Week 13 Rankings

Updated 12/1/2013 at 7:00 PM ET. No. 4 TE Jordan Reed (concussion) removed from ranks.

Updated 12/1/2013 at 12:05 PM ET. Stevan Ridley and Andre Ellington removed. Donald Brown moved up, Trent Richardson moved down. Moved Golden Tate up. Another minor rejiggering at running back and receiver. Julius Thomas plunged to No. 21 ahead of likely removal.

Updated 12/1/2013 at 3:05 PM ET. No. 21 tight end Julius Thomas officially removed from ranks No. 59 WR Eddie Royal removed. No. 67 RB C.J. Anderson removed.

Week 13 Quarterbacks

QB Notes: On pace for “just” 5,414 yards, Peyton Manning is no longer on track to break Drew Brees’ single-season record of 5,476. He remains on course to nudge past Tom Brady’s record 50 touchdowns with 52 scores, however. With Tamba Hali (ankle) hobbled and Justin Houston (elbow) sidelined, the Chiefs are a less forbidding matchup than they were in Week 11. … Matthew Stafford ate last Thanksgiving against the Texans (31-of-61 for 441 yards, two touchdowns and zero scores), but Detroit still came out with a loss. The Lions have flashed their 2012 form of late, snatching multiple defeats from the jaws of victory, but Stafford is going to have another big meal against Green Bay’s bottom-12 pass defense. … Already permitting the ninth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, Tampa Bay is shaping up as an even more favorable matchup for Cam Newton with Darrelle Revis (groin) looking unlikely to shadow Steve Smith.

This is the lowest you will ever see Drew Brees ranked, and isn’t even necessarily because of the matchup. That is not to say the opponent isn’t daunting. It is, even though the Seahawks are down two of their top three cornerbacks, and Brees threw for 400 yards the last time he was in Seattle. The real issue is how much less effective Brees has been on the road than in the Superdome this season. This being Brees, “less effective” is a relative term, but consider: In six home games, he’s posted a 73.5 completion percentage, 9.00 YPA, 19:3 TD:INT ratio and averaged 357 yards. The road? 62.2, 7.49, 9:5 and 301, respectively, across five contests. They’re still very good numbers — top-five numbers — but owners expecting Brees to crack the CenturyLink code are going to come away disappointed. Brees can never be benched, but this is not a week where his video-game exploits are going to singlehandedly win your matchup. … Tom Brady since the calendar flipped to November: 69.9 completion percentage, 8:1 TD:INT ratio, 8.71 yards per attempt and 357 yards per game. Houston isn’t going to slow him down.

The Cardinals present a stiff test for Nick Foles’ 16:0 TD:INT ratio, but the young man has more than earned the benefit of the doubt, averaging an unbelievable 34.2 fantasy points since re-taking the starting job from Michael Vick. Of course, that number is heavily influenced by his Week 9 demolition of the Raiders, but Foles has managed at least 25.6 points in each of this past three starts. With the Eagles’ entire Week 12 bye to game plan for Arizona’s defense, Foles is going to get his. … It’s Week 13, and Philip Rivers is still fantasy’s No. 4 overall quarterback. He’s going to have a good afternoon against a Bengals defense that isn’t the same without Geno Atkins and Leon Hall. … The Saints have been strong against the pass this season, but aren’t going to slow Russell Wilson down in a raucous CenturyLink Field on Monday. It doesn’t hurt that, coming off five straight multi-passing TD performances, Wilson is finally going to have his No. 1 receiver Percy Harvin in the role he was acquired for.

If there’s one thing Josh McCown has lacked during his successful interim stewardship of the Bears offense, it’s the ability to take the top off of opposing secondaries. McCown does not beat teams deep, instead picking them apart in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. It’s why he’s not going to hold off Jay Cutler, and why he’s amassed only five touchdowns over his past three starts. He’s been a highly competent guiding hand, however, and proven more than capable of taking advantage of Chicago’s elite 1-2 of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Going up against a Vikings defense allowing the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks, McCown is a veritable lock for top-12 numbers. … Andrew Luck is just 13th in average fantasy points over the past five weeks, but you can bet Indy’s offense is going to come out energized and focused after suffering its second humiliating defeat in three games last Sunday. The Colts have undeniable issues, but they simply aren’t as bad as they’ve looked over the past month. They’re a good bet to get on track on the golden arm of their quarterback after owner Jim Irsay publicly implored his squad to “accent (its) strengths” and “hide (its) weaknesses.”

