NFL Reactions: Week 13 Recap

We had a number of close games to enjoy in Week 13. However, fantasy performances across the games were often disappointing. Let's talk about the biggest takeaways from the Week 13 action.

Eagles at Ravens

Huge road win for the Eagles. They remain one game behind the Lions for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That seeding could determine who represent the conference in the Super Bowl. Philly has become a run-based offense that relies on its outstanding defense to crush opponents. The formula was perfect against Baltimore. Despite falling behind 9-0 in the first quarter, the Eagles never abandoned their identity. By sticking with Saquon Barkley, the team won the war of attrition by wearing down the Ravens in the second half. The fantasy loser in the offense remains A.J. Brown. He no longer gets hefty target volume. Brown is now a high-floor play, but he's not the ceiling play we've come to expect.

The Ravens fell to 8-5. Their most likely scenario is playing on the road in the postseason. That is not what most would have expected a month ago. Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers had decent floor performances for fantasy, but neither was a major factor against the Eagles' defense. However, Mark Andrews continued his solid season (after doing nothing through Week 2) by posting 67 yards and a TD. Also, Lamar Jackson had a 39-yard run in the waning seconds before flipping a short TD pass to Isaiah Likely. Those two plays propelled Jackson to a strong fantasy game. After next week's bye, the Ravens have favorable matchups against the Giants and Texans in the fantasy playoffs.

Chargers at Falcons

The Chargers earned  an important victory on the road. Most of the credit for this game falls on the defense. Los Angeles picked off four passes, including one it returned for a touchdown. Wisely, the Chargers' coaching staff played conservatively in a game in which it held a slim lead throughout. The only player to have an acceptable fantasy performance was Ladd McConkey. The rookie caught nine of Justin Herbert's 16 completed passes, resulting in 117 yards. The receiver was also targeted on 12 of his quarterback's 23 passes. With J.K. Dobbins (IR, knee) out until at least week 17, it may be easier for defenses to slow Herbert. Without an explosive element in the running game, defenses can drop extra bodies into coverage, which could make passing lines tighter for the QB. Aside from McConkey, watch the matchups closely when choosing fantasy options from the Chargers. 

Kirk Cousins may have single-handedly cost Atlanta an important game. Whenever the Falcons were in an obvious passing situation, the Chargers' defense dialed up the pressure. Predictably, Cousins fell flat when the heat was on. The veteran tossed four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. At least Bijan Robinson and Drake London posted strong fantasy performances. The two players who disappointed most were Darnell Mooney, who posted 20 yards, and Kyle Pitts, who was blanked on two targets. Aside from Robinson and London, when Atlanta faces a team that can apply pressure to the quarterback, the ancillary fantasy options have added downside. 

Cardinals at Vikings

The Vikings overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Cardinals and stay within striking distance of the Lions. Aaron Jones fumbled for the third game in a row, but caught a touchdown late to salvage his fantasy day. Aside from Justin Jefferson, who caught seven passes for 99 yards, there was not much fantasy production in a game in which Sam Darnold passed for just 235 yards. Arizona dialed up pressure on Darnold whenever possible and the Minnesota passing attack could not consistently move the football. With a limited quarterback, the non-star players in this offense are matchup dependent.

Arizona could not generate enough offense to hold on to a 13-point lead in the second half in a game it could have won. Kyler Murray, James Conner and Marvin Harrison had solid but unspectacular fantasy performances. For the second week in a row, Trey McBride caught 12 passes. Of these four Arizona stars, the riskiest is Harrison. Arizona has not been able to unlock the rookie. Despite 12 targets, Harrison recorded 60 yards and a touchdown. This appeared to be a matchup in which Harrison would have great success. However, inconsistent target volume makes Harrison a high-floor option each week. Murray has been inconsistent week to week. Fantasy managers who roster a strong backup quarterback should consider the matchup when choosing whether to start Murray.

