X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 13 Boom and Bust Candidates: Russell Wilson, Doug Martin, Alshon Jeffery & More!

It’s do or die time for millions of fantasy football players this week. Week 13 marks the end of the fantasy regular season for many leagues, and finishing 8-5 or 7-6 will make the difference between playing meaningful games in Week 14 and the losers’ bracket. The boatload of injuries that have plagued the league have put a lot of fantasy owners in tough predicaments this week, but all you need for a fantasy football win is for a few players to blow up.

Deciding which players are ready to erupt and which ones will have a down week is the beautiful yet maddening part of weekly fantasy football. This is why we use matchup data and other statistical trends to create this weekly boom/bust list, detailing who you should be counting on to carry you to victory and who you should avoid.

Potential Booms for Week 13

Quarterbacks:

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears: He’s come back down to Earth a bit over the last two weeks, but Jay Cutler has six games this season with at least 17 fantasy points. Meanwhile, the 49ers have been below average against QBs, surrendering an average of 18.5 points per week to the position.

Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals: Three weeks ago, fantasy owners might’ve been feeling a bit panicky at Dalton’s ugly performance against the Texans – turns out the Texans defense is that good and Dalton is back to playing well. With five TDs over the last two weeks, Dalton is primed for a big day in Cleveland, as the Browns have given up 12 passing TDs in the last four games.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers: Big Ben has been money over the last three games, with 1,169 passing YDs during that span and six TDs. The Colts have been somewhat vulnerable to the pass, especially on the road where they’ve allowed an average of 290.4 yards per game in five contests this season and a total of 10 TDs.

Running Backs:

Javorius Allen, RB, Ravens: This projection is more about the matchup and Javorius Allen’s projected usage than it is about his talent. The Ravens are decimated on defense, so the rookie runner should be a lock to rack up big touches this week. Making things even sweeter, the Dolphins have allowed an average of 145.25 rushing YDs per game to RBs over the last four games.

Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers: Surprisingly enough, Doug Martin has reestablished himself as a Top 5 RB this season with 1,038 rushing YDs and a 5.1 yards per carry average. The Falcons have not been great against the run, having allowed at least 90 rushing YDs or a TD in eight of 11 games this season.

Wide Receivers:

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears: If we’ve learned anything about the Bears offense this season it’s that when Alshon Jeffery is on the field, he will get the ball a lot. Jeffery has at least seven receptions and 90 receiving YDs in four of the six games in which he started this season. Jeffery is going to start, and the 49ers have allowed at least one TD to a receiver in seven of 11 games played this season.

Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars: Allen Robinson has established himself as a Top 10 WR this year and has at least five catches is his last seven games. He also has six TDs during that stretch. Tennessee just got destroyed by Oakland’s receivers a week ago (18 receptions, 256 YDs, three TDs), so I’m predicting more of the same in Week 13.

Tight Ends:

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs: Travis Kelce has been solid this season, and over the last five contests he has at least five receptions in four games. While his stats don’t jump out at you like Rob Gronkowski’s or Gary Barnidge’s, when you have a TE facing the Raiders, he becomes a must-start. The Raiders have given up 11 TDs to the position so far this season.

Julius Thomas, TE, Jaguars: With two TDs over the last two weeks, it seems as though Julius Thomas is finally becoming the offensive weapon many assumed he’d be in Jacksonville. The injury to Allen Hurns likely means an increase in targets for Thomas against a Titans team that has allowed eight TDs to TEs this season.

Defenses:

Carolina Panthers: The fact that New Orleans is playing at home gives me some pause, but the Saints have allowed double digit fantasy points to four opponents this season and the Panthers have scored at least 10 in three consecutive weeks.

Houston Texans: After four straight games scoring double digit fantasy points, it’s clear that Houston has emerged as an elite fantasy option. The Bills haven’t been exactly turnover prone, but they have fumbled three times in the last two weeks and been sacked 14 times in the last five games.

