Week 13 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Play-or-Bench Tips for Fantasy Football Owners

The last thing a fantasy football owner wants to do is bench a superstar this time of year.

With so much at stake, it isn’t fun to turn to a guy you drafted highly or acquired via a big trade or gigantic waiver-wire win and tell him to have a seat.

Unfortunately, so goes life in the fantasy realm. As a brief example, look back to Week 12 with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who posted one of his worst fantasy performances of his career with 10 points.

Now look ahead. Working through matchup comparisons, owners can find the players to start and avoid based on various factors. Let’s take a look.

                  

Quarterback

Star to Know: Matthew Stafford, DET (at NO)

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Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the top team in the NFC North and has made a habit of fourth-quarter comebacks, but those feats don’t necessarily translate to fantasy production.

Indeed, Stafford has scored more than 17 points in a game just once over his past five outings. But it’s important to keep in mind that he has three of 25 or more, making him an incredible matchup play.

And talk about an incredible matchup—Stafford gets the New Orleans Saints, who have coughed up eight passing touchdowns over their last four games and are widely known as a soft defense.

In a dome, look for Stafford to have one of his best games of the year during a shootout.

           

Star to Sit: Cam Newton, CAR (at SEA)

Injuries and an iffy team have made Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton a sit option most days this year.

Newton scored 19 points in Week 12, but it was only his fifth time at that mark or higher. He has five other games at no more than 15 points, making it almost a coin flip as to whether he produces.

Owners shouldn’t bank on the coin hinting at production in Week 13 against the Seahawks, who allow the fifth-fewest points to quarterbacks on average.

Only three opposing quarterbacks have hit 20 or more points against the Seahawks. Asking Newton to do so on the road is asking for trouble.

                  

Running Back

Star to Know: Carlos Hyde, SF (at CHI)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Carlos Hyde hasn’t been the best producer for owners this year. 

When Hyde is in a good matchup, he manages 15 or more points, something he has done four times. The trick is finding those good matchups—like the one in Week 13.

Scratch that—a game against the Chicago Bears is a great matchup. Chicago has …

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