Week 13 2025 who should I start thread **OFFICIALLY UNOFFICIAL** (7 Viewers)

[Chaka]

This is where we ask questions and offer help.

Thank you to all the posters who come here to offer that help.

A couple notes:

I attempt to give well considered responses to all questions posted. I can't get to everything, but I'll try.

1) This only works if people participate. If you ask for help it is good form to offer help to someone else.

2) Please post the matchup. e.g. Penix vs Den or James Cook @ Mia (a lot of you are missing this one. We don't necessarily have all the matchups memorized, please don't make us do your legwork. TIA)

3) Please post important league scoring considerations (e.g. PPR, super-flex etc).

4) Please go easy on the nicknames, save that for other threads. We can't help if we don't know who you are talking about.

5) NEW REQUEST: Please remember that if you come here asking advice, it is greatly appreciated if you offer advice to others. TIA

View this as an exercise to help focus your thoughts about teams in general. Players you own may not be involved in these WDIS questions but certainly you will own players on many of these teams. Analyzing other players will help you identify things you may have otherwise not considered.

(Joe Edit: When you ask, please let us know which way you're leaning. And more importantly, why. What do you see as the pros and cons. Most people will be much more likely to help if they feel like you've put in a little work on this as well.)

Let's move on to week 13

@Joe Bryant @FBG Moderator

Can we get this pinned please?

 

[Chaka]

I'll start.

PPR:

Zay Flowers @ CIN
Troy Franklin @ WAS
Jameson Williams v GB

 

[Chaka]

PPR TE:

Schultz @ IND
Pitts @ NYJ

Feels like a total guess.

 

[Chaka]

Defense:

ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

Good options IMO

 

[Chaka]

QB:

Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Darnold seems obvious but, I do worry that Brian Flores has the book on Darnold and may be able to shut him down. Still gotta go with Darnold at this point, right?

 

[Intston]

I'll start.

PPR:

Zay Flowers @ CIN
Troy Franklin @ WAS
Jameson Williams v GB

Flowers, a TD has to happen eventually

Defense:
ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

LAR > SEA > ATL but it's close

QB:
Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Tough call, MIN could leave some short fields with their QB struggles, I'd go Darnold.


Caleb or Joe Burrow vs BAL?

Half-PPR Flex:
Odunze @ PHI
D Neal @ MIA
Jamo v GB

 

[Rubi]

I'll start.

PPR:

Zay Flowers @ CIN
Troy Franklin @ WAS
Jameson Williams v GB

Just as you list them
Can't sit anyone against The Bengals D
Flowers>Franklin>Williams

 

[LionOfGosforth]

I'll start.

PPR:

Zay Flowers @ CIN
Troy Franklin @ WAS
Jameson Williams v GB

Assuming you need one from that list, I go Zay. Safe floor, high ceiling that hasn't quite happened yet but matchups don't get much better. Don't trust the others, especially Jamo, at all.

 

[Rubi]

PPR TE:

Schultz @ IND
Pitts @ NYJ

Feels like a total guess.

I've got Schultz a few points better than Pitts this week
So
The Sgt.

 

[Rubi]

Defense:

ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

Good options IMO

For me
Seattle>Rams>Atl

 

[LionOfGosforth]

Defense:

ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

Good options IMO

Great options. Slightly favor LAR but SEA very close.

 

[Rubi]

QB:

Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Darnold seems obvious but, I do worry that Brian Flores has the book on Darnold and may be able to shut him down. Still gotta go with Darnold at this point, right?

Very,very,very,very close for me
I actually have them even this week
Twist my arm
I'd go with Williams
He may be running a lot Friday
And that could be a difference maker
But Sam is a solid choice also

 

[Chaka]

I'll start.

PPR:

Zay Flowers @ CIN
Troy Franklin @ WAS
Jameson Williams v GB

Flowers, a TD has to happen eventually

Defense:
ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

LAR > SEA > ATL but it's close

QB:
Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Tough call, MIN could leave some short fields with their QB struggles, I'd go Darnold.


