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Week 13 Top Plays - Winning Season

QB:

• Marcus Mariota, TEN (vs HOU) [CASH]The Houston pass defense has been the worst in the league over the course of this season, they are allowing 256 yards and 2 passing touchdowns per game. They have been even worse on the road allowing 4 fantasy points more per game to opposing quarterbacks. Mariota has been playing better at home, and gets a chance to redeem himself after a very disappointing game versus the Colts last week.

• Brett Hundley, GB (vs TB) [TOURNAMENT]Hundley is gaining more confidence with each start and finally gets a favorable matchup after 5 weeks of seeing top pass defenses. The Tampa Bay Bucs are ranked 27th against opposing Quarterbacks on the season, allowing 289 passing yards and 1.6 touchdowns per game. Jameis Winston is looking to make his return this week which should mean more points overall in this game, and more points that Hundley will have to help his team score to keep pace.

• Tom Brady, NE (@BUF) [CONTRARIAN]The Buffalo pass defense is ranked 9th against the pass on the season, which will likely mean more people will stay away from Brady this week. However these are the types of weeks that Brady tends to have big games, when New England is on the road in a tougher than average matchup for them. Brady has 2 games of over 30 fantasy points against the Bills in the last 2 years, and pretty much the Patriots pass offense is unstoppable with the weapons they have available.

Other QBs to consider:

• Cam Newton, CAR (@NO): Saints are allowing more points to QB's at home this season, and Cam has performed well when the Panthers have been the underdog.

• Philip Rivers, LAC (vs CLE): Gets to face the worst team at home, and within 1 game of the division leading Chiefs. Rivers is playing for a win here.

• Josh McCown, NYJ (vs KC): Chiefs pass defense is 21st in the league, worse on the road. McCown is playing better at home, all signs point to a good game for McCown.

RB:

• Duke Johnson Jr, CLE (@LAC) [CASH]Most of the top salaried running backs this week have fairly difficult matchups, so why not consider Duke Johnson for your cash running back this week. He's sitting at a salary around half the price of the top running backs and gets to face the 29th ranked Chargers against running backs. Duke is averaging around 60.5 yards from scrimmage a week with 4.5 receptions a game and should have a safe floor this week against the Chargers run defense.

• Jordan Howard, CHI (vs SF) [TOURNAMENT]Howard has been hugely inconsistent this season, alternating between big games and big busts. Thankfully this week lands on his big boom game and just so happens it's against the 32nd ranked defense versus running backs. The 49ers have allowed 112.9 rushing yards and .5 TDs per game to running backs on the season. Because of the matchup Howard will likely be fairly highly owned even though he's wildly inconsistent, so fading him would be a decent strategy as well.

• Kenyan Drake, MIA (vs DEN) [CONTRARIAN]Denver's run defense has fallen apart over the past 4 games as well, allowing 110 yards rushing and 1.3 TD's per game to running backs. Miami is getting Jay Cutler back so they at least have some sort of passing game this week. Damien Williams is doubtful to suit up this week leaving Drake as the sole man in the back field against a rush defense filled with holes currently.

Other RBs to consider: 

• Adrian Peterson, ARI (vs LAR): Facing the 31st ranked team against running backs, still seeing a ton of carries. All signs point to a big game at home. (Was on the injury report today, keep your ears peeled for news)

• Melvin Gordon, LAC (vs CLE): Browns run defense has really broken apart over the last 4 games, allowing 109 rush yards and .8 TDs per game.

• Isaiah Crowell, CLE (vs LAC): CAW CAW, The other Browns running back. The Chargers are 29th against the run, there should be some crowing this game.

• Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (vs LAR): After a tough matchup this week, Fitz is set to bounce back against the Rams whose defense against the pass has taken a hit over the last 4.

• Robby Anderson, NYJ (vs KC): Chiefs are 29th against WRs and McCown has a new favorite target in Anderson seeing 6.8 targets a game over the last 4.

• Dede Westbrook, JAX (vs IND): Has seen 16 targets in this first 2 games, and gets another prime matchup against the 25th ranked Colts pass defense.

