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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

Another tight end option is off the board with Jack Doyle (kidney) on IR, but the position is still fairly deep with no teams on a bye during Week 13. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - TE/DEF/ST

Travis Kelce vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,000

The high-scoring affair between the Chiefs and Rams certainly resulted in a productive performance from Kelce. He received a season-high 14 targets, catching 10 of them for 127 yards and a touchdown. That marked Kelce’s fifth game of the year with at least 10 targets and the fourth time he compiled at least 100 yards. He’s also reached the end zone four times across his last four contests.

Kelce was already one of the best tight ends in the league, but his production has risen to the next level with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. He already has 67 receptions for 914 yards across 11 games after finishing with 83 catches and 1,038 yards all of last season. Even with all the weapons that the Chiefs have on offense, he still leads the team with 101 targets. Kelce is expensive, but he also has the highest floor of anyone at his position.

Jared Cook vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,700

This season can’t end soon enough for the Raiders. They lost again in Week 12 to the Ravens, marking their sixth loss in their last seven games. They allowed 34 points, which didn’t exactly do their injury-depleted offense any favors. Cook is one of the best pass catchers that they have left, but he caught only two of his five targets for 32. He did somewhat salvage his performance, though, with one of those catches resulting in a touchdown.

Even with their lack of talent at wide receiver, Cook hasn’t been on the field for more than 62 percent of the Raiders offensive snaps in any of their last five games. On the bright side, he does have three touchdowns during that stretch, two of which have come across his last two games. The Raiders might be forced to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Chiefs, whose defense has actually allowed the most receiving yards to opposing tight ends (812) in the league. This could be a matchup to exploit with Cook.

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,400

The Seahawks won last week against the Panthers, but their defense did not play well. Christian McCaffrey ate them alive, leading the Panthers to score 27 points. The Seahawks did grab an interception, but they failed to record a sack for the first time this year. With that performance, the Seahawks have now allowed at least 24 points in three consecutive games.

Even though Week 12 wasn’t great, this is about as good of a matchup as you can get for the Seahawks defense. The 49ers only scored nine points against a horrible Bucs defense in Week 11 and will again roll with Nick Mullens at quarterback. After his impressive debut against the Raiders, Mullens has four interceptions and two touchdowns across his last two games. Add in the fact that the Seahawks are at home and they have the potential to be the chalk defense play in DFS.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - TE/DEF/ST

David Njoku vs. Houston Texans
Stadium = NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Njoku has been battling a knee injury but had the benefit of a bye in Week 11. That allowed him to log 67 percent of the Browns offensive snaps in Week 12, resulting in him catching all five of his targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. He’s already surpassed his totals in targets, receptions and receiving tards from his rookie season and could be in line for a productive finish with the changes the Browns have made to their coaching staff.

The key for Njoku for this game against the Texans will be his health. The Browns have continued to take a cautious approach with him in practice, but all indications are that he will be fine for Sunday. The Texans generally have good numbers defending against the pass, but they’ve had trouble with tight ends, allowing 725 yards and six touchdowns to the position. At his reasonable price on both sites, Njoku makes for a great option in tournament play.

Cameron Brate vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $3,700

Brate has had a limited role in the Bucs offense, but all that changed when O.J. Howard (ankle/foot) was lost for the season. In his first game as the team’s top tight end, Brate was on the field for 70 percent of their offensive plays in Week 12. The only skill player with a higher percentage was wide receiver Mike Evans (79 percent). He wasn’t overly involved with just four targets, but he did catch three of them for 26 yards and a touchdown.

The yardage total last week wasn’t what you were hoping for from Brate, but the key is how often he was on the field. The Bucs also won 27-9, so it’s not like they had to throw the ball a lot late in the game. They’ll face a much tougher task this week against a Panthers team that scored 42 points on them in Week 9. One way to attack the Panthers is through the use of the tight end as they have allowed 713 yards and nine touchdowns to the position.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $2,600

The strength of the Colts is quarterback Andrew Luck and their offense, but their defense hasn’t been as bad as initially predicted at the start of the season. While their performance in Week 11 against the Dolphins wasn’t a total flop, it wasn’t great, either, with them allowing 24 points and recording just one sack.

