The NFL is back for Week 13, and we’re coming off the annual Thanksgiving triple-header that saw all three road teams get the victory. It was a bit of a surprise that the biggest performances came in Bears-Lions, with wide receiver Kenny Golladay and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky leading the way. Add in quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Cole Beasley in the top five as well, and it was quite the day for fantasy performances.
We’re back with a smaller Sunday than normal given all the Thursday games. We get eight games in the 1:00 p.m. slot and then three games in the 4:05/4:25 p.m. slot. The day wraps up with a huge AFC matchup on Sunday Night Football between the Patriots and Texans.
There are plenty of notable names on the injury reports and lineups will be dependent on 11:30 a.m. inactives, and plenty beyond. The biggest issues right now surround Zach Ertz and Jordan Howard in Philadelphia. The biggest concern surrounds Adam Thielen, who is questionable with a hamstring injury and does not play until Monday.
If you’re trying to figure out your fantasy football lineups, this information is critical to getting the right players in the right spots. If you’ve got key players in the Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football slots, you’re looking for any grain of information that will help you make the decision early rather than waiting until it’s too late tonight or tomorrow night.
We’re all figuring out last minute roster decisions, and that means not only who is not playing this week, but who is playing but might not be the best start in your Week 13 fantasy football lineup. We’ll provide updates on injuries, key start/sit decisions, and more leading up to kickoffs.
Sunday Night Football inactives
Patriots wide receivers Mohamed Sanu and Phillip Dorsett are both ACTIVE against the Texans. Julian Edelman is a must start, Sanu is a decent but not must start, and Dorsett is someone worth sitting in Week 13.
Week 13 inactive report
Active
TE Zach Ertz
OT Bryan Bulaga
WR Demaryius Thomas
TE Nick Boyle
RB Chris Thompson
Inactive
RB Jordan Howard
WR Golden Tate
TE Evan Engram
TE Rhett Ellison
RB James Conner
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR Parris Campbell
WR Tajae Sharpe
RB Matt Breida
WR Dante Pettis
Miles Sanders to get the bulk of Week 13 work
Jordan Howard has been ruled out for Sunday vs. the Dolphins, and Ian Rapoport is reporting the team will give Sanders the bulk of the carries. Jay Ajayi will likely get some work, but it sounds like not enough to bring down Sanders’ ceiling all that much. Sanders is a must start this weekend today against the Dolphins.
Matt Breida not expected to play
Initially, Adam Schefter was hearing Breida would play against the Ravens in Week 13. However, after Ian Rapoport reported it would not happen, Schefter changed his tune. Raheem Mostert will serve in place of Brieda as Tevin Coleman’s backup.
Zach Ertz “pushing to play”
Ertz is questionable with a hamstring injury, but Ian Rapoport is reporting he is pushing to play, and Rapoport hears he is likely to play. Ertz is worth a start if active, but Dallas Goedert is also worth fantasy football consideration even with an active Ertz.
Mohamed Sanu, Phillip Dorsett expected to play
Sanu sat out last week with an ankle injury, but is expected to play in Week 13 vs. the Texans, per Ian Rapoport. Dorsett is also expected to play after missing last week with a concussion. Sanu is a decent start against a shaky Texans defense, while Dorsett is not worth starting for the time being.
Kyler Murray to start
Murray was a late addition to the Week 13 injury report with a hamstring injury, but is expected to play, according to Adam Schefter. He was added on Friday as a “full” participant, but was listed as questionable for the game. He is a solid start given the rushing totals he brings to the mix.
Drew Lock to start in Week 13
The Brandon Allen era is over in a hurry. Lock, the Broncos second-round pick this past spring, is expected to start vs. the Chargers, according to Adam Schefter. He’s not worth starting, but the hope is that he offers some semblance of an upgrade for Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and the rest of the Broncos skill position players.