QUARTERBACKS:
Kirk Cousins (MIN): Cousins has been a fine backup quarterback, with starting QB upside for fantasy purposes in the right matchup this year, and that came to fruition in Week 12 as he put up 26.18 fantasy points. Over his last three weeks, Cousins scored 17.58, 22.96, and 26.18 points. In Week 13, he faces up against the Jaguars at home. The Jaguars are 1-10 this season, playing for a top three draft pick. Sometimes, we just like to pick the players going against awful teams. That’s the case here.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA): Either Ryan Fitzpatrick, or Tua Tagovailoa, whichever Dolphins’ quarterback is named the starter, is worth adding this week. Miami has a very easy matchup against the Bengals at home. The Bengals, over the last four weeks, are allowing 252 passing yards for game, two passing touchdowns per game, and 19.05 fantasy points per game.
RUNNING BACKS:
Cam Akers (LAR): Cam Akers has been frustrating in fantasy to this point in the year. He was a highly touted rookie that was expected to break out right away. Unfortunately, that breakout has taken time, but we saw glimpses of his upside last week. For an encore performance, Akers and the Rams RBBC faces Arizona in a divisional matchup. Akers may not be consistent week to week, but he’s showing some promise.
Anthony McFarland (PIT): McFarland is not someone you add for immediate production. He’s the backup to Benny Snell at this time, who will be filling in for James Conner. Conner was placed on the COVID list, and it is unclear how much time he will miss. There’s no clear-cut obvious backup in Pittsburgh, so it could be any one of Snell, and/or McFarland. I’ll take McFarland, who was a fourth-round draft pick. McFarland should be cheaper than Snell. Again, he’s more of a stash and hope type of player, but he’s got some upside if certain things fall in the right spot. Snell is another fine add if he wasn’t added already.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Nelson Agholor (LVR): If Agholor is not owned in your fantasy league, now is the time to grab him. The change of scenery has really benefited the former first round wide receiver. Agholor went from being casted away in Philadelphia, to the WR42 on the year in his first season as a Raider. Agholor has some upside, though keep in mind a lot of his production is touchdown based, as he scored in Weeks 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11. It’s good to see him get into the end zone, but just be cognitive of the idea that touchdowns are not always predictable. He’s got a great matchup against the Jets this week in New York.
Gabriel Davis (BUF): We all know that Stefon Diggs is the WR1 of the Bills. However, who exactly is the number two wide out for them? Well, it was supposed to be John Brown, but he was placed on injured reserve recently. Cole Beasley has had some solid games here and there, but he’s primarily a slot receiver. The number two receiver to own in Buffalo is now Gabriel Davis. Davis caught a touchdown last week and had 79 receiving yards. He’s got some tough matchups on the schedule, but he should be unowned in your league.
TIGHT ENDS:
Jordan Akins, or Darren Fells (HOU): Someone has to step up and pick up Fuller’s targets, perhaps one of the Houston tight ends, either Darren Fells or Jordan Akins could be that guy. Fells has traditionally known as a touchdown dependent TE for fantasy purposes, but with the situation in Houston, he might see additional targets. If it’s not Fells, those targets could go to Jordan Akins, who is a solid addition as well. Fells has more touchdown upside as of this writing, which for tight ends, is not a bad thing at this point, but Akins might have the higher floor. I examined both of their stats to this point, and they are eerily similar. The biggest difference is Fells has three TDs opposed to Akins’ one, but the two have the exact same number of yards, Akins has three more catches. Pick your poison here.
Jordan Reed (SF): Reed has been discussed numerous times in this column. If he’s still out there on your waiver wire, go out and grab him while you can. He’s got a great matchup on paper versus the Bills next week, who are constantly bleeding production to the middle of the field.
DEFENSES:
Las Vegas Raiders (LVR): Any team facing the New York Jets this late in the season are worthy of a waiver wire addition. We like to target teams that are playing to lose, playing for a high draft pick. That’s the case with the Jets this year.
Minnesota Vikings (MIN): We mentioned the great matchup the Vikings have in Week 13 against the Jaguars in our Cousins’ write up. The same applies for the Vikings defense, who will face a Jaguars offense that is one of the worst in the league. On top of that, the GM of the Jaguars was just fired over the past weekend. We like to pick on dysfunctional teams for defenses. It doesn’t have to be hard.
KICKERS:
Graham Gano (NYG): The Giants play the Seahawks in what should be a high scoring contest in Week 13. The Giants need every win they can get over the next few weeks to stay in the playoff hunt. Perhaps Gano will see a few more field goal attempts, given the game environment.
INJURY REPORT
QUARTERBACKS:
NEW INJURIES
Daniel Jones (Hamstring): Seems to have avoided a major injury but is questionable for Week 13.
Denver Quarterbacks (COVID): There were no new COVID-19 positive tests for the Broncos on Monday, or Tuesday, so chances are they will be in better shape this weekend.
Injured QBs to Monitor Throughout the Week:
Nick Foles (Hip), Tua Tagovailoa (Thumb).
RUNNING BACKS:
NEW INJURIES:
Philip Lindsay (Knee): Appears to have a minor knee injury.
Injured RBs to Monitor Throughout the Week:
Salvon Ahmed, Tevin Coleman, J.K. Dobbins, Todd Gurley, Mark Ingram, Christian McCaffrey.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
NEW INJURIES:
Julian Edelman (COVID): Placed on the COVID List, chances of returning soon are slim.
Will Fuller (Suspended): Suspended for six weeks for performance enhancing drugs.
D.J. Moore (Ankle): Carolina has a bye next week, but Moore’s status is up in the air at this time.
Injured WRs to Monitor Throughout the Week:
John Brown, D.J. Chark, Chris Conley, Julian Edelman, Julio Jones.
TIGHT ENDS:
NO NEW INJURIES:
Injured TEs to Monitor Throughout the Week:
Mark Andrews, Irv Smith Jr.
(Cover Photo: Alex Gallardo/AP)
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