Caleb or Joe Burrow vs BAL?

Half-PPR Flex:
Odunze @ PHI
D Neal @ MIA
Jamo v GB

I think Caleb is an avoid this week against that PHI defense. I know what the Cowboys did to them but, I don't see anything like that happening this week.

Rusty Burrow>Caleb
=============================

How crazy is it that I am thinking Neal? It's a decent matchup and, he should see a good amount of work, including in the passing game apparently. He's just such an unknown. The question is if I would really have the stones to follow through with that.

Odunze is the best player in this situation but that matchup is brutal. Caleb is not very accurate even when things are going well so you have to hope for a broken play or something like that.

Jamo had been on a heater until last week and, I think he can return to that but, again with the matchup. Although I like this matchup more than Odunzes because Goff is just so much more accurate a passer than Caleb.

Man...

I would probably start Jamo but I think the right move is

Neal>Jamo>Odunze

 

[LionOfGosforth]

QB hell this week. Purdy has a rotten matchup and Baker is hurt. Looking to pick up either

Winston @ Pats
or
Lawrence @ Titans

Gulp. Yuck and all those things.

Please rank these RBs

Dowdle vs Rams
Judkins vs Niners
KW3 @ Vikes
Benson @ Bucs (if he plays)

 

[LionOfGosforth]

Defense:

HOU @ IND
or
CLE vs SF

Both great DEFs this year, slight lean to CLE being they're home.

 

[Chaka]

QB:

Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Darnold seems obvious but, I do worry that Brian Flores has the book on Darnold and may be able to shut him down. Still gotta go with Darnold at this point, right?

Very,very,very,very close for me
I actually have them even this week
Twist my arm
I'd go with Williams
He may be running a lot Friday
And that could be a difference maker
But Sam is a solid choice also

Thanks. Interesting take. I read somewhere that Caleb had three runs where he hit 20+ mph and, IIRC he has something like the fifth fastest speed of anyone this season.

Dude has crazy wheels and, he's gonna need them on Friday.

 

[Rubi]

Here we gooooo:
FFPC scoring:
Stuck again:
Need THREE of the following:

A. Jones @ Sea (tough defense)

X. Worthy @ Dall (a little life last week,but another Turkey coming?)

D. Samuel vs Den (nice game before the bye but tough defense this week)

W. Robinson @ N.E. (monster game last week,can he get half of that this week?)

C. Watson @ Det ( boom or bust,can he boom against The Lions secondary?)

O. Gadsen vs LAV ( off a bye after getting crushed by The Jags,rebound?)

 

[Rubi]

Defense:

HOU @ IND
or
CLE vs SF

Both great DEFs this year, slight lean to CLE being they're home.

For me this week
Cleveland> Houston

 

[Rubi]

QB:

Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Darnold seems obvious but, I do worry that Brian Flores has the book on Darnold and may be able to shut him down. Still gotta go with Darnold at this point, right?

Very,very,very,very close for me
I actually have them even this week
Twist my arm
I'd go with Williams
He may be running a lot Friday
And that could be a difference maker
But Sam is a solid choice also

Thanks. Interesting take. I read somewhere that Caleb had three runs where he hit 20+ mph and, IIRC he has something like the fifth fastest speed of anyone this season.

Dude has crazy wheels and, he's gonna need them on Friday.

Yes,he may be running for his life all night
Which isn't necessarily a bad thing for fantasy purposes

 

[gump]

1 Pt PPR...pick 2:

Aaron Jones @ SEA
Judkins v SF
R White v ARIZ
Deebo Samuel v DEN

 

[Rubi]

QB hell this week. Purdy has a rotten matchup and Baker is hurt. Looking to pick up either

Winston @ Pats
or
Lawrence @ Titans

Gulp. Yuck and all those things.

