RADIO
Week 13 of the fantasy football season is underway and while we may have drafted certain players at a premium, it is okay to consider benching them despite their name value. We often hear the phrase "start your studs" and it is a tried and true method, especially earlier in the season. When injuries, tough matchups, and/or questionable team situations arise, we must adjust. Today, I'll be looking at Kyler Murray, Joe Mixon, and Drake London.
It may be difficult to stomach benching a player drafted within the top 100 for a possible free-agent acquisition, but sometimes such measures must be taken to ensure victory throughout the fantasy football season.
Here is a look at some fantasy football players who have shown warning signals recently, and you should think twice about putting them in your lineup in Week 13. Will they bounce back or continue to underperform? For any and all issues or concerns, contact @RotoSurgeon on X.
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Quarterback Concerns - Sit 'Em for Week 13?
Kyler Murray - Arizona Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
With a date in Pittsburgh against a revamped, healthy Steelers defense, Kyler Murray's Week 13 matchup is unkind toward fantasy managers. This past week, Murray survived a poor showing with garbage time and a two-yard rushing touchdown to bolster his stat line but that was his lone rush attempt of the game. Since his activation three weeks ago, Murray has attempted 14 total rushes. 4.7 rushes per game is not awful but it pales in comparison to the 6.7 he averaged prior to tearing his ACL (luckily, the efficiency is still there).
Murray may be without multiple starting pass-catchers this week as Marquise Brown, Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson are all ailing. Facing a defense that ranks seventh in DVOA against the pass while 14th against the rush (and improving), it is wise to seek other starting options.
Who To Start Instead?
Russell Wilson - Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans
Unless both Jerry Jeudy and Marvin Mims Jr. are out due to injury this week, Wilson is in start territory given his fruitful matchup against a weak Texans pass defense. Houston ranks 26th against the pass and the Broncos have the personnel to take advantage of that. Wilson's connection with Courtland Sutton is strong and the ever-savvy Sean Payton has found his groove within Denver. Wilson ranks QB18 in fantasy PPG this season but within a matchup like this against a strong Houston offense, he could very well fall into the top 10 for Week 13.
While the Broncos' defense has held opposing pass offenses in check, limiting game scores in recent weeks, their run defense remains extremely vulnerable, allowing the now Devin Singletary-led Texans RB unit a means to drive down the field.
Running Back Concerns - Sit 'Em for Week 13?
Joe Mixon - Cincinnati Bengals @ Jacksonville Jaguars
While Joe Mixon may have 160 total yards and a touchdown over the past two games without Joe Burrow, volume can only get him so far in a matchup against the NFL's top rush defense. Jacksonville's front is bringing much better rushing attacks to a halt and should continue to do so on Monday Night Football.
Joe Mixon's 2023 season is a mixed bag due to Burrow's constant health issues. The offense found a groove for a handful of games then lost their star QB once again. Despite this, Mixon's fantasy year is competent at 13.5 PPG. However, with Jake Browning under center moving forward, the name value and even volume can be ignored in matchups like Week 13.
Who To Start Instead?
Jaylen Warren - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Jaylen Warren has become the de facto RB1 for Pittsburgh and is bordering on "must-start" territory on a weekly basis. Week 13 especially is one in which Warren should be a lock for lineups as he faces an Arizona Cardinals defense that just allowed 220 yards and three TDs on the ground to Kyren Williams and Royce Freeman.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense looks better in recent weeks not just due to the removal of mediocre offensive coordinator Matt Canada, but also the expanded role of rookies Broderick Jones and Darnell Washington. Both rookies are stellar blockers who have graded lanes for Warren and Najee Harris (who is also a must-start option in Week 13) recently. Warren currently sits atop the league in yards per attempt as a rusher (5.8) and could even bump that number up further after this matchup against a defense ranking bottom-three against both the run and pass.
Wide Receiver Concerns - Sit 'Em for Week 13?
Drake London - Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets
While Drake London has seen at least seven targets in 70% of his games this season, the Falcons offense is far too volatile through the air to trust him this week against the NFL's fourth-ranked pass defense by DVOA. Last week, London had a solid outing against a decent New Orleans pass defense but they were without top cornerback Marshon Lattimore. A matchup against Sauce Gardner, who matches up with London's size, is no easy task and one to ideally avoid since London is averaging merely 11.4 PPG.
Who To Start Instead?
Curtis Samuel - Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins
Curtis Samuel's season is frustrating for those who bought into his early-year fantasy production as it fell off of a crater in mid-October. However, nagging lower-body injuries seem like the culprit for the missing points. In this past game against the Dallas Cowboys, Samuel posted 12 targets, nine catches, 100 yards, and one TD and that is certainly worth acknowledging.
While Samuel was seen as the odd man out of the WR room coming into the season, he has outproduced first-round pick Jahan Dotson in every receiving category and essentially overtaken him as WR2. In a Week 13 game where the Commanders will likely have to play catch-up, Samuel is a solid fantasy start across all formats.
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