Fantasy Football Preview, Week 13: Last Licks

Fantasy Football Preview, Week 13: Last Licks

NFL Week 13 is here, and for many fantasy owners, playoff seedings will be cemented this week.

This week’s action kicks off with a special three-game set on Thanksgiving Day, starting with the NFC North divisional matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Three quarterbacks had four touchdowns each last week, including the Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill, who mostly kept pace with Peyton Manning en route to a 228-yard, one interception performance. Tannehill comes in at number 10 on the quarterback rankings list this week against an awful Jets secondary.

Baltimore running back Justin Forsett ran all over the Saints on Monday night, finishing with 182 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 22 carries. Latavius Murray, who practiced Wednesday despite a concussion, went off for 112 yards and two touchdowns in Oakland’s first win of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs, and Eddie Lacy continued his string of strong play with 138 total yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay’s close win over the Vikings.

Odell Beckham Jr. led all receivers in scoring last week, catching a staggering 10 of 11 balls for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants’ Sunday night loss to the Cowboys. One of those catches is already being called the best catch in the history of the NFL. Of course, Demaryius Thomas was right behind, compiling 87 yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches. 

Readers of last week’s Fantasy Football Preview were clued in early to get Cleveland running back Isaiah Crowell into lineups, where he went off for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon also put in a respectable showing, catching 8-of-16 targets for 120 yards but no scores.

Here are this week’s fantasy player rankings for all offensive positions except kicker, plus the sleepers you’ll need to push you into the playoffs, or, if you’re in the top spot already, to keep you there.


Player Rankings, Week 13

QB

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. NE)

2. Andrew Luck, IND (vs. WAS)

3. Peyton Manning, DEN (@KC)

4. Drew Brees, NO (@PIT)

5. Tom Brady, NE (@GB)

6. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (vs. NO)

7. Tony Romo, DAL (vs. PHI)

8. Matthew Stafford, DET (vs. CHI)

9. Russell Wilson, SEA (@SF)

10. Ryan Tannehill, MIA (@NYJ)

RB

1. DeMarco Murray, DAL (vs. PHI)

2. Le’Veon Bell, PIT (vs. NO)

3. Arian FosterHOU (vs. TEN)

4. Jamaal Charles, KC (vs. DEN)

5. LeSean McCoy, PHI (@DAL)

6. Eddie Lacy, GB (vs. NE)

7. Matt Forte, CHI (@DET)

8. Marshawn Lynch, SEA (@SF)

9. Andre Ellington, ARI (@ATL)

10. Justin Forsett, BAL (vs. SD)

WR

1. Demaryius Thomas, DEN (@KC)

2. Antonio Brown, PIT (vs. NO)

3. Calvin Johnson, DET (vs. CHI)

4. A.J. Green, CIN (@TB)

5. Dez Bryant, DAL (vs. PHI)

6. Jordy Nelson, GB (vs. NE)

7. Josh Gordon, CLE (@BUF)

8. T.Y. Hilton, IND (vs. WAS)

9. Odell Beckham Jr., NYG (@IND)

10. Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (@KC)

TE

1. Jimmy Graham, NO (@PIT)

2. Rob Gronkowski, NE (@GB)

3. Julius Thomas, DEN (@KC)

4. Delanie Walker, TEN (@HOU)

5. Antonio Gates, SD (@BAL)

6. Greg Olsen, CAR (@MIN)

7. Travis Kelce, KC (vs. DEN)

8. Jason Witten, DAL (vs. PHI)

9. Larry Donnell, NYG (@JAX)

10. Martellus Bennett, CHI (@DET)

Breakout Alert, Week 13

1. Charles Johnson, WR, MIN (vs. CAR) – Yeah, this is a bit of a risky pick, but I think Teddy Bridgewater will feed the ball repeatedly to Johnson in this one. Johnson caught three balls for 52 yards and a touchdown and also made good on a two-point conversion late in the game. He was targeted 12 times, and is the Vikings’ leading receiver over the past two weeks. The matchup is also pretty favorable, as the Panthers secondary isn’t that good and the game is in Minnesota. Still, proceed with caution.

2. Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA (@NYJ) – Landry gets a go at the Jets secondary this week, who have given up the 10th most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Landry had seven catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns last week, and had four touchdowns over his last four games. I like Ryan Tannehill to put on a show in this game, so get Landry into your lineup if you need help in the WR slot.

3. Daniel “Boom” Herron, RB, IND (vs. WAS) – Herron is likely to get the start over Trent Richardson again this week in a home game against the Washington Redskins. Herron rushed 12 times for 65 yards and caught five balls for 31 yards in the Colts win over the Jaguars last week, and looked really good doing it. My feeling is that he’ll probably see any goal-line touches the Colts can muster while Richardson continues to flounder. Herron could be one of those guys that could make a key difference in the playoffs for fantasy owners. Grab him if you can.

For any last-minute lineup questions, find me on Twitter @NussBB.


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