These two teams just faced off in Week 10 but under very different circumstances. Leonard Fournette will have to miss their rematch due to a suspension and the Jaguars have benched Blake Bortles at quarterback. Having Carlos Hyde and T.J. Yeldon does somewhat help offset the loss of Fournette, but Cody Kessler doesn’t exactly instill a lot of confidence at quarterback. If you want to save a few bucks at defense, the Colts are at least worth considering.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - TE/DEF/ST

Jimmy Graham vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Graham is dealing with a fractured thumb, but he still managed to play last week against the Vikings. However, he was only on the field for a season-low 42 percent of the Packers offensive plays. He finished with just two catches for 34 yards on four targets and will have to deal with the injury again Sunday. The Cardinals defense has done a good job slowing down tight ends already, so this is a situation to stay far away from with Graham.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $2,800

The Ravens took advantage of the Raiders poor offense last week, recording three sacks and returning a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Add in their punt return touchdown and the Ravens came through in a big way. However, they did still allow 17 points and those were their first defensive and special teams scores of the season. This will be a much tougher task on the road against a Falcons team that averages 30 points a game at home.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

There are no more bye weeks left this season, leaving a packed schedule for Week 13 in the NFL. The Saints, Steelers, and Chargers all playing in primetime does take a few of the top-tier wide receivers out of the equation for the main Sunday slate in DFS, but there are still plenty of great options. Let’s dive into the position and highlight some players to consider, and avoid, as you craft your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Wide Receivers

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,200

With their win over the Titans in Week 12, the Texans have now won each of their last eight games. Even though they pulled out the victory, Hopkins had a quiet performance by his standards. He only received six targets, which tied the mark for his fewest in a game this season. He did haul in five of them for 74 yards but failed to score a touchdown for the first time since Week 5.

The Texans scored 34 points against the Titans, but it wasn’t exactly a great matchup for Hopkins considering the Titans allow the eighth-fewest passing yards per game (230) in the league. Things swing much more in his favor against the Browns, who allow the fourth-most passing yards per game (284). With his stellar touchdown upside, Hopkins makes for a great option in cash contests despite his lofty price tag.

Tyreek Hill vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $9,100

There have been few regular season games as exciting as the matchup between the Chiefs and Rams was in Week 11. The two teams combined for an insane 105 points and Hill was certainly heavily involved in the action, catching 10 of 14 targets for 215 yards and two touchdowns. His 21.5 yards per reception actually marked the fifth time this season that he finished a game with at least 20 yards per reception.

The Chiefs have a lot of talented players, but Hill is one of the main reasons why their offense is so explosive. Not only does he have blazing speed, but he’s an excellent route runner. He already has 11 receiving touchdowns this year, which is only two away from tieing his mark from his first two seasons in the league, combined. The Raiders are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed (25), leaving Hill with tremendous upside once again.

Adam Thielen vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,000

After recording at least 100 receiving yards in each of his first eight games, Thielen had cooled off with 88 total receiving yards across two games heading into Week 12 against the Packers. That proved to be just the matchup that he needed to get back on track, catching eight of nine targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. In two games against the Packers this season, he had 20 receptions, 256 yards, and two touchdowns.

It was only a matter of time before Thielen got hot again, especially since his 124 targets are second in the league only to Julio Jones (125). Thielen has also taken a significant step forward in the touchdown department with eight of them this year after posting nine across the last two years, combined. The Patriots have allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game (270) to go along with 22 passing touchdowns, so don’t be surprised if Thielen comes away with another highly productive afternoon.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Wide Receivers

Julian Edelman vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $7,100

The Patriots had no problem putting away the Jets in Week 12, which may have been part of the reason why Edelman received a season-low five targets. It should also be noted that this was tight end Rob Gronkowski’s first game since Week 8. Even with his lack of involvement, Edelman still came away with four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Edelman has only played in seven games this year, but he already has 61 targets and has been on the field for 88 percent of the Patriots offensive snaps. He even has three touchdowns, matching his mark from all of last season. The Patriots have their full complement of weapons right now, which is going to make things tough on opposing defenses. Even with more mouths to feed, Edelman is going to get enough targets to warrant consideration in tournament play.

D.J. Moore vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,600

With Devin Funchess (back) out for Week 12, Moore was on the field for 92 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps and received a season-high nine targets. He made the most of his opportunity, hauling in eight passes for 91 yards. His rookie campaign got off to a quiet start, but Moore has now received 22 targets across his last three games.

This has the potential to be a monster game from Moore. If Funchess is unable to return, Moore will again receive all the work he can handle. The Bucs have one of the worst secondaries in the league, allowing 274 passing yards per game to go along with a league-high 26 touchdowns through the air. He’s not overly expensive on either site, making Moore a prime target to outproduce his price point if Funchess sits.

