Stars of Week 13

QB: Joe Flacco, BAL: 36-47, 381 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT     

RB: Jordan Howard, CHI: 32 carries, 117 yards, 3 TDs                          

WR: Golden Tate, DET: 8 catches, 145 yards, 1 TD

TE: Dwayne Allen, IND: 4 catches, 72 yards, 3 TDs 

Week 13 served as a blah week in terms of big name performances. Thus, we’re lacking star power in this week’s honor roll. Joe Flacco has 1-2 big performances per year (look up his game against Tampa Bay last year). He’s nothing more than a QB2, with occasional low end QB1 viability in elite matchups. Jordan Howard has had himself a fantastic year for the lowly Bears. He’s a top 15 RB and one of the top breakout players for this year. Golden Tate has rebounded nicely after having been left for dead earlier this season. He and Marvin Jones have seen their production arrows go in opposite directions over the last several weeks, and Jones missed this past week’s game against the 49ers. Tate sits in low end but solid WR2 territory. Colts TE Dwayne Allen found the end zone thrice against the woebegone Jets – we’ll take a closer look at him below. 

Week 13 Takeaways – A Closer Look 

Each week we take a closer look at a handful of performances and sort out what such performances mean going forward.

- Carson Wentz, QB - PHI: 36-60, 308 yards, 1 TDs, 3 INTs

Analysis: We took a look at Carson Wentz early in the season when the Eagles were on a roll and Wentz looked like the second coming. The message I had for you then – he’s legit, but will be up and down. Over the last handful of weeks we’ve been on the lower end of Wentz’s cycle, as further evidenced this week against the Bengals. While Wentz cleared the 300 yard mark, it took him 60 pass attempts to do so (not good), and he threw three picks to boot. With Wentz now having played twelve weeks, here’s the message I have for you – he’s legit, but will be up and down. Funny, it’s the exact same message from before. Wentz has struggled because teams have adjusted to him, now that they have film to work with to better devise game plans. But the underlying skills that Wentz possesses – strong arm, competency running a pro style offense, etc. – set Wentz up for a very strong career. Wentz should not be in any lineups for the rest of this year, but you will see noticeable improvement from him next year and beyond. He just needs some time to grow and move to the next steps. So those of you who play in dynasty leagues, don’t be rattled by his recent performances.

- Devontae Booker, RB – DEN: 18 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: Not a whole lot going on with running backs that hasn’t already been discussed over the past several weeks, so we’ll revisit Devontae Booker’s performance as the lead back for the Broncos. Booker looked fantastic in his limited carries when CJ Anderson served as the team’s primary ball carrier. Upon ascending to the lead role following Anderson’s injury, hopes were high – RB1 ceiling high. Well, Booker has performed very mediocrely as the starter, with teammate Kapri Bibbs outshining him. Bibbs suffered a season ending high ankle sprain this past Sunday, which may be the only reason that Booker won’t lose more carries in the coming weeks. The Broncos have signed Justin Forsett, who played with the Ravens while Broncos’ coach Gary Kubiak served as their offensive coordinator. With that past history in place, don’t be surprised to see Forsett siphon 6-8 carries per game from Booker. As we head into playoff season, you should view Booker as a low end RB2, subject to matchup variability. So he’s certainly not an automatic start going forward, despite having a great opportunity to assert himself as a top option.

- Paul Turner, WR – PHI: 6 catches, 80 yards 0 TDs 

Analysis: Often we see fantasy utility come from opportunity. This past Sunday, with Jordan Matthews out for the Eagles, rookie Paul Turner stepped up and led the Eagles in receiving yards against the Bengals. His 80 yards also happen to be the first 80 yards of his career. Dorial Green-Beckham left the game with an oblique contusion, which further helped Turner play a featuring role in the offense. As this is the only game in which Turner has posted NFL stats, we don’t have much information from which to draw hard conclusions. But reading the initial tea leaves, it looks like Turner’s usability ties directly to Matthews and/or Green-Beckham’s absence from the lineup. We’ll need to keep up on reports from Eagles camp, but the early word is that both Matthews and Green-Beckham are likely to play. In that case, Turner should not be in lineups. In case either player misses next week’s game, then Turner could be an acceptable WR3/flex option (especially if Matthews is out).

