By Ryan Bologna
With week 13 in the NFL coming up, a lot of you are probably making a push for the playoffs in your fantasy leagues. Here is who top outlets recommend starting for this weekend’s games.
Quarterbacks
The outlets like Justin Herbert this week. He is playing on the road against the Raiders, who have won two in a row, but Las Vegas’ defense is still vulnerable. They gave up 34 points to the Seahawks a week ago. Herbert should have a chance to put up a lot of points in this game.
Tom Brady hasn’t been a popular pick in fantasy this year, and that continues this week. Four out of the five outlets recommend sitting him this week. He is facing the Saints, who have given him trouble since coming over to the Buccaneers.
| Start ‘Em | Sit ‘Em | |
| NFL.com | Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jimmy Garoppolo, Trevor Lawrence | Deshaun Watson, Tom Brady, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson |
| ESPN | Justin Herbert, Justin Fields, Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith | Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo |
| CBS | Trevor Lawrence, Geno Smith, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers | Tom Brady, Daniel Jones, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins |
| Yahoo | Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prestocc, Trevor Lawrence, Geno Smith | Tom Brady, Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins |
| Sporting News | Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, Tom Brady, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo | Geno Smith, Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Daniel Jones, Taylor Heinicke |
Running Backs
Travis Etienne got hurt in last week’s game against Baltimore, but he should play this weekend and the outlets like his chances of having a good game against the Lions. Detroit’s defense has struggled in pretty much all facets this year. Despite better play from Detroit’s defense as of late, outlets believe Etienne should have a good game.
Jeff Wilson has been a good back to plug in a starting role at points this season, but outlets don’t like him in his return to play his former team on Sunday. Miami can pass the ball with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the 49ers defense is tough to run against. You might want to look elsewhere when it comes to running backs this week.
| Start ‘Em | Sit ‘Em | |
| NFL.com | Aaron Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson, David Montgomery, Dameon Pierce | Jeff Wilson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Devin Singletary, Isiah Pacheco |
| ESPN | Travis Etienne, Aaron Jones, David Montgomery, Tony Pollard, Dameon Pierce | Isiah Pacheco, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jeff Wilson, D’Andre Swift, Ezekiel Elliott |
| CBS | Rachaad White, Ezekiel Elliott, Gus Edwards, Dameon Pierce, David Montgomery | Cordarrelle Patterson, Latavius Murray, Devin Singletary, Isiah Pacheco, Jeff Wilson |
| Yahoo | Jamaal Williams, Tony Pollard, Rachaad White, Dameon Pierce, Travis Etienne | Jeff Wilson, Devin Singletary, D’Andre Swift, Antonio Gibson, Cordarrelle Patterson |
| Sporting News | Dameon Pierce, Travis Etienne, Ezekiel Elliott, Brian Robinson, Jamaal Williams | Jeff Wilson, Isiah Pacheco, Devin Singletary, D’Andre Swift, Cordarrelle Patterson |
Wide Receivers
Garrett Wilson is really popular this week. The Jets will face the Vikings, so it’s not necessarily the easiest matchup, but outlets have much more faith in Mike White getting Wilson the ball than they did Zach Wilson. He should be the main target through the air this Sunday, and he will have plenty of chances to produce.
Adam Thielen has been a disappointment in fantasy this year. He isn’t putting up the touchdown numbers we’re used to seeing. He did score last week agains the Patriots, but the outlets recommend you don’t get your hopes up because of that.
| Start ‘Em | Sit ‘Em | |
| NFL.com | Ja’Marr Chase, Christian Kirk, Christian Watson, Garrett Wilson | Donovan Peoples-Jones, Adam Thielen, Treylon Burks, Curtis Samuel |
| ESPN | Christian Kirk, Garrett Wilson, Christian Watson, Terry McLaurin, Michael Pittman | Courtland Sutton, Allen Lazard, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Zay Jones, Adam Thielen |
| CBS | Garrett Wilson, Christian Watson, Chris Olave, Josh Palmer, DeVonta Smith | Adam Thielen, Treylon Burks, Curtis Samuel, Jakobs Meyers, Courtland Sutton |
| Yahoo | Garrett Wilson, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian Kirk, Terry McLaurin, Chris Olave | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Adam Thielen, Zay Jones, Darius Slayton, Treylon Burks |
| Sporting News | Garrett Wilson, Josh Palmer, George Pickens, Christian Watson, Treylon Burks | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jakobi Meyers, Darius Slayton, Curtis Samuel, Adam Theilen |
Tight Ends
David Njoku is a popular pick this week, and much of that is due to Deshaun Watson’s return to the starting lineup. He put up 13.9 points in PPR leagues last week, and an upgrade at the quarterback position will only help.
Greg Dulcich was popular when he first took over the starting tight end role in Denver, but the Broncos offense is just not very good. It is tough to tell how Dulcich will produce week-to-week. There are probably some better options out there for you.
| Start ‘Em | Sit ‘Em | |
| NFL.com | George Kittle, Dalton Schultz, Pat Freiermuth, Gerald Everett | Cade Otton, Austin Hooper, Mike Gesicki, Robert Tonyan |
| ESPN | Pat Freiermuth, David Njoku, Gerald Everett, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson | Hayden Hurst, Greg Dulcich, Tyler Conklin, Juwan Johnson, Robert Tonyan |
| CBS | David Njoku, Tyler Conklin, Cole Kmet | Greg Dulcich, Foster Moreau, Mike Gesicki, Hunter Henry |
| Yahoo | Pat Freiermuth, Dalton Schultz, David Njoku, Gerald Everett, George Kittle | Foster Moreau, Dawson Knox, Cole Kmet, Evan Engram, Greg Dulcich |
| Sporting News | Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Foster Moreau, Juwan Johnson, Tyler Conklin | Dawson Knox, Greg Dulcich, Hayden Hurst, Cole Kmet, Robert Tonyan |