Steelers at Bengals

We knew the Steelers' passing attack had a great matchup. I definitely thought Russell Wilson could have one of his better games of the season. In no way did I imagine the veteran would pass for 414 yards and three touchdowns. Remarkably, no Pittsburgh pass catcher reached 75 yards. Fortunately, those who started George Pickens or Pat Freiermuth were rewarded with receiving touchdowns to give them strong fantasy performances. Freiermuth has heated the last two weeks. Even though the tight end has been more of a backup fantasy option, his recent surge makes him a borderline starter. After being inefficient as a runner the last few games, Najee Harris had an excellent performance against Cincinnati. The veteran recorded 119 scrimmage yards, a touchdown and six receptions. I did not strongly advocate Harris as a fantasy option against a Bengals team that is good against the run. We have to remember that volume is king in fantasy football, and Harris should be in most fantasy lineups. 

Playing from behind for most of this game was excellent for the fantasy prospects of the Cincinnati players. Although Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown failed to have big games, each  recorded at least 17.9 PPR points. Brown continues to dominate the backfield work and is a strong weekly fantasy starter, regardless of opponent. Joe Burrow appeared on his way to an ordinary fantasy performance. The superstar benefited from garbage time, which allowed him to pass for 309 yards and three touchdowns. This loss puts a massive dent in the dwindling playoff hopes for the Bengals. Hopefully, all of their offensive players are motivated to play at their best in this lost season. 

Rams at Saints

The Rams looked like a team expecting an inferior opponent. Aggression in the passing game was lacking. New Orleans has a weak pass rush, but it definitely ramped up the pressure. Matthew Stafford continued to show that he needs a clean pocket to make this offense run at an optimal level. Fortunately, the offense woke up in the second half and Kyren Williams rushed for 112 yards, which helped Los Angeles come out with a win it desperately needed. This is a difficult offense to predict each week. When it clicks, the Rams are nearly impossible to stop. However, an aggressive defense can cause many issues. Cooper Kupp had one of his worst games in recent memory. Despite being targeted six times, he caught three passes for 17 yards. I still recommend going back to him as a volume-based play. In games the Rams have more urgency, Kupp should remain a major factor. 

It was great to see Alvin Kamara continue to play at an elite level. Despite facing a Rams defense that was geared up to stop him, the running back rushed 23 times for 112 yards. Based on volume and productivity, I still consider the star a top-10 running back. Surprisingly, Marquez Valdes-Scantling continued his touchdown success with Derek Carr. In three games with the Saints, the receiver has seven catches and four touchdowns. Chasing that level of touchdown production seems foolish, but Valdes-Scantling is the primary deep threat on a team that lacks wide receivers. Fantasy managers who like to swing for upside could consider him as a flex.

Buccaneers at Panthers

With an overtime win at Carolina, the Buccaneers are now a half game behind the Falcons for the lead in the NFC South. The Tampa Bay offense looked like a team that knew it was playing an inferior defense. Baker Mayfield was out of sync and had one of his worst games of the season. Fortunately, the offense woke up in the fourth quarter. Otherwise, this was the Bucky Irving show. After finally taking over the snap lead from Rachaad White last week, Irving handled 25 carries and three targets, leading to 185 yards and a TD. White also had a 38-yard run in the extra session that led to the winning field goal. But I view Irving as the clear No. 1 and White as the change-of-pace. In terms of the passing attack, this was a hiccup. Look for Baker Mayfield to get back on track quickly.

For the second game in a row, Bryce Young looks like a different player than we saw both in 2023 and through the first few weeks of 2024. Young has consistently made big throws and rallied his team back from deficits. For a player who did not look as if he belonged in the NFL, Young now looks like someone we can start in superflex leagues. Adam Thielen had his second solid game in a row. In two games, he lost a TD to pass interference against K.C., and in this game, instant replay robbed him from another score. However, Thielen scored near the end of regulation to give the team a late lead. Thielen is playing like a top-30 PPR WR, and that is where I'll now rank him.

Seahawks at Jets

The Seahawks won by scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter. Fantasy managers who invested in Seattle players were left disappointed. Seattle offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has struggled at times to find answers when defense make adjustments against his offense. For fantasy, Seattle often has benefited in garbage time. When that happens, Geno Smith will often throw for huge yardage totals. Even though the Seahawks trailed most of this game, it appeared they never felt as if they were in danger. Smith only passed for 206 yards while no skill position player reached 75 yards. The only players to reach 50 scrimmage yards were Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf. We cannot count on any Seahawk as an elite weekly option. The primary options have decent scoring floors with occasional potential for boom games. Finally, Tyler Lockett has 20 or fewer yards in four of his last five games. The receiver is no longer a reliable fantasy option.

