NFL Week 13: Daily Fantasy Preview

Week 13 is here! Thanksgiving is always a tough time around daily fantasy because the Thursday slate takes six teams out of the Sunday match-ups so many fantasy players focus on Thurs to Monday slates that result in less payout. However, the NFL is back to a regular Sunday slate this week so fantasy players can rest easy moving forward.

There are some key match-ups this week (Seattle vs Philadelphia, Carolina vs. New Orleans). These will most likely be the games with the highest exposure. People like to play players that are in prime-time games. This has been the way of fantasy football since it began it isn’t going to change anytime soon. The key for fantasy players is too find the low ownership plays in these games ( ex.) most fantasy players will pair Russel Wilson this week with Jimmy Graham but a player could start Russ Wilson with Paul Richardson and take advantage of the minimal ownership to climb up a fantasy contest.

Overall, there are only a few weeks remaining until fantasy players have to deal with important players being rested for half games or an entire game to get ready for the NFL playoffs.  Fantasy players should start the big guns now while they can.

Quarterback     

Tom Brady/Carson Wentz

There really does not have to be a reason to play either of these two quarterbacks. They are both leading the MVP race so far and it is expected that they each have a two touchdown game at the least. Wentz is a little more of a risk since he is playing in Seattle which has historically been a hard place to play in for quarterbacks. Either way any lineup with Wentz or Brady in it is worth a play.

Derek Carr

It is a bit risky to play Carr without his top two receivers but he is facing the Giants defense that has been crushed for a majority of this season. Carr has not had a signature game yet this year so it can be expected that he will not be very highly owned.

Deep Sleeper: Tyrod Taylor

The Patriots continue to grade out as one of the worst defenses against the pass and with this game resulting in a blowout most likely (Pats blowing out the Bills) Tyrod could be in line for big offensive day. He may need to drop back thirty plus times in this match-up. Sometimes it pays to play the QB that is going to statistically be a pro-bowler even though all of his points are from playing from behind against prevent defenses.

Running Back

Alvin Kamara

Kamara is playing the best football in the league right now. He is a modern day version of Marshall Faulk. The guy is a clear threat out of the backfield as a receiver and when you can get points from rushes and receptions the player is a must start. Get him now while he remains in the $8k range. His price will be up near Leveon Bell in the next few weeks.

Jordan Howard

Jordan Howard vs the 49ers rushing defense equals this week’s top played running back. Fantasy players love to attack the 49ers defense because they are the worst defense in the league against the run. To stay competitive the Bears need to feed Howard the ball. If they do not a result like they had against the Eagles is likely.

Deep Sleeper: Jamal Williams

Williams is still available at a discounted price as a result of his late start last week (pricing was out before Sunday Night game). He seems to be a bit of a workhorse back that the Packers will lean on until (if) Aaron Rodgers comes back.  Twenty five carries can be expected for Williams this week.

Wide Receiver

Mike Evans

Evans has to have a huge week one of these weeks. He was a top ten pick in most season long drafts and as of today he seems to be one of fantasy’s biggest bust so far this year. A multi-TD game will happen and a match-up against a suspect Green Bay defense could be his breakout game.

Alshon Jeffrey

Alshon has been stepping up his game and becoming the top target to Carson Wentz that Philly expected when they signed him. With Richard Sherman Philly is expected to go to Alshon early and often.

Deep Sleeper: Nelson Agholor

Seattle is hurting in the secondary and Agholor has a clear advantage against any backup cornerback that gets thrown at him in the slot. He is a longshot but this is the type of play that one touchdown will bring in enough value to make a fantasy player rise up the rankings. He is always a threat to catch a long pass and his big play ability can’t be ignored.

Deep Deep Sleeper: Cordarrelle Patterson

The Raiders are missing their top two receivers and facing a Giants secondary that has been destroyed all season. Patterson is a GPP play only but a nice game from a low cost player could be expected here. If Carr has a big game some low owned receivers will also and Patterson is easiest to imagine as a top performer.

Tight End

Gronk

Gronk loves playing against his hometown team. Add in the fact that even with added weapons like Brandin Cooks, Gronk has remained Tom Brady’s top option. He is a must play and if a fantasy player starts Tom Brady, he/she should pair him with his top option.

Jimmy Graham

There are a lot of negatives with this match-up. The Eagles defense‘s recent play should be a big turnoff but it seems like the public is leaning toward Russel Wilson as a fantasy top play this week. Wilson is going to have to pass to somebody and it is logical to think that a majority of his big play targets and red-zone targets will be to Graham. Also, the Eagles are up to a -6 Vegas line so Seattle playing from behind can be expected which will result in a high passing game for Wilson (Graham, Baldwin).

Deep Sleeper:  Ricky Seals-Jones

Seals-Jones has been extremely productive over the last two weeks. Why not take a risk on him? He is fairly cheap and if he continues to score touchdowns he is well worth a lineup spot.

Defense

Jacksonville

The Jags against the Colts is yet another dream match-up. The fantasy landscape is starting to look like it pays to spend on the top defense and take risk on running back or wide receiver. Jacksonville has produced this year and the Colts aren’t exactly the strongest offense to go against so another big week is expected.

LA Chargers

Fantasy players should always key in on any defense playing against the Browns. Cleveland is getting back Josh Gordon which will finally give them some options on offense but still it is hard to imagine his impact to be large enough to prevent LAC from being a productive fantasy defense.