Week 13 Positional Rankings

Welcome to the last week of the fantasy football regular season (in many dynasty leagues). You have made it this far, and if you’re still reading a weekly rankings article, that means you still have meaningful games ahead of you: congratulations!! In what has been easily the most hectic NFL season I can remember, those who put in the work each and every week have absolutely been rewarded. Whether this week is the first round of your playoffs, you are fighting for a first-round bye, or you are fighting just to be in the playoff dance altogether, this article will help you make those critical lineup decisions.

One of the most challenging aspects of providing this article each week is the possibility of COVID delays. Hence, I will assume that – as of this writing – all games will be played. That way, I can provide the most information possible for you in case these games do wind up occurring.

In this series, I’ll give you my top 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 60 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends each week to help you with your start/sit decisions in your leagues. To generate this list each and every week, I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics.

Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players that perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision.

Without further ado, let’s dive into week 13’s positional rankings!

Quarterback

Start ‘em: Kirk Cousins, QB MIN

Over the past four weeks, Cousins has been a top quarterback option in fantasy football. Ranking as the QB7 in points per game over this stretch, Cousins has had a two-touchdown floor and has thrown for 290 yards in each of his last three games.

This week, the Vikings take on the 1-11 Jaguars team that has downright given up on the season. Minnesota is a 10.5 point favorite and have the second-highest implied team total of the week at 30.75 points. Projected for over four touchdowns as a team, the Vikings should score early and often, and Cousins will be the main part of that scoring. Consider him a safe QB1 option and, if things break right, could be a top-five option on the week.

Sit ‘em: Carson Wentz, QB PHI

It’s no secret that Wentz has been simply terrible from a real-football perspective this season. The once-dynasty QB1 overall leads the league in turnovers, and as evidenced by his team’s five straight three-and-outs to start last week’s game, has been struggling to move the ball down the field. However, perhaps shockingly, Wentz has been a QB1 in the 2020 fantasy football season, ranking as QB11 on the year.

While Wentz does get star tight end Zach Ertz back from injury, week 13 projects to be tough sledding for the veteran quarterback. The Eagles have just a 20 point implied team total – in line with teams like the Jaguars, Jets, and Broncos – and Green Bay ranks towards the best in the league at defending quarterbacks in fantasy football. Wentz has a low floor in week 13, and it could cost you your fantasy matchup.

If you’re desperate: Derek Carr, QB LV

I completely understand if you won’t let Carr come anywhere near your fantasy football lineups the rest of the year. Carr’s week 12 performance will go down as one of the worst fantasy football quarterback performances of all time, particularly given all the positive forces he had going for him heading into that week. Football is a week-to-week sports, however, and as such, it is prudent to evaluate Carr again for week 13. The Raiders take on the winless Jets, and as a team they have a solid 27 point implied team total as eight-point favorites.

The Jets have been the fourth-worst team against opposing quarterbacks for fantasy football this season, and Carr’s projection for week 13 should be in line with other QB2 type plays on the week. He brings a wide range of outcomes – as we saw last week – but there are few options in this range with a better chance of being a QB1 on the week. If you’re desperate and not scarred from last week, start Carr again.

Running Back

Start ‘em: David Montgomery, RB CHI

Montgomery came back to the Bears lineup after the bye and had his best game of the entire 2020 season against a beatable Packers run defense. Perhaps most importantly, Montgomery is seeing consistent volume in the passing game, registering at least five targets in all but one of his last seven games. While the second-year back only has three total touchdowns on the season, he still ranks as RB15 overall in PPR formats.

In a great matchup against Detroit, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing running backs on the season, Montgomery should continue his success as a focal point of the Bears’ offense. He’s a low-end RB1 in fantasy football’s pivotal week 13.

Sit ‘em: Duke Johnson, RB HOU

Johnson’s four-game streak of at least 12 touches looks to be coming to an end on Sunday as teammate David Johnson returns from his multi-week absence from the team. While Duke could continue to see looks as a pass-catching option given Will Fuller’s surprise suspension, fantasy managers shouldn’t rely on Duke to get them to that pivot playoff win/bye/birth.

The Texans take on a stout Colts defense that – other than to Derrick Henry – has been the best defense against running backs in fantasy football. The Texans have an implied team total of 23.75 points in a game that overall has one of the lower over/unders on the week. Duke ranks simply as an RB4/FLEX option due to his low overall ceiling, and fantasy managers shouldn’t expect more than a handful of touches overall from the veteran running back.

If you’re desperate: Myles Gaskin, RB MIA

In the early part of the 2020 season, Gaskin was shaping up to be one of the best values at running back. The second-year back commanded double-digit touches in every one of Miami’s games from weeks one through eight and slowly but surely saw his role increase. From weeks three through eight, Gaskin was the RB17 in points per game, averaging a solid 14.7 points in PPR formats.