Potential Busts of the Week

Quarterbacks:

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Bills: Ever since giving up four TD passes to the Dolphins in Week 7, Houston has allowed just one TD pass. Since then, three signal callers have been held to single-digit fantasy scores. Tyrod Taylor has been a nice story so far this season, but the way Houston is playing on defense should scare you off of starting him.

Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks: It will be hard not to trust Russell Wilson again, being that he has thrown eight TDs in the last two weeks. Just be aware that Minnesota has only allowed two 300 YD passing games this season and five multi-td games (no three TD games).

Running Backs:

T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars: T.J. Yeldon has struggled as of late, failing to top 64 rushing YDs in each of the last four games. Things don’t appear likely to improve this week against a Titans team that has allowed just two rushing TDs since Week 5.

Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins: Lamar Miller has just 12 carries for 46 rushing YDs in the last two weeks. While he is always a threat in the passing attack, it appears to be too risky to count on that without a guaranteed base of expected backfield carries. Baltimore has allowed just four rushing TDs and two 100 YD rushing games to RBs this season.

Wide Receivers:

Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints: Brandin Cooks has been coming on strong down the stretch with five TDs in his last four games, but he faces Carolina’s Josh Norman this week. Norman has shutdown every receiver he’s faced this season and is likely to see a lot of Cooks on Sunday.

Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers: While the yardage has been there (615 receiving YDs over last six games), the TDs have not been (two TDs over last six games). Meanwhile, Atlanta has been filthy against WRs this season, allowing just three scores to the position all year long.

Tight Ends:

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys: After catching two TDs during the opening week, Jason Witten has been shut out of the end zone ever since. With Matt Cassel under center for Dallas and the Redskins excelling against TEs this season (only two TDs allowed), this is a bad matchup for Witten.

Defenses:

New York Jets: The Giants have only allowed an average of four fantasy points per game to defenses and the Jets have allowed offenses to score at least 20 points for seven consecutive weeks. While Eli Manning certainly has a habit of turning the ball over, the Jets inability to consistently get pressure on the QB and the absence of Darrelle Revis makes me shy away from starting the Jets.

Diamonds in the Rough:

With your season on the line, you can’t afford to let injuries and bad matchups keep you from getting a win. Here are some waiver options to help you get by for a week.

Alex Smith, QB, Chiefs: Alex Smith may not be the most exciting start in the world, but he’s consistent and offers a high floor. The Raiders have also been generous to QBs this year.
Alfred Morris or Matt Jones, RB, Redskins: Dallas has been better against the run as of late, but this is still a decent matchup at a thin position.
Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals: Andy Dalton looks poised to have a big game and the Browns have been awful against receivers.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings: Kyle Rudolph has been pretty productive over the last two weeks and faces a Seattle defense that is vulnerable to TEs.
Washington Redskins: Not only is the Redskins defense improved over the last three weeks (28 total fantasy points), they are facing a weak and decimated Cowboys team.

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chase Elliott

Was Somewhat Lucky, but Still Had Best Run at Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Won Stage 2, but Was Let Down by Strategy
Tyler Reddick

Despite Myriad Bad Luck, Tyler Reddick Did What He Needed to Do
Chase Briscoe

Recovers from Incident with Daniel Suarez to Finish Second
William Byron

Late Caution Foils William Byron's Shot at Gateway Victory
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates Targets in Seattle, Records 124 Receiving Yards in Week 1
Puka Nacua

Leads Rams in Targets, Catches, and Receiving Yards in Week 1
Logan O'Hoppe

Exits After Concussion Scare, Status Remains Unclear
Christian McCaffrey

Logs 31 Touches in Season Opener
Travis Etienne Jr.

