Hopefully, you enjoyed a "W" to end your Thanksgiving weekend, but it's time to get back to business and figure out who to start at quarterback as we grind closer to the fantasy football playoffs. Our Week 13 fantasy QB ranking sees a trio of rookie QBs in tough spots, but outside of those guys, we're relatively deep with streaming considerations. All in all, everyone should survive the four-team bye this week.
The guys on bye are Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Tannehill, Baker Mayfield, and Cam Newton. Rodgers will surely be missed by many, but again, we think there are enough favorable matchups on the board to get through the week. We also get back Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray (hopefully) from bye, so that helps, too.
WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Josh Allen (vs. Patriots), Justin Herbert (@ Bengals), and Joe Burrow (vs. Chargers) face tough matchups on paper, but since all can explode for 40 points any given week, you can't really sit them unless you have some other high-upside options.
WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
For those in search of streamers, Daniel Jones (vs. Dolphins), Tua Tagovaolia (vs. Giants), Teddy Bridgewater (@ Chiefs), and Matt Ryan (vs. Buccaneers) are the guys you want to target. Jones, Tua, and Bridgewater have been mentioned in just about every QB rankings article we've written, as they are almost completely matchup dependent. This week, they all face weak defenses against fantasy QBs, so it's time to start them again. (Update: Jones won't play this week because of a neck strain.) Matt Ryan fell under 50-percent ownership for the first time this season, and he's a boom-or-bust play in Week 13. Tampa Bay's defense has improved, but Ryan can get it done with volume if nothing else. His bust risk comes from the Falcons' inability to keep him upright.
WEEK 13 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
You can also try Tyrod Taylor (vs. Colts) or Taylor Heinicke (@ Raiders). Taylor draws a bottom-10 defense against fantasy QBs, but we know the Texans' offense is starved for talent, so he doesn't come without risk. Heinicke is quietly on the edge of a QB1 for the season, so although the Raiders aren't the best matchup, he's played well enough to warrant consideration unless the matchup is downright awful. Jimmy Garoppolo (@ Seattle) is a fine option, too, but he has a low floor given the lack of rushing upside and the potential for a run-heavy game script.
WEEK 13 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Rookies Justin Fields (vs. Cardinals) and Mac Jones (@ Bills) are facing top-three defenses against fantasy QBs leading up to Week 12, so we're not suggesting you play them. Both have shown flashes, but they're risky in even superflex/two-QB leagues. (Update: Fields is out this week.) Trevor Lawrence (@ Rams) faces a middle-of-the-pack defense, but are you trusting him against Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey? We're not. Zach Wilson (vs. Eagles) actually has the best matchup of all the rookies, but that's not a risk we're willing to take either.
WEEK 13 DFS: Best values | Best stacks | Lineup Builder
All in all, the "veteran" QBs on the start-or-sit bubble have the best matchups, so that should mean the position as a whole is poised for solid production. Maybe consider sitting someone like Herbert or even Russell Wilson (vs. 49ers), but for the most part, even those guys should produce at reasonably solid levels.
Note: We'll be updating these QB rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy QB Rankings Week 13: Who to start at quarterback
Rankings are based on standard, four-point passing TD formats.