Please rank these RBs

Dowdle vs Rams
Judkins vs Niners
KW3 @ Vikes
Benson @ Bucs (if he plays)

Winston may be the #2 this week if Dart is out of the protocol
Bad thing is it's a Monday Night game
So safer choice is Lawrence
The best option is Baker if he plays and your confident he'll last four quarters

RB's for me this week:

Dowdle>KW3>Judkins>Benson

 

[Rubi]

1 Pt PPR...pick 2:

Aaron Jones @ SEA
Judkins v SF
R White v ARIZ
Deebo Samuel v DEN

Judkins for sure
Then it's close
Jones and Deebo have tough mathups
so
White if plays
If he doesn't
Maybe Deebo

 

[Chaka]

QB hell this week. Purdy has a rotten matchup and Baker is hurt. Looking to pick up either

Winston @ Pats
or
Lawrence @ Titans

Gulp. Yuck and all those things.

Please rank these RBs

Dowdle vs Rams
Judkins vs Niners
KW3 @ Vikes
Benson @ Bucs (if he plays)

The Pats are a pass funnel defense and Winston can still go bonkers on occasion but, I think I go with the matchup here. Plus, Lawrence is not afraid to call his own number and run near the GL

Lawrence>Winston
==============================

The GL package the Browns used with Judkins against the Raiders suggests he is going to get a lot of work. The Niners are not a shut down defense either.

Rico is playing better than any of these guys ATM, despite the lack of usage on Monday, but it is a tough matchup so I knock him below Judkins on this list.

If Benson plays I would slot him third because the Cardinals need him so desperately.

KWIII last because I think he has a 15 touch cap and the others could see 20. But, you could easily slot him at the top of this list because he is very talented and the Vikes are a run funnel defense.

Judkins>Rico>Benson>KWIII

 

[Chaka]

Defense:

HOU @ IND
or
CLE vs SF

Both great DEFs this year, slight lean to CLE being they're home.

IDK the Texans put on a clinic last week against Josh Allen and, I think Daniel Jones is more likely to be flustered into mistakes than Brock Purdy. But, it's definitely close.

HOU>CLE

 

[JohnnyU]

I wouldn't start any Vikings except Jefferson and I wouldn't feel great about that either. I also wouldn't start many offensive players in the SF @ Cleve game except McCaffrey, Kittle and Judkins. I suppose if you have to start Purdy or Jennings you do, but if you have better options use them. I'm starting Brenton Strange over Harold Fannin. I can see this being a very low scoring game.

 

[Chaka]

Here we gooooo:
FFPC scoring:
Stuck again:
Need THREE of the following:

A. Jones @ Sea (tough defense)

X. Worthy @ Dall (a little life last week,but another Turkey coming?)

D. Samuel vs Den (nice game before the bye but tough defense this week)

W. Robinson @ N.E. (monster game last week,can he get half of that this week?)

C. Watson @ Det ( boom or bust,can he boom against The Lions secondary?)

O. Gadsen vs LAV ( off a bye after getting crushed by The Jags,rebound?)

100% Wan'Dale. You always want a piece of Jameis's #1 WR and the Pats are a pass funnel defense.

I like Gadsden too because of the FFPC scoring.

I disagree that Watson is boom/bust. Since coming back he has pretty clearly become the Pack's #1 WR. His target upside is, unfortunately not great but if he can see 5-7 targets he will put up points for you.

Don't like Deebo against Denver.

Jones looked like the clear lead RB in Min two weeks ago, fast forward and now it's a timeshare again? Coupled with the SEA run D, I'll pass.

Worthy has a great matchup and, I expect him to have a big game eventually. With this matchup that big game could be this week. But, he just hasn't put it together on the field for whatever reason so, I don't trust him. He's your gamble play this week.

Wan'Dale>Gadsden>Watson>Worthy>Jones>Deebo

 

[Neal Cassady]

1 PPR
PICK 2 to start

Josh Jacobs @ Detroit
Chase Brown @ Baltimore
Rico Dowdle vs Rams
Javonte Williams vs KC

Leaning Jacobs and Brown, but Rico could get a lot carries after last weeks abysmal play calling. I like Williams the least.

