Wide receivers are gaining momentum in recent weeks in fantasy football. A year where the main weapons have been running backs is now fading a bit in the background, where the receivers are now taking over.
In the last two weeks, 10 wide receivers have garnered 20 or more fantasy points, compared to eight running backs. It’s not a major split, but a vast different story from what we saw earlier this season. Running backs were dominant earlier this season and that’s still represented in the total points, with nine running backs scoring 130 or more fantasy points this season, compared to just two wide receivers.
With the playoffs upcoming, keep track of major wide receiver contributors. Here’s the week 13 wide receivers start ’em, sit ’em guide in fantasy football.
Start
Alshon Jeffery vs. Seattle Seahawks
In the past, this was a no-start situation for Jeffery and most wide receivers. But the Legion of Boom is no more, meaning wide receivers and quarterbacks have far more value than in previous years.
Seattle is middle-of-the-pack in allowing fantasy points to wide receivers this season and they’re not dominant against the pass, like they’ve been in the past. Seattle is still better than most defenses, but it’s not one to avoid anymore. That’s why I’m banking on Jeffery and this Philadelphia passing offense. The Eagles should have space to maneuver and in recent weeks, Jeffery has seen solid work in the red zone to go along with a decent amount of targets.
He’s scored in four straight games, and is averaging almost nine targets per game in that time span. Don’t be afraid of Seattle’s pass defense.
Ted Ginn vs. Carolina Panthers
It’s tough to trust revenge when your playoff life is at stake, but Ginn is offering more than just that in week 13. Of course, Ginn will square off against his former team, so that helps, but the Saints are targeting him often in recent weeks.
Ginn has 17 targets in the last two games, producing 13 catches for 158 yards. He doesn’t have a touchdown, but those are strong numbers for a player who usually doesn’t have a high floor.
This game will be in the dome, so I’m expecting some more scoring than many anticipate. The Panthers have been good against the pass this season, but they were vulnerable in week 12 against a Jets offense that doesn’t exactly scream juggernaut.
Ginn’s targets have been up and the Saints will try to use him to sneak in a big play or two against this Carolina defense. Carolina has allowed the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL in the last three games, so go with Ginn.
Robby Anderson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
OK, I’m beginning to see the light with Anderson. He was one of my deep sleepers before the season started, but I was fading his potential as the season wore on because of the lack of consistency.
But he’s becoming a nice weapon for a Jets offense that just doesn’t run the ball well enough to keep the ball out of the air. Josh McCown has to throw, so he’ll make plenty of mistakes, but he’ll also get plenty of yards. And that should be once again be the case against a Chiefs defense that is allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Anderson only has four or fewer targets in one game this season. So he’s going to at least get you five looks, and in the last two weeks he has 17 targets. He’s done well with those targets, scoring in five straight games.
Anderson is the top target for a Jets team that is passing more in the last few weeks. He’s safe to start in week 13.
Sit
Kelvin Benjamin vs. New England Patriots
He may not play, so this could be a moot issue, but even if he does suit up, I wouldn’t trust him in week 13.
I hate mysteries in fantasy football. And that’s what Benjamin offers. If he plays, he likely won’t be 100 percent and we don’t know how well he’ll adjust to the Bills offense. And with Tyrod Taylor back as the full-time starter, this offense just doesn’t generate big-time receiver weapons.
And he’ll be facing off against a New England team that is allowing just a little more than 200 yards passing in the last three games, the fourth-best mark in the NFL. The Bills won’t have any room to pass and Benjamin’s health should raise major red flags.
Mohamed Sanu vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sanu has been a decent fantasy play in recent weeks, going for eight catches and 64 yards receiving in week 12, and scoring in three of the previous five games.
But to earn a start this week, he needs more than one week’s evidence of an increased target share. In week 12, he had nine targets, representing the most targets he’s had since week 7. In-between those efforts, he reached seven targets once, and three targets twice.
That’s a bad sign against a Vikings defense that is one of the better pass defenses in the NFL. Minnesota let Marvin Jones run wild in week 12 against them. They won’t let that happen two weeks in a row. Julio Jones is safe to start, but I’d leave Sanu on the bench.
Emmanuel Sanders vs. Miami Dolphins
The Broncos can’t sustain two wide receivers anymore. And Sanders should have less value than Demaryius Thomas.
Thomas has more targets and is the better red zone threat. Sanders has three or fewer catches in three of the past four games and hasn’t scored since week 2. His quarterback is not reliable and with Thomas on the other side, he’s not the main weapon.
And for being a terrible team overall, the Dolphins don’t allow many fantasy points to receivers. They’ve allowed 31 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the 10th-best mark in the NFL.
Don’t bank on Sanders to get you to the playoffs.
