Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 13 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Najee Harris, Khalil Shakir, Justin Herbert, Taysom Hill, Nick Chubb

November 30, 2024

Scott Engel features important fantasy football lineup starts/sit options for Week 13 (2024). He highlights key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 13 fantasy football lineup decisions.

Welcome back RotoBallers to our Week 13 fantasy football lineup spotlights, where we discuss key starters and tough calls for Week 13 fantasy lineups. Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights on RotoBaller.com feature key players to consider starting every week during the 2024 fantasy football season. “The King” highlights preferred starting options when you are dealing with challenging lineup decisions for fantasy football Week 13. With four games being played already, the recommendations here can help you secure a win.

The players included in this rundown are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available in the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the promo code KING at checkout for an additional discount and unlock his player rankings for all formats. Plus, you will get access to a full selection of tools and analysis for in-season use.

When considering the players presented here for fantasy football Week 13 lineup usage, also consult our staff fantasy football rankings to see if they are ranked higher or lower than your other possible starters. The skill position analysis is based on Scott’s Week 13 PPR rankings.

Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 13

The Colts need to ease pressure on Anthony Richardson, and his receiving crew is depleted by injuries. Jonathan Taylor is going to “cook” this week against the Patriots. He could be a big key to fantasy victories in NFL Week 13.

Breece Hall appears to be trending towards playing against Seattle, but the Seahawks’ run defense has stiffened up lately. The defensive focus will be on stopping the run first. You don’t bench Hall because he is capable of overcoming expectations at any time, and if the Jets fully clear him to play, then he should be fully cleared for fantasy lineups.

If the Jets do deactivate Hall, though, Braelon Allen is an impressive tackle-breaker who can function as a quality flex option.

Najee Harris is a Bruiser of a Running Back! 💪🔥

🚀 17.4 Carries/Game (#5)
🏈 51 Evaded Tackles (#5)
🟥 38 Red Zone Touches (#9)

How high can Najee climb in your rankings? 📈#HereWeGo #Steelers #FantasyFootball #NFLTwitterpic.twitter.com/p86JGgxHMg

— PlayerProfiler NFL (@Profiler_NFL) November 30, 2024

Steelers-Bengals will be an entertaining divisional matchup, and Pittsburgh should move the ball effectively against the Bengals’ 23^rd-ranked defense. Najee Harris is a solid RB2 start. In the same game, don’t bench Chase Brown based on the perception of the Steelers matchup. Pittsburgh has allowed an NFL-high six rushing TDs over the past four weeks.

Gus Edwards will be the lead RB for the Chargers against the Falcons and has a good shot of notching a TD. Watch carefully to see how Kimani Vidal complements him and how Hassan Haskins is mixed in. Edwards can be started as a quality flex option this week, but add Vidal if he is still available in free agency and stash Haskins as a potential eventual threat to Edwards.

Strongly consider reserving James Conner. He faces Minnesota, which boasts the No. 1 rushing defense in the NFL, and the Cardinals RB is coming off a very quiet performance at Seattle. Arizona is going to move the ball this week, mainly in the air.

Nick Chubb started to look more like the better version of himself last week, but Denver has allowed six rushing TDs, which is tied for second-fewest in the NFL. Chubb isn’t going to roll up big yardage numbers yet, and he does not rank in my top 30 RBs for this week.

More RB Insights: Bucky Irving is coming off a career game, and the Panthers allow the most Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs. Lock him in as an RB2 this week. Expect a TD run from Kenneth Walker III as the Seahawks methodically move into scoring position.

The Jaguars are healthier on offense, but I am not expecting much from Travis Etienne against Houston’s sixth-ranked run defense. He barely cracks my top 35 fantasy RBs for NFL Week 13.

Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 13

Garrett Wilson should be a busy pass-catcher this week against the Seahawks, especially if he lines up often against Josh Jobe, who is Seattle’s third CB. Jobe has earned more playing time, yet he was promoted off the practice squad earlier this month, and trying to handle Wilson will be a major challenge. The Jets WR ranks in my top 10.

The Jets’ secondary still presents a formidable challenge for the Seattle WRs, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba has earned fantasy football must-start status for now, along with DK Metcalf. The Jets’ defense ranks 12^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs over the last four weeks, so the secondary is not a full shutdown unit. I took an in-depth look at JSN’s rise to true fantasy WR2 status here.

