Top Week 13 fantasy football matchups: Pats' Amendola should have a big day
Through 12 weeks, our Position vs. Fantasy Defensive Points Allowed tool is solidifying as a tool to help you find good matchups. Fantasy playoffs start next week for most of you, and matchup advice can help.
As always, please remember that the players listed are mostly meant to be borderline guys, who need reasons for you to play or bench them. You won't see recommendations to start Adrian Peterson and Carson Palmer, because you should always start Peterson and Palmer. If a player is close to the start/sit fence, we'll push him one way or the other.
Note: The fantasy points per game (FPPG) referenced below are from FOXSports.com standard leagues.
Thursday game: Packers at Lions
Quarterbacks
Stay away: Philip Rivers, Chargers (vs. Broncos)
The Broncos are the league's stingiest defense against opposing quarterbacks, allowing 11.5 FPPG and 197.1 passing yards per game. Rivers was able to bounce back with a big game at Jacksonville despite a patchwork offensive line, but this week's prospects don't look as good.
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Jameis Winston has a home matchup against a Falcons' defense that ranks second with 12.7 FPPG allowed to opposing quarterbacks. As impressive as Winston has been, he hasn't surpassed the 300-yard mark in a single game, and he's thrown for one or zero touchdowns in seven of his 11 outings. Nice future, inconsistent fantasy present.
Play, play, play: Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (vs. Ravens)
When we last saw the Ravens on Monday night, they were giving up 299 passing yards and two touchdowns to the Josh McCown/Austin Davis combo. They're allowing 19.8 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, and Tannehill enters Sunday's matchup as QB14 on the season. We can't be sure how he'll look with a new offensive coordinator, but a strong day seems likely.
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Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown two or more touchdowns in eight of 11 games, and faces a Giants' defense that ranks 29th with 19.1 FPPG allowed. As usual, Fitz should be solid if unspectacular.
Running backs
Stay away: Frank Gore, Colts (at Steelers)
Earlier this week, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said that the 32-year-old Gore is "beat to crap" after running 33 times for 58 yards over his last two games. A matchup with the Steelers' second-ranked fantasy run defense (13.1 FPPG to opposing RBs) won't help Gore get back on track.
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Antonio Andrews' rushing yards over his last five games: 64-88-8-78-32. Tough to figure out what's next, right? Andrews will face a Jaguars' defense that ranks 19th with 18.7 FPPG allowed to opposing runners, but if you look closer, you'll notice that the Jags permit a league-low 3.3 yards per carry. With the Titans making noise about getting David Cobb more involved, Andrews seems like a risky bet.
Play, play, play: Jeremy Langford, Bears (vs. 49ers)
If you were the Bears, would you relegate your 2016 lead back to second-string status so Matt Forte can play a few more solid games before leaving via free agency? Heck, no! In Forte's Week 11 return, Langford remained productive, running 12 times for 48 yards and a score. Even in a timeshare, he's worth starting against the 49ers' 28th-ranked fantasy defense (22.8 FPPG allowed to opposing RBs).
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Speaking of timeshares, C.J. Anderson had 15 carries and Ronnie Hillman 14 against the Patriots on Sunday night. Against the Chargers' rock-bottom fantasy defense (23.7 FPPG allowed to opposing RBs), both Broncos are likely to contribute to your fantasy playoff push.
Wide receivers
Stay away: Brandin Cooks, Saints (vs. Panthers)
Cooks plays in the slot sometimes, but for much of Sunday's game, he figures to be smothered by Josh Norman, Superhero. The Panthers' defense ranks sixth with 17.9 FPPG allowed to opposing wideouts, and first in both QB rating allowed (68.7) and YPA (6.0). The Saints might have some fight left, but the smart money says that Norman & Co. will limit Cooks.
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Richard Sherman is all, "Josh Norman? What about me? I'm still really good, and I just held Antonio Brown to 51 yards!" Sherman will probably be on Vikings' rookie Stefon Diggs, who has just 185 yards with zero TDs over his last four games. Avoid Diggs if you can.
Play, play, play: Danny Amendola, Patriots (vs. Eagles)
The Pats are now down Dion Lewis, Julian Edelman and Gronk. Who the heck else can Tom Brady throw to? Expect his attentions to feature some Scott Chandler, maybe a little James White, and a whole lot of Amendola, who caught 19 passes for 196 yards over Weeks 10 and 11. Amendola is a must-start in PPR leagues, and close to it in standard formats â especially against an Eagles' defense that has been getting torched lately, and ranks last with 29.5 FPPG allowed to opposing wide receivers.
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Donte Moncrief didn't produce much over the last month, but snapped out of his funk with an eight-catch, 114-yard game against the Bucs in Week 12. With a matchup against the struggling Steelers' pass defense (27.8 FPPG allowed to opposing WRs, 283.6 passing yards per game allowed), you can cautiously flex Moncrief.
Tight ends
Stay away: Jason Witten, Cowboys (vs. Redskins)
Witten hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1, and his production has been mediocre under Tony Romo, Brandon Weeden AND Matt Cassel. There's no reason to expect anything different Monday night against a Redskins' defense that allows just six FPPG to opposing tight ends.
Play, play, play: Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (vs. Seahawks)
What's this? A Rudolph resurgence? Rudolph has been targeted 19 times over the last two games â tops among NFL tight ends â catching 13 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. In the dark, desolate place among low-end fantasy TE1s, Rudolph looks like a solid start against a Seahawks' defense that ranks 29th with 10.6 FPPG allowed to the position.