Courtland Sutton vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,200

The Broncos scored 24 points against the Steelers last week, but Sutton was very quiet with one catch on three targets for 14 yards. The Broncos did most of their damage on the ground, which led Case Keenum to attempt just 28 passes. He wasn’t that accurate, either, with only 15 completions. If you’re looking for a silver lining from Sutton’s performance, he was at least on the field for 74 percent of their offensive snaps.

The trade of Demaryius Thomas to the Texans seemed like a prime opportunity for Sutton’s production to take off. He’s certainly spending more time on the field, but he only has seven receptions for 149 yards across his last three games. If there was ever a time for him to have a breakout performance, this is it. The Bengals are having a hard time slowing anyone down right now and have allowed the second-most passing yards per game (292) to go along with 25 passing touchdowns.

Seth Roberts vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Just about nothing has gone right for the Raiders this year. They’ve traded away a couple of their best players and have also been decimated by injuries, especially at wide receiver. Roberts is one of the few healthy players they have left standing at the position. Even so, he only received three targets in Week 12 against the Ravens, catching two of them for 54 yards.

This game could get ugly in a hurry against the Chiefs. If that’s the case, the Raiders are going to be throwing the ball a lot in an effort to make a comeback. The Chiefs have allowed the most passing yards per game (297), so even though the Raiders don’t have a lot of weapons, they might be able to move the ball some. Roberts doesn’t have a ton of touchdown upside, but there is some appeal here for tournament contests at this cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Wide Receivers

Allen Robinson II vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,700

The Bears still won in Week 12 without Mitch Trubisky (shoulder), but Robinson wasn’t very productive with two receptions on four targets for 37 yards. He was one of their key offseason acquisitions, but Robinson doesn’t always have a ton of fantasy value with 39 yards or fewer in four of his last six games. It looks like Trubisky will be unable to play again Sunday, potentially leaving Robinson with another quiet performance.

Sammy Watkins vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Watkins was able to take the field in Week 11 despite dealing with a foot injury, but he only logged five snaps. Even though the Chiefs are coming off of their bye week, Watkins is still battling the injury and didn’t practice Wednesday. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to push him to play a lot of snaps Sunday against a bad team in the Raiders, so stay far, far away from him in DFS, even if he is active.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

We’ve passed the last bye weeks of the season, so Week 13 will bring a full slate of games in the NFL. With plenty of options to wade through, let’s dive right in and highlight a few running backs that stand out with favorable matchups, and a couple to avoid. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Kareem Hunt vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $7,800

With all of the prolific passing numbers put up by the Chiefs and Rams in Week 11, Hunt didn’t get a lot of work on the ground. He did make the most of his opportunities, carrying the ball 14 times for 70 yards. His involvement in the passing game wasn’t great, either, but he did turn his four targets into three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. With that score, Hunt already has 14 total touchdowns.

There are few running backs with as high of a floor as Hunt. Not only does the Chiefs offense put him in a lot of great positions to score touchdowns, but he is averaging 109.3 total yards per game. The Raiders have allowed the most rushing yards per game (151.4) in the league, so expect Hunt to have another excellent performance Sunday. The only cause for concern with him is if the Chiefs jump out to a big lead and rest Hunt in the fourth quarter. However, if they do score a lot early, it could be in large part because of Hunt’s efforts.

Christian McCaffrey vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
Draft Kings = $8,800

McCaffrey couldn’t have looked any more dominant than he did last week against the Seahawks. They had no answer for him on the ground, allowing him to rack up 125 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries. Things were equally as impressive for McCaffrey in the passing game, catching all 11 of his targets for 112 yards and another touchdown. If you rostered him in DFS or season-long, you likely came away as a winner.

It’s highly unlikely that McCaffrey matches that performance this week, but this is a matchup for him to exploit against the Bucs. They’ve allowed 14 rushing touchdowns this year and four more scores through the air to opposing running backs. When these two teams met in Week 9, McCaffrey finished with 79 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 78 receiving yards on five receptions.

Aaron Jones vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,700

The Packers are slumping right now, but it certainly isn’t due to the play of Jones. He was effective again in Week 12 against the Vikings, rushing 17 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. While his 21 receiving yards weren’t great, it was important that he received five targets. With his role starting to expand as we head down the stretch, Jones has received at least five targets in three straight games.