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Tom Brady, TB @ ATL |
| 2 | Dak Prescott, DAL @ NO |
| 3 | Matthew Stafford, LAR vs. JAX |
| 4 | Kyler Murray, ARI @ CHI |
| 5 | Lamar Jackson, BAL @ PIT |
| 6 | Patrick Mahomes, KC vs. DEN |
| 7 | Joe Burrow, CIN vs. LAC |
| 8 | Justin Herbert, LAC @ CIN |
| 9 | Josh Allen, BUF vs. NE |
| 10 | Carson Wentz, IND @ HOU. Wentz lived up to his top streamer status in Week 12, as he threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Houston was the No. 10 defense in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to QBs heading into Week 12 before limiting Zach Wilson, but there is a chance this game turns into the Jonathan Taylor show. However, Wentz could put up big numbers early in this one, so we're viewing him as a top sleeper once again. Just be aware of the bust potential due to game script. |
| 11 | Derek Carr, LV vs. WAS. Washington is the worst defense in the NFL against fantasy QBs, and Derek Carr has proven he can smash in favorable matchups. He always has the random "dud" week, but the matchup sets up for another 300-plus yard passing day and a couple of TDs. His upside could even be somewhere inside the top five, but the dual-threat QBs get the nod in the rankings for obvious reasons. |
| 12 | Kirk Cousins, MIN @ DET. Cousins had his fair share of struggles against the 49ers but still ended the day with 238 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Overall, he's displayed a solid fantasy floor and high upside, so the matchup with Detroit gives him a high ceiling. Like Carr, his lack of rushing upside gives the edge to some other QBs, and like Wentz, his team could simply ground and pound to victory in this game. |
| 13 | Russell Wilson, SEA vs. SF. The Niners as a team have looked better in recent weeks, but its secondary is still struggling and was ranked as the 11-worst unit against fantasy QBs before Kirk Cousins had a respectable day against it. In a regular situation, Wilson would be ranked much higher, but it's obvious his finger injury is limiting his upside. Until he looks like the fantasy stud we've seen in the past, we can't justify putting him among the elite fantasy QBs. We'll probably be a week late to his breakout game, but that's OK. |
| 14 | Tua Tagovailoa, MIA vs. NYG. Tagovailoa has been better than most people think, at least in terms of his fantasy floor. The matchup with Carolina was one of the toughest for QBs, and he put up a respectable 230 yards and a touchdown. He's eclipsed 26 fantasy points three times this season, and he's started and finished just six games. Since the Giants are in the bottom half of the league against fantasy QBs, here's another spot to stream Tua. If DeVante Parker (hamstring) and Will Fuller (finger) can come back for this one, that should make Tua's fantasy outlook that much better. |
| 15 | Taylor Heinicke, WAS @ LV. Heinicke is on the border of a QB1 for the season, so we like him as a mid-tier QB2 in a neutral matchup with Las Vegas. He has rushing upside, and it looks like he'll get Curtis Samuel (groin) and Logan Thomas (hamstring) back. Heinicke has sneaky upside for the rest of the season, and that starts with this matchup in Las Vegas. |
| 16 | Tyrod Taylor, HOU vs. IND. The Colts came into Week 12 as the fifth-worst defense against fantasy QBs but limited Tom Brady to just 12 fantasy points. However, the Buccaneers scored 38 points with Leonard Fournette and Rondald Jones combining for five touchdowns. Sometimes, it just plays out that way, so we're not ready to view the Colts as a tough matchup for QBs. Taylor has put up two touchdowns in his last two games, and his rushing upside makes him playable in this favorable matchup. |
| 17 | Teddy Bridgewater, DEN @ KC. Bridgewater passed just 18 times against the Chargers but had a decent fantasy day with a rushing and passing touchdown. This game against Kansas City will call for more of a pass-happy game script, and Kansas City is the fourth-weakest defense against fantasy QBs. Bridgewater's upside has proven to be limited, so we're not viewing him as a QB1. That said, a QB1 week wouldn't surprise us, though. |
| 18 | Taysom Hill, NO vs. DAL |
| 19 | Jimmy Garoppolo, SF @ SEA. You might be surprised to know the Seahawks were the 11th-best defense against fantasy QBs heading into Week 12, but that is the reality. This is probably going to be a run-heavy game script for the Niners, and Deebo Samuel (groin) might be out of action. Jimmy's upside is still decent given how well the offense has played in recent weeks, but the guys ranked above him figure to have higher ceilings and floors. |
| 20 | Matt Ryan, ATL vs. TB. Carson Wentz shredded the Tampa Bay defense, but Wentz has a fully-functional offensive line. That is not a luxury Matt Ryan has, so it's tough to think he'll enjoy a ton of success in this matchup. Yes, he scored 19.3 fantasy points against the Bucs in their first matchup, but Ryan simply isn't playing good football as of late. After posting just 190 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against Jacksonville, it seems Matty Ice is in the midst of a cold spell. |
| 21 | Gardner Minshew, PHI @ NYJ |
| 22 | Mac Jones, NE @ BUF |
| 23 | Zach Wilson, NYJ vs. PHI |
| 24 | Ben Roethlisberger, PIT vs. BAL |
| 25 | Andy Dalton, CHI vs. ARI |
| 26 | Jared Goff, DET vs. MIN |
| 27 | Trevor Lawrence, JAX @ LAR |
| 28 | Mike Glennon, NYG @ MIA |