ESPN+ Cheat Sheet: Our best fantasy football advice for Week 13
The ESPN+ Cheat Sheet for Week 13 is your one-stop shop for fantasy football advice. We’ve curated all our best start/sit advice from this week, including insights from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell and Liz Loza. Don’t have time to read it all? That’s why cheat sheets were invented! Catch up on a week’s worth of reading in mere minutes, see which players are on the injury report, consider the betting data and then set your lineup with confidence knowing you’ve put your team in the best position to win.
Lines accurate as of latest time stamp. For latest odds, go to ESPN BET.
Injury aggregation powered by RotoWire. Football Power Index by ESPN Analytics.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs -13
Locks: Friday 3 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 42.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Chiefs by 11, 76.4% to win outright
Raiders injury watch: RB Alexander Mattison: Q; RB Zamir White: O
Chiefs injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: Playing as the No. 1 running back for the Raiders in Week 12 loss to the Broncos, Ameer Abdullah scored 17.5 points on 14 touches. If Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (groin) can’t go, then there is an opening for Abdullah to see the ball versus the Chiefs, and he has been productive as a receiver over his past two games (eight receptions, 53 yards, two touchdowns).
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Matt Bowen: We can chase the numbers here with Noah Gray given the usage of two-TE personnel in Kansas City. Gray has had 18-plus points in back-to-back games, with two TD catches in each, and the Chiefs have run 249 plays out of 12-personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers), third most in the league. With a matchup versus a Raiders defense that has struggled versus tight ends, Gray is a deeper-league option.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals -3
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 47.5 (third highest)
FPI favorite: Bengals by 0.3, 51.2% to win outright
Steelers injury watch: none to report
Bengals injury watch: WR Charlie Jones: Q
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: Russell Wilson has logged over 260 yards passing in three of his six starts with the Steelers this season, including last week in the snow. You can start Wilson in two-QB superflex formats against a bottom-10 Bengals defense, and it should also be a good day for Steelers WR George Pickens. Look for deep ball throws in this one.
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Tristan H. Cockcroft: Few fantasy managers have the luxury of benching Joe Burrow, the No. 3 scoring quarterback for the season. Nevertheless, his matchup is one of the week’s worst. The Steelers’ defense is the only that hasn’t allowed a quarterback score 20 fantasy points against it.
Los Angeles Chargers -1 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 47.5 (third highest)
FPI favorite: Chargers by 0.4, 51.4% to win outright
Chargers injury watch: TE Will Dissly: Q; RB J.K. Dobbins: D
Falcons injury watch: WR Casey Washington: Q; TE Charlie Woerner: Q; WR KhaDarel Hodge: Q; RB Jase McClellan: Q; WR Drake London: Q
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: With starter J.K. Dobbins out, Gus Edwards vaults into the lead role for the Chargers as the early down runner. In his past three games, Edwards has totaled 25 carries for 93 yards, and he did add a goal-line touchdown run in the Week 12 loss to the Ravens. That makes Edwards a flex play this week.
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Mike Clay: The Falcons have surrendered the fourth-most receptions, third-most touchdowns (15) and a league-high 72% catch rate to the position. Quentin Johnston (89% perimeter) and Joshua Palmer (72%) can be upgraded against A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes, whereas Ladd McConkey (25%) gets a bump against Dee Alford.
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Tristan H. Cockcroft: Hot-starting Chargers cornerbacks Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still have surrendered a combined three touchdowns the past three weeks, and wide receivers as a whole have averaged a seventh-best 42.5 PPR fantasy points against the Chargers. Darnell Mooney‘s 24.1% target share over the past eight weeks suggests that he’ll see enough work to make a fantasy WR2 impact this week.
Indianapolis Colts -2.5 vs. New England Patriots
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 42.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Colts by 4.4, 61.6% to win outright
Colts injury watch: WR Josh Downs: Q; WR Alec Pierce: Q; WR Ashton Dulin: Q
Patriots injury watch: WR DeMario Douglas: Q
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: Drake Maye has recorded 15-plus points in two of his past four starts, and he gives you a dual-threat element in the lineup. Maye has now logged at least 20 yards rushing in five straight games, and he can be schemed as a runner on designed carries. He’s a starter with rushing upside in two-QB superflex formats.