The talent level seemed pretty obvious with Jones, but it took a while for the Packers coaching staff to give him the lead role. That time is finally here with Jones being on the field for at least 74 percent of their offensive snaps in each of the last three games. There’s no reason to believe that will change this week, setting him up for possibly a career day against a Cardinals team that has allowed the most rushing touchdowns (16) and third-most rushing yards per game (144.8).

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Phillip Lindsay vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Don’t look now, but the Broncos have won back-to-back games against two tough teams in the Chargers and Steelers. Their passing attack has been awful this year, but Lindsay has established himself as a weapon on the ground. Despite receiving just 14 carries in Week 12, Lindsay ran for 110 yards and a touchdown. That’s particularly impressive considering the Steelers are allowing only 4.2 yards-per-carry for the season, overall.

Next up for Lindsay and the Broncos is a matchup against a Bengals team that just lost their starting quarterback for the year and might still be without their best wide receiver in A.J. Green (toe). Their struggles likely won’t be limited to their offense, though, since they have allowed an average of 37.8 points over their last five games. They particularly struggle in the running game, allowing 147.5 rushing yards per game to go along with 14 touchdowns.

Gus Edwards vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

If you play in season-long fantasy, a player like Edwards coming out of nowhere to play well can help propel you into the playoffs if you were lucky enough to snap him up off waivers. He was heavily involved again Sunday versus the Raiders, carrying the ball 23 times for 118 yards. His usage in the passing game has been non-existent, but it’s hard to argue against his success with 233 rushing yards over two games since assuming the lead running back role.

The key to Edwards’ success might be Lamar Jackson remaining as the Ravens quarterback. With Jackson’s own ability to rush the ball, the duo creates a nightmare for opposing defenses. Initial reports indicate Joe Flacco (hip) isn’t ready to return, so it’s hard to see Edwards’ role fading with Jackson still running the offense. The Falcons allow the third-most yards-per-carry (5.1), making Edwards a potential steal in DFS, especially at his price on DraftKings.

Lamar Miller vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Miller burst out for a 97-yard touchdown run in Week 12 against the Titans, helping propel him to 162 rushing yards for the game, overall. He only received 12 carries, but it marked the third time in his last five games that Miller rushed for at least 100 yards. It’s no coincidence that he ran for a touchdown in each of those contests, which accounted for all three of his rushing touchdowns this season.

Miller is peaking at the right time for Texans, which has helped them reel off eight straight wins after starting out 0-3. Alfred Blue does cut into his carries, but Miller has been on the field for at least 62 percent of the Texans offensive snaps in five of his last six games. During that stretch, Blue didn’t log more than 48 percent of their snaps in any contest. The Browns have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (131.8) to go along with 15 rushing touchdowns, making Miller a great target in tournament play.

Jalen Richard vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Looking at Richard’s line from Week 12 doesn’t exactly install a whole lot of confidence in playing him for Week 13 in DFS. He only had one carry for one yard and caught two of four targets for an additional 15 yards. The Raiders were down big early, but Richard still couldn’t get much going in the passing attack with the Raiders having to throw a lot in an attempt to catch up.

If you want to roll with Richard, make sure you do so with the understanding that he won’t provide much in terms of rushing yards. He did post 61 yards on the ground in Week 11 against the Cardinals, but that’s more than half of his total for the entire year. His main source of value is in the passing game with a career-high 53 receptions on 63 targets. The Raiders should have to throw a lot in an attempt to keep up with the Chiefs high-powered offense, meaning Richard might be more involved then their primary rusher, Dough Martin, who only has 17 targets all year.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Tevin Coleman vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Coleman was completely shut down on the ground by the Saints last week with only six yards on eight carries. His three catches for 17 yards weren’t great, either, but he somewhat salvaged his line with a receiving touchdown. The Saints have arguably the best rushing defense in the league, so it’s not a surprise that Coleman struggled. Things won’t get much easier for him in Week 13 against the Ravens, who allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game (92.1).

Peyton Barber vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $3,700

Barber has reached the end zone in both of his last two games while racking up 153 yards on the ground. The Bucs have struggled to run the ball most of the season, but that didn’t stop them from giving Barber 18 carries in both of those contests. This isn’t shaping up to be a matchup to exploit, though, against a Panthers team that is allowing just 4.1 yards-per-carry. When these two teams met earlier in the year, Barber had only 31 yards on 11 carries.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The stretch run of the NFL season is here. There are no teams on a bye in Week 13, leaving a bevy of quarterbacks to choose from in DFS. Let’s examine some players to target and avoid as you craft your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $7,600

The last time we saw Mahomes on the field was in Week 11 during that thrilling game against the Rams. He had a monster performance with 478 yards and six touchdowns. Believe it or not, that was actually his second game of the season with six passing touchdowns. The only downside to his performance was that he turned the ball over a total of five times with three interceptions and two fumbles.

