Week 13

• Tweet

• Tweet

Happy Thanksgiving all you fantasy football addicts! The NFL throws three Thursday games at you each Thanksgiving now which makes it so you have to get your lineups decided pretty early instead of just a player here or there. This week a lot of fantasy starters will be in action on Thursday. The Lions and Cowboys will make their perennial appearances of course. This year the Titans, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Eagles will be joining them. Many fantasy owners will be popping their Thursday players in just so they can watch them and cheer for them on Thanksgiving. If you have better options, it’s not the smartest plan. However, if two options are fairly equal, I say why not? Fantasy Football, at least when I started in ‘92, was meant to be fun. Yes, money has gotten involved for many people, but you should enjoy it. This week there are some great fantasy plays on Thursday. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and good luck!

Our rating system is based on two sets of rankings. The first set is a value between 1-20, given based on a player’s Fantasy Value If Playing (FVIP). The second set is that player’s Playing Probability (PP). These two sets are thrown into a giant machine, twisted around a little, mixed up, sorted, resorted, then eventually darts are thrown at the results. If you require any further help, our start/sit forum is top notch. You will find quick replies to your questions there and many eager helpers!

Quarterbacks	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Tony Romo	DAL	SEA	20.00	100%	20.00
Peyton Manning	IND	at CLE	19.00	100%	19.00
Kurt Warner	ARI	at PHI	18.00	100%	18.00
Drew Brees	NO	at TB	18.00	100%	18.00
Brett Favre	NYJ	DEN	17.00	100%	17.00
Jay Cutler	DEN	at NYJ	16.00	100%	16.00
Chad Pennington	MIA	at STL	16.00	100%	16.00
Tyler Thigpen	KC	at OAK	16.00	100%	16.00
Matt Ryan	ATL	at SD	16.00	100%	16.00
Eli Manning	NYG	at WAS	15.00	100%	15.00
Philip Rivers	SD	ATL	15.00	100%	15.00
Donovan McNabb	PHI	ARI	15.00	100%	15.00
Aaron Rodgers	GB	CAR	14.00	100%	14.00
Jeff Garcia	TB	NO	14.00	100%	14.00
Matt Cassel	NE	PIT	14.00	100%	14.00
Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	at NE	14.00	100%	14.00
Trent Edwards	BUF	SF	14.00	100%	14.00
Kerry Collins	TEN	at DET	14.00	100%	14.00
Joe Flacco	BAL	at CIN	14.00	100%	14.00
Jake Delhomme	CAR	at GB	13.00	100%	13.00
Shaun Hill	SF	at BUF	13.00	100%	13.00
Kyle Orton	CHI	at MIN	13.00	100%	13.00
Sage Rosenfels	HOU	JAX	13.00	93%	12.13
David Garrard	JAX	at HOU	12.00	100%	12.00
Gus Frerotte	MIN	CHI	12.00	100%	12.00
Derek Anderson	CLE	IND	12.00	100%	12.00
Jason Campbell	WAS	NYG	11.00	100%	11.00
Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	at DAL	11.00	100%	11.00
JaMarcus Russell	OAK	KC	9.00	100%	9.00
Daunte Culpepper	DET	TEN	9.00	100%	9.00
Ryan Fitzpatrick	CIN	BAL	8.00	100%	8.00
Marc Bulger	STL	MIA	11.00	50%	5.50
Rex Grossman	CHI	at MIN	10.00	10%	1.00
Andrew Walter	OAK	KC	7.00	10%	0.70
Carson Palmer	CIN	BAL	5.00	0%	0.00
Matt Schaub	HOU	JAX	14.00	0%	0.00

Start: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (Rank: 16.00) – San Diego has allowed over 200 yards to every starting quarterback they have faced this year. Only 2 starting quarterbacks failed to get a touchdown on them. Turner has been taking a lot of Matt’s scoring opportunities, but this week Ryan should get his. expect 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns or better.

Sit: Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns (Rank: 12.00) – With Brady Quinn out for the season, Derek may have lost the pressure to perform he felt early in the year. However, he probably wants to make a case for playing next year, at least somewhere. This week he draws the best pass defense against fantasy quarterbacks. Add a little rust to the mix from not playing much lately and Derek is a risky start.