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Mike Clay: Michael Pittman Jr. will see a ton of Christian Gonzalez in shadow coverage and should be downgraded, but New England is struggling against receivers overall (10th-most points allowed), so Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell stand to benefit.
Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Commanders -5.5
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 44.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Commanders by 6.2, 66.4% to win outright
Titans injury watch: RB Tyjae Spears: Q; WR Colton Dowell: O
Commanders injury watch: RB Austin Ekeler: Q; WR Noah Brown: Q; RB Brian Robinson Jr.: Q
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: With Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) and Austin Ekeler (concussion) questionable for Sunday’s game, Jeremy McNichols could be a late week streaming option. In Week 4, with Ekeler out, McNichols posted 20.4 points against the Cardinals, scoring two touchdowns on nine touches.
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Mike Clay: Since Week 6, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ranks third in the NFL in touchdown receptions. Despite the recent surge, he should not be in most lineups. Westbrook-Ikhine is averaging 4.3 targets and 43.4 yards per game during the seven-game span, which along with the TDs, has him WR36 in fantasy PPG, so he’s likely for a regression. He’s no more than a flex in the deepest of leagues.
Seattle Seahawks -1.5 vs. New York Jets
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 42.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Jets by 1.9, 53.8% to win outright
Seahawks injury watch: WR Tyler Lockett: Q; WR DK Metcalf: Q; TE Brady Russell: Q
Jets injury watch: RB Breece Hall: Q; QB Jordan Travis: O
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: Seattle has the pressure schemes to create pocket disruption on QB Aaron Rodgers. This Seahawks unit scored 19 points in the Week 12 win over Arizona, as it registered five sacks and a defensive touchdown. With at least one interception in each of their past five games, Seattle can force turnovers.
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Mike Clay: DK Metcalf (86% perimeter) and Tyler Lockett (70%) will primarily operate against Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed and should be downgraded. Red-hot Jaxon Smith-Njigba (86% slot) will work against Michael Carter II inside and, while he can be downgraded a bit, he has the best matchup of the trio.
Houston Texans -4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (ninth highest)
FPI favorite: Texans by 5.8, 64.5% to win outright
Texans injury watch: WR Xavier Hutchinson: Q
Jaguars injury watch: QB Trevor Lawrence: Q
Best of the Week
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Mike Clay: The Jaguars return from their bye week having allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the second most to the perimeter and ninth most to the slot. Nico Collins, who exploded for a 12-151-1 receiving line on 15 targets when these teams met in Week 4, can be upgraded, and the same goes for Tank Dell, who was sidelined for the first meeting.
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Tristan H. Cockcroft: For some history, three of C.J. Stroud‘s six best fantasy point totals have come against the Jaguars. The Jaguars have also allowed a league-high seven games of 20-plus points to quarterbacks, including Stroud’s season-best 23.50 in Week 4. This is the week to start Stroud.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Minnesota Vikings -3.5
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 44.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Vikings by 3.3, 58.7% to win outright
Cardinals injury watch: RB Emari Demercado: Q
Vikings injury watch: TE Josh Oliver: Q
Best of the Week
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Liz Loza: Marvin Harrison Jr.’s eight end zone looks (40% team end zone target share) rank inside the top 10 among wide receivers. The 22-year-old could get lucky versus a vulnerable Vikings secondary that has allowed the seventh-most TDs (13) to his position. Still, he’s not easy to trust, which is why managers best view him as a flex option moving forward.
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Tristan H. Cockcroft: Only four times all year has a running back scored in double-digits against the Vikings, fewest in the league. Additionally, Trey Benson‘s increasing usage (31% of the backfield’s rushing attempts the past four weeks, compared to 18% over the first eight) further casts doubts on James Conner‘s contribution this week. Downgrade him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -5.5 vs. Carolina Panthers
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 46.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Buccaneers by 7.6, 68.9% to win outright
Buccaneers injury watch: WR Cody Thompson: O
Panthers injury watch: WR Jalen Coker: Q; TE Ja’Tavion Sanders: Q
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: Xavier Legette has seen at least six targets in three of his past four games, and he has 15 receptions over that stretch. There’s enough volume here for Legette to find his way into some deeper-league lineups, and the jump in play/production from Bryce Young gives this Carolina passing game a boost.