Thanks

 

[BearsFan4Life]

Guillotine - PPR

Pick 2 to BENCH, but both CAN NOT be WRs

Barkley vs Chi
Cook @ Pit
Kyren @ Car
McConkey vs LV
Collins @ Indi
Olave @ Mia

Bijan, Achane, Rice, McBride locked in.

 

[Chaka]

1 Pt PPR...pick 2:

Aaron Jones @ SEA
Judkins v SF
R White v ARIZ
Deebo Samuel v DEN

Judkins and White pretty easily for me, just because of the matchup. I am concerned about the possible return of Bucky to TB and could be talked into Deebo as the replacement but, it's difficult to trust that offense against that defense. No interest in Jones timeshare vs SEA.

Judkins>White>Deebo>Jones

 

[Chaka]

1 PPR
PICK 2 to start

Josh Jacobs @ Detroit
Chase Brown @ Baltimore
Rico Dowdle vs Rams
Javonte Williams vs KC

Leaning Jacobs and Brown, but Rico could get a lot carries after last weeks abysmal play calling. I like Williams the least.

Thanks

I tend to agree with your calls and your ordering. Bottom line is they're all good players and playing the matchups seems smart.

Jacobs>Brown>Rico>Javonte

 

[Neal Cassady]

I'll start.

PPR:

Zay Flowers @ CIN
Troy Franklin @ WAS
Jameson Williams v GB

Flowers for sure. I’d start Williams next, especially if I’m an underdog. If heavily favored, Franklin.

 

[Neal Cassady]

PPR TE:

Schultz @ IND
Pitts @ NYJ

Feels like a total guess.

Schultz

 

[Rubi]

1 PPR
PICK 2 to start

Josh Jacobs @ Detroit
Chase Brown @ Baltimore
Rico Dowdle vs Rams
Javonte Williams vs KC

Leaning Jacobs and Brown, but Rico could get a lot carries after last weeks abysmal play calling. I like Williams the least.

Thanks

Jacobs>Dowdle>Brown>Williams

 

[Neal Cassady]

Defense:

ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

Good options IMO

Seattle

 

[Neal Cassady]

QB:

Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Darnold seems obvious but, I do worry that Brian Flores has the book on Darnold and may be able to shut him down. Still gotta go with Darnold at this point, right?

Yes, I’d play Darnold

 

[Rubi]

Guillotine - PPR

Pick 2 to BENCH, but both CAN NOT be WRs

Barkley vs Chi
Cook @ Pit
Kyren @ Car
McConkey vs LV
Collins @ Indi
Olave @ Mia

Bijan, Achane, Rice, McBride locked in.

Kyren
Then maybe McConkey?

 

[Chaka]

Guillotine - PPR

Pick 2 to BENCH, but both CAN NOT be WRs

Barkley vs Chi
Cook @ Pit
Kyren @ Car
McConkey vs LV
Collins @ Indi
Olave @ Mia

Bijan, Achane, Rice, McBride locked in.

Wow, tough calls. I really don't like how Barkley is playing and, as good as the Eagles are they always seem one small step away from total implosion. But, can you bench him???

Nico has the toughest assignment in Sauce so, I probably bench him. You have plenty of good options to slot in ahead of him.

Olave being on the worst team of the group, by a wide margin makes him a candidate for benching but, he's really been so consistently solid this season that I am loathe to bench him. He's a low key candidate for Steal of the Draft.

Logically I bench Saquon and Nico. But, if I chicken out I would bench Nico and Olave.

 

[fightingillini]

1 PPR
PICK 2 to start

Josh Jacobs @ Detroit
Chase Brown @ Baltimore
Rico Dowdle vs Rams
Javonte Williams vs KC

Leaning Jacobs and Brown, but Rico could get a lot carries after last weeks abysmal play calling. I like Williams the least.

