Melvin Gordon is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at Kansas City with a hip injury, and he isn't expected to play. That bodes well for Javonte Williams, who moves into must-start territory in all leagues. He has top-10 upside as the lead running back in Denver.
We've seen Williams start to play better recently, scoring at least 11 PPR points in two of his past three games. His best outing this season was Week 12 against the Chargers with 14 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown, as well as three catches for 57 yards on four targets.
Williams has six games this season with at least three catches, and he should be heavily involved in the passing game this week if the Broncos are chasing points at the Chiefs. There's the chance for 20-plus touches, and that would be exciting.
Now, the Chiefs run defense has been solid of late. Kansas City hasn't allowed a running back to score a touchdown since Week 4, but a running back has scored at least 12 PPR points against the Chiefs in eight of their last nine games.
Mike Boone will have a role in tandem with Williams, which could be another detractor. But we've been waiting for this moment for Williams to be the lead back in Denver, and now it's here.
I consider Williams a No. 1 Fantasy running back this week. Under the circumstances with Gordon being listed as doubtful Friday, Williams is a sleeper with significant upside.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
- We recap the Thursday night winners and losers plus break down NFC home games and more on the Fantasy Football Today podcast. Listen below and follow at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts:
Week 13 Sleepers
Tagovailoa didn't have a huge game in Week 12 against Carolina, finishing with 15 Fantasy points, but he looks great right now. He was 27-of-31 passing for 230 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers, and he should do well in Week 13 against the Giants. I like Tagovailoa as a streamer in all leagues, and the Giants have allowed six quarterbacks to score at least 22 Fantasy points this year.
| |||||||||||||||
Heinicke has played well of late and is worth using as a streaming option in Week 13 at Las Vegas. He only has one game with more than 17 Fantasy points in his past four outings, but Washington has won three games in a row. The matchup with the Raiders is positive since Las Vegas allows the seventh-most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and four quarterbacks have scored at least 23 Fantasy points against the Raiders in their past six games.
| |||||||||||||||
I don't expect Wentz to have a huge game in Week 13 against the Texans, but he does have plenty of appeal as a streamer. The concern for Wentz is minimal attempts because Jonathan Taylor runs all over this Houston defense, but Wentz can still find his way to around 20 Fantasy points. That's what he scored in Week 6 against the Texans, but he only completed 11-of-20 passes for 223 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He could replicate that type of stat line this week, but I don't expect him to do much better unless he gets a third touchdown.
| |||||||||||||||
We started the week not knowing if Sanders would play against the Jets after he hurt his ankle in Week 12 against the Giants. But Sanders was able to practice in full by Thursday, while Jordan Howard (knee) and Boston Scott (illness) missed time. As of Friday, Howard was not expected to play in Week 13, with Scott listed as questionable. It would be a dream scenario for Sanders if Howard and Scott were out. The Jets allow the most Fantasy points to opposing running backs for the season, and Sanders would have top-15 upside this week. Even if Scott plays, you can still consider Sanders a starting Fantasy option in all leagues.
| |||||||||||||||
Michel could end up starting for the Rams this week if Darrel Henderson (quad) is out, and Michel would be a must-start Fantasy option in all leagues against Jacksonville. Keep an eye on Henderson leading up to Sunday's game, and we know the Rams would trust Michel as a starter -- as should Fantasy managers. Henderson was out in Week 3 against Tampa Bay, and Michel saw 23 total touches (20 carries) in that outing. He only had 79 total yards and no touchdowns, but that was a much tougher matchup than facing Jacksonville. And even if Henderson plays, the Rams could reduce his workload since he won't be at 100 percent. That gives Michel some flex appeal even if he's in a secondary role.
| |||||||||||||||
Breida has been Buffalo's best running back of late, and we'll see if he gets more work moving forward. With Zack Moss a healthy scratch in Week 12 at the Saints, Breida had 11 total touches (two catches) compared to 16 for Singletary, but Breida had more yards (54-48) and scored a touchdown. He's now scored at least 12 PPR points in two of his past three games, and he has flex appeal in Week 13 against the Patriots. You know New England is going to dare the Bills to run to try and take the ball away from Josh Allen, and we'll see if Singletary and Breida can succeed. The Patriots have allowed a running back to score at least 14 PPR points in six of their past seven games.
| |||||||||||||||
The Steelers could be without Cam Hayward (illness) and T.J. Watt (COVID-19) for Sunday's game, which should bode well for Freeman to be a quality No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. Pittsburgh's run defense has already struggled lately with six rushing touchdowns and eight total touchdowns allowed in the past three games against Detroit, the Chargers and Cincinnati. Freeman has been inconsistent as a Fantasy option lately, scoring at least 15 PPR points in two of his past four games and eight PPR points or less in two others. But given the absences for the Steelers, this should be one of Freeman's better games.
| |||||||||||||||
Kirk likely gets Kyler Murray (ankle) back this week after a three-game absence, but Kirk did well even with Colt McCoy under center. Kirk scored at least 12 PPR points in four of his past six games, including two of those outings with McCoy, but Kirk hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 7. DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) is expected to play this week, and Kirk also has to contend with A.J. Green, Rondale Moore and Zach Ertz. But Kirk has nine games this season with at least five targets, and he's scored at least 12 PPR points in six of them. He should be trusted as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
| |||||||||||||||
Kendrick Bourne is worth a look as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week, especially since Buffalo is without standout cornerback Tre'Davious White (ACL) for the rest of the season. Bourne has three touchdowns in his past three games, and he scored at least 14 PPR points in four of his past seven outings. But I like Meyers better in PPR for this matchup, and he had 14 targets in his past two games against Atlanta and Tennessee, finishing with five catches for 98 yards against the Titans in Week 12. Meyers should be a go-to option for Mac Jones this week, and he's worth using as a No. 3 PPR receiver in this matchup.
