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Week 13 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

Just two weeks remain in what has been a chaotic fantasy football campaign. Most teams are still fighting for a playoff berth, while others are trying to position themselves for better seeding come playoff time. The penultimate week of the fantasy football regular season figures to be a difficult week for many fantasy managers to navigate. There is a litany of injuries to deal with, as well as four teams on a bye. That is where my Week 13 Flex rankings come in. I have ranked the top-250 options this week to help you get a jump on your roster decisions. These are based on half-PPR scoring, so adjust as you see fit. May Week 13 be a lucky one for you and your fantasy football teams!


More fantasy football fun for Week 13: Waiver Wire | FAAB Guide | Start & Sit | Loves & Hates | Stock Watch | Sleepers & Streamers | D/ST Streamers


Running Back Notes

The biggest blow to fantasy managers last week with immediate ramifications for Week 13 was the shoulder injuries suffered by Dalvin Cook and D’Andre Swift. Cook suffered a separated shoulder and torn labrum. Swift suffered an injury to his AC joint. Both NFC North studs are expected to miss time, though the exact timeframe is not yet known. For bookkeeping purposes, I do have Swift listed in my Week 13 Flex rankings. However, fantasy managers should not rely on either Swift or Cook this week. Ideally, those with Cook and Swift on their rosters would have Alexander Mattison and Jamaal Williams at the ready. Mattison and Williams will walk into a ton of volume this week, and have a good chance of being top-12 fantasy running backs this week.

Of course, there was also the news that Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey will miss the remainder of the 2021 season. Carolina placed McCaffrey on season-ending injured reserve after he suffered an ankle injury in last week’s loss. When McCaffrey missed five weeks earlier in the year, Chuba Hubbard was a workhorse back. He averaged 21.4 opportunities per game while McCaffrey was out. However, it should be noted that Ameer Abdullah has carved out a solid role as a pass-catcher in recent weeks. Panthers’ quarterbacks have targeted Abdullah 20 times over the last five games. The Panthers are on a bye this week, but fantasy managers would be wise to add both backs where available. I would expect Hubbard to get the bulk of the work, with Abdullah being worked in on passing downs. However, the presence of Cam Newton as a goal-line threat may limit Hubbard’s upside a bit.

In brighter news, the New Orleans Saints 1-2 punch of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram appears poised to return to action after missing last week’s game. Kamara has practiced on a limited basis, while Ingram does not carry an injury designation heading into this week’s game. Their returns will be a welcomed sight for fantasy managers who suffered through the Tony Jones experience. New Orleans plays on Thursday night, which could be a blessing or a curse depending on your perspective. On one hand, we will know Kamara’s status before we need to make any lineup decisions for the week. That is a better situation to be in than having to scramble on Sunday if he suffered a setback late in the week. On the other hand, it sure would be nice to have a couple of extra days for him to heal up before heading back onto the field.

The other issue that could affect the Saints’ running backs is that Taysom Hill will be the team’s starting quarterback. Hill started four games last season and ran for four scores. Hill is recovering from a foot injury of his own, so perhaps he runs less than he did last season when he had 39 rushing attempts over his four starts. However, his presence combined with Kamara missing nearly a month has caused me to downgrade him a bit from where I would normally rank him. I would still start him, but I see him as more of a high-end RB2 rather than his typical top-five ranking. As for Ingram, he comes in as my overall 80th ranked Week 13 Flex option. That puts him right on the edge of the start/sit line depending on your other options.

A couple of other running backs to monitor throughout the week are Darrell Henderson and Miles Sanders. Henderson suffered a quad injury last week, while Sanders is dealing with an ankle issue. Both have favorable Week 13 draws, so fantasy managers will have to hope that both can go on Sunday. I have much more faith in Henderson than I do Sanders. That has more to do with their respective roles in their team’s offenses than their pain management thresholds. Henderson has had at least 15 opportunities in all but one of his appearances this season. Sanders has hit that number in just two of his last seven games. The Eagles have had no qualms featuring Jordan Howard or Boston Scott, though both missed practice on Wednesday. For now, Sanders is a low-end RB2, while Scott could work his way into Flex consideration given a clean bill of health.