Thanks

I agree with you......Jacobs and Brown. Love Dowdle but LAR matchup is brutal and CAR is likely going to be playing from behind. KC is tough against run.

 

[fightingillini]

Defense:

ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

Good options IMO

Seattle

It's close between SEA and LAR. Since MIN may go with a rookie QB, I think lean SEA.

All good matchups.

 

[Rubi]

Here's another:
FFPC scoring:
Which QB to start:

J. Herbert vs LAV

J. Dart/J. Winston @ N.E.

 

[fightingillini]

Superflex league -

Love at DET
Ward vs JAX

I suspect Love will need to pass more in this game but Love has been pretty bad since Kraft went down and is a little banged up.

 

[fightingillini]

QB:

Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Darnold seems obvious but, I do worry that Brian Flores has the book on Darnold and may be able to shut him down. Still gotta go with Darnold at this point, right?

Go with Darnold. He's the safer option. I think PHI is going to be really motivated after how they lost the DAL. Caleb has a much lower floor in this game.

 

[BearsFan4Life]

Guillotine - PPR

Pick 2 to BENCH, but both CAN NOT be WRs

Barkley vs Chi
Cook @ Pit
Kyren @ Car
McConkey vs LV
Collins @ Indi
Olave @ Mia

Bijan, Achane, Rice, McBride locked in.

Kyren
Then maybe McConkey?

Kyren was my 1st choice as well, seems to be splitting series with Corum.
Collins was the other way I was leaning.

 

[fightingillini]

Guillotine - PPR

Pick 2 to BENCH, but both CAN NOT be WRs

Barkley vs Chi
Cook @ Pit
Kyren @ Car
McConkey vs LV
Collins @ Indi
Olave @ Mia

Bijan, Achane, Rice, McBride locked in.

Hmmmmmmm.

So the option is 1 RB/1WR or 2RBs to bench.

Think I bench Collins.....he's going to see a healthy dose of Sauce. The RB is really tough. PIT is tough against the run, especially at home, Barkley isn't playing great and Kyren is ceding decent carries to Corum and doesn't get guaranteed carries inside the 3. I would lean benching Kyren, since I don't have the balls to bench Saquon.

Good luck

 

[BearsFan4Life]

Guillotine - PPR

Pick 2 to BENCH, but both CAN NOT be WRs

Barkley vs Chi
Cook @ Pit
Kyren @ Car
McConkey vs LV
Collins @ Indi
Olave @ Mia

Bijan, Achane, Rice, McBride locked in.

Wow, tough calls. I really don't like how Barkley is playing and, as good as the Eagles are they always seem one small step away from total implosion. But, can you bench him???

Nico has the toughest assignment in Sauce so, I probably bench him. You have plenty of good options to slot in ahead of him.

Olave being on the worst team of the group, by a wide margin makes him a candidate for benching but, he's really been so consistently solid this season that I am loathe to bench him. He's a low key candidate for Steal of the Draft.

Logically I bench Saquon and Nico. But, if I chicken out I would bench Nico and Olave.

I struggle to sit Barkley and have him blow up. Olave or Collins has to start, cant bench 2 wrs due to starting requirements.

 

[kyoun1e]

PPR League. I need to start 2 of these 4:

* R. Dowdle vs LAR -- Terrible matchup. More Hubbard than expected last week. If LAR get up, could be the same. Rico managed to eek out double digits last week. Don't see a high ceiling here.

* T. MacMillan vs LAR -- Same game. LAR probably easier to throw on vs. run on. Could be playing catchup.

* RJ Harvey @WASH -- Great matchup. S. Payton could play games here and siphon off touches to Jaleel and Badie, but you'd think RJ will get his share of touches in a game DEN is favored.

* C. Watson @DET -- Good for 4 catches usually and chunk yardage. Other WRs (i.e Golden) could be out. DET banged up in the secondary. He's boom bust often, but this could be a boom week.

Note: I'm a favorite.

Which 2?

