Kicking off my thankful blessings will be Baker Mayfield, who finished as the QB9 last week. It was not a massive smash start, but I was satisfied with a QB1 finish. However, the suggested running back smash starts wrecked many fantasy lineups. Brian Robinson Jr. suffered an ankle injury in a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, which limited Robinson to only a dismal 13 rushing yards. Rhamondre Stevenson also struggled and ironically finished with an awful 13 rushing yards. Tyrone Tracy Jr. was not producing enough to be happy about but then lost another fumble, which ended his day and killed fantasy lineups.
Both suggested wide receivers, Ladd McConkey and Jameson Williams, had decent fantasy production but were far from smash starts. Luckily, Zach Ertz smashed at the tight end position, finishing as the TE10. Completing this below-par week, the Commanders’ defense did not step up against the Cowboys.
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Week 13 brings thankful thoughts. With three games on Thursday and one game on Friday, football, food and family provide gratitude for what you already have while you pursue your goal of winning a fantasy championship.
Fantasy Football Smash Starts For Week 13
Quarterback
Anthony Richardson (QB – IND) at New England
Inserting Anthony Richardson back into the Colts’ starting lineup has encouraged the fantasy managers who held onto the talented signal-caller while Joe Flacco came back down to earth. It can be a bumpy ride for Colts fans and fantasy managers while witnessing Richardson produce fantasy points with his elite running ability. However, the former Gator also provides lows with his lack of throwing accuracy, which is maddening and gives you pause on your upcoming fantasy start sit decisions.
His high-rushing floor is overwhelming and compelling. In his return to the lineup, Richardson rushed for two scores. Last week, he managed 61 rushing yards against the Detroit Lions. His passing issues were not entirely his fault. Colts pass-catchers struggled to handle his passes.
Richardson should have an excellent opportunity to post a ceiling fantasy performance against the Patriots’ defense, who have allowed 20 passing scores. Matthew Stafford and Tua Tagovailoa just lit up the Patriots’ defense in the last few games. Look for Richardson to make a statement on Sunday with a smash performance against this poor Patriots defense.
Running Back
Rico Dowdle (RB – DAL) vs. New York Giants
Rico Dowdle appears to be established as the Cowboys’ starting running back and is coming off a game in which he played 61% of the snaps and handled all but four of the backfield touches. Dowdle should see the ball a ton against the Giants on Thanksgiving. With Cooper Rush nursing a knee injury, it would make sense for the Cowboys to attack the Giants on the ground, who are 30th defending against the run, allowing 147.9 yards per game.
In addition to his involvement in the passing game, Dowdle can finish as an RB1 this week, which is one of the only reasons to watch this matchup.
Bucky Irving (RB – TB) at Carolina
One of the running backs who shined against the Giants’ defense is Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving. His increased involvement in the Bucs’ offense was showcased last week. Irving had 12 rushes for 87 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He also caught six receptions for 64 yards. In total, he produced a career-high 151 scrimmage yards.
Enter another juicy matchup for Irving, who takes on the Carolina Panthers. Their defense is allowing the most fantasy points to the running back position. Irving’s workload continues to ascend, and so does his fantasy value. Irving cruises to another career-high performance this week as he takes over Tampa Bay’s backfield.
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) at Washington
Tony Pollard stepped up in the continued absence of Tyjae Spears (concussion) by handling the workload in the Titans’ upset win over the Houston Texans in Week 12. Pollard had 24 rush attempts for 119 yards and a touchdown. Pollard has surpassed 85 rushing yards in five of his last eight games. He has totaled at least 20 carries in three of his previous five games.
Pollard has a juicy matchup this week versus the 29th-ranked run defense of the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have allowed at least 90 scrimmage yards to a running back in four of their last five games. Fantasy managers will enjoy a similar outing to the previous week and ride Pollard’s smash production to a Week 13 win.
Wide Receiver
DJ Moore (WR – CHI) at Detroit
DJ Moore has lit up the fantasy scoreboard over the past two weeks after missing in action for several weeks. The Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after Week 10 and installed Thomas Brown to take charge of the Bears’ offense. Rookie Caleb Williams is playing much better now, and the offense scored 46 points in their two games under Brown.
Moore has consecutive games with seven receptions on seven targets, including his Week 12 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, where Moore produced 106 receiving yards and a score. You have to love the energy and excitement coming out of Chicago, and they will need it against the Detroit Lions this week. The Lions’ offense is efficient and they have plenty of weapons. The Bears’ defense will have their hands full on Thanksgiving.
Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense will need to try to keep pace with the Lions, which will mean plenty of passes and looks to Moore. The Lions’ pass defense is their most vulnerable part, especially when teams try to keep up with their offense, and this matchup will not be any different. Have fun watching Moore see double-digit targets on his way to blowing up the game on Turkey Day.
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) vs. Cleveland
This week’s Monday Night Football matchup will bring us the play of one of the hottest QB-WR connections. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wideout Courtland Sutton have provided plenty of smiles for fantasy managers, with Sutton looking unstoppable last week. Sutton turned 10 targets into eight receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Sutton has emerged as the go-to target for Nix to the tune of totaling at least six catches in each of his last five games.
On Monday Night, Sutton will face a Browns defense who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers through 12 weeks. They have also surrendered a dismal nine receiving scores to opposing wideouts over their last six contests. If that wasn’t enough ammunition, opposing quarterbacks have thrown at least two passing touchdowns in five of the last six games versus the Browns.
Nix will prove why he should be the Offensive Rookie of the Year by throwing for at least a pair of scores, with Sutton hauling in at least one of those touchdown passes to finish up Week 13 on a high note.
Tight End
Will Dissly (TE – LAC) at Atlanta
Since the Los Angeles Chargers returned from their Week 5 bye week, Will Dissly has emerged as an integral weapon in their passing game. Dissly has four or more catches in six of his last seven games. He also has at least 40 receiving yards in four of his past six games.
His usage should provide fantasy appeal in the Chargers’ Week 13 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, who have allowed 10.3 fantasy points per game to tight ends through 12 weeks. Both offenses should be able to produce points, although the Chargers will be without running back J.K. Dobbins for at least this matchup. Dobbins’ absence should push the Chargers into a more pass-heavy game plan, allowing Dissly to smash this week.
Defense
New York Giants D/ST at Dallas
It’s disappointing that we will be challenged to watch this matchup on Thanksgiving. With a gloomy total of just 37 points, this game will be scarred by inept offenses and opportunistic defenses on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys’ defense has stepped up in the last few games with the return of Micah Parsons, but here we are targeting the Giants to smash on Thanksgiving.
The Giants’ defense ranks fifth in sacks (36) and is a valuable streaming option against the Cowboys, who have allowed 30 sacks (tied for the 10th-most). The Cowboys’ offense has struggled since Cooper Rush took over at quarterback. Rush has six fumbles in just over three games, losing two. Combine those issues with Rush, who is dealing with a knee injury, leaving him questionable but projected to start. If Rush cannot go, the Cowboys must turn to Trey Lance to command the offense. It is a situation to monitor, but in either scenario, the Giants’ defense should be a Week 13 smash play.
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Dennis Sosic is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Dennis, check out his archive and follow him @CALL_ME_SOS.