Wide Receiver Notes

If I had told you a month ago that my top wide receiver note for Week 13 would be about a player who had rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns in the last three weeks, you probably would have guessed I was talking about Cordarrelle Patterson. Silly rabbit… No, I am referring to Deebo Samuel. Samuel is the overall WR2 on the season in part due to his recent rushing exploits. Samuel has logged 19 rushing attempts in the last three games, compared to just 11 targets. Unfortunately, Samuel does not figure to do any rushing or receiving this week after suffering a groin injury. Brandon Aiyuk has turned his season around in recent weeks following a dreadful first two months. Aiyuk is the overall WR14 over the last four weeks and is a solid WR2 this week.

Dallas activated Amari Cooper off the reserve/Covid list before their Thursday night showdown with the Saints. Cooper has missed the last two games and was reportedly still dealing with symptoms of the virus earlier this week. The team is also expected to get CeeDee Lamb back after he missed last week’s game with a concussion. This is a similar situation to Kamara for me in the sense that I have both Cowboys receivers ranked a bit lower than I normally would. Through Week 10, Lamb was the overall WR6, with Cooper coming in as the overall WR20. I currently have Lamb as my WR13 and Cooper as my WR28 for Week 13. I would feel better about both if the game took place on Sunday rather than Thursday, but I would still start them in virtually all situations.

Antonio Brown has been out since mid-October and is reportedly at least two more weeks from a return to action. It has been a frustrating ailment for fantasy managers, particularly after a report in early November suggested that Brown could return following Tampa’s Week 9 bye. Fantasy managers have little recourse at this stage but to wait out the injury and hope for the best. Brown was the overall WR7 on a point per game basis through the first six weeks. That type of upside will not be found on the waiver wire barring some shady collusion between managers. Oh yeah, that reminds me. If you find yourself out of contention for your league’s playoffs (which is not likely if you have taken my flawless advice throughout the season), do not be the jerk who drops good players just to ruin someone else’s chance of winning.

Tight End Notes

Tampa tight end Rob Gronkowski has come back with a vengeance since missing nearly two months due to injury. I will admit that I was worried about Gronk after he returned for just six snaps in Week 8, then promptly missed Tampa’s Week 10 outing due to his balky back. But Gronkowski has turned back the clock in the last two weeks. He is second among all tight ends in fantasy scoring since Week 11, which is even more impressive considering he has not scored in that stretch. A Week 13 date with the Atlanta Falcons should give Gronkowski another chance to have a big fantasy day. Though the Falcons have matched up pretty well with opposing tight ends on the year, Gronkowski gashed them for two scores in their Week 2 matchup. I have Gronkowski as my TE3 this week.

Raiders tight end Darren Waller suffered a potentially serious knee injury on Thanksgiving, but luckily the situation seems to have improved. Waller underwent an MRI which revealed a strained IT band but no major structural damage. Coach Rich Bisaccia announced that Waller is week-to-week with the injury. Foster Moreau should fill in for Waller this week against the Washington Football Team. Moreau more than filled in when Waller missed Week 7 with an ankle injury. Moreau had six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown and was the overall TE4 on the week. That performance comes with the caveat that the Philadelphia Eagles are awful at covering tight ends. But Moreau could be heavily involved once again this week. I currently have him as my TE16 for Week 13, and he could be a solid streamer.

Week 13 Flex Rankings

More Week 13 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Kicker | D/ST | PPR | Flex

