Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Week 13

Scott Engel provides Week 13 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make.

Welcome to Week 13, RotoBallers! Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with or consider avoiding when faced with tough lineup decisions in Week 13 of the fantasy football season.

These choices are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller's NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a 10% discount and get access to all of my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the remainder of the 2020 season. Weekly subscription options are available.

Skill position picks here are based on my PPR rankings.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Week 13 Running Back Spotlights

Alvin Kamara had a rushing TD in the Week 11 meeting with the Falcons. He has 301 scrimmage yards (100.3 per game) in 3 career games at Atlanta. Kamara ranks 3rd in the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,231) and is tied for 3rd in scrimmage TDs (12). He can become  the 1st player since Matt Forte and Chris Johnson (2008-11) with 1,300+ scrimmage yards in each of his 1st 4 seasons. Kamara has been disappointing in his last two games, but he is still the player that posted all of those outstanding numbers, and Sean Payton likely has not forgotten that either. A major playmaker like Kamara will not be held down for long. Don’t think about benching him. That would be an overreaction to a small sample size. Don’t be surprised if Payton makes Kamara a prime part of his game plan again this week.

Devontae Booker has averaged 5.5 yards per carry and has three rushing TDs as he has worked mostly as a change of pace RB for Las Vegas this season. Now he will be the lead RB for the Raiders in what seems to be a very friendly matchup with the Jets. Booker definitely has fantasy RB2 appeal this week. But as we saw with Brian Hill last week, and with Jordan Wilkins in the past, some RBs play better as part timers and do not always flourish when given the opportunity to play a larger role. Booker should not be used over a more proven and established back just because of the matchup and chance to start. He appears to be a lock if you can use him as a flex, though.

Miles Sanders has 75+ scrimmage yards in 7 of his past 8 games on the road and is aiming for his 5th in row on road with 75+ scrimmage yards. He rushed for 72 yards in his last meeting with the Packers in September of 2109. He is one of three RBs with 4.9+ yards per carry since 2019 (min. 250 atts.). Sanders gets a great draw vs. Green Bay this week. It’s a rebound spot, as the Packers allow the third-most Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs. But Sanders is still a source of fantasy frustration, as the Eagles seem to refuse to give him enough consistent work to get into a rhythm. He also has not established himself as much of a goal line runner yet, as Sanders has three rushing TDs and the Eagles have employed other options near the end zone. Now Jordan Howard is a significant vulturing threat, Sanders has upside in this week’s matchup, though, and should post good numbers even if he does not get in the end zone again.

Cam Akers had a career-high 84 rushing yards and his 1st career rushing TD in Week 12. He also tore off a 61-yard run. He is aiming for his 3rd game in a row with a TD. Akers appears to be very close to taking over the featured back role he has been ticketed for all along since he was drafted. This could be the week when he has a breakthrough game. But wait to see it happen first if you can. There are only two teams on a bye and you may have more proven options for a flex play. He’s an upside choice if you need one, but we are not quite sure that the necessary statistical floor is there just yet.

WATCH: The King and Real Talk Raph provide their Week 12 Sleeper and Value Plays

Week 13 Wide Receiver Spotlights

Brandin Cooks had 5 catches for 85 yards last week. He is aiming  for his third game in a row with 85+ rec. yards. Cooks is clearly the No. 1 WR for the Texans now, and Deshaun Watson is playing well. But the Colts are sixth best in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs, and Cooks will be a primary defensive focus for Indianapolis this week. There may not be much upside for him in Week 13, so you may not get more than adequate production.

D.J. Chark will make his return to action after missing Week 12 because of rib issues. Chark has become something of a forgotten fantasy man, He has been unreliable because of injuries and very spotty QB play in Jacksonville. But he is ready to go for Week 13, and Mike Glennon performed respectably as a starter last week. The Vikings are 30^th in FFPG allowed to WRs, and Chark is still very capable of posting good Fantasy totals. Plug him in as a WR3 in an important Week 13 fantasy matchup.

Hunter Renfrow set season highs in catches (7) and. yards (73) last week. He is aiming for his 3^rd game in row on the road with 60+ yards. Darren Waller will be the prime target for Derek Carr vs. the Jets. Renfrow should take advantage of the matchup, though, and is a sneaky play if you need some WR help in Week 13.

Sterling Shepard had 7 receptions for 64 yards in Week 12. He has 5+ catches in 9 of his past 10 games. Shepard is aiming for his 6th game in a row with 6+ receptions. He has been a frequently recommended play this week considering his draw at Seattle. It makes sense, as he should be busy in terms of targets and catches. But Darius Slayton has more upside. Golden Tate has the “Revenge” angle. With Colt McCoy at QB, though, all of the New York WRs are risky plays, even with the seemingly friendly matchup. The Seattle defense has played better recently, so even though Shepard is clearly best option among the wideouts, he may not be an upside play.

Week 13 Quarterback Spotlight

Ryan Tannehill has 17 TDs (16 passing ) vs. an INT for a 117.7 rating in 6 home games this season. The Browns are 21^st in FFPG allowed to QBs. Tannehill is a solid QB1 start in Week 13. More strong play from Derrick Henry will set up play action passing and frequent strikes to A.J. Brown and Corey Davis. Anthony Firkser will also be an end zone target and is worthy of streaming consideration if you do not have a Top 10 player at the position.

Week 13 Tight End Spotlight

Mike Gesicki had 82 yards and 2 TDs in the last meeting with the Bengals in late December of 2019. Cincinnati is 28^th vs. TEs and Gesicki had a TD catch in Week 12. Miami should have an easy time with Cincinnati and Gesicki is a very good bet to find the end zone again.

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