Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 13
SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 13 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 13 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
StartCarson Wentz, Eaglesat Dolphins
Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyWentz has struggled over the last month due to injuries in the Eagles' receiving corps and an incredibly tough schedule. Fortunately, both of those things are about to change. Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor are expected to return to the lineup for a get-right game against Miami. The Dolphins' defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, including three-touchdown days to both Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield in the last two weeks. After Miami, Wentz takes on the Giants in Week 14 and the Redskins in Week 15, making him worthy of consideration as a fantasy starter for the rest of the season.
Boone's projection: 267 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 21 rushing yards
Other QBs to start
- Sam Darnold at Bengals
- Nick Foles vs. Buccaneers
- Jared Goff at Cardinals
at Jaguars
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJones has seen at least 15 touches in three of his last four games and scored a touchdown in each of those contests, making him the Bus' unquestioned lead back. With that kind of volume, he could be in for a career day against the Jacksonville, a team that appears to have given up trying to stop the run; four different backs have eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the Jaguars' last three outings. I've been hard on Jones in the past, but if there was ever a time to use him as an RB2 with upside, this is it.
Boone's projection: 104 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, TD
Other RBs to start
- Jonathan Williams vs. Titans
- Miles Sanders at Dolphins
- Phillip Lindsay vs. Chargers
vs. Jets
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt's redemption week in the SSSQ column. Wentz, Jones, and Boyd have all spent their fair share of time in the sit section, but you can fire them up with confidence this week. The Bengals' offense escaped a nightmare stretch with underqualified rookie Ryan Finley at the helm and now turns back to steady-yet-unspectacular starter Andy Dalton. That's good news for Boyd, whose volume alone makes him a solid low-end WR2 play with Dalton under center, especially against the Jets' shaky pass defense.
Boone's projection: 89 receiving yards, TD
Other WRs to start
- Jamison Crowder at Bengals
- Robert Woods at Cardinals
- Dede Westbrook vs. Buccaneers
vs. Titans
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyDoyle is the TE19 on the season with 30 receptions, 304 yards, and three touchdowns. That's about to change with Eric Ebron going on injured reserve and T.Y. Hilton sidelined again with his calf issue. As The Quant Edge's Matthew Hill points out, Doyle's splits change drastically with Ebron out of the lineup.
Jack Doyle's 2019 splits with & without Eric Ebron per @TheQuantEdge Injury Impact tool-
- Matthew Hill (@mrhill9169) November 25, 2019
With Ebron(278 snaps)
-3.4% target%
-8.8% RZ target%
Without (378 snaps)
-21.5% trg
-20% RZ
Doyle now needs to be viewed as a top-12 weekly option. That's how we have him ranked for this matchup with the Titans, who are allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to the position, giving up 75 yards and/or a touchdown to seven different tight ends on the year.
Boone's projection: 74 receiving yards, TD
Other TEs to start
- Dallas Goedert at Dolphins
- Ryan Griffin at Bengals
- Kyle Rudolph at Seahawks
vs. Patriots
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyYou have no idea how much it pains me to list Watson as a sit. But due to his opponent this week, he has to be ranked outside the top 12 QBs. Of course, the decision to bench him will depend entirely on your other options. You may elect to bet on his talent overcoming the Patriots' shutdown defense, it's just an extremely risky proposition. Not only is New England allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, but it's also permitted just four passing touchdowns through 11 games. Watson is capable of producing in any contest, but you should be looking elsewhere for a fantasy starter this week.
Boone's projection: 221 passing yards, TD, INT, 33 rushing yards, FUM
Other QBs to sit
- Jimmy Garoppolo at Ravens
- Baker Mayfield at Steelers
- Philip Rivers at Broncos
at Ravens
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettySince his four-touchdown performance in Week 8, Coleman hasn't topped 40 rushing yards in a single game and has reached the end zone just once. The 49ers now travel across the country as six-point underdogs versus one of the league's best defenses. This isn't the week to bet on Coleman restoring his fantasy value. Better days will come, but he needs to be treated as an RB3/flex for this heavyweight bout.
Boone's projection: 38 rushing yards, 17 receiving yards
Other RBs to sit
- David Johnson vs. Rams
- Carlos Hyde vs. Patriots
- James White at Texans
at Panthers
Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyMcLaurin's recent stat lines of 3-69-0 and 5-72-0 aren't terrible considering how bad Dwayne Haskins has looked at quarterback; the rookie passer missed McLaurin on two potential touchdowns last week alone. Sadly, Haskins' accuracy issues combined with an afternoon of James Bradberry's shadow coverage is enough to move McLaurin into fringe WR3 territory.
Boone's projection: 49 receiving yards
Other WRs to sit
- Marquise Brown vs. 49ers
- Will Fuller vs. Patriots
- Larry Fitzgerald vs. Rams
vs. Eagles
Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyEven with increased targets, Gesicki hasn't topped 30 yards in four of his last five appearances. The Eagles are a challenging matchup for tight ends, allowing only three to crack the 40-yard barrier in 2019. Don't expect Gesicki to be the fourth. The sophomore is a touchdown-dependent TE2 option at best this week.
Boone's projection: 31 receiving yards
Other TEs to sit
- Jimmy Graham at Giants
- Darren Fells vs. Patriots
- O.J. Howard at Jaguars
Boyd isn't the only Bengals receiver who can be useful in fantasy. Dalton's return gives Tate (10% owned) a chance to recapture the early-season success that saw him post 50 yards and/or a touchdown in six straight games. He's an excellent stash with A.J. Green unlikely to see the field in 2019 and could even sneak into your lineup as a flex play this week.
Ryquell Armstead, JaguarsJames Gilbert / Getty Images Sport / GettyArmstead (1% owned) doesn't have the same prestige as other top-shelf backup running backs like Alexander Mattison or Tony Pollard, but he carries similar upside as a three-down back should Leonard Fournette go down with an injury. The Jags' schedule in the fantasy playoffs is also favorable: Their Week 14 and 15 opponents - the Chargers and Raiders - rank in the bottom 10 of Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA.
QuitRoyce Freeman, BroncosDustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Broncos have made it clear they want to feature Phillip Lindsay the rest of the season, and that's caused Freeman's workload to fall off completely. After receiving just four touches to Lindsay's 14 last week, Freeman (65% owned) is simply a handcuff and would require some injury luck to become fantasy relevant.
Jimmy Graham, PackersIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTight end can be a frustrating position for anyone who doesn't own a top option, but there's really no reason to roster Graham (48% owned) at this point. The Packers veteran has 20 yards or fewer in three of his last four games and hasn't scored a touchdown since the first half of the season.
Copyright (C) 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.