| |||||||||||||||
Reynolds finally made an impact with the Lions in Week 12 against Chicago with three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown on five targets. And now he gets a Vikings defense that has pass rush and secondary concerns in Week 13. Jared Goff should continue to look for Reynolds moving forward, and remember those two played together with the Rams. Minnesota has allowed seven touchdowns to wide receivers in the past five games, and nine receivers have scored at least 12 PPR points against the Vikings over that span.
| |||||||||||||||
Gage has stepped up recently with Calvin Ridley (personal) out, scoring at least 13 PPR points in two of his past four games. He has 15 targets in his past two outings against New England and Jacksonville, and he had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown on seven targets against the Jaguars in Week 12. He should be considered a No. 3 PPR receiver in Week 13 against Tampa Bay, and the Buccaneers have allowed six receivers to score at least 11 PPR points against them in their past four games.
| |||||||||||||||
Hilton loves facing the Texans. He's played them 19 times in his career, and he has 101 catches for 1,798 yards and 11 touchdowns on 160 targets over that span. He had four catches for 80 yards on four targets in Week 6 against the Texans, and hopefully that's the floor for him in the rematch. He also just had four catches for 28 yards and a touchdown on five targets in Week 12 against Tampa Bay. Michael Pittman is a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in this matchup, but Hilton isn't far behind him. He's a sneaky option in deeper leagues given his track record against Houston.
| |||||||||||||||
Moreau will start for Darren Waller (knee) until he's back, and hopefully it's not an extended absence. We saw Moreau start one game for Waller in Week 7 against the Eagles, and Moreau had six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on six targets. Waller averages 8.4 targets per game, and hopefully Derek Carr leans on Moreau like that. He should be considered a low-end starter for Week 13 against Washington, and the Football Team has allowed a tight end to score in three of its past five games.
| |||||||||||||||
Fant is tough to trust with no touchdowns since Week 6, and he's combined for 16 PPR points in his past three games. But he does have a positive matchup against the Chiefs in Week 13, and he's still worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues. Kansas City is No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this year, and the Chiefs have allowed six touchdowns to tight ends in their past eight games.
| |||||||||||||||
We don't know who's starting at quarterback for the Bears in Week 13 against the Cardinals, or if Allen Robinson (hamstring) will play. But Kmet should remain a focal point of the passing game, and he just had eight catches for 65 yards on 11 targets in Week 12 at Detroit with Andy Dalton under center. In Week 9 at Pittsburgh, Kmet had six catches for 87 yards on eight targets from Justin Fields, so the quarterback concern should be minimal. Robinson's availability could sway how you view Kmet, but I like him as a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 13 against the Cardinals based on his expected volume as the No. 2 option behind Darnell Mooney.
| |||||||||||||||
DraftKings
QB: Kirk Cousins (at DET) $6,500
RB: Alexander Mattison (at DET) $7,600
RB: Elijah Mitchell (at SEA) $6,000
WR: Justin Jefferson (at DET) $8,200
WR: Hunter Renfrow (vs. WAS) $5,800
WR: Brandon Aiyuk (at SEA) $5,600
TE: Foster Moreau (vs. WAS) $2,700
FLEX: Sony Michel (vs. JAC) $4,300
DST: Dolphins (vs. NYG) $3,300
This lineup is filled with chalk, but I'll see if the guys I put around Mattison, Moreau and Michel (if he starts in place of Henderson) can deliver a strong performance. And it starts with Cousins and Jefferson in what should be a rebound game after both struggled in Week 13 at San Francisco.
Renfrow is going to be popular also, but his worth is based on his upside. And Aiyuk should also draw plenty of interest with Deebo Samuel (groin) out.
I also love Mitchell with his matchup against Seattle, which is why he's the Start of Week. This should be a fun matchup.
FanDuel
QB: Derek Carr (vs. WAS) $7,500
RB: Joe Mixon (vs. LAC) $9,400
RB: Sony Michel (vs. JAC) $5,300
WR: Chris Godwin (at ATL) $7,600
WR: Jaylen Waddle (vs. NYG) $6,900
WR: Hunter Renfrow (vs. WAS) $6,400
TE: Foster Moreau (vs. WAS) $5,000
FLEX: James Conner (at CHI) $7,300
DEF: Colts (at HOU) $4,500
The Raiders should have the chance for a big week against Washington, and I'm excited for Carr to connect with Renfrow and Moreau, who's starting for an injured Darren Waller (knee).
Mixon should dominate the Chargers, and I'll play Michel in this lineup as well if Henderson is out. And Conner should have a huge game against the Bears in Week 13 with Chase Edmonds (ankle) out for at least one more week.
I love Godwin against the Falcons and Waddle against the Giants, and both receivers should be exceptional. This should be a fun lineup with plenty of potential.
Get 40% off NFL gear now
The holidays are almost here, and you can now get 40% off select NFL gear at Fanatics. Hoodies, shirts, jackets, and much more are discounted. There's even baseball gear on sale. Check out the full Holiday Promo selection here now.
We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.