Thanks

 

[kyoun1e]

D question:

* LAR @CAR -- CAR offense came back down to earth last week. Unless the LAR have some kind of letdown, this game really shouldn't be close.

or

* LAC vs LV -- LAC off a bye and rested. Not a great D, but man, Geno and the Raiders are a disaster right now. Just gave up 10 sacks to CLE. Jenty iffy.

Which D?

Thanks

 

[Joe Bryant]

Pinned

 

[Wrigley]

PPR 2RB 1TE

Brown @ BAL
Warren vs BUF
Rico vs LAR
Monangai @ PHI
Neal @ MIA

Ferguson vs KC
Warren vs HOU

1/2 PPR 1QB 1RB 2WR 1FLX

Goff vs GB
Purdy @ CLV

Gainwell vs BUF
Tucker vs ARZ
Pollard vs JAC

Pickens vs KC
Adam’s @ CAR
Olave @ MIA
M Wilson vs TB

 

[Broncobiv]

I'll start.

PPR:

Zay Flowers @ CIN
Troy Franklin @ WAS
Jameson Williams v GB

Flowers. Best matchup, and maybe you'll get lucky that Burrow turns it into a shootout.

PPR TE:

Schultz @ IND
Pitts @ NYJ

Feels like a total guess.

Schultz. Just more consistent than Pitts.

Defense:

ATL @ NYJ
LAR @ CAR
SEA @ MIN

Good options IMO

SEA. Going against a rookie QB in his first start on an already struggling offense.

QB:

Caleb @ PHI
Darnold @ MIN

Darnold seems obvious but, I do worry that Brian Flores has the book on Darnold and may be able to shut him down. Still gotta go with Darnold at this point, right?

Caleb. He's has actually had a pretty good season, even better than Darnold. He gets rushing yards and takes care of the ball better than Darnold. I don't think PHI is much scarier than MIN in terms of pass D.

Caleb or Joe Burrow vs BAL?

Half-PPR Flex:
Odunze @ PHI
D Neal @ MIA
Jamo v GB

Gotta roll with Burrow. I don't think rust will be an issue.
Neal. He'll get catches, and MIA has a terrible rush D. Never know which WR will get the ball for CHI, and GB has a tough pass D.

QB hell this week. Purdy has a rotten matchup and Baker is hurt. Looking to pick up either

Winston @ Pats
or
Lawrence @ Titans

Gulp. Yuck and all those things.

Please rank these RBs

Dowdle vs Rams
Judkins vs Niners
KW3 @ Vikes
Benson @ Bucs (if he plays)

Jameis if Dart doesn't play. If Dart is back, hope Baker plays. If Baker's out, too, Lawrence.
Judkins>Benson>Dowdle>KW3

Defense:

HOU @ IND
or
CLE vs SF

Both great DEFs this year, slight lean to CLE being they're home.

CLE. Better matchup, and weather could play a factor in hurting the offenses.

Here we gooooo:
FFPC scoring:
Stuck again:
Need THREE of the following:

A. Jones @ Sea (tough defense)

X. Worthy @ Dall (a little life last week,but another Turkey coming?)

D. Samuel vs Den (nice game before the bye but tough defense this week)

W. Robinson @ N.E. (monster game last week,can he get half of that this week?)

C. Watson @ Det ( boom or bust,can he boom against The Lions secondary?)

O. Gadsen vs LAV ( off a bye after getting crushed by The Jags,rebound?)

Jones, Robinson, Watson. Rice has killed Worthy's value. Deebo is going to get the Surtain treatment (I'm assuming he'll be back this week). And Gadsden has 2 bad games in a row.

1 Pt PPR...pick 2:

Aaron Jones @ SEA
Judkins v SF
R White v ARIZ
Deebo Samuel v DEN

Jones and Judkins. White became useless when Tucker took over, and it looks like Bucky will be back anyway. Deebo is going to be covered mostly by Surtain, assuming he's back from injury.