Dominates Backfield Touches in Jacksonville, Posts Monster Day
Jayson Tatum

"Moving Around Way Better"
Russell Wilson

Giants Won't Commit to Russell Wilson as Week 2 Starter
Drake London

Day-to-Day with Shoulder Sprain
George Kittle

and Jauan Jennings to Undergo MRIs
Jake Moody

49ers to Evaluate Kicker Position After Jake Moody Struggles
Evan Engram

Questionable to Return Against Titans
Daniel Palencia

to Miss Time With Shoulder Injury
Jauan Jennings

Questionable to Return With Shoulder Injury
Emeka Egbuka

Scores Twice in NFL Debut
Aaron Rodgers

Throws Four Touchdowns in Week 1
Justin Fields

Scores Three Times in Loss
Daniel Jones

Excellent in Colts Debut Sunday
Puka Nacua

Clears Concussion Check, Returns to Game
George Kittle

Scores TD Before Being Ruled Out With Hamstring Injury
Puka Nacua

Taken to Locker Room for Concussion Evaluation
Brock Bowers

Expected to be Fine, No Injury Concerns
Byron Buxton

Exits Early With Knee Contusion
Drake London

Injures Shoulder, Questionable to Return
Trea Turner

Suffers Hamstring Strain
Brock Bowers

Questionable to Return in Week 1
Jonathan Taylor

Exits Game With Apparent Injury
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Gateway
Denny Hamlin

Fastest in Qualifying, the Favorite to Win at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Looking for Redemption at Gateway
Joey Logano

Has Been Elite at Gateway
Austin Cindric

Should Be On Your Radar at Gateway
AJ Allmendinger

Could Be a Sleeper Again at Gateway
Tyler Reddick

Southern 500 Near-Miss Makes Tyler Reddick a Stronger Option for Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace a Likely Gateway Contender
Alex Bowman

a Long Shot to Advance in Playoffs
Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing Looks Slower at Gateway, Which Will Hurt Austin Dillon
Shane Van Gisbergen

Starts 18th in Gateway Debut
Ty Gibbs

Toyota Speed May Help Ty Gibbs at Gateway
Brad Keselowski

Probably the Best DFS Place-Differential Option
Chris Buescher

May Have Qualified Too Well to Start for DFS
Kyle Busch

If Kyle Busch Contends Anywhere, it Could be at Gateway
NASCAR

John Hunter Nemechek Could Benefit From Toyota Speed Like he Did at Darlington
Bubba Chandler

to Make First Start on Sunday
Samuel Basallo

Exits Early with Hand Injury
Jeremy Swayman

Ready to Get Back on Track
Connor McDavid

Aiming for More Goals
NJ

Luke Glendening Signs Tryout Deal With Devils
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Leaves Early on Saturday After Fouling Ball Off his Knee
Dylan Harper

Hoping to be Ready for the Opener Versus Dallas
EDM

Derek Ryan Retires From Hockey
Connor Zary

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Flames
Carey Price

Canadiens Trade Carey Price to Sharks
Bobby Witt Jr.

Dealing With Back Spasms
Bobby Witt Jr.

Exits Early on Friday
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Placed on Injured List With Quad Strain
Tyler Glasnow

Scratched on Friday With Back Tightness
Rasmus Hojgaard

Finishes Tied For Second at Omega European Masters
Tyrrell Hatton

Finishes Tied for 32nd at LIV Indianapolis
Matt Fitzpatrick

Finishes Fifth at Omega European Masters
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied For Second in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Xander Schauffele

Finishes 42nd in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Tyler Glasnow

Scratched From Friday's Start for Undisclosed Reasons
Shohei Ohtani

Returning to the Mound on Friday
Kyle Finnegan

Lands on Injured List With Adductor Strain
Aaron Judge

Returns to Right Field on Friday
Willson Contreras

' Suspension Reduced, to Start Serving it on Friday
Kodai Senga

Mets Send Kodai Senga to Triple-A to Get Right
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card
Axel Sola

Alex Sola Set To Make His UFC Debut
Pablo López

Pablo Lopez Expected to Return on Friday
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Exits With Knee Contusions
Will Smith

Unlikely to Play This Weekend
Shohei Ohtani

to Pitch on Monday
Jon Rahm

Looks to Prove His Importance on European Ryder Cup Team
Tommy Fleetwood

Among Leaders of European Ryder Cup Team
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
E.J. Liddell

Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP