Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 13
SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
Consult our Week 13 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 13 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
Start
Brock Purdy, 49ers
at Eagles
The 49ers have plenty of motivation this week. They take on the Eagles, who beat them in last year's NFC Championship after Brock Purdy injured his throwing arm.
This time around, the Niners are favored on the road as Purdy is healthy and has been capitalizing on good matchups.
Purdy threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 10. The 23-year-old followed that up with 333 yards and another three scores versus the Bucs in Week 11.
The Eagles are the second softest opponent for fantasy quarterbacks, so get ready for Purdy to show them what they missed in January.
Boone's projection: 327 passing yards, 3 passing TDs
Other QBs to start
- Sam Howell vs. Dolphins
- Russell Wilson at Texans
Zack Moss, Colts
at Titans
Jonathan Taylor is out with a thumb injury for the next few weeks, so Moss returns to the workhorse role he excelled in earlier this season.
In the first eight weeks - before Taylor got back to playing his regular complement of snaps - Moss was the seventh-ranked running back in fantasy points per game.
That stretch included a 25-touch, 195-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Titans' defense, which he'll take on again this week.
Boone's projection: 94 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, 3 receptions, TD
Other RBs to start
- Rachaad White vs. Panthers
- Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Chargers
- Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris vs. Cardinals
Calvin Ridley, Jaguars
vs. Bengals
The Jaguars finally seem to be figuring out how to best use Ridley, who's finished as a top-12 fantasy receiver in back-to-back weeks.
Ridley has over 80 yards in three of his last four outings and should continue that trend against a Bengals' defense that's easiest to attack through the air.
Cincinnati has permitted the 10th most yards to receivers this season.
Boone's projection: 87 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD
Other WRs to start
- Jaylen Waddle at Commanders
- Courtland Sutton at Texans
- Josh Downs at Titans
Taysom Hill, Saints
vs. Lions
The Saints are dealing with a ton of injuries in their receiving corps. Chris Olave is in concussion protocol, Michael Thomas is on injured reserve, and Rashid Shaheed is expected to sit out with a thigh issue.
That means they might be without their top three wideouts in Week 13, leaving Hill, Alvin Kamara, and tight end Juwan Johnson as their best playmakers.
Hill has amassed over 50 scrimmage yards in five of his last six games. So expect a heavy dose of the jack-of-all-trades as a runner and pass-catcher this week - making him a mid- to high-end TE1 in fantasy.
Boone's projection: 58 receiving yards, 6 receptions, 36 rushing yards, TD
Other TEs to start
- Evan Engram vs. Bengals
- David Njoku at Rams
Sit
Matthew Stafford, Rams
vs. Browns
Stafford finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback just once this year - and it came in a gift-wrapped matchup with a friendly Cardinals' defense.
The Browns might be missing a couple of defenders due to injury, but they remain one of the stingiest units in the league. Cleveland is allowing the fewest passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing first downs, and the lowest completion percentage in 2023.
They've also given up the second-fewest fantasy points to QBs, which will make it tough for Stafford to have another boom week.
Boone's projection: 229 passing yards, TD, INT
Other QBs to sit
- Baker Mayfield vs. Panthers
- Derek Carr vs. Lions
Joe Mixon, Bengals
at Jaguars
Mixon and the Bengals' run game struggled to get going in Jake Browning's first start since Joe Burrow went down for the season.
Cincy's lead back managed just 16 rushing yards on eight carries, while somewhat salving his fantasy day with 44 yards on two receptions.
Things will only be more difficult this week against a Jaguars' defense that sells out to stop the ground game. So approach Mixon as a touchdown-dependent fantasy RB3.
Boone's projection: 36 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Other RBs to sit
- James Conner at Steelers
- AJ Dillon vs. Chiefs
- Chuba Hubbard/Miles Sanders at Buccaneers
Drake London, Falcons
at Jets
Despite a fairly easy schedule this season, London is the 42nd-ranked wide receiver in fantasy points per game largely due to subpar quarterback play and questionable usage.
He was able to take advantage of a Saints defense that was without star corner Marshon Lattimore last week, but fantasy managers shouldn't get their hopes up in Week 13.
The Jets are the worst opponent for fantasy wideouts, so treat London as a WR3/flex.
Boone's projection: 43 receiving yards, 4 receptions
Other WRs to sit
- Chris Godwin vs. Panthers
- Jerry Jeudy at Texans
- Tyler Boyd at Jaguars
Kyle Pitts, Falcons
at Jets
While we want to have faith that Pitts will eventually find his stride and become a consistent fantasy producer, it doesn't feel like this is the year it will happen.
The former fourth overall pick has topped 48 yards just twice this season and the Jets aren't the kind of defense that's going to pave the way for him.
Hopefully, you've found another starting option at tight end - Pitts no longer warrants a spot in the TE1 ranks.
Boone's projection: 34 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Other TEs to sit
- Tyler Conklin vs. Falcons
- Tyler Higbee vs. Browns
Stash
Past stashes that still qualify: Elijah Mitchell, D'Ernest Johnson, Zamir White
A.T. Perry, Saints
We mentioned all the Saints' injuries at receiver earlier. But we didn't acknowledge the rookie Perry (3% rostered), who projects to be the team's No. 1 wideout if all those players are sidelined.
Aside from catching a touchdown two weeks ago, the sixth-rounder hasn't done much with his increased opportunities. But he'll get targets by default if Olave and Shaheed are ruled out.
He's best viewed as a risky flex, which means he's in the mix to be a fantasy starter in a week with six teams on bye.
Zach Ertz, Free agent
The Cardinals granted their veteran tight end's request to be released, giving him a chance to catch on with a contender.
While injuries have limited Ertz (12% rostered) this season, he's capable of contributing in both real life and in fantasy - if he lands in the right situation.
If you're hurting at TE, consider stashing Ertz until we see where he signs.
Quit
Quarterback (1QB): Joshua Dobbs, Aaron Rodgers
Running back: Miles Sanders, D'Onta Foreman
Wide receiver: Michael Thomas, Quentin Johnston
Tight end: Darren Waller, Mark Andrews