The Cowboys and Seahawks treated fantasy football owners to an offensive bonanza to open Week 13, with virtually all key fantasy contributors coming through with big games (save for Tyler Lockett and the Dallas D/ST). Will Sunday's action be as exciting?
It could be, but six byes (Bills, Ravens, Vikings, Bears, Raiders, Giants), some ugly weather, and a slew of big injuries are conspiring against us. We already know Jonathan Taylor (thumb), Aaron Jones (knee), Demario Douglas (concussion), Rashid Shaheed (thigh), Dallas Goedert (forearm), and Dalton Schultz (hamstring) are OUT, and we're keeping tabs on "questionable" players Travis Etienne Breece Hall, Ezekiel Elliott, Keenan Allen, Chris Olave, Tank Dell, Chris Godwin, Noah Brown, Hollywood Brown, and Trey McBride, among others.
Whether you're still in the running for a playoff spot or positioning yourself for a regular-season crown/first-round bye, we're in must-win time, so let's get to it.
We'll be here to help all morning, reacting to injury news, monitoring the active/inactive lists for any surprises, watching the weather, and providing start 'em, sit 'em advice based on all the latest developments.
Fantasy football live news for NFL Week 13
Live updates will begin at 9 a.m. ET.
Injury updates for NFL Week 13
Texans' beat writer Aaron Wilson reported Saturday night that Noah Brown (knee) is expected to play against Denver. He has some flex upside in 12-team leagues because of Dalton Schultz (hamstring) being out, but he should be considered a risky boom-or-bust candidate with both Nico Collins and Tank Dell active.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Chris Olave (concussion) is expected to play against Detroit. Olave is a must-start as always, and even with Rashid Shaheed (thigh) OUT, it's tough to count on any other Saints' WRs this week.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Tank Dell (calf) is expected to play against Denver. Dell is a must-start, and his presence limits the upside of Noah Brown and Robert Woods.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Keenan Allen (quad) is expected to play against New England. He remains a must-start, and given the matchup and weather forecast, he's the only Chargers' receiver who can be trusted this week.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Chris Godwin (neck) is expected to play against Carolina, but a final decision won't be made until after pre-game warmups. If Godwin is active, he remains a decent WR3/flex. If he's out, Trey Palmer would likely benefit the most among Tampa's WRs, but given the late-afternoon kickoff, he only has value as a Godwin handcuff.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Marquise Brown (heel) is expected to play against Pittsburgh. He'll once again be a WR3/flex, with slightly more value in PPR formats.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Trey McBride (groin) is expected to play against Pittsburgh. As long as he's active, he's a must-start despite the tough matchup.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that Ezekiel Elliott (thigh) is expected to play against the Chargers. Given all the byes and the favorable matchup in bad conditions, Elliott is a potential deep-league flex.
OFFICIAL NOTABLE EARLY ACTIVES: Noah Brown, Tank Dell, Keenan Allen, Marquise Brown, Trey McBride, Ezekiel Elliott, Breece Hall, Chris Olave, Treylon Burks
OFFICIALLY NOTABLE EARLY INACTIVES: Dalton Schultz, Demario Douglas, Rashid Shaheed, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Wilson
WEEK 13 INJURY UPDATES:
RBs | WRs | McBride | Reed | Etienne
Weather updates for NFL Week 13
For a full breakdown of all of the Week 13 weather worries, click here.
November was mostly a dream for fantasy owners, but cold, wind, rain, and maybe even snow will be affecting several games this weekend. Chargers-Patriots will see steady rain and some moderate winds, which will likely slow down an already ugly game on paper. Falcons-Jets, Cardinals-Steelers, and Panthers-Bucs also figure to play wet with moderate-to-heavy rain at times. Cardinals-Steelers will see the most wind, with gusts up to 30 mph, so be careful with the kickers there. Dolphins-Commanders and 49ers-Eagles could also see some rain, but they aren't expected to be as bad. Chiefs-Packers will be the coldest game of the weekend, with a decent amount of snow falling before the game. It should be mostly cleared out by kickoff, but the forecast still bears watching on Sunday morning.
Who should I start in fantasy football today?
Advice based on 12-team, half-point PPR leagues
The recommendations below are from Vinnie Iyer's Week 13 start 'em, sit 'em column.
