Some leagues actually start their playoffs this week, so we are at the point where the wrong start/sit combination might not just be a loss that costs you a game in the standings, it can end your year. Matchups and players that are trending up and down are very important at this time. and as usual, if you have to make a decision regarding a player that isn’t below, you can just tweet me @pacman453323. So with that being said, let’s get into the Week 13 Starts and Sits.
Starts: (outside of top 10 players of that position):
QBs
Ryan Tannehill – Since week 4 of the season, there have not been many QBs as hot as Ryan Tannehill. The emergence of Jarvis Landry to go along with Charles Clay playing better has made him an every week, must start, QB.
Matt Stafford – It’s been a very tough stretch for Stafford and the Lions offense. Over the last two weeks they have zero TDs and have two losses to show for it. However, the Bears defense on the traditional Lions home game for Thanksgiving seems to be the best medicine the doctor can order. I suspect Megatron may put on a show.
RBs
Andre Ellington – I like Ellington, but he has arguably been one of the worst starting RBs in the league this year in terms of rushing yards. However, a big part of that was their schedule that seemed to be littered with top 10 run defenses. He gets a HUGE break this week as he faces the worst defense against RBs, the Atlanta Falcons.
Denard Robinson – The Giants have been dreadful stopping the run this year. Last week, the Cowboys didn’t even try to pound DeMarco Murray as much as usual and he still ended up with over 120 yards. Robinson is the Jaguar’s best weapon, so the Giants should plan on seeing a lot of him.
WRs
Keenan Allen – Last year, Allen was probably my favorite free agent pickup. This year he has had somewhat of a regression. Multiple things have factored into the down year, but after breaking out with 104 yards and a TD last week, I seem him duplicating the effort this week against the Ravens.
James Jones – This maybe the 1st and only time I have James Jones on this list, but it’s just a feeling I get. The Rams don’t cover WRs well and Jones is just the type of WR that I can see getting behind the defense for a big TD bomb.
TEs
Eric Ebron – This year has been a real struggle for the highly touted rookie. However, lately, he has seen more and more opportunities to get involved in the offense and even get more redzone targets. The Bears are the 2nd worst team in the league covering TEs. Ebron may have his 1st big game of the year.
Sits:
QBs
Colin Kaepernick – The 49ers wanted to be a passing team this year, but it hasn’t worked out. If they want any chance of beating the Seahawks, they have to run the rock 25-30 times. If Kaepernick gets in too many passing situations, it could be another rough day for Jim Harbaugh and the Niners.
Jay Cutler – Every week you never seem to know what you are going to get out of Jay Cutler. It almost doesn’t matter if the matchup is good or bad, it just matters how he plays that day. The Lions have one of the best pass defenses in the league, even though Tim Brady torn them a new one, you have to ask yourself, can it happen back to back weeks, and can Cutler be the one to do it, on Thanksgiving.
RBs
Ryan Mathews – It was a good game for Ryan Mathews last week with 105 yards and a TD on only 12 carries. This week, he should be brought back to earth against a Ravens defense that shut down Mark Ingram last week and has been 1 of the best defenses this year against RBs.
Isaiah Crowell – I have been very high on whoever starts for the Browns over the last two months, but a lot of it has to do with their schedule. They seemed to be playing bottom 5-10 run defenses every week. This week, they get the opposite and the Buffalo Bills top 5 run defense welcomes them to a snow-filled Ralph Wilson Stadium.
WRs
Mike Evans – Most people are closing their browser windows after reading this. How can I advise you to bench someone who has 6 TDs in the last 4 weeks? Simply put, last week Evans only had 47 yards on 3 catches and the Bengals don’t allow much on the outside. Just like I said about Mark Ingram last week, it will be tough to do, but if it’s me, I bench him.
Michael Crabtree – I have been saying it for a couple years now, but it has been made very obvious that Anquan Boldin is the best WR on the 49ers, not Crabtree. With his nemesis, Richard Sherman, in town, I don’t expect Crabtree to have a breakout game against him and the rest of the “Legion of Boom”.
TEs
Owen Daniels – I know it feels like I’m picking on Daniels cause I went on the radio last week and told people he wouldn’t be good and now I’m saying it again. However, right now he is the 4th option at best and he also in the middle of matchups against teams that all play the middle of the field well. Keep him on your bench for another week.
Those are your Week 13 Starts and Sits in the NFL. Enjoy the games and Happy Thanksgiving to all the football fans and everyone else out there on this holiday.