The Bengals have allowed the third-most rushing yards to opposing running backs in 2020, and the Dolphins have a solid 27 point implied team total. In what will likely be a positive game-script day for the Dolphins, Gaskin should stand to benefit. Even just 10-15 touches will allow for Gaskin to be a usable RB2/FLEX option this week.

Wide Receiver

Start ‘em: Jarvis Landry, WR CLE

While Landry’s target share has been solid all season, particularly since teammate Odell Beckham went down, his production from a fantasy football standpoint had been lackluster. Through the first 11 weeks of the 2020 season, Landry failed to record a single touchdown and surpassed 50 yards receiving just three times. After a monster performance in week 12 where Landry scored his first touchdown in addition to putting up over 140 yards receiving, fantasy managers should be confident plugging in Landry as a WR2 option in a pivotal week 13.

The Browns take on the Titans and have a decent 24 point implied team total, but more importantly for this matchup, the Titans have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers on the season. Overall, the Titans-Browns game is expected to be one of the highest-scoring this week, and Landry should continue his recent success.

Sit ‘em: Christian Kirk, WR ARI

Since a trio of 20+ point fantasy football performances, Kirk has disappointed in each of the last three weeks. The third-year wideout has not topped nine PPR points since week nine despite seeing six targets in each of the last three games. While Arizona’s offense as a whole has taken a bit of a step back recently, Kirk’s performances leave fantasy managers in key spots wondering what to do with the talented receiver.

Ultimately, this week brings a tough matchup for Kirk as the Cardinals face the LA Rams, who have allowed the second-fewest points to opposing wide receivers this season. Overall, with the Cardinals having just a 22.5 implied team total, this is not the week to start one of their secondary options, particularly if your trip to the fantasy playoffs is on the line.

If you’re desperate: DJ Chark, WR JAC

After missing last week’s matchup against the Browns, Chark is set to return to a great matchup against Minnesota. The Vikings have been a very favorable matchup for opposing wide receivers all season, allowing the third-most fantasy points to the position. In his active games this season, Chark has been seeing top tier volume in the Jaguars (dismal) offense.

Chark’s 21% target share per game ranks best among the team, but perhaps more importantly his 34% air yard share ranks top 15 in the NFL among receivers with 60 targets. Chark is a big play waiting to happen, but without one has been hit or miss as a fantasy player. The Jaguars offense and their 20.25 implied team total hold Chark back from being anything more than a desperation WR3 for dynasty managers.

Tight End

Start ‘em: Robert Tonyan, TE GB

One of 2020’s biggest breakout tight ends, Tonyan has put together another string of solid performances as of late. With at least 15 fantasy points in each of the last two weeks, Tonyan is a must-start option at tight end. The Packers have a very high 29 point team total in week 13 against a very beatable Eagles team, which bodes well for Tonyan and the rest of the Packers’ offense.

In comparison to other tight ends, Tonyan is used as a deep threat option. The breakout tight end’s 9.2 average depth of target ranks sixth among tight ends with 30 or more targets. Combining high-value, deep-ball looks with a league-leading seven touchdowns, and you have yourself a top-five TE option for dynasty players.

Sit ‘em: Jared Cook, TE NO

If you have Cook on your roster, then you’ve probably put his face on a milk carton and sent it to your league-mates. After scoring double-digit fantasy points in four of seven games to start the season, Cook has just three catches for 36 yards combined in each of his last four games.

While the Saints have the best matchup for tight ends coming up – the Atlanta Falcons – Cook should not be in starting lineups in a crucial week 13 matchup for fantasy players. Between his lack of snaps (a maximum of 38% since week nine), Taysom Hill’s run-first gameplan, and Cook’s own struggles, there’s simply no reason to risk your fantasy season playing the veteran tight end.

If you’re desperate: Jordan Reed, TE SF

If you’re this far into your fantasy football season and desperate for a tight end option, Reed may provide the upside you need for a fantasy football win this week. The veteran tight end has filled in well for George Kittle when healthy – all things considered in a bad 49ers passing offense – and gets a good matchup in week 13.

The 49ers face the Buffalo Bills and their defense that has allowed the second-most points to tight ends on the season. While Reed is certainly a risky play, he brings touchdown upside in a good matchup and has earned six targets in each of the last two weeks. You can certainly do worse if you’re desperate for tight end production.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! If you’re wondering about a player I didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me @FFzinger on Twitter. Best of luck this week, and I’ll be back next week to give week 14’s positional rankings.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michael Zingone

Latest posts by Michael Zingone (see all)

• Week 17 Positional Rankings - January 1, 2022
• Week 16 Positional Rankings - December 23, 2021
• Week 15 Positional Rankings - December 16, 2021