Left for dead (by me) following Arizona’s humiliating loss to the Seahawks, Carson Palmer has revived to the tune of 105-of-147 (71.4 completion percentage) for 1,266 yards (8.61 YPA), nine scores and only two picks during the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak. He’s a top-15 play in a game that has shootout potential in the City of Brotherly Love. … Robert Griffin III was horrific in Monday night’s loss, but is going to look a lot better against a Giants team with the second fewest sacks in the league. Getting Jordan Reed (concussion) back will help, too. … Colin Kaepernick is ranked conservatively because of his propensity for dud performances, but his upside is considerable against a Rams defense that’s banged up in the secondary. … Ryan Fitzpatrick has been getting after it in Jake Locker’s absence. He’s a strong two-QB league play. … Matt Flynn is a bit of a leap of faith after getting kicked around the league like a hot potato, but there’s just something different about him in the Packers’ offense. There’s dud potential, but more than likely, he’s going to have a strong day against a Lions defense that’s been getting smoked by the pass.

Don't forget, for the latest on everything NFL, check out Rotoworld's Player News, or follow @Rotoworld_FB or @RotoPat on Twitter.

Week 13 Running Backs

RB Notes: Chicago’s league-worst run defense is fresh off allowing big games to Ray Rice and Benny Cunningham. Makes you wonder what this Adrian Peterson fella might do to ‘em, huh? … Matt Forte has cleared 100 yards from scrimmage in eight of 11 games, and been held below 90 exactly once. He’s a nightmare matchup for a Vikings defense that’s allowed 76 receptions to opposing running backs, and is ranked 25th against the run. … LeSean McCoy continues to lead the league in rushing, but has been hurt in fantasy leagues by his modest six touchdowns. Either way, matchups haven’t mattered for Shady this season, and though the Cardinals are an imposing one, McCoy’s top-five status is never in doubt. … Reggie Bush’s season has hit a bit of a lull, but the Packers’ run defense has specialized in ending lulls of late. As Evan Silva lays out in his Thanksgiving Matchups column, the Pack have been pasted for 583 yards on their past 107 carries against, coughing up an ugly 5.45 YPC. Bush is going to have himself a nice meal on the field.

With each passing week, I grow more uncomfortable with how high Andre Brown is ranked, but thus far he’s earned it with his play (103 yards per game, 4.5 yards per carry) and matchups. Brown has yet another favorable opponent in the Redskins, as Jim Haslett’s “defense” is allowing the seventh most fantasy points to running backs, and has served up an embarrassing 13 scores on the ground. Even if Brandon Jacobs vultures a touchdown, Brown enters Week 13 as one of its safest plays. … Eddie Lacy’s asthma gave fantasy owners a scare in Week 12, but it’s not an issue heading into Thursday’s game with the Lions. Detroit’s increasingly stout run defense is (I was late to the party on this), but averaging 25.4 touches since returning in Week 5, Lacy’s workload is matchup proof. … Alfred Morris is third in rushing yards per game, and one of only four running backs averaging more than five yards per carry. Do not let his off Week 12 get you down.

Knowshon Moreno presents a classic fantasy conundrum this week. Fantasy’s No. 5 overall back, Moreno is coming off the best game of his career. But he picked up a “significant bone bruise” in his right leg in the process, and is highly uncertain for Sunday’s game. Were he healthy, Moreno would be a top-eight option. Since he’s not, he’s been conservatively ranked ahead of possible deletion from the ranks. If you’re deciding between Moreno and a Thursday back — say Rashad Jennings — you’d be best off to play things safe and bench your RB1, no matter how painful it may be. Check the Rotoworld Players News Page for daily updates on Moreno’s status. … Zac Stacy, Chris Ivory and Ryan Mathews are all in the same boat as Moreno. We simply don’t know if they’re going to play, earning each a conservative rank. In Mathews’ case, it’s very conservative, as he appears to be the most likely of the bunch to sit out. The tea leaves suggest that Stacy will suit up. The same appears to be true for Ivory, but there’s a danger he could split carries with Bilal Powell.

Owners likely feel a bit of reluctance to keep rolling with Rashad Jennings as their RB2 with Darren McFadden (hamstring) returning, but the Raiders have made it quite clear that Jennings will remain their lead back. He’s more than earned it, zooming past 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his past four games. That’s compared to only one 100-yard performance for McFadden all year. Throw in Jennings’ 5.1 YPC to DMC’s 3.6, and you have a player who’s left the Raiders no choice. DMC is middling FLEX option. Jennings has a dream matchup in a Cowboys defense that’s terrible even with MLB Sean Lee, and expansion-level without him. No team is permitting more fantasy points to enemy running backs. … This brings us to the Patriots’ sticky running-back situation. In short, even though he’s a pass-catching specialist, Shane Vereen is the only Pats back that can truly be trusted for Week 13, and is nearly assured of leading New England’s backfield in touches. Stevan Ridley? Do you really think Bill Belichick is going to entrust him with the ball in money situations, i.e. near the goal-line? Ridley will likely get out-carried by Brandon Bolden, but particularly in the red zone. He simply can’t be started as more than a high-risk FLEX option. Bolden is a TD-dependent FLEX. LeGarrette Blount? He’s an afterthought.

