Fantasy Week 13 sleeper picks
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Jacob Camenker share why John Metchie, Andrei Iosivas, and Taysom Hill are smart sleeper plays for Week 13 fantasy football.
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The final playoff push for fantasy football managers is here. Luckily, Week 13 sees all 32 teams in action so bye weeks and injuries don’t play a significant role.
Week 13 kicked off with a triple-header on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and didn’t slow down with another matchup on Black Friday, Nov. 28. Still, there are plenty of lineup decisions to be made with the focus on Sunday and Monday to conclude the week.
We’ve offered a weekly guide to help you set your fantasy football lineup for every position in Week 13.
The four matchups already played this week have featured plenty of fantasy football star power, and you could be looking for a comeback or to put your stamp on Week 13 with a W.
With fewer games, there are fewer options and more difficult decisions to make. The USA TODAY Sports staff has you covered with those tough start-sit decisions and rankings for the rest of Week 13.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 13 QBs
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (at Indianapolis Colts)
It may seem strange to back Stroud against a Colts defense that now has a top-tier cornerback duo – Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner – and just held Patrick Mahomes without a touchdown.
However, Stroud was averaging 256 passing yards and 2.3 passing touchdowns over a four-game span before suffering a concussion in Week 9 against the Broncos. He should have a shot at similar production with Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins and Dalton Schultz all playing well.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (at Washington Commanders)
The Commanders just held Tua Tagovailoa without a touchdown before their bye. They seem unlikely to have similar success against Nix, despite his recent downturn as a passer.
Nix has just three passing touchdowns over his last three games but has faced a couple of tough defenses (the Chiefs and Texans) during that span. He should be able to enjoy a post-Thanksgiving feast against a Commanders defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 13 QBs
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (at Cleveland Browns)
Purdy just struggled badly on “Monday Night Football” against the Panthers, throwing three interceptions and just one touchdown in a 20-9 win. He could be in for more difficulties against a terrific Browns defense.
Cleveland has allowed the third-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season and ranks third-best in defensive EPA per play. Myles Garrett has racked up a whopping 18 sacks across 11 games and should be able to get plenty of pressure on Purdy. That makes it difficult to trust the 25-year-old quarterback as he continues to round back into form after missing six games with a toe injury.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 13 RBs
TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (vs. New York Giants)
Henderson followed his three-touchdown performance in Week 11 against New York with a slightly down week against a porous Bengals defense. He managed a respectable 81 yards on 21 touches but failed to find the end zone for the first time since Week 9.
He should have a better go of it against the Giants this week. He solidly out-touched backfield running mate Rhamondre Stevenson 21-7 and was the more explosive back in a surprisingly close game against Cincinnati.
New York faced a similar two-back tandem in Detroit last week and gave up 263 yards and three touchdowns to the more explosive ball carrier in Gibbs. Henderson may not hit that mark but he should be in for a performance closer to what he did in Week 11 versus the Jets than in Week 12 against Cincinnati.
RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos (at Washington Commanders)
Harvey took on a bigger share of the load on offense with J.K. Dobbins out with injury in Week 11. His reward was a week off in Week 12 and a return to the field against the Commanders’ defense.
Washington also had Week 12 off but had struggled to limit running backs prior to the break. Miami’s running backs racked up 214 total yards in Week 11. Detroit’s backs got to 247 total yards and three touchdowns as a group in Week 10.
Denver gets the benefit of a bye just as Washington does. Harvey will get another week with more touches against a bad run defense. The Commanders will be without quarterback Jayden Daniels for this game and that could skew things even more in Denver’s favor and lean the game script to Harvey’s benefit.
Jaylen Warren or Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Buffalo Bills)
Both of these Pittsburgh running backs hit double-digit fantasy points against the Chicago Bears in Week 12. Warren had 18 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown while Gainwell had 122 total yards on 16 touches. This week could be another excellent week for the Steelers’ duo.
Buffalo just played one of the worst running games in the league against the Houston Texans and allowed over four yards per carry. A week earlier, Buffalo gave up 202 total yards and three touchdowns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running backs – notably without Bucky Irving.
Pittsburgh may be in a rough spot on offense with questionable quarterback play but the rushing attack should still be potent, especially at home. Either Warren or Gainwell should make for a solid start this week to complement your top pick(s) at the position.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Tennessee Titans)
Tuten came back down to earth in Week 12 after a breakout performance against the Chargers in Week 11. A week after tallying 74 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, he managed 17 yards on seven carries. It was Etienne who got the better opportunity against the Cardinals’ defense (18 touches for 116 total yards and a touchdown).
Luckily, the Titans’ defense is up next for Jacksonville.