- Dwayne Allen, TE – IND: 4 catches, 72 yards, 3 TDs                                      

Analysis: In what has been a quiet, injury riddled season, Colts TE Dwayne Allen tried to make up for lost time with his three TD catches against the Colts. Unfortunately, one terrific game doesn’t make up for several other clunkers. Allen has played all five of his seasons with Andrew Luck as his QB, and while having shown promise early in his career, at this point Allen has settled into what he is. For fantasy purposes, that’s a TE2. Prior to this game, Allen had two games this year with 50 plus yards and a TD, three games missed for injury, and the rest have been sub 50 yards with no TDs. So don’t overreact to one fantastic performance by Allen, as there’s nothing in his career up to this point that points to a breakout. If you’re looking for a tight end, you should first target the player below.

- Ladarius Green, TE – PIT:  6 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: The Steelers signed Ladarius Green in free agency to fill the void at tight end with Heath Miller’s retirement. On paper this looked like a good match. Green had shown his athleticism and breakout potential in Antonio Gates’ shadow while with the Chargers, and in the Steelers’ prolific offense, all bets were off. Unfortunately, Green was suffering from an ankle injury, and didn’t make his 2016 debut until November. Green played a minimal role in his first two games, and then racked up 67 yards on two catches in his third game. This past week against the Giants was game number four, and Green had himself a game, while leading the team with 11 targets (besting Antonio Brown’s seven targets). So what does this mean for Green going forward? The arrow’s certainly pointing up, but I caution against expecting weekly consistency from Green. With the number of weapons the Steelers have plus the short duration that Green’s played in the team’s system, Green won’t be posting top 3 TE numbers every week. But he should be viewed as a solid pickup for teams that need a TE. Think more along the lines of a back end TE1. Not a savior, but a good player to grab if you need a TE upgrade.

Rapid Fire Pickups 

Each week we’ll throw out potential free agent pickups from each position, in each case 1) someone who has NOT been referenced above, and 2) a player available in most leagues.

QB: Alex Smith, KC

RB: Kenneth Dixon, BAL

RB: Mike Gillislee, BUF

WR: Malcolm Mitchell, NE

WR: Tyler Lockett, SEA

TE: Dennis Pitta, BAL

Week 14 Rankings 

Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees, NO (at TB)
2. Tom Brady, NE (vs BAL)
3. Matthew Stafford, DET (vs CHI)
4. Andrew Luck, IND (vs HOU)
5. Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs SEA)
6. Russell Wilson, SEA (at GB)
7. Jameis Winston, TB (vs NO)
8. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (at BUF)
9. Matt Ryan, ATL (at LA)
10. Cam Newton, CAR (vs SD)
11. Kirk Cousins, WAS (at PHI)
12. Philip Rivers, SD (at CAR)
13. Dak Prescott, DAL (at NYG)
14. Andy Dalton, CIN (at CLE)
15. Eli Manning, NYG (vs DAL)
16. Tyrod Taylor, BUF (vs PIT)
17. Marcus Mariota, TEN (vsDEN)
18. Carson Palmer, ARZ (at MIA)
19. Joe Flacco, BAL (at NE)
20. Ryan Tannehill, MIA (vs ARZ)

Running Backs

1. David Johnson, ARZ (at MIA)
2. Le'Veon Bell, PIT (at BUF)
3. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (at NYG)
4. LeSean McCoy, BUF (vs PIT)
5. Melvin Gordon, SD (at CAR)
6. DeMarco Murray, TEN (vs DEN)
7. Matt Forte, NYJ (at SF)
8. Devonta Freeman, ATL (at LA)
9. Jordan Howard, CHI (at DET)
10. Jeremy Hill, CIN (at CLE)
11. Thomas Rawls, SEA (at GB)
12. Jay Ajayi, MIA (vs ARI)
13. Lamar Miller, HOU (at IND)
14. Robert Kelley, WAS (at PHI)
15. Doug Martin, TB (vs NO)
16. Todd Gurley, LA (vs  ATL)
17. Frank Gore, IND (vs HOU)
18. Carlos Hyde, SF (vs NYJ)
19. LeGarrette Blount, NE (vs BAL)
20. Mark Ingram, NO (at TB)
21. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (vs SD)
22. Theo Riddick, DET (vs CHI)
23. Rashad Jennings, NYG (vs DAL)
24. Devontae Booker, DEN (at TEN)
25. Tevin Coleman, ATL (at LA)
26. Isaiah Crowell, CLE (vs CIN)
27. Kenneth Dixon, BAL (at NE)
28. Tim Hightower, NO (at TB)
29. Darren Sproles, PHI (vs WAS)
30. Dion Lewis, NE (vs BAL)
31. Terrance West, BAL (at NE)
32. Wendell Smallwood, PHI (vs WAS)
33. Jerick McKinnon, MIN (at JAX)
34. Bilal Powell, NYJ (at SF)
35. Duke Johnson, CLE (vs CIN)
36. T.J. Yeldon, JAX (vs MIN)
37. Mike Gillislee, BUF (vs PIT)
38. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs DEN)
39. Rex Burkhead, CIN (at CLE)
40. James White, NE (vs BAL)