The Chiefs enjoyed a bye for Week 12 and now face a much easier opponent in the Raiders. Even though this could become a blowout in which Mahomes isn’t required to throw the ball much late in the game, that doesn’t mean he won’t be very productive along the way. The Raiders get virtually no pressure on opposing quarterbacks and are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed (25) in the league.

Cam Newton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $6,600

After starting out the season 6-2, the Panthers have lost three straight games. They suffered a tough loss to the Seahawks at home last week, but it was still another productive performance from Newton. He completed 25 of 30 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns while also chipping in 63 yards on the ground. That marked the fourth time in the last five games that’s posted a completion percentage of at least 72.4 percent and his 10th straight contest with at least two touchdown passes.

Newton gets a stellar matchup this week against a bad Bucs secondary that has allowed the most passing touchdowns (26) and the sixth-most passing yards per game (274). They did play well against the 49ers last week, but facing Nick Mullens and his depleted wide receiver group isn’t exactly a herculean task. The Panthers hung 42 points on the Bucs when these two played each other in Week 9, a game in which Newton had 247 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Jared Goff vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,400

As impressive as Mahomes was during their matchup, Goff was just as good with 413 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one score on the ground. That marked his second game with at least 400 passing yards this season and the third time in his last four contests that he threw for at least three touchdowns. It’s also important to note that he has just one interception across his last five games.

The Rams also had the luxury of a bye last week and will now travel to Detroit to face a Lions team that is in line for another disappointing year at 4-7. They don’t give up a ton of yards through the air, but the Lions have allowed 24 passing touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. This also has the makings of a potential blowout, but Goff is still a great option in cash contests due to his touchdown upside.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,300

After struggling to score at the beginning of the season, the Seahawks have produced at least 27 points in each of their last three games. Wilson had his best game of the year in Week 12, throwing for 339 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. That was the first time he topped 300 passing yards in a game, but it was also his seventh-straight contest with at least two touchdowns.

The Seahawks have a run-heavy offense, which sometimes doesn’t always lead to huge yardage totals from Wilson. However, that hasn’t stopped him from throwing for 25 touchdowns, leaving him with a great chance to throw for at least 30 scores for the third time in his career. The 49ers have allowed 23 passing touchdowns and picked off just two passes all season, so expect Wilson to thrive in this contest.

Jameis Winston vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,000

Things couldn’t have gone much better for Winston in his return as the starting quarterback last week against the 49ers. He completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns while adding 24 rushing yards. Maybe the most important stat is that he wasn’t intercepted for the first time this season.

The Bucs beat the 49ers comfortably, holding them to just nine points. Don’t expect their defense to play nearly as well against the Panthers, which should require Winston to throw the ball more to keep up. The Panthers are vulnerable through the air having allowed 25 touchdown passes, although it is a bit concerning for Winston that they also have 11 interceptions. His history with turnovers makes him a bit risky, but he still has enough upside to make him a viable option in tournament play.

Lamar Jackson vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,900

He didn’t exactly face a tough opponent in the Raiders, but Jackson helped lead the Ravens to another win in Week 12. His passing numbers weren’t stellar, completing 14 of 25 attempts for 178 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. However, he continued to dominate with his legs, rushing 11 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Through two starts, Jackson has an insane 190 rushing yards.

The Ravens quarterback situation is one to monitor closely. Joe Flacco (hip) has still not been cleared to return, which could lead Jackson to start again in Week 13. Even if Flacco is healthy enough to play, there is no guarantee he regains his starting job. There have already been reports that the Ravens might use both quarterbacks in games. If Flacco is out against the Falcons, this is a great opportunity for Jackson since the Falcons have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards (205) and three rushing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $5,600

The Falcons couldn’t pull out a win against the Saints last week, but Ryan still played well with 377 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan gets the benefit of playing this game at home and has some great weapons at wide receiver, but this is not a very favorable matchup against a Ravens team that allows the second-fewest passing yards per game (203). Ryan might not be a total flop and isn’t priced overly high on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel is less than appealing.

