.
Daniel: Bo Nix is becoming more of a true fantasy option every week, and the good times are likely to continue against the Browns Monday night. Cleveland has allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and eighth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Is there a running back you’re benching because of his situation and/or matchup?
Morgan: Most of the tough RB matchups came on Thursday and Friday, so there’s not many options left. I’ll bench Gus Edwards against the Falcons, though. Edwards is viewed as the top Chargers’ back with J.K. Dobbins out, but a tougher matchup and more of a split backfield will lead to a disappointing fantasy day for Edwards.
Mark: I want nothing more to do with Travis Etienne this season. Trevor Lawrence is talking about surgery, Tank Bigsby is getting healthy, and Etienne hasn’t been good when his QB is healthy and Bigsby is out. I’m out on him and that entire offense.
Daniel: The Jacksonville running backs have one of the worst situations this week. Etienne has turned into a flex-level back at best. A lot of the worst Sunday matchups for running backs are guys you are never going to bench, like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry.
Who is your favorite flex-level wide receiver this week?
Morgan: Let’s stick in LA and go with Ladd McConkey. He’s been a borderline starter for several weeks, but in a favorable matchup and down a top back, I expect the LA passing game to take off in this contest. McConkey will lead the charge (pun intended).
Mark: Give me Marvin Harrison Jr. this week. He has had an up-and-down year but thrives against a two-high safety look. Minnesota runs as much two-high as any defense in the league.
Daniel: Denver’s Devaughn Vele has emerged as the team’s second receiver, averaging a modest four catches and 45 yards per game. Nix has been more productive lately, and Vele has combined for 10 catches and 146 yards the past two games. He’s a good flex player against a weak Cleveland defense.
As the fantasy playoffs approach, what advice do you have for owners as we transition from season to postseason?
Morgan: I tend to shy away from matchups and just play my best fantasy players - they are the ones who got you into the playoffs. I want the players with the highest upside in my starting lineups, even if they are part of a tougher matchup.
Mark: I agree with Morgan. I finally made the move to bench Tyreek Hill and Sam LaPorta this week for Courtland Sutton and Hunter Henry. As of Saturday, lesson learned.
Daniel: If you’re already locked into the playoffs, start fortifying your roster for the postseason weeks. That might mean grabbing a streaming defense early or dropping someone with bad matchups during the fantasy playoffs. Most owners aren’t thinking that far ahead right now; you can make early moves to get ahead of the pack.
And finally, who will be the fantasy MVP of Week 13?
Morgan: I like Houston’s C.J. Stroud and Joe Mixon, but a lopsided game against Jacksonville could diminish their scores, so I’m pivoting to Nacua. His matchup against the Saints is great, and I think he erupts for a monster fantasy total, even with Kupp also factoring in heavily.
Mark: Jalen Hurts or A.J. Brown. Take your pick. I’m choosing both of them to finish at the top of their position against the Ravens this week.
Daniel: Stroud is my favorite pick, especially based on the modest expectations he has set this season for himself (currently QB15). Baker Mayfield might have some fun against a brutal Panthers defense.