Ladd McConkey has the fourth-best WR/CB matchup grade of any WR on Pro Football Focus for Week 13 against the Atlanta corners. He is locked in as a top-20 WR for this week against the Falcons. Atlanta ranks 28^th in FFPG allowed to WRs, so consider Quentin Johnston as a deeper bounce-back option, too.

Khalil Shakir’s Season Ranks Among #NFL Wide Receivers ⬇️

1️⃣st | Drops (0)

1️⃣st | Missed Tackles Forced (16)

1️⃣st | YAC/Rec. (8.3)

2️⃣nd | YAC (462)

8️⃣th | Yards Per Route Run (2.34)

1️⃣3️⃣th | Rating When Targeted (109.6)#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/qik3SiyJZu

— Buffalo Sports Talk (@BUFSportsTalk) November 25, 2024

Khalil Shakir is the safest WR play from the Bills, and I have him ranked as a back-half WR2. Amari Cooper is still getting comfortable with the team, Keon Coleman is iffy to return, and Dalton Kincaid is out. Shakir is a highly reliable target for Josh Allen and should at least produce at least adequate fantasy totals in the Sunday night matchup with the 49ers.

Tank Dell has been a fantasy disappointment this season and did not see his production elevate as hoped after Stefon Diggs, unfortunately, went down. The Jaguars rank 30^th in FFPG allowed to WRs, so Dell has some upside as a top 36 fantasy WR this week.

Devaughn Vele draws the eighth-best WR/CB matchup grade of any WR for Week 13 on PFF against the Cleveland CBs. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound rookie is a big target who has yet to display his TD potential, but he should get in the end zone soon, and the rookie is a deeper option to stream.

Adonai Mitchell is a Week 13 sleeper. The Colts are dealing with multiple WR injuries, and Mitchell is a sizable WR who can be a safer target for the erratic Richardson. New England ranks 23^rd in FFPG allowed to WRs.

More WR Insights: Puka Nacua torched the Saints for nine receptions, 164 yards, and a TD last season. … Cincinnati ranks 26^th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the past four weeks. George Pickens is an upside WR2 play this week. … Marvin Harrison Jr. is boom or bust, but Minnesota can certainly be passed on, so he ranks just outside my top 20.

Trevor Lawrence may be able to return against Houston, which would put Brian Thomas Jr. back into must-start fantasy WR3 territory. Jerry Jeudy gets a revenge game vs. the Broncos, but I don’t expect him to produce too well in a challenging matchup. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a worthy flex option if you need a lineup plugger, as the Rams rank 25^th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the past four weeks.

Quarterbacks And Tight Ends - Fantasy Football Week 13

The Chargers’ offensive line has the best pass-blocking grade of any team on PFF in Week 13. Justin Herbert is a top-5 play as Los Angeles rebounds from a deflating loss to Baltimore. The Rams have the fifth-best pass-blocking grade, and the Saints’ pass defense is the lowest-ranked unit in the NFC. Matthew Stafford is a top fantasy QB2 this week, just outside the top 12.

Cleveland ranks 18^th in FFPG allowed to QBs over the past four weeks, a friendly enough ranking for me to put Bo Nix at QB7. The Steelers are top-5 in FFPG allowed to QBs in the past four weeks, but in a must-win matchup for the Bengals, Joe Burrow is still in the top 10.

The Jaguars’ pass defense ranks last in the NFL, but divisional games can produce unlikely results at times. Combining both factors, I rank C.J. Stroud as QB12. The matchup does look tempting for Richardson against the Patriots, but he is dealing with the WR injuries, and I expect the Colts to ride heavily with Taylor, so the Colts QB ranks just inside the top 15.

Darren Rizzi said he feels like the usage of Taysom Hill the last few weeks is trending toward where they want it to be.

“I think sprinkling him a little bit everywhere is when we’re at our best.” #Saints

— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) November 26, 2024

T.J. Hockenson has a top-5 TE matchup advantage grade on PFF for Week 13 and should be locked into your fantasy lineups now. The new Saints coaching staff wants to totally unlock Taysom Hill, and he ranks just outside my top-5. I am only reserving him for must-start types like Hockenson and George Kittle.

In a major matchup for the Ravens, I will be looking for a Mark Andrews TD catch, so he ranks as a higher-end TE2. Lawrence's return can put Evan Engram back into the top 10 for the week. I still do not believe that Will Dissly is a true fantasy TE1, but the matchup against the Falcons’ 26^th-ranked pass defense keeps him in my top 10 for Week 13.

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