- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Week 13 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Exploit and Avoid These Sunday Matchups
- Updated: December 3, 2016
A return to a normal Thursday slate in Week 13 provided one lesson for fantasy football owners—old reliable names have returned in full force for a critical stretch to end the fantasy season.
As expected, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott led all Thursday scorers with 15 points. Impressive, considering he did the damage against a strong Minnesota Vikings defense.
Unlike Elliott, many recognizable names don’t guarantee production in bad matchups. As such, let’s take a look at matchup value comparisons and hit on some notable start-sit decisions.
Quarterback
Matchup to Exploit: Russell Wilson, SEA (vs. CAR)
Owners feeling burnt by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson have every right, but they also have to look past it.
Wilson posted 10 points in a dud of a game in Week 12, but don’t let it overshadow the fact he scored 22 or more in three consecutive games previous to that. The only way for Wilson to go is back up in Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers.
Back in the comforts of home, Wilson gets to take on a Carolina Panthers defense allowing the sixth-most points to quarterbacks on average this year, with four passing scores allowed over their last two games.
Look for Wilson to get back on track against the once-proud defense.
Matchup to Avoid: Kirk Cousins, WAS (at ARI)
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Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins might have entered Week 13 as the eighth-best scorer at his position. Great, but owners can’t rely on him to get it done.
Cousins has to deal with the stingy Arizona Cardinals defense, the team allowing the third-fewest points to quarterbacks on average. He has to do it on the road, too, so the odds he becomes only the second quarterback to score more than 20 points against the unit seems unlikely.
While Cousins has scored 27 or more points in each of his past two outings, now isn’t the time of year to gamble on his keeping it going in a terrible situation.
At a strong streaming position, owners must look elsewhere.
Running Back
Matchup to Exploit: Spencer Ware, KC (at ATL)
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