NFL Week 13 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings: Welcome Back Kyler Murray
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Lately, it’s seemed like fantasy football has gone the way of the NFL this season with plenty of solid options but very few standout, elite players and teams. I’m certainly not going to claim to have had Jaylen Waddle, Tee Higgins, Kendrick Bourne, and DeSean Jackson in my top ten at the wide receiver position, but that’s where they finished this past week. Leonard Fournette scored four touchdowns on his way to an RB1 overall finish, Cordarelle Patterson can’t stop scoring touchdowns, and Jack Doyle was the top tight end of the week. Fantasy football is always unpredictable and often comical, but it seems that this year it’s been especially absurd to predict. Nonetheless, I do my best to bring you comprehensive fantasy football rankings each week that’s as driven by stats as possible. Let’s take a look at the top players for this coming week.
NFL Week 13 Quarterback Rankings
Jalen Hurts: There are going to be tons of questions about the Philadelphia quarterback after he threw three interceptions in his worst showing of the season, and it’s fair to wonder what his viability is moving forward given the ankle injury he’s dealing with. However, I have the utmost confidence in him as a dynamic dual-threat QB, and if he’s able to play this week, I can’t imagine benching him in fantasy football. Even with last week’s QB27 finish, Hurts is the QB2 on the season, and he should be able to get back on track against a pitiful Jets’ defense this week, assuming he’s healthy enough to play.
Kyler Murray: The Cardinals’ passer is expected to make his triumphant return to the Arizona lineup this week, and he should slide right back into your fantasy lineup as well. He’s had enough time off that the injury shouldn’t have any significant lasting effects and it sounds like DeAndre Hopkins will be available this week, as well. Murray is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL, and while a road matchup to the Windy City isn’t necessarily an ideal situation, he should take the field by storm in his return.
NFL Week 13 Running Back Rankings
Alexander Mattison: I had been holding onto Alexander Mattison in my main league with my high school friends for weeks and weeks, and then I finally made the decision to cut him last week to clear a roster spot. Right on cue, Dalvin Cook suffered what initially looked to be a gruesome, significant injury. Initial tests have been as positive as the team could have hoped for, but it’s still expected that Cook will miss this week’s game, leaving Mattison to take on a massive workload against a putrid Detroit run defense. He’s a borderline top-five RB for me this week.
Darrell Henderson: The Rams’ running back got back on track with 17.3 PPR points last week, but he’s scored under 10 PPR points in three of his last five games, and there will be some doubters lingering. The Jaguars’ defense has been sneakily pretty good against the run this season, but they’ve allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to RBs and Henderson should be able to take advantage of what should be a very favorable game script in this game. The Rams’ offense desperately needs a get-right game, and it’s coming this week. Henderson will be a big part of it.
NFL Week 13 Wide Receiver Rankings
Jaylen Waddle: Rookie wide receivers usually take a while to get their feet wet in the NFL, and Jaylen Waddle has gotten better and better as the season has gone on. He’s scored the fifth-most PPR points among wide receivers since Week 6 and has seen a strong rapport with former college teammate Tua Tagovailoa turn into excellent on-field success. This week, the Dolphins face a Giants’ pass defense that has been middle-of-the-pack but could be down some key cornerbacks in Adoree’ Jackson and Darnay Holmes. With Waddle’s role expanding and the fantasy points flowing, he’s an every-week starter regardless of opponent.
Brandon Aiyuk: The second-year wide receiver has been producing much better numbers recently, and he has averaged 17 PPR points per game over the past two weeks. Aiyuk will be relied upon to lead the San Francisco passing attack this week, along with George Kittle, as Deebo Samuel will miss at least this week’s game. The Seahawks have allowed the fourth-most passing yards this season, making this an exploitable matchup for Aiyuk, and he should be in your lineup in most cases. He’s a solid WR2 for me this week.
NFL Week 13 Tight End Rankings
Darren Waller: Once regarded as one of the elites at the tight end position, Waller has scored less than seven PPR points in two of his last three games. To be fair, he left his last game early with a knee injury that could keep him out again this week. You have to be prepared with a backup option if he’s unable to play, and the tight end position is fairly dry on the waiver wire. Logan Thomas, Tyler Conklin, and C.J. Uzomah are the standouts if you are searching for a tight end on the wire. If Waller plays, you’re likely going to have to play him, but I’m not expecting the same type of production as we’re used to from him.
T.J. Hockenson: With one goose egg a few weeks ago hanging over his season, Hockenson has actually been quite productive lately with double-digit PPR points in five of his last six games. The Lions are likely going to be without D’Andre Swift at least for this week, making Hockenson even more important as arguably the only reliable pass-catcher on the team. He’s locked and loaded as a high-floor player, but don’t expect a game-breaking performance from him in possibly the worst offense in the NFL.
