Fantasy News & Analysis

The 7 things we learned about fantasy football in Week 13

New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) celebrates with center Ryan Jensen (66) after a touchdown during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

What are some of the top things we learned for fantasy football in Week 13 of the 2018 NFL season? Fantasy football is an ever-changing game, and what we thought was a sure thing a few weeks among might not ring true anymore.

Below are seven things we learned from Week 13 of the 2018 fantasy football season.

Josh Allen’s legs make him legit interesting in fantasy

As of this writing, Allen is the No. 2 fantasy quarterback of Week 13 after throwing for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns … while adding 135 rushing yards as well. Allen was last week’s QB4 after dropping 99 rushing yards. He’s obviously not going to flirt with 100 rushing yards every week, but he’s clearly got the wheels to do it.

That rushing ability gives Allen a ceiling that is legitimately as high as anyone’s. Consistency remains the challenge, but you better believe he’s piqued my interest as a streaming option.

San Francisco’s Jeff Wilson Jr. needs to be added everywhere

Matt Breida re-injured his ankle prior to the Week 13 matchup, which put Wilson in the driver’s seat for touches. He carried the ball 15 times for 61 yards and added 73 yards on eight receptions through the air. His nine targets were a result of the blowout (43-16 final score), but Wilson proved that he has every-down chops and is capable of touching the ball 20-plus times in a game. Breida was still healthy enough to play, so Wilson’s exact role moving forward isn’t clear, but he should be added in all formats.

Don’t freak out about Spencer Ware’s mediocre showing

Ware predictably led a committee approach in Kansas City, parlaying 14 rushing attempts into 47 yards and a score. He had one target as well. The touchdown salvaged a forgettable day for Ware (3.4 YPC), but he was clearly the top backfield option (Damien Williams have five attempts).

It wasn’t the flashy game many were hoping for — especially give the cake matchup against Oakland — but the volume and goal-line work will keep him locked in as an RB2 with upside moving forward. Don’t panic.

Dalvin Cook is really scary to trust

Cook had 106 total yards — which is great — but he had just nine rushing attempts, giving him 10 or fewer attempts in all but one game this season. The 10 targets were fantastic (especially in PPR formats), but the Vikings won’t be trailing the full 60 minutes every week like they were in Foxborough.

Cook can be really good — he averaged over 9 YPC this week after averaging 8.9 YPC back in Week 9, but the relatively low touch count gives him a really low floor, like when he had fewer than 30 rushing yards in both Weeks 11 and 12.

Chris Godwin is a baller (and Adam Humphries isn’t bad, either)

With DeSean Jackson sidelined in Tampa, Godwin and Humphries built on their strong recent play in Week 13. Godwin hauled in five of six targets for 101 yards and a score, while Humphries caught seven of nine balls for 61 yards and a score. Both Godwin and Humphries were more productive than Mike Evans (4-48-0 on six targets).

The Ravens pass defense is as legit as it gets

Leading into Week 13, wideouts (collectively) averaged fewer than 130 receiving yards and fewer than one touchdown per game against Baltimore. If you remove A.J. Green and the Bengals four-touchdown bonanza against Baltimore in Week 2, then the Ravens have given up just five passing touchdowns in all other games this season (fewer than half a score per game).

This dominance was on display in Week 13 against Atlanta’s high-flying passing attack, as Baltimore limited Julio Jones to just two catches for 18 yards — the very same Julio Jones who was on pace to flirt with the all-time NFL receiving yards record. The Ravens also shut down Calvin Ridley (3-22-0), Mohamed Sanu (3-37-0) and the entire Falcons passing attack (Matt Ryan had just 131 passing yards).

Jimmy Graham is healthy again and is back on the TE1 radar

Graham, who has suffered several injuries over the last month or so, is healthy — or at least healthy enough that the injuries aren’t impacting his play — and becoming a bigger part of Green Bay’s offense. Graham gobbled up 11 targets against the Cardinals, catching eight of them for 50 yards.

This was Graham’s best reception total as a Packer, and it was just his second game with over 50 yards since the team’s Week 7 bye. Graham won’t see double-digit targets every week, but the high volume in Week 13 is promising for his usage and expected production down the stretch.

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