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Tristan H. Cockcroft: Bucky Irving offered his managers far better rate fantasy numbers than did backfield mate Rachaad White, averaging 1.51 PPR fantasy points per touch to White’s 0.90. The Panthers have seen 15 different running backs score in double-digits against them this season, including four instances where two teammates did, so both the Bucs running backs can be upgraded.
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Tristan H. Cockcroft: Cade Otton didn’t need to do much in Week 12, when the Buccaneers were up by multiple touchdowns early in the game. In four games before the bye, he averaged 9.8 targets and 19.3 points, which should be closer to his true value going forward. The Panthers have allowed a league-most eight games of double-digit points to tight ends this season, making Otton a bounce-back play.
Los Angeles Rams -2.5 vs. New Orleans Saints
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 49.5 (second highest)
FPI favorite: Saints by 0.8, 51.8% to win outright
Rams injury watch: TE Tyler Higbee: O
Saints injury watch: RB Jamaal Williams: Q; TE Foster Moreau: Q
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: Matthew Stafford has thrown for at least two touchdowns, with 17-plus points, in four of his past five games and is really driving the ball on film too. And he’s getting the ball out (on time) to his top targets Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Stafford fits here as a top streamer this week.
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Matt Bowen: Over his past two games, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has logged 197 yards receiving — on just five receptions. Valdes-Scantling does have a matchup advantage versus the Rams secondary because of his straight-line speed. He’s a boom/bust option this week.
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Mike Clay: Fresh off a huge game against a good Eagles secondary, the Rams’ WR room has a much more attractive matchup against a Saints defense that has allowed the sixth-most WR fantasy points this season. Nacua (77% perimeter) and Robinson (66%) will work against Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor, whereas Kupp (36%) will mostly see Ugo Amadi. Upgrades all around.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens -3
Locks: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 50.5 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Ravens by 2.9, 58.5% to win outright
Eagles injury watch: TE Jack Stoll: O; WR DeVonta Smith: Q
Ravens injury watch: TE Charlie Kolar: O
Best of the Week
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Mike Clay: On the season, the Eagles have allowed the fourth-fewest receiving yards and a league-low 6.7 yards per target to receivers. Rashod Bateman (91% perimeter) will see the most of standout rookie Quinyon Mitchell and draws the biggest downgrade, but expectations for Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor should also be reduced.
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Mike Clay: Bateman caught his fifth touchdown of the season Monday night, but he remains well off the flex radar. Bateman’s hefty 14.1 aDOT (third highest) suggests he’ll hit for the occasional big play, but that’s not enough for consistent WR3/flex production — especially this week against an Eagles defense that has allowed the fewest WR fantasy PPG over the past four weeks.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Buffalo Bills -7
Locks: Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 44.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Bills by 4.1, 61.5% to win outright
49ers injury watch: WR Chris Conley: Q; QB Brock Purdy: Q; WR Jacob Cowing: Q
Bills injury watch: WR Keon Coleman: Q; TE Dalton Kincaid: Q
Best of the Week
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Mike Clay: Dalton Kincaid is a fringe starting option, if he were to recover from his knee injury in time for Sunday. Kincaid’s 21% target share is up from 18% during an impressive rookie campaign, but he has found the end zone only twice and has yet to clear 13.1 fantasy points in any game. The 49ers have allowed the second-fewest TE yards and no TE has cleared 12.3 fantasy points against them.
Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos -5.5
Locks: Monday 8:15 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 41.5 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Broncos by 0.7, 52% to win outright
Browns injury watch: TE Geoff Swaim: Q; WR Cedric Tillman: Q; RB Nyheim Hines: O
Broncos injury watch: QB Bo Nix: Q; TE Greg Dulcich: O
Best of the Week
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Matt Bowen: With the way Bo Nix is throwing the ball, Devaughn Vele has value this week versus the Browns.The 6-foot-5 target is averaging 12.8 PPG over his past three games, catching 14 out of 17 targets for 185 yards and a score.
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Tristan H. Cockcroft: David Njoku had a similarly quiet Week 12 — 3.9 points on five targets — succumbing to a tough matchup against the Steelers, which doesn’t bode well for this comparably challenging assignment. The Broncos have seen only two tight ends reach 10 points against them all season, making this a matchup to avoid.