Hopefully, everyone’s playoff hopes survived last week’s Bye-mageddon. While Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday football mean that available lineup options are dwindling heading into Sunday, there’s still standout players aplenty to help win your week.
With just a couple of weeks remaining in the fantasy football regular season, each matchup matters even more with playoff seeding on the line. Are you nervous, or have you already locked in a playoff spot?
Whether they’re on your season-long roster or you’re looking to pay up for a stud on DraftKings DFS, here are three must-start players for Week 13.
QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (@ Baltimore Ravens), $7,700
Despite the early-season doubters, the Eagles are flying once more.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has led Philly to a 9-2 record and seven straight wins. The fifth-year signal-caller has 2,376 passing yards on the year with a 13-5 TD-INT ratio. He’s also added another 456 rushing yards and an impressive 11 TDs with his legs, which as always, makes him a premier fantasy asset. On the year, he’s averaging 23.0 fantasy points per game. That production is good for QB2 in PPG.
The only quarterback outscoring Hurts? That would be this week’s opponent, Lamar Jackson. While the Ravens’ offense is superb, their defense is subpar. They rank 24th in total yards allowed and 20th in defensive EPA. While their rush defense is second-best in the league, their pass defense falls 31st in yards allowed and 26th in EPA/pass. Hurts has the opportunity to exploit that in what should be a shootout between two Super Bowl hopefuls.
RB Joe Mixon, Houston Texans (@ Jacksonville Jaguars), $8,000
The Texans may be an underwhelming team compared to expectations, but their star running back sure isn’t underperforming.
Joe Mixon was acquired by the Texans over the offseason. In his first campaign in battle red and navy blue, the 28-year-old has produced 786 rushing yards and 10 TDs on 185 attempts… in just nine games. He’s broken 1,000 scrimmage yards on the season, too, with 23 catches for 226 receiving yards and another score. His average fantasy outing? A cool 23.1 points, putting him second-best behind only Saquon Barkley.
The Texans take on the Jaguars this week. Are we targeting players against their defense every week? Perhaps, but don’t say that too loudly. Jacksonville allows the seventh-most rushing yards per contest, the 26th-worst EPA/rush, and falls dead-last in overall defensive EPA/play. Despite their inconsistencies, Houston is still a far superior team, so Mixon should see plenty of touches in a positive game script.
WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (@ New Orleans Saints), $7,600
A fantasy assassin, it’s the time to cash in… roll the Puka Nacua song!
Nacua has only appeared in six games this season, but now further removed from injury, he’s putting up WR1-caliber production every week. The second-year pro has 53 catches for 490 yards, and while he only has one touchdown on the campaign, he’s averaging 17.0 fantasy points per game. He’s one of Matthew Stafford’s two favorite targets and has seen 25 looks over his last three games.
This week, Nacua matches up with a poor New Orleans Saints defense allowing 256.6 passing yards per game, third-worst in the NFL. The Saints also traded their top cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, away at the deadline. Without a lockdown option on defense, they may struggle to contain a pass-happy Rams offense that ranks top-12 in passing yards and touchdowns on the season despite missing their top two receiving weapons for a good chunk of the season.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
DraftKings promoters may sometimes play on personal accounts in the games that advice is offered on. Personal views on the games and strategies above do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. DraftKings promoters may also deploy different players and strategies than what is recommended above. DraftKings promoters do not have access to any non-public information.