Running Backs	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Chris Johnson	TEN	at DET	20.00	100%	20.00
Thomas Jones	NYJ	DEN	19.00	100%	19.00
Adrian Peterson	MIN	CHI	18.00	100%	18.00
Marshawn Lynch	BUF	SF	18.00	100%	18.00
Joseph Addai	IND	at CLE	18.00	100%	18.00
Marion Barber	DAL	SEA	17.00	100%	17.00
LaDainian Tomlinson	SD	ATL	17.00	100%	17.00
Frank Gore	SF	at BUF	17.00	100%	17.00
Matt Forte	CHI	at MIN	16.00	100%	16.00
Steve Slaton	HOU	JAX	16.00	100%	16.00
Michael Turner	ATL	at SD	16.00	100%	16.00
Larry Johnson	KC	at OAK	16.00	100%	16.00
Ronnie Brown	MIA	at STL	16.00	100%	16.00
Warrick Dunn	TB	NO	15.00	100%	15.00
Ryan Grant	GB	CAR	15.00	100%	15.00
Willis McGahee	BAL	at CIN	15.00	100%	15.00
LenDale White	TEN	at DET	15.00	100%	15.00
Clinton Portis	WAS	NYG	16.00	90%	14.40
DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at GB	14.00	100%	14.00
Jamal Lewis	CLE	IND	13.00	100%	13.00
Justin Fargas	OAK	KC	13.00	100%	13.00
Maurice Jones-Drew	JAX	at HOU	13.00	100%	13.00
Mewelde Moore	PIT	at NE	13.00	100%	13.00
Brian Westbrook	PHI	ARI	16.00	80%	12.80
Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at WAS	16.00	80%	12.80
Peyton Hillis	DEN	at NYJ	12.00	100%	12.00
Darren McFadden	OAK	KC	12.00	100%	12.00
Kevin Smith	DET	TEN	11.00	100%	11.00
Pierre Thomas	NO	at TB	11.00	100%	11.00
Ricky Williams	MIA	at STL	11.00	100%	11.00
Antonio Pittman	STL	MIA	11.00	100%	11.00
Dominic Rhodes	IND	at CLE	11.00	100%	11.00
Deuce McAllister	NO	at TB	10.00	100%	10.00
Tim Hightower	ARI	at PHI	10.00	100%	10.00
Kevin Faulk	NE	PIT	10.00	100%	10.00
Derrick Ward	NYG	at WAS	10.00	100%	10.00
Leon Washington	NYJ	DEN	10.00	100%	10.00
Julius Jones	SEA	at DAL	10.00	100%	10.00
Chester Taylor	MIN	CHI	10.00	100%	10.00
Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at GB	9.00	100%	9.00
Benjarvis Green-Ellis	NE	PIT	9.00	100%	9.00
Sammy Morris	NE	PIT	9.00	100%	9.00
LeRon McClain	BAL	at CIN	9.00	100%	9.00
Cedric Benson	CIN	BAL	9.00	100%	9.00
Ladell Betts	WAS	NYG	9.00	100%	9.00
Jerious Norwood	ATL	at SD	8.00	100%	8.00
JJ Arrington	ARI	at PHI	8.00	100%	8.00
Ray Rice	BAL	at CIN	8.00	100%	8.00
Fred Taylor	JAX	at HOU	8.00	100%	8.00
Willie Parker	PIT	at NE	14.00	50%	7.00
Fred Jackson	BUF	SF	7.00	100%	7.00
Reggie Bush	NO	at TB	14.00	50%	7.00
Correll Buckhalter	PHI	ARI	9.00	70%	6.30
Jamaal Charles	KC	at OAK	6.00	100%	6.00
Darren Sproles	SD	ATL	6.00	100%	6.00
Brandon Jackson	GB	CAR	5.00	100%	5.00
Michael Bush	OAK	KC	5.00	100%	5.00
Ken Darby	STL	MIA	5.00	100%	5.00
Rudi Johnson	DET	TEN	4.00	100%	4.00
Edgerrin James	ARI	at PHI	4.00	100%	4.00
Selvin Young	DEN	at NYJ	9.00	20%	1.80
Ahman Green	HOU	JAX	4.00	0%	0.00
Steven Jackson	STL	MIA	5.00	0%	0.00

Start: LenDale White, Tennessee Titans (Rank: 15.00) – Despite only getting 3 touches last week, Fisher will be more committed to the run game this week and they play the Lions. I’ll say it again… they play the Lions. Get him in there and enjoy some turkey while LenDale vultures a touchdown or 2.

Sit: Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints (Rank: 11.00) – It is possible the backfield gets a little more crowded this week. Even if it doesn’t, the Buccaneers have a stout defense. Fantasy owners were playing the waivers like mad to get this guy a few weeks ago. He should be back on your bench for this week if you have a better option.