Tennessee allowed 136 total yards and a touchdown to the Seahawks’ running backs on just 20 touches. Kenneth Walker III tallied 101 yards from scrimmage on just 14 touches. Even if Etienne gets the majority of the work again in Week 13, there’s a good shot Tuten should make the most of his touches. He’s a good FLEX option if you’re struggling to find a good start there this week.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 13 RBs
Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (at New England Patriots)
Tracy Jr. proved us wrong against the Lions with a touchdown and 130 total yards on a remarkable 23 touches. Backfield mate Devin Singletary also reached double-digit touches in what was a surprisingly good game for the Giants’ offense.
We’re confident he won’t do that again in Week 13 against the best run defense in the NFL on the road. New England allowed more than 100 yards rushing to an opposing running back group for just the second time all season last week against Cincinnati. At home, we’d expect a better effort from the Patriots’ group.
On average, the Patriots are allowing 97 total yards to opposing running back groups per week this season. It’d be a shock if the Giants were the second team to exceed that average in as many weeks. Start Tracy at your own risk.
Aaron Jones Sr., Minnesota Vikings (at Seattle Seahawks)
Minnesota did as much as they could on the ground to help struggling quarterback J.J. McCarthy in Week 12 and Jones managed just 57 yards on 12 touches. That continues a streak of poor results for the Vikings running back, who has found the end zone just once since returning from injury in Week 8.
This week, Minnesota heads out west for what could be a brutal road game. Seattle boasts one of the best defenses in the league and has been especially stout against running backs in 2025. The Seahawks are giving up just 107 total yards per game to opposing running back groups and have allowed just six total touchdowns in 11 games.
McCarthy may not start this week as he works through concussion protocol, leaving undrafted rookie Max Brosmer to make the start. None of that sounds good for Jones and the Vikings’ running game. Avoid starting him if you can.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 13 WRs
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (@ Washington Commanders)
The Commanders’ pass defense is among the worst in the NFL by dropback success rate (51.4%) and dropback EPA allowed (0.266). Those marks are even worse in the last four weeks – the 63.6% success rate and 0.515 EPA allowed on dropbacks are both at the bottom of the league. They’ve allowed the fourth-most receiving yards to wide receivers (1,873) all season and fifth-most touchdowns (13).
Sutton had a tough run of matchups going into the Broncos’ Week 12 bye, but he’ll be fresh in Week 13 against a Washington defense that is one of the league’s worst at stopping the pass. So long as Nix doesn’t have a strangely poor outing – as he did against the Raiders on “Thursday Night Football” a few weeks ago, Sutton should be in line for a big day.
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots (vs. New York Giants)
The Giants have consistently been one of the league’s worst defenses this year, to the point that they just fired their defensive coordinator after blowing another 10-point lead late. The secondary, in particular, has been an issue. New York just allowed nine catches for 149 yards and a touchdown to St. Brown, the Lions’ top target, in Week 12.
Diggs has largely been a boom-or-bust play in fantasy football this year, compiling three games with more than 100 yards but only two other games with more than 50. This week lines up to be a “boom” week for the Patriots’ top receiving target as they take on a subpar Big Blue unit that’s also adapting to a new defensive coordinator calling plays.
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
McConkey’s first outing against the Raiders was quiet: five catches for 48 yards. But that was early in the season, and McConkey has since come alive – he’s had more than 60 yards in four of his last six games and three touchdowns to go with them.
Las Vegas has allowed the sixth-most receptions (142) and fifth-most touchdowns (13) to opposing wideouts this season. McConkey will have another shot at a big day against his team’s divisional rival as he and the Chargers come fresh off of their bye week.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 13 WRs
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (vs. Denver Broncos)
The Broncos have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this year, largely due to their ability to keep opposing receivers out of the end zone. Denver has allowed just two touchdowns to opposing receivers in 2025 – four fewer than the next best team.
McLaurin has been in the end zone just once, in part because he’s only played in four games while dealing with quad issues. The Commanders’ top receiving target is in line to return to action in Week 13, but it will be his first game since before Halloween, and he’ll be catching passes from backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. Starter Jayden Daniels remains sidelined after dislocating his elbow in Week 9.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (vs. Houston Texans)
The Texans are a top-three defensive unit in the NFL by both overall EPA/play allowed (-0.124) and opponent success rate (39.4%). On dropbacks, Houston is No. 1 in EPA allowed (-0.127) and No. 2 in success rate (39.9%).