Wide Receivers

1. Mike Evans, TB (vs NO)
2. Antonio Brown, PIT (at BUF)
3. Odell Beckham Jr., NYG (vs DAL)
4. Julio Jones, ATL (at LA)
5. Dez Bryant, DAL (at NYG)
6. T.Y. Hilton, IND (vs HOU)
7. Jordy Nelson, GB (vs SEA)
8. Doug Baldwin, SEA (at GB)
9. Larry Fitzgerald, ARZ (at MIA)
10. Julian Edelman, NE (vs BAL)
11. Golden Tate, DET (vs CHI)
12. Brandin Cooks, NO (at TB)
13. Brandon Marshall, NYJ (at SF)
14. Donte Moncrief, IND (vs HOU)
15. Michael Thomas, NO (at TB)
16. Terrelle Pryor, CLE (vs CIN)
17. Tyrell Williams, SD (at CAR)
18. Demaryius Thomas, DEN (at TEN)
19. Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (vs SD)
20. Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (at TEN)
21. DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (at IND)
22. Davante Adams, GB (vs SEA)
23. Steve Smith, BAL (at NE)
24. Sammy Watkins, BUF (vs PIT)
25. DeSean Jackson, WAS (at PHI)
26. Stefon Diggs, MIN (at JAX)
27. Kenny Britt, LA (vs ATL)
28. Jamison Crowder, WAS (at PHI)
29. Jarvis Landry, MIA (vs ARZ)
30. Allen Robinson, JAX (vs MIN)
31. Malcolm Mitchell, NE (vs BAL)
32. Randall Cobb, GB (vs SEA)
33. Mike Wallace, BAL (at NE)
34. Dontrelle Inman, SD (at CAR)
35. Devante Parker, MIA (vs ARI)
36. Willie Snead, NO (at TB)
37. Sterling Shepard, NYG (vs DAL)
38. Richard Matthews, TEN (vs DEN)
39. Tyler Boyd, CIN (at CLE)
40. Brandon LaFell, CIN (at CLE)

Tight End

1. Jimmy Graham, SEA (at GB)
2. Tyler Eifert, CIN (at CLE)
3. Cameron Brate, TB (vs NO)
4. Jordan Reed, WAS (at PHI)
5. Greg Olsen, CAR (vs SD)
6. Delanie Walker, TEN (vs DEN)
7. Ladarius Green, PIT (at BUF)
8. Zach Ertz, PHI (vs WAS)
9. Eric Ebron, DET (vs CHI)
10. Antonio Gates, SD (at CAR)
11. Kyle Rudolph, MIN (at JAX)
12. C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU (at IND)
13. Martellus Bennett, NE (vs BAL)
14. Coby Fleener, NO (at TB)
15. Jason Witten, DAL (at NYG)
16. Vance McDonald, SF (vs NYJ)
17. Dennis Pitta, BAL (at NE)
18. Gary Barnidge, CLE (vs CIN)
19. Jared Cook, GB (vs SEA)
20. Vernon Davis, WAS (at PHI)

Defense/Special Teams

1. Minnesota Vikings (at JAX)
2. Denver Broncos (at TEN)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (at CLE)
4. New England Patriots (vs BAL)
5. Arizona Cardinals (at MIA)
6. Seattle Seahawks (at GB)
7. Detroit Lions (vs CHI)
8. Miami Dolphins (vs ARZ)
9. Atlanta Falcons (at LA)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (vs WAS)
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (at BUF)
12. Houston Texans (at IND)
13. Buffalo Bills (vs PIT)
14. San Diego Chargers (at CAR)
15. New York Jets (at SF)