Coming off a bye, New York took advantage of some early Seattle mistakes to take a lead. The rest of the game was forgettable from an offensive standpoint. In a contest that was close throughout, Breece Hall had just 12 rushing attempts. Even though Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams each had double-digit targets, each of the pass catchers hauled in five passes. Fortunately, Adams scored an early touchdown, making him the one player on New York with a strong point total. With just three victories on the season, it would not be a surprise if this team began to give many of its younger players increased playing time.

Titans at Commanders

It was a phenomenal day for the Washington offense. Tennessee did not appear ready to play defense against this unit. The Commanders rushed for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels passed for 206 yards and three touchdowns. It's difficult to take a lot away from this game because it was non-competitive the entire way. Every Washington player who was a typical fantasy option had an excellent day. Daniels, Brian Robinson and Terry McLaurin remain players we can count on each week for fantasy. However, the upside of these players may be difficult to expect against tough defenses.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has 20 receptions this season. Eight of those catches have gone for touchdowns. I cannot recommend the receiver as a viable fantasy option in 12-team leagues. However, he plays almost every snap and sees decent target volume. It would seem reasonable that this insane touchdown rate comes crashing to a halt. Still, fantasy managers who want to keep rolling the dice on the touchdowns should trust their gut, even as we near the fantasy playoffs. Other than Westbrook-Ikhine, it was a forgettable day for every other player on the Tennessee offense. The Titans could not generate any consistency on offense. The only two players I trust in weekly lineups are Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley.

Colts at Patriots

Those who gambled by starting Anthony Richardson were rewarded with two passing and one rushing touchdown. As a quarterback, Richardson did not look good. However, the fact he rushed for 48 yards continues to remind us of the value a mobile quarterback has in fantasy football. After a disappointing stretch in recent games, Jonathan Taylor had a solid performance. The veteran rushed 25 times for 96 yards and caught a seven-yard touchdown pass. It may not have been a monster performance, but with three offensive linemen injured, it was as good as we could have expected from Taylor. Michael Pittman remains a PPR floor play after catching five passes for 42 yards, but in this offense, there won't be many upside games.

The one constant in the New England offense is that the tight ends are typically busy. Hunter Henry continued to show us a sky-high floor in most games. Unfortunately for Henry, Austin Hooper continues to see significant targets, including passes in the end zone. That keeps Henry from being a top-8 TE. Rhamondre Stevenson usually sees volume when games are close, and this one was no exception. The running back handled 18 carries while catching three passes, resulting in 94 scrimmage yards. In games the Patriots are expected to trail, Stevenson often loses much of his opportunity. There is no wide receiver on this team we can view with confidence as a weekly strong producer. 

Texans at Jaguars

The final score was much closer than this game actually was. The Texans took control in the third quarter before the Jaguars used garbage time to make it look competitive. It appeared that Houston could play this game conservatively, knowing it was unlikely that Jacksonville could win. Joe Mixon was largely contained until the second half. Still, the running back had 20 rushes and four receptions, resulting in 119 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Although Nico Collins did not find the end zone, he easily led the team with eight catches and 119 yards. The only other player with a strong fantasy performance was Dalton Schultz. The tight end caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Schultz is not a reliable weekly fantasy option, but he is a weekly streaming consideration. Tank Dell continues to be an underwhelming fantasy option. The pass catcher only caught one pass for 23 yards. His only great game all season was when Collins was out. Dell remains a risky weekly lineup option with a low floor.

Trevor Lawrence was the victim of a cheap shot that knocked him out of this game with a concussion. Even though Jacksonville kept this game close until falling way behind in the second half, Mac Jones delivered some garbage-time production. Fantasy managers who started Brian Thomas or Evan Engram had to be pleased with each of their performances. Engram caught seven passes while Thomas posted 76 yards and a touchdown. If Lawrence is expected to miss time, teams can game plan for Jones, which will make this offense difficult to trust for fantasy. I still recommend starting Thomas in most situations. otherwise, the floor of this offense is scary.

Injuries 

• Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion.
• Rashod Bateman injured a knee.
• Taysom Hill was carted off with a knee injury.
• Calvin Austin was diagnosed with a concussion.