Wide Receivers	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Anquan Boldin	ARI	at PHI	20.00	100%	20.00
Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at PHI	19.00	100%	19.00
Andre Johnson	HOU	JAX	19.00	100%	19.00
Terrell Owens	DAL	SEA	19.00	100%	19.00
Reggie Wayne	IND	at CLE	18.00	100%	18.00
Roddy White	ATL	at SD	18.00	100%	18.00
Steve Smith	CAR	at GB	16.00	100%	16.00
Randy Moss	NE	PIT	16.00	100%	16.00
Lee Evans	BUF	SF	16.00	100%	16.00
Lance Moore	NO	at TB	16.00	100%	16.00
Greg Jennings	GB	CAR	15.00	100%	15.00
Eddie Royal	DEN	at NYJ	15.00	100%	15.00
Hines Ward	PIT	at NE	15.00	100%	15.00
Wes Welker	NE	PIT	15.00	100%	15.00
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	CIN	BAL	15.00	100%	15.00
Derrick Mason	BAL	at CIN	15.00	100%	15.00
Laveranues Coles	NYJ	DEN	15.00	100%	15.00
Braylon Edwards	CLE	IND	14.00	100%	14.00
Antonio Bryant	TB	NO	14.00	100%	14.00
Brandon Marshall	DEN	at NYJ	14.00	100%	14.00
Calvin Johnson	DET	TEN	14.00	100%	14.00
Dwayne Bowe	KC	at OAK	14.00	100%	14.00
DeSean Jackson	PHI	ARI	14.00	100%	14.00
Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	DEN	14.00	100%	14.00
Bobby Engram	SEA	at DAL	14.00	100%	14.00
Santana Moss	WAS	NYG	13.00	100%	13.00
Donnie Avery	STL	MIA	13.00	100%	13.00
Kevin Walter	HOU	JAX	13.00	100%	13.00
Marques Colston	NO	at TB	13.00	100%	13.00
Vincent Jackson	SD	ATL	13.00	100%	13.00
Donald Driver	GB	CAR	13.00	100%	13.00
Anthony Gonzalez	IND	at CLE	13.00	100%	13.00
Bernard Berrian	MIN	CHI	13.00	100%	13.00
Steve Breaston	ARI	at PHI	12.00	100%	12.00
Marvin Harrison	IND	at CLE	12.00	100%	12.00
Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	at GB	12.00	100%	12.00
Justin Gage	TEN	at DET	12.00	100%	12.00
Ted Ginn Jr.	MIA	at STL	12.00	100%	12.00
Rashied Davis	CHI	at MIN	12.00	100%	12.00
Isaac Bruce	SF	at BUF	12.00	100%	12.00
Kevin Curtis	PHI	ARI	12.00	100%	12.00
Chris Chambers	SD	ATL	12.00	100%	12.00
Michael Jenkins	ATL	at SD	12.00	100%	12.00
Brandon Jones	TEN	at DET	12.00	100%	12.00
Mark Bradley	KC	at OAK	14.00	80%	11.20
Sidney Rice	MIN	CHI	11.00	100%	11.00
Roy Williams	DAL	SEA	11.00	100%	11.00
Bryant Johnson	SF	at BUF	11.00	100%	11.00
Torry Holt	STL	MIA	11.00	100%	11.00
Chad Ocho Cinco	CIN	BAL	11.00	100%	11.00
Amani Toomer	NYG	at WAS	11.00	100%	11.00
Santonio Holmes	PIT	at NE	13.00	80%	10.40
Devin Hester	CHI	at MIN	10.00	100%	10.00
Reggie Williams	JAX	at HOU	10.00	100%	10.00
Bobby Wade	MIN	CHI	10.00	100%	10.00
Michael Clayton	BAL	at CIN	10.00	100%	10.00
Devery Henderson	NO	at TB	10.00	100%	10.00
Steve Smith	NYG	at WAS	10.00	100%	10.00
Joey Galloway	TB	NO	10.00	100%	10.00
Hank Baskett	PHI	ARI	9.00	100%	9.00
Nate Washington	PIT	at NE	9.00	100%	9.00
Koren Robinson	SEA	at DAL	9.00	100%	9.00
Marty Booker	CHI	at MIN	9.00	100%	9.00
Antwaan Randle El	WAS	NYG	8.00	100%	8.00
Arnaz Battle	SF	at BUF	8.00	100%	8.00
Patrick Crayton	DAL	SEA	8.00	100%	8.00
Josh Morgan	SF	at BUF	11.00	70%	7.70
Plaxico Burress	NYG	at WAS	14.00	50%	7.00
Brandon Stokley	DEN	at NYJ	7.00	100%	7.00
Chansi Stuckey	NYJ	DEN	7.00	100%	7.00
Reggie Brown	PHI	ARI	7.00	100%	7.00
James Hardy	BUF	SF	7.00	100%	7.00
Jerry Porter	JAX	at HOU	7.00	100%	7.00
Matt Jones	JAX	at HOU	10.00	60%	6.00
Chris Henry	CIN	BAL	6.00	100%	6.00
David Patten	NO	at TB	5.00	100%	5.00
Greg Camarillo	MIA	at STL	0.00	0%	0.00
Javon Walker	OAK	KC	0.00	0%	0.00

Start: Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills (Rank: 16.00) – This guy has never had more than 5 good fantasy outings per year since he started in the league. Look it up. However, this year he has came on like gangbusters. He is at or just past that point already this year with several games to play. This week he draws a SanFrancisco team that is allowing about 25 fantasy points to wide receivers per game. They allow either 80 yards, a touchdown, both, or more to a team’s number one wide receiver.

