Scott Engel of RotoExperts.com is in his seventh season of Fantasy Football analysis on seahawks.com. Scott is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writer's Association's Hall of Fame and a former FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year Award Winner. He can be heard on FNTSY Radio every morning and seen on FNTSY Sports Network daily on CenturyLink's sports package and Dish Network.
Now the pressure is really on. The most important weeks of the Fantasy season are here. Week 13 is the final week of the Fantasy regular season in most leagues. So a lot of Fantasy owners are in scenarios where the stakes are very high. You may be playing for a playoff berth, or seeding that could lead to a first round bye. So the anxiety and apprehension you usually feel may be multiplied right now. Next week, the postseason will begin. But we have helped you get this far, and when it means the most, we have the ideal picks for your Week 13 lineup. Settle in and get some reassurance with these prime plays as the biggest stretch of the Fantasy season begins.
Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers vs. CLE:After an 0-4 start, the Chargers are the team no one wants to face, and they are making a legitimate push for the AFC West title. As they do, you can count on their key offensive players for quality Fantasy production when you need it most. Rivers scored 28.86 Fantasy Points on NFL.com last week and takes on the Browns, who have allowed 22 TD passes, second-most in the league.
Brett Hundley vs. TB: You should plug in the improving young Packers passer if another QB has let you down recently or you have been streaming quarterbacks. Hundley is coming off his best game yet in Week 13, in which he threw for three TD passes and totaled 22.40 NFL.com Fantasy Points against a highly respected Pittsburgh defense. This week he faces Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have yielded a league-high 3,173 passing yards.
Josh McCown vs. KC: He is hovering just outside the Top 12 of Fantasy QBs on NFL.com, and I have him and Case Keenum in my Top 10 in this week's Lineup Rankings on RotoExperts.com. His 25.08 Fantasy Points on NFL.com, powered by three TD passes, were a season-best output. Kansas City has allowed 2,822 passing yards, which is third most among AFC teams.
Running Backs
Rex Burkhead vs. BUF: A versatile performer, Burkhead has emerged as a frequent all-around contributor on one of the league's best offenses. He has scored in double figures on NFL.com in two of the past three weeks and has three total TDs during that span. The Bills allow an AFC-high 21.45 Fantasy Points Per Game to opposing running backs on NFL.com. Dion Lewis is also a strong start. The Bills have surrendered an NFL-high 13 rushing TDs to opposing RBs.
Jamaal Williams vs. TB: The rookie had a breakout game last week against Pittsburgh, delivering a season-high 25.50 Fantasy Points on NFL.com. He is looking like a Top 15 start for Week 13. After surprising the Steelers, the open roads will be even easier to find against the Buccaneers, who allow 18.86 FFPG to opposing RBs, fifth most among NFC teams on NFL.com.
Marshawn Lynch vs. NYG:Injuries at wide receiver may cause the Raiders to lean heavily on the run this week. Lynch had a season-high 26 carries last week and the Giants have allowed 1,191 rushing yards, fourth most in the NFL. You should also get at least one TD run from Beast Mode.
Alex Collins vs. DET:He has become the main ballcarrier for the Ravens and he is averaging 4.9 yards per attempt while being among the league leaders in that category for much of the season. Collins has rushed for a score in each of his past two games and the Lions have allowed a NFC-high 11 rushing TDs to opposing RBs.
Wide Receivers
Robby Anderson vs. KC: One of the hottest wide receivers in Fantasy Football, he has boosted himself into the Top 10 at WR on NFL.com with a breakthrough five-game stretch. Like Doug Baldwin, he was undrafted in the NFL and is now making a lot of noise. The Chiefs allow 25.78 FFPG to opposing WRs, the most in the AFC. They have also given up a league-high 16 TD passes to the position.
Cooper Kupp vs. ARI:He's in this space again, and has earned the spot after the first 100-yard game of his career in Week 12. Kupp is even more valuable in PPR formats, and top cover corner Patrick Peterson may battle with Sammy Watkins, leaving Kupp to work against the rest of the Cardinals' secondary. The Cardinals have allowed 22.45 FFPG to WRs, fourth most among NFC teams.
Marquise Lee vs. IND:The Jaguars should rebound with a victory this week, and have a good matchup to get back on track. Jacksonville does have a good running game but can attack the Colts secondary at opportune times. Lee is the best Fantasy WR on the team right now, although Dede Westbrook is on the rise. The Colts have allowed 1,927 receiving yards to WRs, third most in the AFC.
Paul Richardson vs. PHI:This week's marquee matchup with the Eagles could be a high scoring one, and the Seahawks may need to throw frequently to keep the chains moving and ahead of a very strong opponent on the scoreboard. Richardson is enjoying his best Fantasy season yet, as his 88.40 FFPG put him in the Top 25 at WR on NFL.com. The Eagles have allowed an NFC-high 143 receptions to the position, so Richardson is an even better play in PPR formats as a WR3.
Tight Ends, Defense/Special Teams & Kickers
Hunter Henry has a great TE matchup with the Browns, and Jared Cook does too against the Giants, Both Cleveland and New York have been regular defenses to exploit this year for Fantasy players. … Tennessee will stack up some sacks against Houston. … The Bears are respectable enough on defense to use them against the 49ers. … Ka'imi Fairbain may be good for more than two field goals. … Patrick Murray is an adequate start against Green Bay.
Seahawks Fantasy Focus
Russell Wilson is a must-start in what could be a shootout with the Eagles. Fantasy players will see two elite QBs on the field together when Wilson duels with Wentz, who has arrived as the second-best passer on NFL.com with 237.58 points. Wilson is the only one ahead of him at the No. 1 overall spot with 255.26 points. … Mike Davis should be scouted by Fantasy owners who may need RB help for the playoffs. Davis is available in most NFL.com leagues and should be added. … Doug Baldwin should catch at least six balls and score in a possible back and forth affair, and you can certainly count on another TD for Jimmy Graham, who leads all TEs with eight TD receptions.
For more lineup recommendations and insights from Scott Engel and his team, register now for the Xclusive Edge In-Season Fantasy Football package at rotoexperts.com/discount. Seahawks.com readers get five dollars off with promocode "seahawks" at checkout.