Must-starts
QB: Jalen Hurts, Eagles (vs. SF), Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. SEA), Brock Purdy, 49ers (at PHI), Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (at NYJ), Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at GB), C.J. Stroud, Texans (vs. DEN)
RB: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (at PHI), Travis Etienne, Jaguars (vs. CIN), Rachaad White, Buccaneers (vs. CAR), Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. IND), Tony Pollard, Cowboys (vs. SEA), Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (vs. LAC), Bijan Robinson, Falcons (at NYJ), Zack Moss Colts (at TEN), Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. CLE), Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. DET), Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (at WAS), David Montgomery, Lions (at NO), Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at NO), Breece Hall, Jets (vs. ATL), Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (at GB), Austin Ekeler, Chargers (at NE), D'Andre Swift, Eagles (vs. SF)
WR: Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (at WAS), A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. SF), CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. SEA), Keenan Allen, Chargers (at NE), Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. GB), Michael Pittman Jr, Colts (at TEN), Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. CAR), Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (at PHI), DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. SF), Tank Dell, Texans (vs. DEN), Deebo Samuel, 49ers (at PHI), Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (at JAX), Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (at WAS), Christian Kirk, Jaguars (vs. CIN), Calvin Ridley, Jaguars (vs. CIN), Adam Thielen, Panthers (at TB), Chris Olave, Saints (vs. DET), Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. ATL), DK Metcalf, Seahawks (at DAL), Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (at DAL), Courtland Sutton, Broncos (at HOU), Puka Nacua, Rams (vs. CLE), Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. MIA), DeAndre Hopkins, Titans (vs. IND), Nico Collins, Texans (vs. DEN)
TE: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at GB), George Kittle, 49ers (at PHI), Sam LaPorta, Lions (at NO), David Njoku, Browns (at LAR), Trey McBride, Cardinals (at PIT)
D/ST: Cowboys (vs. SEA), Dolphins (at WAS), Rams (vs. CLE), Browns (at LAR), Steelers (vs. ARI), Buccaneers (vs. CAR)
Smart sits
QB: Derek Carr (vs. DET), Jared Goff (at NO), Matthew Stafford (vs. CLE)
RB: Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. MIA), Chuba Hubbard (at TB), Jerome Ford (at LAR), Kareem Hunt (at LAR)
WR: Christian Watson (vs. KC), Cooper Kupp (vs. CLE), Amari Cooper (at LAR), Drake London (at NYJ), Jahan Dotson (vs. MIA)
TE: Kyle Pitts (at NYJ), Cade Otton (vs. CAR), Hunter Henry (vs. LAC)
D/ST: Chiefs (at GB), 49ers (at PHI), Broncos (at HOU), Eagles (vs. SF), Saints (vs. DET)
Read more coverage from Sporting News' team of fantasy football experts, including Week 13 rankings for PPR and standard formats, sleepers, busts, DFS picks, and other projections below.
WEEK 13 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Busts
WEEK 13 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best stacks | Best values
WEEK 13 TOOLS: RotoBaller "Who To Start?" tool | Draft Sharks' Week 13 projections
Fantasy football rankings Week 13
Below are Sporting News' updated fantasy football rankings for Week 13. Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring.
Quarterback
Rank Player
1 Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Seahawks
2 Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins @ Commanders
3 Jalen Hurts, Eagles vs. 49ers
4 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs @ Packers
5 Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars vs. Bengals
6 C.J. Stroud, Texans vs. Broncos
7 Jared Goff, Lions @ Saints
8 Brock Purdy, 49ers @ Eagles
9 Justin Herbert, Chargers @ Patriots
10 Sam Howell, Commanders vs. Dolphins
Running back
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Eagles
2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Patriots
3 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Commanders
4 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Bengals
5 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Packers
6 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Chargers
7 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Seahawks
8 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Falcons
9 Bijan Robinson, Falcons @ Jets
10 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Lions
11 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Colts
12 David Montgomery, Lions @ Saints
13 Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Browns
14 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Panthers
15 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ Saints
16 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Dolphins
17 Javonte Williams, Broncos @ Texans
18 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Jaguars
19 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Cardinals
20 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. 49ers
Wide receiver
Rank Player
1 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Commanders
2 CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys vs. Seahawks
3 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions @ Saints
4 Keenan Allen, Chargers @ Patriots
5 Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Panthers
6 A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. 49ers
7 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts @ Titans
8 Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals @ Jaguars
9 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ Commanders
10 Tank Dell, Texans vs. Broncos
11 Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers @ Eagles
12 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Falcons
13 Calvin Ridley, Jaguars vs. Bengals
14 Cooper Kupp, Rams vs. Browns
15 DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. 49ers
16 DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Cowboys
17 Chris Olave, Saints vs. Lions
18 Deebo Samuel, 49ers @ Eagles
19 DeAndre Hopkins, Titans vs. Colts
20 Courtland Sutton, Broncos @ Texans
21 Christian Kirk, Jaguars vs. Bengals
22 Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Dolphins
23 Nico Collins, Texans vs. Broncos
24 Rashee Rice, Chiefs @ Packers
25 Puka Nacua, Rams vs. Browns
Tight end
Rank Player
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ Packers
2 Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Bengals
3 David Njoku, Browns @ Rams
4 George Kittle, 49ers @ Eagles
5 Sam LaPorta, Lions @ Saints
6 Trey McBride, Cardinals @ Steelers
7 Logan Thomas, Commanders vs. Dolphins
8 Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Lions
9 Kyle Pitts, Falcons @ Jets
10 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Seahawks
Defense/Special teams
Rank Player
1 Dallas Cowboys vs. Seahawks
2 Kansas City Chiefs @ Packers
3 Cleveland Browns @ Rams
4 Detroit Lions @ Saints
5 New York Jets vs. Falcons
6 San Francisco 49ers @ Eagles
7 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cardinals
8 Miami Dolphins @ Commanders
9 New Orleans Saints vs. Lions
10 Atlanta Falcons @ Jets
WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | Kickers