Sit: Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (Rank: 13.00) – This has to be painful for many fantasy owners to see. The Buccaneers defense is just too good to risk starting him and his inconsistency. His statline last week wasn’t horrible, but you can’t count on a 70 yard touchdown every week to save his fantasy day.

Start: Dustin Keller, New York Jets (Rank: 17.00) – This guy has really established himself as the go to guy for the Jets. Favre has always loved his receiving tight ends back to Mark Chmura and Bubba Franks. You should ride Dustin for the rest of the year unless you have a pretty good other option.

Sit: John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks (Rank: 11.00) – He has probably been in and out of fantasy lineups this year. This week he should be out. Dallas has only allowed 2 touchdowns to tight ends this year and has not allowed any tight end to get over 47 yards against them. If Carlson can somehow manage to get both 47 yards and the touchdown like Winslow did against the ‘Boys in week 1, fine… but the risk is too great that he won’t.

Kickers	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Nick Folk	DAL	SEA	18.00	100%	18.00
Mason Crosby	GB	CAR	17.00	100%	17.00
Ryan Longwell	MIN	CHI	17.00	100%	17.00
Robbie Gould	CHI	at MIN	17.00	100%	17.00
Nate Kaeding	SD	ATL	17.00	100%	17.00
Rob Bironas	TEN	at DET	17.00	100%	17.00
Stephen Gostkowski	NE	PIT	16.00	100%	16.00
Adam Vinatieri	IND	at CLE	16.00	100%	16.00
Neil Rackers	ARI	at PHI	16.00	100%	16.00
Jason Elam	ATL	at SD	16.00	100%	16.00
Garrett Hartley	NO	at TB	16.00	100%	16.00
Matt Stover	BAL	at CIN	15.00	100%	15.00
Kris Brown	HOU	JAX	15.00	100%	15.00
Josh Scobee	JAX	at HOU	15.00	100%	15.00
Rian Lindell	BUF	SF	15.00	100%	15.00
Matt Bryant	TB	NO	15.00	100%	15.00
John Kasay	CAR	at GB	15.00	100%	15.00
Phil Dawson	CLE	IND	14.00	100%	14.00
Jeff Reed	PIT	at NE	14.00	100%	14.00
Shaun Suisham	WAS	NYG	14.00	100%	14.00
Joe Nedney	SF	at BUF	14.00	100%	14.00
Matt Prater	DEN	at NYJ	13.00	100%	13.00
David Akers	PHI	ARI	13.00	100%	13.00
Dan Carpenter	MIA	at STL	13.00	100%	13.00
John Carney	NYG	at WAS	16.00	80%	12.80
Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	KC	12.00	100%	12.00
Connor Barth	KC	at OAK	12.00	100%	12.00
Josh Brown	STL	MIA	10.00	100%	10.00
Olindo Mare	SEA	at DAL	9.00	100%	9.00
Shayne Graham	CIN	BAL	9.00	100%	9.00
Jason Hanson	DET	TEN	8.00	100%	8.00

Start: Rob Bironas, Tennessee Titans (Rank: 17.00) – Get your Kicker done on Thursday and watch the Titans have no trouble driving on the Lions. Hopefully the Lions can hold the Titans short a few times for field goals.

Sit: Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions (Rank: 8.00) – The hand giveth, the hand taketh away. get this Turkey Day kicker out of your lineup. He probably isn’t owned but he hasn’t been horrible lately and he plays on Thanksgiving so people may give him a look. The Titans give up nothing to kickers. They have surrendered a league low 11 field goals in 12 weeks.

Start: Chicago Bears (Rank: 14.00) – The Vikings have some of the worst special teams in the league, if not the worst. They have given 4 kick return touchdowns and 3 touchdowns on turnovers. The Bears have a returner that could see the endzone. It’s worth the play.

Sit: San Diego Chargers (Rank: 11.00) - The Falcons have allowed 13 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries, and 6 interceptions this year in 12 games. They have not allowed a defensive or special teams touchdown. Add to that the Chargers are the 22nd ranked fantasy defense, there should be many points to be had by starting them. These aren’t the Chargers and Falcons of a year ago.

 
Many thanks to the people who helped put this together: treat24, WaCougMBS, and Dan Lambskin who helped with the rankings! If you would like to help with the rankings you can do so here each week.

Rate this article: (15 votes, average: 4.60 out of 5)  Loading ... Questions or comments for Scott? Post them in the Cafe Forums! Want to write for the Cafe? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!