We are only hours away from the start of week 13, but we can’t relax yet. With all of the relevant injury designations, weather and news, we have to stay focused. This article will cover the NFL week 13 injuries, news, and final lineups. This information will be continuously updated until the 1:00 PM EST kickoffs.
NFL Week 13 Injuries:
Last Updated: 12/02 12:50 PM EST
Mitch Trubisky, CHI, QB – OUT
Joe Flacco, BAL, QB – OUT
Sam Darnold, NYJ, QB – Questionable (likely)
Leonard Fournette, JAX, RB – OUT
Marlon Mack, IND, RB – Active
Kerryon Johnson, DET, RB – OUT
Gus Edwards, BAL, RB – Active
Alex Collins, BAL, RB – OUT
Stefon Diggs, MIN, WR – Questionable (experienced knee swelling overnight, game-time decision)
Sammy Watkins, KC, WR – OUT
Keke Coutee, HOU, WR – OUT
DeSean Jackson, TB, WR – OUT
Devin Funchess, CAR, WR – Active (likely to play on limited snap count)
DeVante Parker, MIA, WR – Active
Randall Cobb, GB, WR – Active
Danny Amendola, MIA, WR – Questionable (unlikely)
Pierre Garcon, SF, WR – OUT
Martavis Bryant, OAK, WR – Questionable (unlikely)
Robbie Anderson, NYJ, WR – Questionable (likely)
Marquise Goodwin, SF, WR – OUT
Bruce Ellington, DET, WR – Active
Evan Engram, NYG, TE – OUT
NFL Week 13 Weather:
Last Updated: 12/02 12:50 PM EST
According to NFL Weather, both the Minnesota-New England and the Chicago-New York (G) games are expecting rain throughout the day. Light snow is expected during Arizona-Green Bay game.
UPDATE: There are three games set to have 15 mph winds or more: Carolina-Tampa Bay (16 mph), Arizona-Green Bay (17 mph), and New York (J)-Tennessee (15 mph).
NFL Week 13 Other News:
Last Updated: 12/02 12:50 PM EST
- Cam Newton does not have injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay
- Tom Brady does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Minnesota
- Lamar Jackson will remain the Ravens starting quarterback against Atlanta
- Ryan Tannehill practiced in full Wednesday through Friday despite his shoulder injury
- Jeff Driskel will start at quarterback against Denver
- Kareem Hunt has been released by the Chiefs
- Matt Breida does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Seattle
- Kenyan Drake does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Buffalo
- Peyton Barber does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Carolina
- DeAndre Hopkins does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Cleveland
- Adam Thielen does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against New England
- A.J. Green does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Denver
- T.Y. Hilton does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Jacksonville
- Emmanuel Sanders does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Cincinnati
- Calvin Ridley does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Baltimore
- Doug Baldwin does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against San Francisco
- Dante Pettis will start at wide receiver against Seattle
- Rob Gronkowski does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Minnesota
- Jimmy Graham does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Arizona
- David Njoku does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Houston
NFL Week 13 Final DFS Player Pool:
Last Updated: 12/02 12:50 PM EST
Quarterbacks:
Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston
While his team is labeled as “run-first”, all Russell Wilson does is produce. Wilson has scored at least 20 FanDuel points in four of his last five outings, and has scored at least 18 points in his last seven games. While that’s not taking down the Milly-maker, it’s cash value. At Wilson’s $7,700 price, 18 points is 2.33 times his salary. You could argue, however, that as a ten-point home favorite, gameflow is not on Wilson’s side. Well, the last two times that the Seahawks played clearly inferior opponents (Detroit and Oakland), Wilson scored 23.42 and 21.88 points, respectively. Those scores came in games that Wilson threw the ball 17 and 23 times. It’s not safe to rely on touchdown passes, but Wilson has thrown for two or more touchdowns since week six. Because he doesn’t appear to have upside, Wilson will likely be in the single digits for ownership. Thus, he’s my GPP quarterback.
My love for Jameis Winston comes from the projected popularity of Cam Newton. Cam is in a fantastic spot as a road favorite. It also helps that Christian McCaffrey is projected to be popular, as well. What I’m getting at is that the more that the entire Panthers team produces, the more pressure Winston will be under to play well. And while Mike Evans doesn’t have a great matchup and DeSean Jackson is out, this offense still has plenty of play-makers capable of getting Winston to produce at least two times his $7,500 price. Winston is averaging 43 pass attempts when he starts and plays the entire game. Even as a home favorite against the 49ers, Winston threw the ball 38 times. The Panthers offense will definitely produce, and I’m choosing to benefit from that production by using Winston as my cash game quarterback.
UPDATE: I have pivoted from D.J. Moore and the Denver Broncos defense. That allowed me some extra salary to pay up at quarterback and I’m going all the way up to Cam Newton. I still think Jameis Winston is a good cash option; however, the Carolina defense has not been good recently. Meaning, this Panthers offense will have to produce the entire game to hold off this potent Buccaneers offense.
Running Backs:
Saquon Barkley, Aaron Jones, Phillip Lindsay, Matt Breida, Spencer Ware
The running back position seems to be very straight forward. My strategy as a whole was to pay down at running back, and that strategy crystallized when Kareem Hunt was cut. My cash game lineup consists of three players who are affordable and have great matchups in Jones, Lindsay, and Ware. They don’t require much analysis. But, I will say to do yourself a favor and start with Spencer Ware in your lineup. His price and role make him a must-play in any cash game format.
