It’s the last week before the fantasy football playoffs begin. The bye weeks are all over and the waiver wire is extremely, extremely thin.
There are few, if any, gems left out there for you to pick up and play this week, and at this point there are few true stars stashed away on your bench. But, as we’ve done all year, we’ll help you find some unexpected performers this week to clinch that playoff spot, solidify your position, or play spoiler.
Here’s what we’re seeing for week 13:
Start ‘em
Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans wide receiver vs. Indianapolis
At this point, Wright should’ve been starting for you consistently already, but he’s a definite must-play this week against the Colts. Wright has caught 22 passes for 261 yards and a score in the last three weeks – which just happens to include a 9-catch effort against these same Colts two week sago. Indianapolis is reeling, and just gave up 12 catches and 156 yards to Arizona receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. Wright has become Titans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s favorite target, seeing an average of nine passes per week the last five weeks.
Nate Burleson, Detroit Lions wide receiver vs. Green Bay
The veteran picked up right where he left off with quarterback Matt Stafford in his first game back after breaking his arm, catching seven passes for 77 yards and a score against Tampa Bay. In the four games he’s played, Burleson has caught 26 passes for 316 yards. He’s not a big scoring threat with Calvin Johnson getting most of those red zone looks, but Burleson is a good volume play against a struggling Packers defense.
Sit ‘em
Tiquan Underwood, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver vs. Carolina
There is always some unknown player who has a great week that becomes the ultimate waiver-wire pickup the following week, and Underwood beats out St. Louis backup running back Benny Cunningham after his 108-yard, 2-touchdown performance against Detroit. First of all, Underwood only had three catches, and the Lions were easy pickings already – and that was before focusing a ton on No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson. Underwood is only seeing 3.3 targets per game and faces a very good Carolina defense who will not overlook the Bucs. Don’t chase these points.
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver vs. St. Louis
Now that one of Colin Kaepernick’s top targets is off the physically unable to perform list, you might be itching to finally put him in the starting lineup. After all, if you have him, you’ve either been sitting on him all season, waiting for this moment, or sneakily picked him up in the last week. First, Kaepernick has been absolutely awful since week 1 with just eight passing touchdowns. You may think Crabtree will help, and he may, but to just start him off the bat presents too much risk with little upside, even against a Rams defense that has been torched through the air its last two games.
Sleeper
Matt McGloin, Oakland Raiders quarterback vs. Dallas
The unknown Raiders backup will get the start Thursday and has produced in each of the last two weeks, throwing four touchdowns against one interception. He came down slightly against a decent Tennessee defense after a breakout first start against Houston, but the Cowboys aren’t very good against the pass, allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks across all Yahoo! leagues. Even middling fantasy starters like Alex Smith (223 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT), Christian Ponder (236 yards, TD, INT) and Eli Manning (624 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT in two games) produced good numbers against the Cowboys.
