Welcome to Week 13 of the fantasy football season, where many managers are fighting for their playoff lives. To help guide you through this crucial week, we have an all-star panel of ESPN fantasy analysts here to answer your most pressing lineup questions. Eric Moody, Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft will be live from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET sharing their expert insights on starts, sits, injury updates, sleeper picks and more.
What You Need to Know for Week 13
Before we dive into specific lineup advice, let’s review some key storylines and factors that could impact Week 13 matchups:
- Injury Updates: Monitor the latest news on banged-up stars like Dak Prescott, Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and others leading up to kickoff.
- Weather Concerns: Check the forecast, as wintery conditions in certain stadiums could affect passing games and kicking.
- Bye Weeks: The Cardinals, Chiefs, Chargers, Vikings, Raiders and Rams are all off in Week 13.
- Matchups to Exploit: Target players facing weak defenses, such as any Bengals against the Chiefs or Cowboys skill players taking on the lowly Texans.
Of course, those are just some high-level factors to consider. For detailed Week 13 prep, consult our expert rankings and projections:
- Week 13 PPR Rankings from Lemar Fields
- Ari Carimi’s Non-PPR Rankings
- Eric Karabell’s Flex and Superflex Rankings
Ask Our Experts Your Week 13 Questions
Alright, with that context in mind, it’s time to get personal. What lineup decisions are YOU wrestling with this week? Which players are you considering for your flex spot? Any late-breaking injury concerns? Bring all of your Week 13 quandaries to our expert panel, LIVE right now!
Here’s how it works: Just enter your question in the chat window and click submit. Our experts will post their answers in real-time, but note that with thousands of questions pouring in, they unfortunately can’t get to every one. Scroll up to see if your question (or one very similar) has already been answered before asking again.
The chat will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. Get those questions in ASAP and don’t miss this chance for personalized Week 13 advice from some of the most respected analysts in fantasy football. An informed decision on a flex play or a shrewd pickup off the waiver wire could make the difference as the season hits the home stretch.
Week 13 Injury Impact
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of both real and fantasy football. Week 13 has its share of walking wounded who could affect lineup decisions:
- QB Dak Prescott (hand) was a limited participant in practice for the Cowboys this week. Signs point to him playing, but the injury is worth monitoring.
- Bengals RB Joe Mixon (head) sat out practice with a concussion. If he can’t clear protocol, Samaje Perine would get a value boost.
- Denver WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle) is questionable after missing Week 12. His absence would mean more targets for Courtland Sutton.
- The Saints will be without stud CB Marshon Lattimore (abdomen), which improves the outlook for Bucs receivers.
For the latest on these injuries and many others, stay tuned to our inactives page leading up to kickoff. We’ll pass along any pertinent updates in the chat as well.
Week 12 Look-Back
What can we learn from last week’s action to inform our Week 13 decisions? Here are some key takeaways:
- Jalen Hurts and the Eagles bounced back in a big way against the Packers. The Philly QB accounted for over 300 total yards and 3 TDs.
- Another big game for Josh Jacobs, who ran for 229 yards and 2 scores versus Seattle. The Raiders’ workhorse is matchup-proof.
- Garrett Wilson exploded for the Jets (8-162-2), serving notice that he’s a WR1 even with Mike White at QB.
- The Jags-Ravens tilt produced a surprising fantasy star in Zay Jones, who corralled 11 of 14 targets for 145 yards. He’s on the flex radar.
On the flip side, disappointments from Week 12 included Tom Brady, Jeff Wilson, Drake London and George Kittle. Should you stick with them or look elsewhere in Week 13? Hash it out with our experts in the chat!
Week 13 Sleepers & Waiver Targets
Mining the waiver wire and sleeper ranks is crucial this time of year, whether you need an injury replacement or a high-upside play to boost your playoff odds. Some intriguing Week 13 options:
- Mike White (27% rostered) showed instant chemistry with Jets pass-catchers and gets a mouthwatering matchup against Minnesota.
- Kyren Williams (28% rostered) is poised to take over as the Rams’ lead back with Darrell Henderson on IR.
- Zay Jones (18% rostered) has earned a bigger role with his recent play and could feast against Detroit’s shaky secondary.
- Treylon Burks (30% rostered) has scored in 2 straight games and draws favorable Eagles coverage.
Fantasy football roster management is all about giving yourself options. The more contingency plans you have, the better chance you’ll survive the unpredictable ebbs and flows of an NFL season. Don’t be afraid to take some calculated risks if you’re pushing for a playoff berth.
My one piece of lineup advice for Week 13 is to trust your gut. At this point in the season, you know your team better than anyone. Go with the players who have gotten you this far and don’t second-guess it. Dance with the ones who brought you.
– Fantasy analyst Matthe Berry
As game time draws near, make sure to double-check the inactives, weather reports and expert rankings one last time. Then, submit those lineups with confidence and enjoy the football! Good luck in Week 13 and let’s keep those fantasy playoff hopes alive!
