As the NFL’s Week 13 kicks off, fantasy football managers are scouring the latest injury reports and expert rankings to make those crucial starting lineup decisions. With the fantasy playoffs on the horizon, every point matters now more than ever. Who can you trust to lead your team to glory this week? Let’s break down the key injury news and players to start or sit.
Injury Updates: The Latest on Breece Hall, DeVonta Smith, and More
The biggest injury question mark heading into Week 13 surrounds Breece Hall. The dynamic Jets running back has been sidelined since Week 8 with a knee injury but is officially listed as questionable this week. Hall himself says he fully expects to play, which would be a huge boost for fantasy managers. If active, consider Hall an RB2 with RB1 upside in a juicy matchup against the Vikings’ porous run defense.
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith is another high-profile player carrying a questionable tag due to a hamstring issue. Smith’s status appears truly up in the air and may come down to a game-time decision. His absence would vault Jahan Dotson into must-start territory as Philadelphia’s top receiving weapon. Stay tuned for any last-minute news on Smith.
Here are some other notable injuries to monitor heading into Sunday’s action:
- Alec Pierce, WR, Colts (foot) – Questionable after limited practices, but expected to play
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars (shoulder) – Questionable, but should start
- Younghoe Koo, K, Falcons (hip) – Questionable, Riley Patterson would fill in if Koo can’t go
Start ‘Em: Players to Plug Into Your Lineups
Looking for an edge this week? These players have favorable matchups and are primed for big fantasy performances:
- Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets – Led the team in targets last week and gets the Vikings’ vulnerable secondary
- David Montgomery, RB, Bears – Gets a mouth-watering matchup vs. the Packers’ bottom-5 run defense
- Dawson Knox, TE, Bills – With Kincaid out, Knox will be Josh Allen’s go-to TE option on SNF
“I’m feeling good, I’m ready to go. I’m not even listed on the injury report, so I think that speaks for itself.” – Breece Hall on his Week 13 availability
Sit ‘Em: Players to Avoid Despite the Temptation
Sometimes it’s best to play it safe and bench these risky options, even if their name value is luring:
- Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals – Still not fully recovered from hamstring injury, faces tough Chargers defense
- Devin Singletary, RB, Bills – Likely to lose valuable touches to James Cook and Nyheim Hines
- Drake London, WR, Falcons – Faces lockdown corner Darius Slay, hasn’t topped 40 yards since Week 3
With so much at stake, be sure to monitor the inactive reports leading up to kickoff. A surprise scratch or last-second activation could be the difference between fantasy triumph or heartbreak. Trust your gut, but also trust the data and expert advice. Now go set those optimal lineups and bring home a Week 13 victory!