Case Keenum vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,200

On the surface, this might stand out as a great matchup against a Bengals defense that couldn’t be playing much worse. They’ve allowed the second-most passing yards per game (292) and were just destroyed by the Browns. However, Keenum is having a poor season with 13 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. He hasn’t thrown for at least 300 yards in a game since Week 6 and has thrown for 205 yards or fewer in back-to-back contests. If you want to take a chance on a cheap option in tournament play, look elsewhere.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 13

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 13

Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros: vs. TB, vs. KC

Cole had his worst start of the season in his last outing against the Athletics as he allowed four runs in six innings. He still had six strikeouts, so it says a lot about how well he is pitching that this was his worst start. He’s been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, posting a 2.40 ERA, 2.74 FIP and a 0.88 WHIP in 14 starts. His 12.5 K/9 is by far the highest of his career, giving him a significant boost in value. Both the Rays and the Royals are in the bottom-six in baseball in runs scored, leaving Cole with the potential to provide fantasy owners with an extremely valuable week.

Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians: vs. CWS, vs. DET

Bauer is in the midst of a breakout season. He has never finished a season with an ERA below 4.18, but he has a sparkling 2.69 ERA and 2.32 FIP this year. His 1.12 WHIP has been a big reason for his success. His .303 BABIP allowed is right in line with his career mark, which makes his hot start even more encouraging. He also has at least 10 strikeouts in five of his last six starts, leading to an 11.6 K/9 overall. The White Sox have scored the fifth-fewest runs (265) in baseball and the Tigers have the sixth-lowest road OPS (.676), so look for Bauer to have a dominant week.

Domingo German, New York Yankees: vs. SEA, at TB

With Jordan Montgomery (elbow) out for the season, German should remain in the Yankees starting rotation, unless they make a trade to add another starter. His initial results haven’t been great with a 5.77 ERA in seven starts. His 1.18 WHIP is good, but he’s allowed seven home runs in 39 innings. However, if your team is lacking strikeouts, German did record a 10.4 K/9 during that stretch. The matchup against the Mariners isn’t great, but he did allow three runs and record 10 strikeouts over six innings in his last start against the Rays. German is still available in 83% of Yahoo! leagues and although you may have to stomach him giving up some runs, he certainly has significant strikeout upside.

Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants: vs. MIA, vs. SD

Suarez’s 4.92 ERA isn’t great, but his 3.85 FIP indicates he isn’t pitching that poorly. He has a respectable 1.26 WHIP and an 8.5 K/9, but he’s been done in by a 1.4 HR/9. Most of his struggles have come on the road this season with a 6.18 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, but he has a 3.55 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP at AT&T Park. Not only are both of his starts at home in Week 13, but they also come against two of the worst lineups in baseball in terms of runs scored. If you need a streaming option this week, Suarez is still available in 95% of Yahoo! leagues.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 13

Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners: at NYY, at BOS

Gonzales is having a fine season for the Mariners with a 3.42 ERA and a 3.20 FIP. This is a nightmare week for him, though, with two starts on the road against excellent lineups. Both the Yankees and the Red Sox are in the top-three in baseball in home OPS and overall runs scored. The Red Sox have struggled against left-handed pitching, but the Yankees have the highest OPS (.814) against them in baseball. There will be plenty of weeks where you want Gonzales in your lineup, but this is not one of them.

Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox: at CLE, vs. OAK

Covey couldn’t have pitched much worse for the White Sox last year, recording a 7.71 ERA, 7.20 FIP and 1.67 WHIP in 18 appearances, 12 of which were starts. He only had a 5.3 K/9 and gave up 20 home runs in 70 innings. He’s been on the opposite end of the spectrum this season with a 2.29 ERA and a 2.16 FIP. Not only is his K/9 much improved at 8.4, but he has yet to give up a home run. His WHIP is better at 1.30, but it’s still too high in the grand scheme of things if he is going to continue to have this much success. If he starts giving up home runs, his ERA could increase in a hurry. Both the Indians and the Athletics are in the top-seven in home runs in baseball, making Covey a risky play this week despite his early success.

Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs: vs. LAD, at CIN

Chatwood just can’t seem to get out of his own way. His 4.12 ERA and 8.2 K/9 are both an improvement from last year, but his overall numbers would be so much better if he could find the plate. He has an almost unheard of 8.2 BB/9, leading to a 1.75 WHIP. He only issued two walks in his last start against the Brewers, but he’s going to need to string together a few starts where he has better control before you want to put him back into your lineup. The Dodgers and the Reds are both in the top-six in walks, so keep Chatwood anchored to your bench.