It’s “Bye-apocalypse” Part 2. We’re short key stable options this week. It’s officially December and that means updated DFS NFL odds and the final month of the Dynasty Fantasy Football season. So, just like last time, we’re cutting back on the sits and only doing two sits per position. It’s time for our Week 13 edition of Dynasty Start/Sits!
Starts – Quarterbacks
Derek Carr– New Orleans Saints
Vs. Detroit Lions
Carr has surprisingly been decent for fantasy managers this year. He’s finished as the QB15 or better in six of his 11 matchups. He’s drawn a plus matchup this week as Detroit allows the fifth most fantasy points to QBs this season.
Jake Browning – Cincinnati Bengals
@ Jacksonville Jaguars
Dobbs, Jackson, Allen, and Fields are all on bye this week. That means we need to take some dart throws at the QB position. The Bengals have an excellent offense capable of putting big numbers at any time. Jacksonville is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to QBs this year. If Browning can avoid mistakes, he’ll be a solid bye-week filler for your rosters.
Brock Purdy — San Francisco 49ers
@ Philadelphia Eagles
Don’t fret over last week’s disappointing fantasy performance. The passing defense is the Eagle’s weakest component. They rank fourth in passing yards allowed and fantasy points allowed to QBs. Purdy will get back on track this week.
Sits – Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vs. Carolina Panthers
Carolina has been a landmine for opposing QBs this year, and Baker has had back-to-back games outside the top 15 QBs. This week, he projects outside of my top 20 QBs.
Desmond Ridder — Atlanta Falcons
@ New York Jets
Ridder is not a good option under almost all circumstances this week. The Jets’ defense allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points to QBs this season and only two rushing TDs to the position. This one projects as a low-scoring snooze-fest. If you’re considering plugging Ridder into a superflex spot, I’d consider playing some position players instead.
Starts – Running Backs
Zack Moss – Indianapolis Colts
@ Tennessee Titans
Whether you agree or not, Zack Moss has a strong case for the fantasy MVP of the 2023 season. He’ll make his case yet again this week. The Titans are a neutral matchup, and Moss should take advantage of the fact that Gardner Minshew has only thrown one touchdown pass in his last three games. Moss is a top 15 play this week.
Zach Charbonnet — Seattle Seahawks
@ Dallas Cowboys
Assuming Walker suits up this week. Dallas is playing at home, where they average two turnovers per game. There’s a good chance of a negative game script for the Seahawks. If that happens, Charbonnet and his pass-catching specialty could prove more beneficial to Seattle than Kenneth Walker.
Tyler Allgeier — Atlanta Falcons
@ New York Jets
The Jets have allowed just under 150 rushing yards per game over their last three games, and their offense is stagnant. It’s looking like a slow, run-heavy approach for both teams. Bijan Robinson has seen more work recently, but Allgeier should still play a flexible role this week.
Sits – Running Backs
Joe Mixon — Cincinnati Bengals
@ Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville is allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to the RB position this year. Although he hasn’t missed any games this year, Mixon is the RB 18 on the season. Last week, in a relatively neutral game script matchup, Mixon only received eight carries. You can likely find a better flex option this week.
Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers
@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is in the top 10 in fewest points allowed to the RB position. Hubbard had a solid game last week, but he will need to be as involved in the passing game as last week to be fantasy-relevant.
Starts – Wide Receivers
Josh Downs– Indianapolis Colts
@ Tennessee Titans
Downs is coming off a 13-target game last Week. However, not much came of it, as he finished with five catches for 43 yards. He gets another plus matchup in Tennessee this week. If he sees close to that same number this week, he should see a spike in production. He’s a top-36 play this week with top-20 upside.
Adam Thielen – Carolina Panthers
@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thielen has put together several disappointing performances, finishing outside the top-24 WRs in four of his last five games. It’s unlikely Carolina will find success running the ball this week. A new coaching philosophy could allow Thielen to be an elite fantasy producer again.
Christian Watson — Green Bay Packers
Vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Watson finally showed us what we had hoped to be seeing all season. We likely won’t see lightning strikes twice, but we lack reliable options this week. So we’re hoping for a little more of that upside he showed last week for our short-handed rosters.
Sits – Wide Receivers
Drake London – Atlanta Falcons
Vs. New York Jets
London is an excellent WR who will likely see a monster target share this week. However, this Jets passing defense is a different breed. They’re allowing the fewest fantasy points to WRs by two points per game. I doubt the Falcons offense will be potent enough to overcome it.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba — Seattle Seahawks
@ Dallas Cowboys
JSN has started coming on in the second half of the season, and we’re seeing more of his ability to earn targets. However, he hasn’t finished in the top 36 since week nine, despite neutral or positive game scripts for him over that time. I don’t mind a desperation start, but he projects outside of my top 40 WRs this week.
Starts – Tight Ends
Evan Engram – Jacksonville Jaguars
@ Cincinnati Bengals
Engram finally finished as a top-12 option last week, and I expect that to continue this week. Cincinnati has given up the second most yards and receptions to TEs this season. Engram is the third most targeted TE this year, and he should enjoy some healthy fantasy production this week.
Logan Thomas — Washington Commanders
@ Miami Dolphins
Miami is a neutral matchup for TEs this year, and Thomas is a heavy favorite of mine to score a TD this week. Thomas is tied for second on the team in Redzone targets. Washington’s defense is highly susceptible in the air, and Miami could try to boat race them. Thomas could see multiple red zone targets on top of his regular usage this week.
Sits – Tight Ends
Chigoziem Okonkwo — Tennessee Titans
Vs. Indianapolis Colts
Okonkwo hasn’t been able to top 50 yards all year. Regardless of the matchup, he doesn’t get enough volume to be a viable fantasy option. You’re better off finding a higher upside option than taking four points for Okonkwo.
Trey McBride — Arizona Cardinals
@ Pittsburgh Steelers
I took an L the last time I made McBride a start against a defense this stout against TEs. We’re all about learning from our lessons over here. Although having Kyler under center makes a difference, I prefer to look for another option before trusting McBride this week.
I hope you all benefitted from this article, and I thank you for reading it. I find true enjoyment in sharing my experience and helping others. So, I’m always more than willing to answer any fantasy football questions via Twitter @FF_Reez. Thanks for reading! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
