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This is the week that makes or breaks the seasons of millions of fantasy football managers.
Week 13 is when most fantasy leagues are only one or two weeks away from their playoffs, so paying attention to the injury report and your league’s waiver wire are just as important as paying attention to your spouse, children and pets. There are several players who are question marks heading into this crucial week, so if one of your key fantasy guys has a chance of pulling a disappearing act this weekend, you better have a pivot play ready to go in case of emergency.
Without further ado, here are my pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 13 --- and the questionable superstars who you might need to replace:
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Potential Pivot Plays for Fantasy Lineups
If Las Vegas Josh Jacobs (shoulder) is not ready to give it a go on Sunday, you could go with…
Frank Gore (NYJ, RB) vs. LV
There is no mistaking how bad and boring the New York Jets offense has been during this disastrous season. Look no further for proof than Gore, who has one rushing touchdown on the year and has only broken the 70-yard mark only once (last game vs. Miami) despite being the team’s leading ball carrier. It just proves how poorly he has done fantasy-wise that he is clearly New York’s top tailback yet he is only rostered in 25 percent of leagues currently.
Just like plate appearances is the most important stat for hitters in fantasy baseball, touches is the most important stat for running backs in fantasy football. Gore is commandeering all the touches in the Jets backfield now that rookie La’Mical Perine sprained his ankle. There is probably no other back on your league’s waiver wire getting touches than he is. Gore gets to put his helmet into a middle-of-the-road Las Vegas run defense this Sunday. Gore could give fantasy managers 70 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards and a TD depending on if Sam Darnold can keep defenses honest and set up scoring opportunities with his passing.
If Atlanta’s Julio Jones (hamstring) cannot be cleared in time for Sunday’s game, you could go with…
Keke Coutee (HOU, WR) vs. IND
Now that top target Will Fuller has been suspended for the rest of the season due to a PED violation, flameout Kenny Stills has been released and slot receiver Randall Cobb has been placed on injured reserve, Coutee has suddenly become Houston’s No. 2 WR behind Brandin Cooks. When ultra-talented Deshaun Watson is your quarterback and your offense is ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing, being the No. 2 WR sounds like the perfect opportunity to rack up fantasy points.
Coutee has not done much in the small sample size of games he has played in other than posting two 11-catch, 100-yard-games during his rookie campaign in 2018. The good news is that they both came against Indianapolis, the team he plays against this week. Different defense now, for sure, but he should go into the game energized because of his track record versus the Colts. While Coutee has not shown a propensity for scoring touchdowns or breaking big plays in his young career, the slot receiver can rack up receptions in PPR leagues. Do not be surprised to see him catch six Watson passes for 60-80 yards since the Texans’ receiving corps options are limited.
If Jacksonville’s D.J. Chark (ribs) misses his second straight game this Sunday, you could go with…
Josh Reynolds (LAR, WR) vs. ARI
It is amazing Reynolds catches any passes at all when the Rams have two multimillion-dollar wideouts (Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp) to feed and two solid tight ends (Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett) who have had their roles expanded in recent years. Yet Reynolds has managed to pull in 24 passes over his past five games and is well on his way to the best season of his four-year career.
Reynolds should be familiar with division rival Arizona’s pass defense. The Cards are not going to stick top cover corner Patrick Peterson on Reynolds, which bodes well for Jared Goff’s No. 3 WR. Reynolds will not give you a 100-yard-game (none in 59 career games) or multiple touchdowns (one TD or less in each of last 27 contests), but five receptions for 65 yards and a possible score is well within the realm of possibility, which is all you can ask for from a last-ditch waiver pick this late in the season.
If Tennessee’s Jonnu Smith (knee) does not limp out there on Sunday , you could go with…
Anthony Firkser (TEN, TE) vs. CLE
Sometimes the easiest and best way to replace an injured fantasy player of yours is to roll with the same guy his NFL team is replacing him with. This could be the case here as Firkser has done a decent job filling in for the streaky Smith whenever Tennessee’s top tight end has missed time. Firkser only has one less reception and 56 fewer receiving yards than Smith has this season. The only difference between the two --- and it’s a humongous one --- is that Smith has scored eight touchdowns while Firkser has only reached the end zone once.
As much as starting signal caller Ryan Tannehill enjoys throwing to A.J. Brown, he always saves some targets for his tight ends, so Firkser should see plenty of action on Sunday. Firkser has been targeted four times or more in five games this year, which is impressive for a No. 2 tight end not named Dallas Goedert. The biggest bonus of all, though, is that Firkser is facing a Cleveland secondary that was already banged-up and now lost safety Ronnie Harrison to a shoulder sprain. Firkser is a decent pickup-and-play option if you find out late in the week that Smith is a no-go.
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