Here we are, week 13 of the fantasy football season. Most leagues are heading towards playoffs and this week could be the determining factor of who gets in, and who’s playing for scraps. Now is time again to fight for one of those playoff spots like Aqib Talib just took your team’s gold chain…again.
The roster management discussion starts right here with Thursday night football where we break down the Washington Redskins versus the Dallas Cowboys to see who starts and who sits.
Fantasy Focus Week 13 Thursday Night Football: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Washington Redskins (5-6)
Kirk Cousins – Quarterback
Kirk Cousins has quietly been a solid quarterback for fantasy this season. Through 11 games he’s over 3,000 yards with 19 passing touchdowns to only six interceptions. He’s also added three rushing touchdowns. He has not thrown more than one interception in any single game this season.
The Dallas Cowboys are allowing the third most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, and have allowed multiple touchdown passes in each of their last four games. Cousins will be a solid starter in all formats this week.
Samaje Perine – Running Back
Samaje Perine‘s rookie season has been up and down. He’s spent most of the season playing behind Robert Kelley and Chris Thompson. When both went down with injury, Perine stepped up in a big way. He’s posted two straight games 100 yards rushing, or more.
The Cowboys defense has not allowed more than 91 yards rushing in the last five games. Perine has not excelled as pass-catcher, but may that role expand. Consider Perine a solid start as an RB2 this week.
Jamison Crowder – Wide Receiver
The 2017 season has been a slow start for Jamison Crowder this season. Last week he reeled in his first touchdown since last season and he set a career-best 141 yards. He’s seen no less than eight targets in the last four games, and twice has been over 100 yards receiving in that same span. Crowder is turning it on and has solidified himself as Cousin’s go-to target.
With his recent production, Crowder is in the WR3 conversation in standard-scoring leagues and a WR2 in PPR formats. After being on many leagues waiver-wires four weeks ago, he’s shaped up as an every week starter and should continue that trend.
Josh Doctson – Wide Receiver
The fantasy world still waits for the receiver the Redskins thought they were drafting in 2016 with Josh Doctson. He’s shown flashes on being more than capable, but has lacked consistency both in targets and performance. He salvaged last week’s stat-line with a touchdown grab to go with his paltry 28 yards.
Doctson remains an intriguing asset that is ripe with potential. Until there’s more consistency to his game, he’s still a boom-or-bust WR4, even in a juicy matchup.
Vernon Davis – Tight End
Vernon Davis surprised the fantasy world last week with an unexpected goose-egg of a fantasy day. In a mouth-watering matchup against the New York Giants – agruably one of the worst teams in the league at defending tight ends – the 33-year-old failed to reel in his lone target. It was puzzling to say the least.
Davis has had a productive season with Jordan Reed missing multiple games. However, he hasn’t found the end-zone since week three. He’s in the stream-worthy conversation for this week’s matchup, even after a baffling no-show last week.
Dallas Cowboys (5-6)
Dak Prescott – Quarterback
Dak Prescott picked up this season where he left off last season. He was accurate and smart with his throws. The last several weeks have been a different Prescott, and it’s taking a toll not just on the Cowboys, but on fantasy owners as well. He hasn’t thrown for more than 200 yards in four of he last five games, including three straight. In that same span he has only two touchdowns to five interceptions. Granted, a couple of those games were without one of the best left tackles in the game, Tyron Smith. Smith was back last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, but Prescott was not.
Washington gives up the 15 fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position. In must-win leagues, Prescott should be benched for any safer streaming option.
Alfred Morris – Running Back
Alfred Morris had his best game of the season against one of the hardest teams to run on in the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago. In that game he saw 17 carries that he turned into 91 yards. Last week against a softer run defense in the Los Angeles Chargers, he had nine carries for 36 yards and was not targeted in the passing game. With Ezekiel Elliott suspended, the Cowboys haven’t truly found a way to establish a strong run game.
The Redskins are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs this season, but it’s difficult to trust Morris or Rod Smith as an adequate replacement for Elliott. Consider Morris a touchdown-dependent RB3 in this week’s revenge game.
Rod Smith – Running Back
Rod Smith had some hype surrounding him when the Elliott suspension (finally) concluded. While Smith has seemed to solidify himself as the pass-catching back in this offense, he hasn’t done much to impress fantasy owners. In the same amount of carries as Morris last week, Smith finished with 41 yards and the goal-line touchdown.
Smith is a low-end RB4 for this week’s matchup.
Dez Bryant – Wide Receiver
Dez Bryant has faced one of the most difficult schedules of any receiver in the NFL this season, showing in his stat-line. Bryant has failed to eclipse 100 yards receiving in any game this season, he’s only been close one time. He’s still averaging over nine targets per game, but hasn’t gotten the separation to get open for the big plays we’ve come to expect from him.
As Prescott struggles, so shall Bryant. This week, Bryant will see plenty of top-corner Josh Norman. Bryant is not a recommended start if other, safer options are available. Consider him a WR3 in PPR formats.
Terrance Williams – Wide Receiver
Terrance Williams has been on the fantasy-radar in deeper PPR leagues only this season. His one big fantasy day came against the Kansas City Chiefs where he posted a nine reception 141 yard stat line. He hasn’t scored a touchdown this season, and is not expected to break-out against a middling pass defense this week.
Outside of truly deep PPR leagues, Williams should remain on benches or the waiver wire.
Cole Beasley – Wide Receiver
Cole Beasley had two games this season with almost identical stat-lines. In week five against the Green Bay Packers, he posted a four reception, 23-yard, two touchdown line. Then in week eight against the Kansas City Chiefs he finished with a…wait for it…four reception, 24-yard, two touchdown line.
Even though he’s tied with Bryant with four touchdowns on the season, Beasley is all but fantasy irrelevant outside of deeper PPR formats.
Jason Witten – Tight End
Jason Witten has remained a fantasy viable tight end this season. While his production hasn’t been staggering, he’s averaging 5.2 targets for 39 yards per game.
He remains a touchdown dependent, fringe TE1 play this week.
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