This is the week that you need to win, whether it’s seeding in the playoffs or making it to the playoffs, Belly Up has the starts and sits to get you the dub you need. The Panthers, Packers, Browns, and Titans will be on byes this week making this starts and sits article important to your lineup setting. This is the time that matchup knowledge is needed, we don’t want to leave big points on the bench. So I hope you guys get some closure on certain players with this week’s starts and sits. Enjoy the article guys and make sure you get your lineups set for this week.

Quarterback

Starts

Tua Tagovailoa vs New York Giants

Though Tua’s numbers haven’t been QB1 esque his play has been much better since he returned. The Dolphins overall have played better with Tua in the lineup and I expect this week to be a lot of the same. Playing the Giants this week seems like a bad matchup on paper but I fully expect the Dolphins to force turnovers and give Tua the ball enough times to score multiple TDs in this game. Tua should be a QB2 this week.

Derek Carr vs Washington Football Team

Led the way to another clutch W.@derekcarrqb‘s best plays from today’s win in Dallas.

More highlights on https://t.co/wXUK7ZZimE pic.twitter.com/lLgl6LbCfC

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 26, 2021

I like Carr in this matchup, he’s been streaky all season long and he might be getting hot again. Last week against the Cowboys, Carr dissected the defense going throwing the ball wherever he wanted. A lot of his success has been predicated by his ability to throw the deep ball. The addition of DeSean Jackson has given Carr an excellent deep threat. The Football Team has given up the ninth-most yards (3,047) and the most TDs (26) to quarterbacks this year. Last week against the Seahawks the Football team gave up nothing but big plays to Tyler Lockett and Freddie Swain. That being said, I see Carr as a QB1 this week.

Sits

Trevor Lawrence vs LA Rams

T-Law has yet to really show us why he should’ve been the number one overall pick in this year’s draft. Whether that’s the coaching staff putting him in bad situations or T-Law just not making the right reads. It’s something that has hindered him this season in the NFL as well as fantasy. While the Rams have struggled as of late, this matchup seems like they are getting thrown a bone, I expect the Rams will blitz T-Law into oblivion and try to make the rookie as uncomfortable as possible in the pocket. T-Law isn’t a playable guy unless you absolutely have no one in Superflex leagues.

Matt Ryan vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ryan coming into this game has posted pitiful numbers in the past three weeks. His numbers read as such 460 yards, a TD, and 5 interceptions. He’s just been abysmal for fantasy managers and the challenge gets elevated this week. The Bucs have been hit or miss against the quarterback, last week Carson Wentz was QB5 but in Week 11 Daniel Jones was QB22. The last time Ryan played the Bucs he threw for 300 yards and 2 TDs but also threw 3 interceptions. I think this game will be a little worse in the stat department for Ryan, as he’s missing Calvin Ridley this time around. Leave him on your bench.

Running Back

Starts

Jamaal Williams vs Minnesota Vikings

“They didn’t want me, like that ex-girlfriend. … I gotta go.” 😂

Lions’ Jamaal Williams on leaving the Packers via free agency

(via @Lions)pic.twitter.com/ujNjw3iP7Z

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 18, 2021

Williams should be looked at as a good substitute for D’Andre Swift’s production in this game. Last week he took over the workload mid-game and went for 65 rushing yards and catching all five of his targets for 18 yards. The Vikings are coming off a game that they were thrashed by Elijah Mitchell for 133 rushing yards, 5 receptions, and 35 receiving yards. While I’m not expecting that stat line I do think he has the ability to put up RB2 production this week.

Alexander Mattison vs Detroit Lions

With Dalvin Cook out for the foreseeable future, Alexander Mattison will handle duties in the backfield.

The #Vikings back has stepped in well in the past.pic.twitter.com/mo8UvjX1S6

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 29, 2021

In Mattison’s two starts this year, he has 225 rushing yards, 13 receptions, 99 yards, and a receiving TD. This week Mattison gets his second shot at the Detroit Lions a team he ran all over in Week 5. Going for 113 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards on seven catches. The Lions are a desperate team, that wants to win for their coach, so I expect this game to be close. That being said, this game should resemble Mattison’s first game, meaning he has RB1 written all over him. Go play this guy confidently this week.