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has not been lighting the league on fire like he was early in the season, and the Chiefs made him look mortal with season lows in completion rate (61.8%) and yards (181). Expect the Texans to employ similar tactics to slow down Indianapolis’ offense on the ground and in the air in Week 13, limiting Pittman’s production.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 13 TEs
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars at Titans
Trevor Lawrence and Strange connected on five of five targets for 93 yards in his return to the lineup in Week 12. Their next matchup is against the Tennessee Titans, who rank 28th in EPA allowed per dropback.
Tennessee hasn’t allowed a ton of production to opposing tight ends, but Strange provides a high floor in PPR formats as long as Brian Thomas Jr. remains sidelined. Even if Thomas returns this week, Strange is a nice fill-in for managers who may have lost Tucker Kraft or Sam LaPorta to injury. The third-year tight end still hasn’t scored a touchdown this season, but there’s upside in this smashable spot against the Titans as the Jags are 6.5-point favorites.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints at Dolphins
One of the most popular waiver wire pickups in the early part of 2025 was Juwan Johnson, and managers will be privy to insert him in lineups this week. This could end up being a surprise Taysom Hill game with Alvin Kamara dinged up, so both Saints tight ends are startable this week, but Hill is more of a deep league flier.
Johnson has come on strong since the Saints turned to QB Tyler Shough in Week 8. In his four games since then, the veteran tight end has 18-222-2 receiving on 23 targets. He had the seventh-most targets among all tight ends before the Week 12 bye and in his two games since the Saints traded away Rashid Shaheed, Johnson has served as the No. 2 pass catcher (75% route rate). He’s scored double-digit fantasy points in five straight and gets a juicy matchup in Week 13 when the Saints take on the Dolphins. Miami has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Theo Johnson, New York Giants at Patriots (“Monday Night Football”)
The Giants’ second-year tight end has been a boom-bust option since Malik Nabers went down with a season-ending injury, but there’s reason to believe another boom week could be in store in Week 13 in prime time. Jaxson Dart will likely return, and Johnson will continue to be heavily utilized in the red zone. The 24-year-old has finished with double-digit fantasy points in six of the last nine games.
Expect Dart to continue to look for his athletic 6-foot-6, 259-pound tight end with quick throws on Monday night in a challenging road environment when the Giants travel to play in Foxborough. The Giants are road underdogs, which favors a pass-heavy game script for Big Blue. Fantasy managers searching for upside at the position would be wise to start Johnson against the AFC-leading Patriots. New England’s defense is tied with the most receptions allowed to opposing tight ends in 2025. Johnson could be in line for his fourth finish inside the top 10 even if the production comes in garbage time.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 13 TEs
Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Raiders
There are plenty of reasons why you may hesitate to leave the Chargers’ rookie tight end on your bench this week against a poor Raiders team, but let’s explain. The Chargers will likely have rookie running back Omarion Hampton back in the lineup. They will want to lean on the run more, and with the injuries to the offensive line, Greg Roman and the Chargers will likely have the tight ends in line to block more often than we’ve seen.
Add on to the fact that Las Vegas has surrendered just the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position, and the 22-year-old isn’t the smash start he was becoming earlier this season.
Fantasy football Week 13 defense/special teams rankings
- Seattle Seahawks (SEA) vs. MIN
- Denver Broncos (DEN) at WAS
- Los Angeles Chargers (LAC) vs. LV
- San Francisco 49ers (SF) at CLE
- Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX) at TEN
- New England Patriots (NE) vs. NYG
- Houston Texans (HOU) at IND
- Los Angeles Rams (LAR) at CAR
- Detroit Lions (DET) vs. GB (Thanksgiving)
- Miami Dolphins (MIA) vs. NO
- Philadelphia Eagles (PHI) vs. CHI (Black Friday)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB) vs. ARI
- Atlanta Falcons (ATL) at NYJ
- Buffalo Bills (BUF) at PIT
- Indianapolis Colts (IND) vs. HOU
- Cleveland Browns (CLE) vs. SF
- Baltimore Ravens (BAL) vs. CIN (Thanksgiving)
- Chicago Bears (CHI) at PHI (Black Friday)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT) vs. BUF
- New Orleans Saints (NO) at MIA
- Green Bay Packers (GB) at DET (Thanksgiving)
- Kansas City Chiefs (KC) at DAL (Thanksgiving)
- New York Jets (NYJ) vs. ATL
- Tennessee Titans (TEN) vs. JAX
- Minnesota Vikings (MIN) at SEA
- Arizona Cardinals (ARI) at TB
- Dallas Cowboys (DAL) vs. KC (Thanksgiving)
- Carolina Panthers (CAR) vs. LAR
- Washington Commanders (WAS) vs. DEN
- New York Giants (NYG) at NE
- Cincinnati Bengals (CIN) at BAL (Thanksgiving)
- Las Vegas Raiders (LV) at LAC