RANKPLAYER (TEAM)MATCHUPPOS
1Jonathan Taylor (IND)at HOURB1
2Cooper Kupp (LAR)vs. JACWR1
3Joe Mixon (CIN)vs. LACRB2
4Tyreek Hill (KC)vs. DENWR2
5Leonard Fournette (TB)at ATLRB3
6Justin Jefferson (MIN)at DETWR3
7Austin Ekeler (LAC)at CINRB4
8Elijah Mitchell (SF)at SEARB5
9Darrell Henderson Jr. (LAR)vs. JACRB6
10Alexander Mattison (MIN)at DETRB7
11Najee Harris (PIT)vs. BALRB8
12James Conner (ARI)at CHIRB9
13Antonio Gibson (WAS)at LVRB10
14Josh Jacobs (LV)vs. WASRB11
15Ja'Marr Chase (CIN)vs. LACWR4
16Saquon Barkley (NYG)at MIARB12
17Stefon Diggs (BUF)vs. NEWR5
18Jamaal Williams (DET)vs. MINRB13
19Keenan Allen (LAC)at CINWR6
20Chris Godwin (TB)at ATLWR7
21Adam Thielen (MIN)at DETWR8
22Travis Kelce (KC)vs. DENTE1
23Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL)vs. TBRB14
24Alvin Kamara (NO)vs. DALRB15
25Mike Evans (TB)at ATLWR9
26Terry McLaurin (WAS)at LVWR10
27James Robinson (JAC)at LARRB16
28Diontae Johnson (PIT)vs. BALWR11
29Myles Gaskin (MIA)vs. NYGRB17
30David Montgomery (CHI)vs. ARIRB18
31D.K. Metcalf (SEA)vs. SFWR12
32Ezekiel Elliott (DAL)at NORB19
33CeeDee Lamb (DAL)at NOWR13
34Hunter Renfrow (LV)vs. WASWR14
35Tyler Lockett (SEA)vs. SFWR15
36Michael Pittman Jr. (IND)at HOUWR16
37Marquise Brown (BAL)at PITWR17
38George Kittle (SF)at SEATE2
39Brandon Aiyuk (SF)at SEAWR18
40Tee Higgins (CIN)vs. LACWR19
41DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)at CHIWR20
42Jaylen Waddle (MIA)vs. NYGWR21
43Brandin Cooks (HOU)vs. INDWR22
44Mike Williams (LAC)at CINWR23
45Rob Gronkowski (TB)at ATLTE3
46Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC)vs. DENRB20
47Kyle Pitts (ATL)vs. TBTE4
48Mark Andrews (BAL)at PITTE5
49Darnell Mooney (CHI)vs. ARIWR24
50Odell Beckham Jr. (LAR)vs. JACWR25
51Michael Gallup (DAL)at NOWR26
52DeVonta Smith (PHI)at NYJWR27
53Amari Cooper (DAL)at NOWR28
54Van Jefferson (LAR)vs. JACWR29
55Chase Claypool (PIT)vs. BALWR30
56Tevin Coleman (NYJ)vs. PHIRB21
57Elijah Moore (NYJ)vs. PHIWR31
58Javonte Williams (DEN)at KCRB22
59Miles Sanders (PHI)at NYJRB23
60Devonta Freeman (BAL)at PITRB24
61Marvin Jones Jr. (JAC)at LARWR32
62Melvin Gordon III (DEN)at KCRB25
63T.J. Hockenson (DET)vs. MINTE6
64Dallas Goedert (PHI)at NYJTE7
65Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)at BUFRB26
66Jerry Jeudy (DEN)at KCWR33
67Devin Singletary (BUF)vs. NERB27
68Tyler Boyd (CIN)vs. LACWR34
69Christian Kirk (ARI)at CHIWR35
70Tony Pollard (DAL)at NORB28
71Dalton Schultz (DAL)at NOTE8
72Kenny Golladay (NYG)at MIAWR36
73Jakobi Meyers (NE)at BUFWR37
74Mike Gesicki (MIA)vs. NYGTE9
75Russell Gage (ATL)vs. TBWR38
76Alex Collins (SEA)vs. SFRB29
77Cole Beasley (BUF)vs. NEWR39
78Damien Harris (NE)at BUFRB30
79Courtland Sutton (DEN)at KCWR40
80Mark Ingram II (NO)vs. DALRB31
81David Johnson (HOU)vs. INDRB32
82Laviska Shenault Jr. (JAC)at LARWR41
83Darrel Williams (KC)vs. DENRB33
84Tre'Quan Smith (NO)vs. DALWR42
85Kendrick Bourne (NE)at BUFWR43
86Tim Patrick (DEN)at KCWR44
87Dawson Knox (BUF)vs. NETE10
88Emmanuel Sanders (BUF)vs. NEWR45
89Josh Reynolds (DET)vs. MINWR46
90Tyler Higbee (LAR)vs. JACTE11
91Kalif Raymond (DET)vs. MINWR47
92Pat Freiermuth (PIT)vs. BALTE12
93A.J. Green (ARI)at CHIWR48
94Zach Ertz (ARI)at CHITE13
95Boston Scott (PHI)at NYJRB34
96Rex Burkhead (HOU)vs. INDRB35
97Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)vs. MINWR49
98Rashod Bateman (BAL)at PITWR50
99T.Y. Hilton (IND)at HOUWR51
100Tyler Conklin (MIN)at DETTE14
101Ty Johnson (NYJ)vs. PHIRB36
102Noah Fant (DEN)at KCTE15
103Marquez Callaway (NO)vs. DALWR52
104Kenyan Drake (LV)vs. WASRB37
105Jamison Crowder (NYJ)vs. PHIWR53
106Foster Moreau (LV)vs. WASTE16
107Bryan Edwards (LV)vs. WASWR54
108Deonte Harris (NO)vs. DALWR55
109Sterling Shepard (NYG)at MIAWR56
110Jared Cook (LAC)at CINTE17
111Evan Engram (NYG)at MIATE18
112Olamide Zaccheaus (ATL)vs. TBWR57
113Mike Davis (ATL)vs. TBRB38
114Cole Kmet (CHI)vs. ARITE19
115Corey Davis (NYJ)vs. PHIWR58
116DeSean Jackson (LV)vs. WASWR59
117Rondale Moore (ARI)at CHIWR60
118Nelson Agholor (NE)at BUFWR61
119Hunter Henry (NE)at BUFTE20
120Zach Pascal (IND)at HOUWR62
121Gerald Everett (SEA)vs. SFTE21
122Logan Thomas (WAS)at LVTE22
123Laquon Treadwell (JAC)at LARWR63
124Sony Michel (LAR)vs. JACRB39
125Jauan Jennings (SF)at SEAWR64
126Nyheim Hines (IND)at HOURB40
127Quez Watkins (PHI)at NYJWR65
128Mecole Hardman (KC)vs. DENWR66
129Darius Slayton (NYG)at MIAWR67
130Jack Doyle (IND)at HOUTE23
131Latavius Murray (BAL)at PITRB41
132Curtis Samuel (WAS)at LVWR68
133Zay Jones (LV)vs. WASWR69
134C.J. Uzomah (CIN)vs. LACTE24
135Allen Robinson II (CHI)vs. ARIWR70
136K.J. Osborn (MIN)at DETWR71
137Nico Collins (HOU)vs. INDWR72
138Albert Wilson (MIA)vs. NYGWR73
139Matt Breida (BUF)vs. NERB42
140Kadarius Toney (NYG)at MIAWR74
141Tajae Sharpe (ATL)vs. TBWR75
142Ronald Jones II (TB)at ATLRB43
143James O'Shaughnessy (JAC)at LARTE25
144Brandon Bolden (NE)at BUFRB44
145D'Andre Swift (DET)vs. MINRB45
146Jalen Reagor (PHI)at NYJWR76
147Kene Nwangwu (MIN)at DETRB46
148Jeff Wilson Jr. (SF)at SEARB47
149J.D. McKissic (WAS)at LVRB48
150Kyle Juszczyk (SF)at SEARB49
151DeeJay Dallas (SEA)vs. SFRB50
152Sammy Watkins (BAL)at PITWR77
153Danny Amendola (HOU)vs. INDWR78
154Jonnu Smith (NE)at BUFTE26
155Freddie Swain (SEA)vs. SFWR79
156Braxton Berrios (NYJ)vs. PHIWR80
157Chris Conley (HOU)vs. INDWR81
158DeAndre Carter (WAS)at LVWR82
159Ryan Griffin (NYJ)vs. PHITE27
160Byron Pringle (KC)vs. DENWR83
161Samaje Perine (CIN)vs. LACRB51
162Mo Alie-Cox (IND)at HOUTE28
163James Washington (PIT)vs. BALWR84
164Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN)at KCTE29
165Kenneth Gainwell (PHI)at NYJRB52
166Isaiah Ford (MIA)vs. NYGWR85
167Gabriel Davis (BUF)vs. NEWR86
168Marquise Goodwin (CHI)vs. ARIWR87
