Fantasy News & Analysis

PFF's fantasy football cheat sheet for Week 13

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 30: Mohamed Sanu #12 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after their 33-32 win against the Green Bay Packers at Georgia Dome on October 30, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Obviously, every regular-season week counts the same — if you enter Week 13 at 11-1, well, congratulations, take the week off. That said, really, Week 13 is the big one for a lot of fantasy owners. Maybe you’re 7-5 and need a win to cling to a playoff spot. Maybe you’re 6-6 or, in some circumstances, 5-7, and a win can sneak you in. Regardless, Week 13 is the one true make-or-break week in the fantasy season.

That makes our weekly cheat sheet a key resource for Week 13. Below are five key pieces of our advice for this week, followed by links to all of our Week 13 content. The key five will be helpful, the rest of the advice that much moreso. And then at the bottom, you’ll find links to all our DFS content from the week as well.

It’s a crucial week, perhaps the crucial week. Don’t let it slip by, and spend the rest of the season as just a fantasy spectator. Read, click through, do your research. Good luck in Week 13.

Season-long fantasy

Use Atlanta WR Mohamed Sanu
(from Tyler Loechner’s breakout candidates)

Taylor Gabriel has gotten the headlines alongside Julio Jones in the Atlanta passing offense in recent weeks, but Sanu looks like a good play in Week 13. Chiefs slot corner Phillip Gaines gives up the third-most fantasy points per route run among Week 13 corners, and the team at large gives up the fifth-most fantasy points per opportunity to receivers. Sanu caught all eight of his targets a week ago and, while Gabriel is getting the headlines, Sanu is still out-snapping him.

Add Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson
(from Jeff Ratcliffe’s waiver wire check)

This is longshot stuff here, but of course what Peterson can do when he’s on the field is well-known. Peterson is working toward a potential late-season return, and if he can manage that, he could be a difference-maker in the fantasy playoffs for a Vikings team that has gotten little to nothing out of Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata. Peterson might not even make it back from his injury, but if you have roster space, Peterson is worth a speculative add.

Sit Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston
(from Dan Schneier’s start/sit advice)

Traditionally, a matchup against San Diego has seemed like a must-start for offensive fantasy contributors. But that isn’t nearly the case now, not with rookie Joey Bosa added to the defensive front. His presence has lifted the Chargers to PFF’s No. 9 pass rush and No. 5 overall pass defense. The defense is averaging more than an interception a game over the last month, and Winston is prone to the turnover.

Stream Chicago QB Matt Barkley
(from Mike Castiglione’s look at QB streamers)

Barkley looked like a career backup third-stringer coming into Week 12, but after he threw for 316 yards and three scores, there might be something more in the former USC quarterback’s arm. Add in the fact that his receivers dropped 12 of Barkley’s passes (the most by a team in a single game in the history of PFF), and Barkley actually had a really strong game. This week, he draws a San Francisco pass defense that has given up seven passing scores the last two weeks.

Downgrade Washington RB Rob Kelley
(from Jeff Ratcliffe’s flex rankings)

Kelley can be forgiven for his subpar Thanksgiving performance, when he put up only 37 rushing yards on short rest after a 137-yard, three score game the week before. But the rookie is hard to trust in Week 13 against a stout Arizona run defense. He’s still a fine flex option, but the tough matchup makes it a good week to consider whether you have a decent Kelley alternative.

Daily fantasy

beckham-sanders_dfs-comparison

Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit