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.

Consult our Week 13 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 13 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

StartBrock Purdy, 49ers

at Eagles

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The 49ers have plenty of motivation this week. They take on the Eagles, who beat them in last year's NFC Championship after Brock Purdy injured his throwing arm.

This time around, the Niners are favored on the road as Purdy is healthy and has been capitalizing on good matchups.

Purdy threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 10. The 23-year-old followed that up with 333 yards and another three scores versus the Bucs in Week 11.

The Eagles are the second softest opponent for fantasy quarterbacks, so get ready for Purdy to show them what they missed in January.

Boone's projection: 327 passing yards, 3 passing TDs

Other QBs to start

• Sam Howell vs. Dolphins
• Russell Wilson at Texans

Zack Moss, Colts

at Titans

Perry Knotts / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Jonathan Taylor is out with a thumb injury for the next few weeks, so Moss returns to the workhorse role he excelled in earlier this season.

In the first eight weeks - before Taylor got back to playing his regular complement of snaps - Moss was the seventh-ranked running back in fantasy points per game.

That stretch included a 25-touch, 195-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Titans' defense, which he'll take on again this week.

Boone's projection: 94 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, 3 receptions, TD

Other RBs to start

• Rachaad White vs. Panthers
• Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Chargers
• Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris vs. Cardinals

Calvin Ridley, Jaguars

vs. Bengals

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

The Jaguars finally seem to be figuring out how to best use Ridley, who's finished as a top-12 fantasy receiver in back-to-back weeks.

Ridley has over 80 yards in three of his last four outings and should continue that trend against a Bengals' defense that's easiest to attack through the air.

Cincinnati has permitted the 10th most yards to receivers this season.

Boone's projection: 87 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD

Other WRs to start

• Jaylen Waddle at Commanders
• Courtland Sutton at Texans
• Josh Downs at Titans

Taysom Hill, Saints

vs. Lions

Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Saints are dealing with a ton of injuries in their receiving corps. Chris Olave is in concussion protocol, Michael Thomas is on injured reserve, and Rashid Shaheed is expected to sit out with a thigh issue.

That means they might be without their top three wideouts in Week 13, leaving Hill, Alvin Kamara, and tight end Juwan Johnson as their best playmakers.

Hill has amassed over 50 scrimmage yards in five of his last six games. So expect a heavy dose of the jack-of-all-trades as a runner and pass-catcher this week - making him a mid- to high-end TE1 in fantasy.

Boone's projection: 58 receiving yards, 6 receptions, 36 rushing yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Evan Engram vs. Bengals
• David Njoku at Rams

SitMatthew Stafford, Rams

vs. Browns

Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Stafford finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback just once this year - and it came in a gift-wrapped matchup with a friendly Cardinals' defense.

The Browns might be missing a couple of defenders due to injury, but they remain one of the stingiest units in the league. Cleveland is allowing the fewest passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing first downs, and the lowest completion percentage in 2023.

They've also given up the second-fewest fantasy points to QBs, which will make it tough for Stafford to have another boom week.

Boone's projection: 229 passing yards, TD, INT

Other QBs to sit

• Baker Mayfield vs. Panthers
• Derek Carr vs. Lions

Joe Mixon, Bengals

at Jaguars

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Mixon and the Bengals' run game struggled to get going in Jake Browning's first start since Joe Burrow went down for the season.

Cincy's lead back managed just 16 rushing yards on eight carries, while somewhat salving his fantasy day with 44 yards on two receptions.

Things will only be more difficult this week against a Jaguars' defense that sells out to stop the ground game. So approach Mixon as a touchdown-dependent fantasy RB3.

Boone's projection: 36 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, 3 receptions

Other RBs to sit

• James Conner at Steelers
• AJ Dillon vs. Chiefs
• Chuba Hubbard/Miles Sanders at Buccaneers

Drake London, Falcons

at Jets

Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Despite a fairly easy schedule this season, London is the 42nd-ranked wide receiver in fantasy points per game largely due to subpar quarterback play and questionable usage.

He was able to take advantage of a Saints defense that was without star corner Marshon Lattimore last week, but fantasy managers shouldn't get their hopes up in Week 13.

The Jets are the worst opponent for fantasy wideouts, so treat London as a WR3/flex.

Boone's projection: 43 receiving yards, 4 receptions

Other WRs to sit

• Chris Godwin vs. Panthers
• Jerry Jeudy at Texans
• Tyler Boyd at Jaguars

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

at Jets

Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty

While we want to have faith that Pitts will eventually find his stride and become a consistent fantasy producer, it doesn't feel like this is the year it will happen.

The former fourth overall pick has topped 48 yards just twice this season and the Jets aren't the kind of defense that's going to pave the way for him.

Hopefully, you've found another starting option at tight end - Pitts no longer warrants a spot in the TE1 ranks.

Boone's projection: 34 receiving yards, 3 receptions

Other TEs to sit

• Tyler Conklin vs. Falcons
• Tyler Higbee vs. Browns

Stash

Past stashes that still qualify: Elijah Mitchell, D'Ernest Johnson, Zamir White

A.T. Perry, Saints Adam Bettcher / Getty Images Sport / Getty

We mentioned all the Saints' injuries at receiver earlier. But we didn't acknowledge the rookie Perry (3% rostered), who projects to be the team's No. 1 wideout if all those players are sidelined.

Aside from catching a touchdown two weeks ago, the sixth-rounder hasn't done much with his increased opportunities. But he'll get targets by default if Olave and Shaheed are ruled out.

He's best viewed as a risky flex, which means he's in the mix to be a fantasy starter in a week with six teams on bye.

Zach Ertz, Free agent Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Cardinals granted their veteran tight end's request to be released, giving him a chance to catch on with a contender.

While injuries have limited Ertz (12% rostered) this season, he's capable of contributing in both real life and in fantasy - if he lands in the right situation.

If you're hurting at TE, consider stashing Ertz until we see where he signs.

Quit Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Quarterback (1QB): Joshua Dobbs, Aaron Rodgers

Running back: Miles Sanders, D'Onta Foreman

Wide receiver: Michael Thomas, Quentin Johnston

Tight end: Darren Waller, Mark Andrews

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