Fantasy Football Week in Review – Week 13 

Stars of the Week

QB:      Aaron Rodgers, GB                            21-33, 243 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs 

RB:      James White, NE                                14 carries, 79 yards, 0 TDs

                                                                    8 catches, 98 yards, 2 TDs                                                             

WR:     DeVante Parker, MIA                           7 catches, 159 yards, 2 TDs       

TE:      Tyler Higbee, LAR                               7 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers rebounded nicely from last week’s dud in San Francisco. The generational talent threw for four TDs against the punchless New York Giants’ secondary. Rodgers remains among the short list of top NFL QBs, even if he no longer occupies the top spot. We have three interesting names taking Week 13 top honors at the skill positions, starting with James White. The Patriots’ passing down RB has been a key player in PPR leagues for the last several years, and White found the end zone twice to go with 98 yards receiving over 8 catches. And just for good measure, he also rushed for 79 yards. White is a locked in RB2 and a weekly start. Miami Dolphins’ WR DeVante Parker has covered in last week’s article, and it was strongly suggested in this space that you add him to your team! Two TDs and 159 receiving yards later against the Eagles’, yeah I’d say that’s a win. It’s taken a while, but Parker has finally started to figure out the WR position. Our last stop takes us to the second Rams’ TE to win top honors this season, Western Kentucky alumnus Tyler Higbee. With Gerald Everett out, Higbee stepped up with over 100 receiving yards and a TD against the Arizona Cardinals. Provided that Everett remains out, Higbee’s an interesting play if you need a TE.

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.

Josh Allen, QB – BUF                                    19-24, 231 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs

                                                                      10 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD

Analysis:         With the 2018 NFL draft eighteen months in the rear view mirror, it’s interesting to see that the two most divisive QBs in the draft – Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen – are having the most success in 2019. The scouting report on Allen was straightforward – tall, strong arm but with major accuracy issues. The red flag raised from accuracy issues is rightful, as it’s not something that usually improves substantially over time. That being said, Allen has shown better accuracy with NFL caliber WRs at his disposal, and he has smartly incorporated the ground game into his weekly shtick. The key here is that Allen’s rushing game provides him a weekly high ceiling, even in tougher matchups. Allen has averaged just under 36 yards rushing per game, to go with 8 rushing TDs in 12 games – this equates to an extra 7.6 fantasy points per game on average! The Bills QB has become a legitimate weekly QB1, nearly matchup proof (facing the Patriots is the exception). Allen faces the Ravens next week, and he’ll be ranked accordingly as a mid-level QB1.  

Raheem Mostert, RB – SF                             19 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD

Analysis:         For the vast majority of the season, the San Francisco 49ers have had a clear pecking order for their RBs: Tevin Coleman as the lead guy, with a healthy Matt Breida as 1B, and Raheem Mostert stepping in as a clear number 2 in games with Breida out. The NFL stands for not for long, which can refer to all aspects of the league. As we apply the NFL principle in relation to the 49ers’ backfield, we have a load of uncertainty going forward. With Breida out, Mostert outcarried Coleman 19 to 5, and outproduced him in rushing yards 146 to 6! Let’s sort through what we know. First off, Coleman’s value has undeniably taken a massive hit. Coleman has been a high end RB2, but he’s now no better than a flex going forward. Now for Raheem Mostert? He’s undeniably moving up. How much of a bump Mostert gets, we won’t know for certain until we see how Coach Shanahan deploys him over the next few weeks – but Mostert becomes an immediate must add in all leagues. The opportunities afforded in this rushing offense are special, and Mostert will see increased carries going forward – the question is just how much? As for Breida, Mostert’s breakout likely leaves him vulnerable to the third RB chair…whenever he returns. But Breida will still be in the mix as well. The 49ers’ RB situation has become a fantasy mess, but all three RBs need to be owned. 

Derrius Guice, RB – WAS                              10 carries, 129 yards, 2 TDs

Analysis:         The Washington Redskins selected Derrius Guice in the 2ndround of the 2018 draft with much fanfare. The former LSU star runs violently and with purpose, evoking comparisons to likely future hall of famer Marshawn Lynch. Unfortunately Guice tore his ACL prior to the 2018 NFL season, so his debut waited until 2019. His debut came in week 1 against the Eagles, only to suffer a torn meniscus in his knee, which caused another 10 week delay. The snakebitten RB finally healed up and returned in week 11, and has partaken in an RB timeshare with Adrian Peterson since then. His return has led to modest stats…until week 13. Guice ran for 129 yards and 2 TDs against the Panthers in only 10 carries. Watching Guice, it was evident that he’s healthy and hasn’t lost any of his power and juke. It’s important to note that the timeshare remains in place, as Adrian Peterson led the team with 13 carries. But given the Redskins’ position in the standings (i.e. eliminated from the playoffs) and Adrian Peterson’s age (34 years old), the team is likely to wrestle many of AP’s carries over to Guice over the team’s last four games. Guice remains available in 50% of leagues and faces a forgiving Green Bay Packers’ rush D next week. In case you need an RB for the opening week of your fantasy playoffs, put a claim in for Guice if he’s available.

Jack Doyle, TE – IND                                     6 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD

Analysis:         The Indianapolis Colts have two talented tight ends on their roster, which is great for the team, but not so much for the fantasy values of each player. Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle, the TE duo, have both found themselves ranked weekly in the TE2 range. If the Colts had Lamar Jackson and ran a TE heavy offense, then the outlook may well have been different. The other foreseeable manner in which to change the dynamic, unfortunately, is injury. Days before the Colts’ week 13 matchup with the Titans, the team announced that Ebron will be out for the remainder of the season. How did Doyle look with Ebron missing the Titans’ game? QB Jacoby Brissett targeted Doyle a team leading 11 times, connecting for 6 catches and a TD over 73 yards. Star WR T.Y. Hilton also missed the game, so Doyle won’t be the lead target of throws most weeks. But, he will play a key role in the offense moving forward. Doyle receives a bump to low end TE1 status with Ebron’s injury. If you need a TE and Doyle happens to be available in your league, he’s the top add at the position.

Rapid Fire Pickups 

Each week we’ll throw out potential free agent pickups from each position for deeper leagues, in each case 1) someone who has NOT been referenced above, and 2) a player available in more than 50%of leagues.

QB:                  Ryan Tannehill, TEN

RB:                  Alexander Mattison, MIN (he’s a RB1 if Dalvin Cook is out)

RB:                  Patrick Laird, MIA

WR:                 Cole Beasley, BUF

WR:                 Danny Amendola, DET

TE:                  Tyler Higbee, LAR