Before we get into Week 13, here's a quick recap from last week's action. Colin Kaepernick, Trevor Siemian, Ryan Tannehill and Matt Barkley were four of the top six scoring quarterbacks in standard Yahoo leagues. Taylor Gabriel, Ted Ginn Jr., Marquess Wilson, Dontrelle Inman, Tyreek Hill, Quincy Enunwa, Malcolm Mitchell and Bennie Fowler were all in the Top 12 at wide receiver. Dion Sims, who entered with 11 catches on the year, turned in a Top-5 TE performance. If you needed proof of just how unpredictable this game can be, you got it in Week 12. Of course, while that can be the type of frustrating that makes you want throw your computer through a window, it's also a reminder that there are always sneaky ways to fill out holes in your lineups. With that in mind, and with the playoffs just a week away in most leagues, you can click through the gallery for a closer look at my Week 13 sleepers, as well as players to leave on your bench. (Getty)
Start: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: at Chicago Bears
We're not just talking deep leagues anymore. No matter how you feel about Kaepernick's ability as a real-life player, he has established himself as a legitimate Top-10 QB option in the fantasy world. Since taking over as starter, here are his weekly finishes (Yahoo standard scoring): 15th, 15th, Bye, 10th, 6th, 9th, 1st. The ability to run the ball--his 62.17 rushing yards per game are more than Frank Gore, Jonathan Stewart, Jeremy Hill and others--gives him a high floor and high ceiling, and this Week 13 matchup couldn't get much better. Since their Week 10 bye, the Bears have given up 255 passing yards per game and 9.81 yards per attempt, they've been burned for six touchdowns and just one interception, and they struggled to contain Marcus Mariota on the ground (four carries, 46 yards) last week. Unless you have a legitimate superstar in a one-QB league, Kaep needs to be in your lineup. (Getty)
Sit: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Opponent: at Seattle Seahawks
Playing without Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas and DeShawn Shead, and with the offense giving them very little help, the Seahawks held the Buccaneers to just 14 points last week. After a big first quarter, Jameis Winston finished as the No. 19 QB of the week, and the 'Hawks have now held opposing QB's to weekly finish of 17th or worse in eight of their 11 games. Newton, meanwhile, will always have a solid floor because of the potential for rushing touchdowns, but he's averaging just 227.2 passing yards per game with a 5:2 TD:INT ratio over his last five games, and a matchup at Seattle is about as difficult as it gets, especially if the Seahawks get some of their stars back healthy. (Getty)
Start: Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets
Opponent: vs. Indianapolis Colts
It's fair to be apprehensive of Fitzpatrick, but if you stream quarterbacks in a 2-QB or deep league, he's an interesting under-the-radar option. He threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots last week, and now he's at home against the Colts, who are 30th in passing yards allowed per game, 30th in yards per attempt allowed, 27th in touchdown percentage (touchdowns divided by pass attempts) allowed and could be without Vontae Davis, who is battling a groin injury. Again, this is only for deep leagues, but the matchup is right. (Getty)
Sit: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Opponent: at Minnesota Vikings
This one is difficult because Prescott has been so good, but the Vikings pass defense is one that you want to avoid if at all possible. They've yet to allow a quarterback to finish inside the Top 12 in any week this season, and the list of opposing signal-callers they've faced includes Marcus Mariota, Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford (twice) and Kirk Cousins. Dak is on fire, but on the road in a Thursday night game, don't be surprised if he suffers a similar fate as those QB's. (Getty)
Start: Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: vs. Miami Dolphins
In Week 7, Dixon played 6.9 percent of the offensive snaps and received two touches. The Ravens then had a Week 8 bye, and since then, here is how his snap percentage has progressed: 28.6, 31.7, 38.2, 45.6. And here are how his touches have progressed: 11, 11, 6, 17. The rookie's role continues to grow, and in Week 12 he finally looked like the player many were expecting him to be earlier in the year, as he racked up 80 total yards. There's still some volatility here, but 12-to-15 touches would be enough for him to have a nice day against the Dolphins, who are 28th in the NFL in yards per carry allowed and have given up four consecutive Top-10 weeks to RB's. (Getty)
Sit: Thomas Rawls, Seattle Seahawks
Opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers
On the one hand, Rawls is the clear go-to guy in the Seattle backfield, as he played 59 percent of the snaps in Week 12 and likely would have gotten more work if the Seahawks weren't forced to play from behind the entire game. On volume alone, he can be valuable, especially at a position so thin. On the other hand, though, he had trouble finding running room behind a porous offensive line (38 yards on 12 carries), and things won't get any easier this week against a Panthers defense that is first in the NFL in yards per carry allowed. (Getty)
Start: Dion Lewis, New England Patriots
Opponent: vs. Los Angeles Rams
When Lewis returned in Week 11 against the 49ers, he played 27.3 percent of the snaps, while James White played just 31.2 percent, the lowest for him since Week 4. Lewis' role then increased in Week 12 to 31.5 percent of the snaps and 10 touches, compared to White's 35.6 percent and four touches. It's difficult to put a lot of trust in a backfield that has three mouths to feed, but Lewis is trending in the right direction, while the Rams have given up 15 receptions on 20 targets, 145 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns to running backs over the last three weeks. At the very least, he's worth a gamble in deeper PPR leagues. (Getty)
Sit: Rashad Jennings, New York Giants
Opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Since the Steelers' Week 8 bye, here are the weekly RB finishes against them: 43rd, 1st, 38th, 42nd. The No. 1 finish was Ezekiel Elliott, but outsider of the transcendent rookie, the Steelers have been stifling opposing running backs as of late. Jennings has volume on his side--15-plus touches in three consecutive games--but don't expect much efficiency in this one. (Getty)
Start: Marquess Wilson, Chicago Bears
Opponent: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Some may be quick to write off last week's 11-target, eight-reception, 125-yard, one-touchdown performance as a fluke, but I wouldn't. Wilson has always had the talent and physical tools, and now, he's in a fantasy-friendly situation. With Alshon Jeffery and Zach Miller both out, with the rest of the receivers dropping passes like its their job, and with Wilson showing a great connection with Matt Barkley, it's clear he's the go-to target. Double-digit targets are a strong possibility for as long as Jeffery is sidelined, and against a 'Niners defense consistently getting gashed by wide receivers, he can turn that volume into production. (Getty)
Sit: Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Opponent: vs. Denver Broncos
Dealing with shoddy--at best--quarterback play, Robinson has been volatile with weekly WR finishes of 39th, 12th, 6th, 28th and 77th over his past five, and now he has to deal with a Denver Broncos defense that shuts down receivers more than any other team in the league. Stay far away from this one. (Getty)
Start: Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints
Opponent: vs. Detroit Lions
There's going to be a lot of hostility towards Cooks after he received a whopping zero targets in a game in which the Saints scored 49 points last week. But you should resist the temptation to bench him. He had received at least five targets in each of the team's first 10 games, he had found the end zone in four the previous six and last week's performance should be treated as an anomaly, not the norm. Ultimately, it figures to be another big day for the Saints' passing offense at home against a Lions defense that is 23rd in the league in yards per pass allowed, and Cooks will benefit, especially if Darius Slay sticks to Michael Thomas. (Getty)
Sit: Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers
Opponent: at Seattle Seahawks
Benjamin has shown to have a pretty nice yardage floor, hitting at least 50 yards in all but one game this season, but the touchdowns aren't coming quite as frequently as they were at the start of the year (one score in the last seven games), he has tallied just 10 total targets the last two contests, and he's likely to see a lot of Richard Sherman on Sunday. He always has the potential to salvage his day with a long gain, but his floor is scary low in this matchup. (Getty)
Start: Lance Kendricks, Los Angeles Rams
Opponent: at New England Patriots
Kendricks has quietly tallied at least seven targets and four catches in five of the last six games, averaging 7.5 targets, 4.67 receptions and 44.67 yards with two touchdowns over that stretch. He has shown a good rapport with Jared Goff, and while he doesn't have monster upside, he looks to be a safe option--especially in PPR leagues--for owners who are having to deal with injuries to Rob Gronkowski, Jordan Reed or Zach Miller. (Getty)
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Week 13 Predictions