Saquon Barkley is the wild-card. I think he is the best GPP play among the high-priced running backs. Everyone will flock to Christian McCaffrey after last week’s performance. Todd Gurley is under $10,000 and is not hard to roster with Spencer Ware. Cheaper backs like Jones and Lindsay have infinitely better matchups. What makes Barkley so good is the fact that he is gameflow-proof. If the Giants are in the game, they’ll continue to run the ball. If they are falling behind, they’ll be forced to throw, which is perfect for Barkley. Against the Bears pass rush, Eli Manning won’t have time to deliver on down the field throws. And without Evan Engram, Barkley will become the primary pass-catcher. And as we all have seen, Barkley has the ability to score every time he touches the ball.
UPDATE: I’ve decided to pay down at my second running back spot in my GPP lineup. Phillip Lindsay is in a great situation, but it’s not as great as it appears. The Bengals will get Nick Vigil back today. Vigil is one of their best run defenders and since his absence, the Bengals have become one of the worst units against the run in the league. While Matt Brieda’s matchup isn’t as good, he will have just as much opportunity as Lindsay. I would even argue he has more opportunity because the Broncos still use Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker. Breida is the number one wepaon for the 49ers. His ceiling is just as high, if not higher than Lindsay, and his $600 salary difference allows me to pay up at my third wide receiver position.
Wide Receivers:
Julio Jones, Robert Woods, Emmanuel Sanders, Tyler Lockett, D.J. Moore, Chris Godwin
As much as playing Julio Jones as my number one receiver in cash games scares me, he’s the best of the expensive options. DeAndre Hopkins and Adam Thielen are similar in price and have good matchups. However, they have their own drawbacks. DeShaun Watson hasn’t thrown the ball more than 30 times in any of his last six games. On Monday Night Football, both Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue had double digit carries. The only reason Watson had a great game is because he had his season high in rushing by 24 yards. Adam Thielen is on the road against a pass defense that can be had by slot receivers. However, Stefon Diggs’ health is in question, and while he’s likely to play, his presence on the field is necessary to keep pressure off Thielen. The last time he played without Diggs, he caught four balls for 22 yards and a touchdown.
With that being said, Julio Jones is the next best option above $8,000. Jones has six straight games of at least six catches and 100 yards. He’s also scored three times in those six games. Jones will be one of the only ways the Falcons will be able to sustain drives against the Ravens, and he has a favorable matchup. That’s right, Jimmy Smith has not been good this year, so don’t let the overall matchup scare you away from Jones.
Robert Woods is in a great spot on the road against Detroit. Their run defense is much improved with the addition of Damon Harrison, and Darius Slay will likely shadow Brandin Cooks. That leaves Woods open to shred this Lions secondary. Tyler Lockett is strictly a GPP pairing with Russell Wilson, as he’s touchdown dependent and doesn’t see double digit targets. D.J. Moore is one of the better sub-$6,500 receiver options. His usage in the run and pass game, as well getting targets near the goal line, make him a good cash game option at $6,400 against the Buccaneers.
UPDATE: I don’t like stacking a quarterback with a specific wide receiver in cash games and since my new cash quarterback is Cam Newton, I’ve moved off D.J. Moore. With DeSean Jackson out, Chris Godwin at $5,400 is a good leverage play with Cam as my quarterback, and his low price makes him very attractive.
Since I’m not playing Phillip Lindsay in my GPP lineup, Emmanuel Sanders emerged as an excellent third wide receiver. He’s going to be overlooked with all the attention on Lindsay and the Denver defense.
UPDATE: I have pivoted from Emmanuel Sanders down to D.J. Moore on my GPP lineup. I don’t like the Stefon Diggs news because that makes Minnesota potentially easier to stop. And thus, allowing New England to be more versatile and patient with their offense. The questionable status of Xavier Rhodes scares me as well. This move allows me to have the Colts defense on all lineups.
Tight Ends:
Eric Ebron
Eric Ebron will be the most popular tight end in all of DFS this Sunday. That’s not a bold prediction because it’s likely to come true. Ebron’s downfall has been the fact that he’s not getting snaps or targets outside of the redzone. Well, Jack Doyle is done for the year, and Mo-Allie Cox is out for this game. Eric Ebron against Jacksonville will be the only tight end who’s been fully assimilated into the offense in this Sunday’s game. His floor is stable enough for cash, and his ceiling warrants GPP consideration. At this point, he’s the only tight end I’ll be using this Sunday.
Defense/Special Teams:
Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings
The Broncos are $4,500 and get to face the Bengals’ backup quarterback and their third-string left tackle. This defense is no longer bleeding production to opposing running backs and will have ample opportunity to score points. The Vikings are my GPP defense, and I think they are in a great under-the-radar spot against New England. They’ve held quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers to under 200 yards passing, and I think that trend will continue against Tom Brady.
UPDATE: Upon further examination, the Colts have the best matchup of the day. Their opponent, the Jaguars, will be playing backups at the following positions: left tackle, left guard, center, right tackle, running back, and quarterback. The only way the Colts don’t produce is if they overlook the Jaguars altogether. However, as they are in contention for the second wildcard spot in the AFC, I highly doubt they’ll overlook their division rival on the road.
UPDATE: My pivot down to D.J. Moore has allowed me to make the Colts defense the only defense I’ll be playing.
NFL Week 13 Final DFS Lineups:
Last Updated: 12/02 12:50 PM EST
This first lineup will represent my cash-game lineup. The second lineup is being used in all my single-entry contests between 100-1,176 people.
Featured Image Courtesy of Roto Street Journal
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