Fantasy football is a game where fans manage virtual teams made up of real professional football players and compete each week based on those players’ actual performances. Participants set their starting lineup, make strategy decisions, and try to outscore opponents during the football season.
The game rewards not only football knowledge but also prediction and management skills. Each week brings new challenges, keeping fantasy football engaging and competitive.
Start ‘Em: Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. LV)
This is a big test as to how much we can trust the data. Outside of his scorching hot first four weeks, Quentin Johnston has been the same disaster he’s been his entire career.
Johnston posted at least 14.9 fantasy points in each of his first three games. Since then, he’s maxed out at 15.3 points, hit double digits just one other time, and recorded two bagels. If Johnston is going to break out of his funk, this is the week.
The Raiders allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Johnston already got the better of them once, recording three catches for 71 yards and a touchdown when these teams met back in Week 2.
It’s entirely possible that we end up seeing Ladd McConkey and Oronde Gadsden II as the beneficiaries of this soft matchup. But fantasy managers are not asking whether to start those two guys. Johnston is truly on the border, and I think you can trust him in Week 13.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at TEN)
Last Sunday, Tom Pelissero reported that Brian Thomas Jr. is expected to return in Week 13. Assuming that happens, surely he has to finally have a big game this week…right?
It’s been a very disappointing sophomore campaign for BTJ. He has just a single game with more than 12.0 fantasy points and has hit double digits a mere three times. Yet, there’s reason to believe he can finish the season strong, provided he can stay healthy.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a pretty favorable rest-of-season schedule, and it starts this week.
The Tennessee Titans have this misguided perception of being a run funnel defense. That’s not exactly the case. They’ve actually not been terrible against the run outside of getting gashed by Jonathan Taylor…twice.
In reality, Tennessee struggles against the pass, allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
If the Jaguars have any serious intentions of making a run, they need to get their top receiver going. Head coach Liam Coen knows this. Look for him to dial up targets for a returning Thomas in a favorable matchup.
Sit ‘Em: Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU)
As is often the case, if we’re sitting a team’s quarterback, we probably don’t like that team’s wide receivers, either.
Alec Pierce’s miracle run came to a screeching halt against the Chiefs last week. He saw two targets, catching one for 31 yards. Pierce had previously hit 14.8 fantasy points or more in three of his last four.
Things are not about to get better this week against what sure looks like the best defense in football.
READ MORE: Katz’s Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 13: Sean Tucker, Brian Thomas Jr., Aaron Jones Sr., and Others
The Texans allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. They are especially dominant at defending the outside, with Derek Stingley Jr. locking down opposing flankers.
It’s possible that Michael Pittman Jr. is the one who gets blanketed, funneling more targets Pierce’s way. However, the Colts move Pittman around in the formation much more than Pierce, who has lined up in the slot about 13% of the time this season (Pittman is closer to 30%). Unless Pierce catches a long one, we’re probably looking at another low output.
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (at NYJ)
Darnel Mooney was elevated to the Atlanta Falcons’ WR1 position last week. He responded by posting his best game of the season with 16.4 fantasy points. So that’s it. Mooney is a weekly WR2 for as long as Drake London is out, right? Not quite.
The reality is that nothing really changed for Mooney. If anything, his performance provided reason for more pessimism going forward.
London wants to return this week, but I am skeptical that he will be able to. If he doesn’t, fantasy managers may consider Mooney a worthwhile start once again. I would caution against chasing the points.
Without London in the lineup, Mooney still only saw three targets. He was stuck on two receptions for 25 yards until Kirk Cousins found him on a deep post for a 49-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Without that flukey big play, it would’ve been more of the same for Mooney.
This is not a great matchup, either. The New York Jets allow the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Additionally, we have game script concerns. The Falcons want to run the ball as much as possible, and the Jets aren’t exactly the type of offense that can force them out of their game plan. Mooney will once again need a splash play to succeed.