Sits

Saquon Barkley vs Miami Dolphins

This isn’t picking on Saquon and his lackluster season. This is more of a testament to how good the Dolphins defense has been against RBs on their four-game win streak. The biggest performance the Dolphins have allowed is RB27 to Michael Carter. On that streak, they have shut down Christian McCaffrey and Devonta Freeman. Barkley on the other hand has a total of 109 yards since his return to the field in Week 11. Barkley should be a sit candidate in this game, I can see him getting garbage time play, but overall he’ll need a big play to save his day.

James Robinson vs LA Rams

Robinson hasn’t been nearly as good as we all hoped but that’s due to the Jaguars not being able to do much against stout defensive lines. The Rams have one of the best D lines in the game when they are motivated, and I think losing three in a row is going to light a fire under the butts. This spells bad news for Robinson, who faced a similar situation playing San Francisco, a game that he rushed for 29 yards and was saved by a garbage-time TD. Robinson is an RB3/flex, but not the usual plug-and-play RB2.

Wide receiver

Starts

Brandon Aiyuk vs Seattle Seahawks

Throwback to Brandon Aiyuk putting Quinton Dunbar on skates. #49ers pic.twitter.com/dZsclxvarn

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) December 3, 2021

Aiyuk is starting to look like someone you want on your playoff team. Since Week 8, Aiyuk has averaged 6.4 targets/game and has three games of 80 or more yards. This game against Seattle is a great opportunity for him to show he can shine as the number one receiver. Deebo Samuel is trending towards missing this Week 13 matchup, meaning it’s time to fire up Aiyuk. Last week Aiyuk had a good game as the team’s deep threat, averaging 30 yards a reception. Look for Aiyuk to be a target machine in this game and should have a chance to reel in a TD. He’ll have big WR2 potential in this game.

Brandin Cooks vs Indianapolis Colts

Cooks has only had eight targets in the last two games. This week could be the game that changes Cooks’s fortune, as he had 13 targets in his last matchup with the Colts. The Colts’ secondary has allowed the most TDs (17) and the eighth-most fantasy points (24.4) to wide receivers. Look for Cooks to use his speed to beat the banged-up and exploitable Colts secondary. He should be a WR2 this week with WR1 potential.

Sits

Jakobi Meyers vs Buffalo Bills

Meyers has been good this year but has been limited by his TD production in fantasy. While Tre White is out this year, Meyers will still have to deal with Taron Johnson. Johnson has been really good covering opposing teams’ WR2s. This game has been rumored to be a snow game of the year and if that’s so then all wide receivers in this game will take a hit. I’d consider Meyers a sittable option against the Bills.

Laviska Shenault vs LA Rams

Desperate times call for desperate measures, ie starting Shenault this week would be a desperation play. I don’t think it’ll work out for those that have to start him. Shenault has had one game over 100 yards and had 9 targets last week. That target load may prompt managers to want to trust him this week, but knowing that they’ll be playing the Rams makes me unsettled on his status as a startable player. He’s a desperation flex, with a 0-5 point floor.

Tight Ends

Starts

Logan Thomas vs Las Vegas Raiders

After review, Taylor Heinicke’s TD pass to Logan Thomas on 4th-and-goal got overturned to an incompletion.

Was this the right call?

🎥 @NFLBrasil pic.twitter.com/vyPz3xYF23

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 30, 2021

Thomas got six targets in his return game, last Monday against the Seattle Seahawks. This is a good sign going forward for Thomas, as we saw he was targeted once in the red zone. This matchup against the Raiders is Juicy as Las Vegas has been giving up numbers to tight ends. The Raiders have allowed the fourth-most receptions (67), fifth-most yards (723), and the second-most TDs (8). I expect Thomas to get heavily targeted in this game and end up in the endzone at least once.

Sits

Dawson Knox vs New England Patriots

Knox has had a tremendous year so far with 7 TDs. This week he goes against one of the best teams against the tight ends. The Patriots have locked down tight ends, only allowing 354 yards (second-fewest), 3 TDs (third-fewest), and 5.2 fantasy points (fifth fewest). This makes me worried about playing Knox in this game, as the Patriots have the linebackers and safeties to cover him. He’s not going to be the top three TE that he’s been all year in this game.

Conclusion

Belly Up is here with our starts and sits to make your life easier in Week 13. This week’s version of the starts and sits is here to help you get into your league’s playoffs and inevitably win your title. So that being said I hope we have provided you with helpful knowledge this season and we will continue to write up these starts and sits all the way until Week 18. Have a great Sunday everyone and we’ll see you in the playoffs with more starts and sits.

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