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<div>Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Each Position's Top 10 Players and Stat Predictions</div>

Fantasy Football
December 5, 2015

Much of the talk in football circles this week will be the College Football Playoff, as the conference championship games will determine the four best teams in college football. But another set of playoffs is on the horizon as well—the fantasy playoffs. 

In a season full of injuries and surprising performers, you probably are pretty lucky if you are still in the running for the postseason. There’s no need to rely on luck solely, however. With my top-10 rankings at each position and start ’em, sit ’em advice, you won’t have to. 

 

Matt Camp’s Must-Start Players of the Week

 

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Though he is far from the sexiest option at the position, Smith continues to produce. He’s averaging 16.3 fantasy points per week, he notched 21 in standard leagues against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12 and now faces an Oakland Raiders defense giving up 18.2 points to the position per week.

Oakland has given up 20 or more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in four of its last six games, making Smith a smart start this week. 

 

Sit ‘Em: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

What a weird season Drew Brees is having.

In Week 8, he notched 44 points in standard leagues. In Week 9, it was 31 points. But in his last two games combined, he’s managed just 19 fantasy points. 

It’s been hard to trust Brees all year, and it’s basically impossible to trust him against a Carolina Panthers defense giving up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Being at home might help—all three of his performances eclipsing 20 fantasy points have come at home this season—but expect pretty mediocre numbers against Carolina’s stout defense.

 

Running Backs

Start ‘Em: Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys

With quarterback Tony Romo out for the year, the Cowboys would be wise to lean on McFadden even more heavily behind the team’s vicious offensive line. The fact that McFadden managed seven fantasy points against a good Carolina defense is a pretty good sign. 

So is a matchup against Washington. Last week, Washington finally broke a six-game streak of allowing opposing running backs to exceed 100 yards. Look for McFadden to start a new streak.

 

Sit ‘Em: Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts

Since the Colts’ Week 10 bye, Gore has a total of 58 rushing yards in two games. It’s not as though he hasn’t had his opportunities—the Colts have fed him 33 carries. That, alone, is a warning sign.

It gets worse for Gore owners. This week, the Colts face a Pittsburgh Steelers defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Gore simply isn’t worth starting this week. 

 

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em: Danny Amendola, New England Patriots

Danny Amendola missed Sunday night’s game against the Denver Broncos. But you can bet if he’s healthy this week, well, he’ll likely tear the Philadelphia Eagles to shreds.

With wide receiver Julian Edelman out and tight end Rob Gronkowski likely out, Amendola would be quarterback Tom Brady’s top option against a Philadelphia defense giving up the most fantasy points to opposing wideouts per week. That could prime Amendola for a huge week.

If he plays, of course.

Amendola certainly wants to get back out on the field.

“I don’t want to miss a game, and I missed a game,” Amendola told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “We’re here to play football. I’m going to try to get back out there as quick as I can. That’s why we’re here. It’s why everyone is here—to play football and not be in the tub. I don’t like it. It’s not a good feeling to not be available.”

Oh, but it will be a very good feeling for his fantasy owners if he’s out on the field. The Eagles defense has given up 10 touchdown passes in the last two weeks. Brady and Amendola could form a very fruitful partnership for fantasy owners this week.

 

Sit ‘Em: Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A matchup against the Atlanta Falcons defense—which is giving up just 12.7 fantasy points to opposing wideouts per week, third-best in the NFL—is tough enough for Jackson.

But consider this: Despite scoring a combined 18 fantasy points in the past two weeks, Jackson has been targeted just 58 times this season in eight games. Contrast that to Jameis Winston’s top target, Mike Evans, who has been targeted 100 times in 10 games.

Jackson is very clearly the No. 2 option for Winston. Against a pretty solid Atlanta defense, he should be buried on your bench.

 

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em: Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings

Rudolph is completely touchdown reliant, making him a shaky start, but tight end is so thin this year it’s a risk worth taking. One positive?

His opponent this week, the Seattle Seahawks, have given up seven touchdowns to opposing tight ends this year and are 29th in points allowed to the position. So Rudolph certainly has upside and in a week that saw Jimmy Graham lost for the year and with Gronk likely out for at least a week or so, Rudolph is a viable replacement. 

 

Sit ‘Em: Brent Celek and Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

The Patriots are allowing a measly 4.8 fantasy points to opposing tight ends each week, fourth-best in the NFL. That basically renders the incredibly inconsistent Celek and Ertz—the latter of whom might not even play this week, for what it’s worth—as mere bench fodder this week. 

 

Defense/Special Teams

Start ‘Em: Houston Texans

This defense is red hot. The Texans have scored double-digit fantasy points in five of their last six games and the defensive front—led by defensive end J.J. Watt—has started to finally dominate. This is a pretty easy call.

 

Sit ‘Em: Philadelphia Eagles

Duh.

Brady and the Patriots are torching opposing defenses this year. If Brady and Bill Belichick were leading the Little Giants out on the field, you still wouldn’t start the Eagles defense this week. It’s common sense, folks.

 

Kickers

Here’s my advice for kickers. Take a look at the player you currently have. What’s his ranking on the season? If that ranking is higher than any players available in free agency, keep him. If his ranking is lower than any players on free agency, however, swap him for the top available player.

Bada bing, bada boom, there’s your start ’em, sit ’em advice for kickers.

 

All fantasy stats and points-against totals via ESPN standard leagues. You can find Timothy Rapp on Twitter and on Twitch

Read more Fantasy Football news on NerdyFootball.com

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