TE

• Delanie Walker, TEN (v.HOU) [CASH]If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Delanie is back again as the cash play this week after another rock solid performance. Despite only 25 pass attempts, his 60+ yards in streak was extended to 5 games, and he scored a touchdown for the first time since week 2. He’s still due for some more positive regression in the touchdown department as well. His matchup with the Texans isn’t one to fear either as they rank 28th against TEs.

• Hunter Henry, LAC (v.CLE) - Won’t be low-owned after performing on Thanksgiving, but this matchup is amazing. Philip likes to throw with a lead, and the Browns have a good run defense anyways, so the blowout doesn’t really scare me.

• Travis Kelce, KC (@NYJ) - With the chatter for Mahomes louder than ever, Kelce should be peppered with targets, especially after only seeing 4 last week. And for what it’s worth, Kelce’s two best games came after his only two other games where he had 5 or fewer targets.

DEFENSE:

• Los Angeles Chargers (v.CLE) [CASH]The Chargers defense has been hot lately. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram is about as good as it gets for a pass rush duo. The Chargers secondary looks to have recovered from the early season loss of Jason Verrett. The offense has been clicking as well, preventing teams from being able to take advantage of their weak run defense. To top it all off, they get to play Cleveland at home this week. The price is worth it.

• Jacksonville Jaguars (v.IND) [TOURNAMENT]It seems like the Jags have a good matchup every week. They have performed well those games, but not great. This week they’ll have another opportunity for a great week with a home game against the Colts. Surprisingly, the Colts have the 10th fewest turnovers this year. They’ve been sacked the most and give up the most defensive touchdowns, however, and this week they play the team with the most sacks and most defensive touchdowns. This price is also worth it.

• Baltimore Ravens (v.DET) [CONTRARIAN]The Ravens defense has been crushing it. Pretty much any defense other than the two above will be contrarian this week, and there are definitely defenses with better matchups, but this Ravens is just so explosive that it’s hard to pass on them. They are up against a good Lions offense, but last week Stafford had a lot of horrible throws despite only 1 interception. That could have been a fluke performance, but combine that with his bad ankle, and I think there’s potential for this defense to feast.

Other DEF to consider:

• Oakland Raiders, (v.NYG) - This defense isn’t great, but the Giants will likely be throwing with Geno Smith and potentially Davis Webb at quarterback.

• Chicago Bears, (v.SF) - The Bears D has struggled since their explosion against Carolina, but those have been good offenses. This week they’ll be at home against an offense that’s bottom-5 in scoring, has the 8th most turnovers and is starting a qb who has been there less than a month.

INJURIES TO WATCH:

• Cam Newton, CAR - Thumb, will play, but likely inaccurate

• Matt Stafford, DET - Ankle, likely to play

• Jameis Winston, TB - Shoulder, will practice, very likely to play

• Paxton Lynch, DEN - Ankle, out, Siemian will start

• Jay Cutler, MIA - Concussion, will start

• Christian McCaffrey, CAR - Shoulder, didn’t practice, questionable

• Ameer Abdullah, DET - Neck, didn’t practice, likely to play

• Adrian Peterson, ARI - Neck, didn’t practice, questionable

• Alex Collins, BAL - Unknown, didn’t practice, questionable

• Devonta Freeman, ATL - Concussion, practicing, expected to play

• Ty Montgomery, GB - Ribs, limited in practice, questionable

• Doug Martin, TB - Concussion, questionable

• Aaron Jones, GB - Knee, limited in practice, questionable

• Damien Williams, MIA - Shoulder, not practicing, unlikely to play

• Alshon Jeffery, PHI - Foot, limited, expected to play

• Devin Funchess, CAR - Toe, didn’t practice, likely to play

• JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT - Hamstring, questionable to play

• Rishard Matthews, TEN - Hamstring, day-to-day

• Amari Cooper, OAK - Concussion/ankle, unlikely to play

• Chris Hogan, NE - Shoulder, didn’t practice, unlikely to play

• Will Fuller V, HOU - Ribs, unlikely to play

• Allen Hurns, JAX - Ankle, won’t practice, unlikely to play

• Kelvin Benjamin, BUF - Knee, didn’t practice, won’t play

• Greg Olsen, CAR - Foot, didn’t practice, likely to play limited snaps

• Coby Fleener, NO - Concussion, questionable

• Vance McDonald, PIT - Ankle, questionable

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