Fantasy Football Week 13: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

Every week, I survey lineup questions on the Bleacher Report app and then provide answers to assist fantasy managers in (hopefully) getting a win.This week, that win could be the difference between playing on and calling it a year.We'll kick off this week's Start/Sit column with a two-parter that conveniently halfway answers itself—in that two of the four calls are rather obvious.At running back, one of the spots has to go to Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers, especially in a PPR format. The second-year standout has touchdowns in seven of nine games this year and faces a Cleveland Browns defense in Week 13 that ranks just outside the top 10 in PPR points allowed to the position in 2020.In the backfield, that leaves Chris Carson of the Seattle Seahawks and Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers, two backs who made their own returns from injury a week ago. Mostert received twice as many carries (16) as Carson in Week 12, but the latter has the better fantasy matchup.That matchup with a New York Giants team that allows the 11th-most PPR points per game to running backs in 2020 wins the day. Carson is the play.At wide receiver, Tyler Lockett of the Seahawks hasn't had a 100-yard game and has just one touchdown since his huge outing in Week 7, while Pittsburgh's Diontae Johnson draws the second-worst fantasy matchup for wide receivers in the Washington Football Team.It's close, but the matchup wins out here too. Cam Newton of the New England Patriots offers some interesting upside given his ability to pick up yards with his legs, but he's also coming off a miserable statistical effort against the Arizona Cardinals.Philip Rivers of the Indianapolis Colts isn't tearing it up this season, but over the past few weeks, the veteran signal-caller has quietly been solid—eighth among quarterbacks in fantasy points.Rivers gets the nod.In the flex spot, Tyler Boyd of the Cincinnati Bengals is awfully hard to trust heading into a rough matchup with the Miami Dolphins—especially with Brandon "Who?" Allen at quarterback. Allen Lazard found the end zone for the third time in five games last week, but he also had just four receptions for 23 yards.Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts missed last week's loss to the Tennessee Titans, but the rookie has been activated from the COVID-19 list ahead of a matchup with a Houston Texans team that allows the second-most PPR points to running backs.Two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers, Taylor piled up 114 total yards on 26 touches. There hasn't been a bigger surprise at the running back position in 2020 than James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who went from undrafted free agent and fantasy afterthought to third in the NFL in rushing and fourth in PPR points among running backs.He has earned every-week starter status, regardless of matchup.The flex spot is trickier. The Call: Kirk Cousins (DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400)Letting the big dogs eat with this query.The question is which big dog will eat the most.Of the group, Alvin Kamara of the Saints offers the most matchup information, given that New Orleans and Atlanta played in Week 11. That leaves New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700), who has six touchdowns over the last five weeks and at least one score in all five games over that stretch. Also [Kirk] Cousins or [Ryan] Tannehill?"Washington's Antonio Gibson (DraftKings DFS Value: $6,800) is a hard player to sit after his huge game against the Cowboys, but he does have a brutal Week 13 matchup against the Steelers in Week 13.