Even if Darren Sproles (ankle) is ready to go for Monday Night Football, Pierre Thomas will remain the main man in New Orleans’ backfield. … As League Safe’s Ryan Boser points out, Danny Woodhead leads all backs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Even in standard leagues, that’s a recipe for every-week RB2 value. … Something working in Bobby Rainey’s favor this week? Only the Cowboys have allowed more receptions to running backs than the Panthers. … Lamar Miller finally has the right role — unquestioned lead back — but he has the entirely wrong matchup in a Jets run defense allowing less than three yards per carry. Start Lamar at your own peril. … The Texans are claiming Ben Tate remains their lead back, but you’d better believe he rushed himself into a timeshare with Dennis Johnson in Week 12. … It’s unclear who might get the call in the Broncos’ backfield if Knowshon Moreno can’t give it a go, but Montee Ball remains the best bet of Denver’s fumbling Three Amigos. Ball will be a legitimate FLEX option if Moreno sits.

Week 13 Receivers

WR Notes: Calvin Johnson’s eight hundred and sixty freakin’ one receiving yards over his past five games are an NFL single-season record. … A.J. Green is doing battle with the league’s worst cornerback corps. In other news, A.J. Green is about to notch his sixth 100-yard performance in seven games. … A stat correction cost Dez Bryant his first 100-yard game since Week 7, but his 16 targets were his second most of the season. In other words, the Cowboys came to the right conclusion over their bye week: Get this guy the freakin’ ball. Bryant is going to tear right through the Raiders’ barely-there secondary on national T.V. … Remember when you didn’t want to start Antonio Brown because he was facing Joe Haden. Neither do we. The league’s receptions leader is going to keep on truckin’ against the Ravens. Only Megatron has more yards through the season’s first 12 weeks. … Josh Gordon: Fifth in the league in receiving despite being suspended for Weeks 1 and 2. His 237 yards in Week 12 were a Browns single-game record.

People are nervous about the Redskins’ offense after Monday’s cartoonishly inept display, but Pierre Garcon still managed to haul in eight passes. That means that, yes, he’s still been held below six catches only once all season, and even then it was five. Soaking up targets and receptions, the yards and touchdowns will be there by the end. … Patrick Peterson had his way with T.Y. Hilton in Week 12, but this is still a player who’s graded out negatively in Pro Football Focus’ ratings four times in 11 games. Peterson is an excellent corner, but is more than capable of being burned. It’s not a prohibitive matchup for DeSean Jackson, who’s been running strong routes and winning 1-on-1s all year. … Although his ceiling has been lowered without Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson has continued to play excellent ball with his football soulmate. He’ll find the seams in Detroit’s leaky pass defense. … This town continues to be big enough for the two of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. The matchup couldn’t be better in a Vikings secondary that’s down even more bodies for Week 13.

Dealing with a struggling quarterback, Andre Johnson gets Aqib Talib on Sunday. Johnson sticks at No. 12 because he can’t be ranked any lower, but a big day is going to require some of his best work. … Torrey Smith will do battle with Ike Taylor on Thanksgiving night. This is the same Ike Taylor who was the primary victim of Calvin Johnson and Josh Gordon dropping 20-416-3 on the Steel City the past two weekends. Smith is a good bet for a score. … Keenan Allen is who we thought he was: The best rookie in the AFC. Allen shook off his minor knee injury and slow Weeks 10-11 by snagging nine passes for 124 yards in San Diego’s upset win over the Chiefs. Allen is/was/will be a WR2 with WR1 upside. … Larry Fitzgerald hasn’t exactly roared back to life during Arizona’s four-game win streak, but he has caught 24 passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns. Fantasy’s most valuable WR3 is back on the WR2 radar. … Dome weather is T.Y. Hilton’s kind of weather.

The gravy train is going to run out for Harry Douglas at some point, but it’s hard to bench a guy who’s been fantasy’s No. 9 receiver over the past five weeks. … People are finally climbing aboard the Kendall Wright WR2 train. Held below six catches only twice all season, Wright has cleared 69 yards in seven consecutive games, and is coming off his first 100-yard effort. He has an excellent matchup in a Colts defense that’s slipped against the pass. … Coming off his worst game of the season, expect Eric Decker to be forced fed the ball by Peyton Manning, who’s always made a habit of re-involving players who got left out the week before. … You can believe one of two things about Cecil Shorts. 1. That he’s stuck on Joe Haden Island, or 2. He’s the only legitimate pass-catching threat on the Jaguars’ entire roster. Shorts’ Week 11 temper tantrum earned him 11 looks against the Texans, and you’d better believe Chad Henne isn’t going to stop looking his way against the Browns, elite coverage or not.