169Durham Smythe (MIA)vs. NYGTE30
170Devontae Booker (NYG)at MIARB53
171Cameron Brate (TB)at ATLTE31
172Brevin Jordan (HOU)vs. INDTE32
173Phillip Lindsay (MIA)vs. NYGRB54
174Jalen Guyton (LAC)at CINWR88
175Adam Humphries (WAS)at LVWR89
176Tavon Austin (JAC)at LARWR90
177Demarcus Robinson (KC)vs. DENWR91
178Pharaoh Brown (HOU)vs. INDTE33
179Eno Benjamin (ARI)at CHIRB55
180Wayne Gallman Jr. (ATL)vs. TBRB56
181Godwin Igwebuike (DET)vs. MINRB57
182Donald Parham Jr. (LAC)at CINTE34
183Jaret Patterson (WAS)at LVRB58
184Tyler Johnson (TB)at ATLWR92
185Carlos Hyde (JAC)at LARRB59
186Zack Moss (BUF)vs. NERB60
187Juwan Johnson (NO)vs. DALTE35
188Darren Waller (LV)vs. WASTE36
189Mack Hollins (MIA)vs. NYGWR93
190Jimmy Graham (CHI)vs. ARITE37
191Lil'Jordan Humphrey (NO)vs. DALWR94
192Trent Sherfield (SF)at SEAWR95
193Devin Duvernay (BAL)at PITWR96
194D'Wayne Eskridge (SEA)vs. SFWR97
195Damiere Byrd (CHI)vs. ARIWR98
196Adam Shaheen (MIA)vs. NYGTE38
197Khalil Herbert (CHI)vs. ARIRB61
198Ray-Ray McCloud (PIT)vs. BALWR99
199Will Dissly (SEA)vs. SFTE39
200Joshua Palmer (LAC)at CINWR100
201Austin Walter (NYJ)vs. PHIRB62
202Noah Brown (DAL)at NOWR101
203John Ross (NYG)at MIAWR102
204John Bates (WAS)at LVTE40
205O.J. Howard (TB)at ATLTE41
206Daniel Helm (LV)vs. WASTE42
207Nick Vannett (NO)vs. DALTE43
208Josh Gordon (KC)vs. DENWR103
209Dyami Brown (WAS)at LVWR104
210C.J. Ham (MIN)at DETRB63
211Jermar Jefferson (DET)vs. MINRB64
212Giovani Bernard (TB)at ATLRB65
213Duke Johnson Jr. (MIA)vs. NYGRB66
214Denzel Mims (NYJ)vs. PHIWR105
215N'Keal Harry (NE)at BUFWR106
216Ty Montgomery (NO)vs. DALRB67
217Chris Moore (HOU)vs. INDWR107
218Cam Sims (WAS)at LVWR108
219Jakeem Grant Sr. (CHI)vs. ARIWR109
220Scotty Miller (TB)at ATLWR110
221Larry Rountree III (LAC)at CINRB68
222Jordan Akins (HOU)vs. INDTE44
223Zach Gentry (PIT)vs. BALTE45
224Kyle Rudolph (NYG)at MIATE46
225Chris Manhertz (JAC)at LARTE47
226Ashton Dulin (IND)at HOUWR111
227Rashaad Penny (SEA)vs. SFRB69
228JaMycal Hasty (SF)at SEARB70
229Kylen Granson (IND)at HOUTE48
230Travis Homer (SEA)vs. SFRB71
231Justin Jackson (LAC)at CINRB72
232DeVante Parker (MIA)vs. NYGWR112
233Anthony McFarland Jr. (PIT)vs. BALRB73
234Ben Skowronek (LAR)vs. JACWR113
235Salvon Ahmed (MIA)vs. NYGRB74
236Jesse James (CHI)vs. ARITE49
237Kenny Stills (NO)vs. DALWR114
238Chris Myarick (NYG)at MIATE50
239Keith Smith (ATL)vs. TBRB75
240Patrick Ricard (BAL)at PITRB76
241Dede Westbrook (MIN)at DETWR115
242Tony Jones Jr. (NO)vs. DALRB77
243Sean McKeon (DAL)at NOTE51
244Jordan Howard (PHI)at NYJRB78
245Keelan Cole Sr. (NYJ)vs. PHIWR116
246Chris Evans (CIN)vs. LACRB79
247Stephen Anderson (LAC)at CINTE52
248Preston Williams (MIA)vs. NYGWR117
249KhaDarel Hodge (DET)vs. MINWR118
250Jalen Richard (LV)vs. WASRB80
251Lee Smith (ATL)vs. TBTE53

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