Darrelle Revis’ groin injury is looking like a get-out-of-jail free card for Steve Smith, though he’s still not more than a WR3. … No longer on a snap count, Percy Harvin is on the WR2/3 borderline because the Seahawks have a spread-the-wealth offense they’ve pledged not to change, but his weekly upside is obviously much higher. Harvin will likely have a dud or two down the stretch, but his blow-up potential is as big as it ever was. He’s an ideal WR3 who should be in most lineups. … Nate Burleson has caught at least six passes in all four games he’s appeared in this season. The looks come free opposite Calvin Johnson. … Going up against one of the league’s worst secondaries, Rod Streater has some serious WR3 appeal as Matt McGloin’s No. 1 option in the passing game. … If you’ve come up with a reason to trust Roddy White, let us know. … Michael Crabtree is going to be on a snap count, but it’s a good bet he’ll see a lot of time in the red zone. He’s a WR4/5 who could score in his 2013 debut.

Week 13 Tight Ends

TE Notes: Rob Gronkowski played all 86 snaps in Sunday’s electrifying overtime win over the Broncos. It was the first time all season he had done so. Now with a touchdown in the three straight games, Gronk has reached the painted area 41 times in 48 career contests. … Coming off an absolutely dominant performance against the Falcons — just ask the goal post — Jimmy Graham is expected to play a “full load” against the Seahawks. That’s after playing 38-of-60 snaps in Atlanta. … Fantasy’s No. 1 tight end is a coin flip between Gronk and Graham. … With touchdowns in three of his past four games, Vernon Davis is up to nine on the season, putting him behind only Graham and Julius Thomas amongst tight ends. Davis is facing a Rams team allowing the third fewest fantasy points to tight ends, but got them for a score in Week 4. Matchups don’t really matter for the receiver in a tight end’s body. … Speaking of Thomas, he’s fully expected to return against the Chiefs. Thomas is in the same position as Davis. Kansas City is stout against tight ends, but Thomas got them his last time out, and has gotten pretty much everybody this season. He can never be benched.

Jordan Reed (concussion) has resumed practicing, which means it would be surprising were he to miss his second straight game. Down Reed and Leonard Hankerson in Monday’s loss, the Redskins presented pitifully little passing threat. If Reed can go, he’s going to soak up targets against a Giants defense allowing the ninth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. … Coby Fleener, top-eight tight end? So is the state of fantasy’s thinnest position. What Fleener lacks in consistency, he’s slowly making up for it in opportunity. Although Fleener’s ceiling still isn’t what his role and talent suggest it should be, his doughnut days appear to be behind him. He had the best game of his career against these same Titans just two weeks ago. … As the state of the quarterback position slips in Cleveland, so does Jordan Cameron’s fantasy stock. That being said, the matchup is right in a Jaguars defense allowing the second most fantasy points to rival tight ends. … Delanie Walker and Ryan Fitzpatrick: BFFs. Averaging nine targets over his past three games, Walker has turned them into a weekly 6/66/0.6. Scout’s honor, I didn’t know what those numbers were going to be until I finished that sentence. There’s no hidden joke/meaning there.

Averaging 5.4 fantasy points over his past seven games and ceding snaps to explosive second-year pro Ladarius Green, Antonio Gates is fading from the TE1 radar. … As for Green, he’s an extremely exciting prospect, but has totaled just 71 snaps over the past three weeks. His upside is such that he certainly can’t be written off as a TE1/2 streamer, but there’s some high risk that comes along with his high reward. … Bucs coach Greg Schiano called Tim Wright an emerging “pass-catching force” following his eight-catch, 75-yard performance against the Lions. We certainly wouldn’t go that far with a player who combined for two grabs in Weeks 10-11, but Wright is clearly Mike Glennon’s No. 2 option, and a worthy plug-and-play tight end. … Finally becoming a part of the Cardinals’ offense, Rob Housler has 14 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown over his past three games. … Mychal Rivera is apparently going to start against the Cowboys just four days after going down with a seemingly-serious concussion. Developing a nice connection with Matt McGloin, he’s a legit TE2. … The winner of this week’s “facing the league’s worst defense against tight ends” sweepstakes? Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz, who is a hail mary TE2 that might pay off.

Week 13 Kickers

Week 13 Defense/Special Teams