Growing up in America, we all strive to be one of the ”cool” kids – The jocks, the mean girls, the party crowd.
At an early age, we learn to choose conformity over being ourselves more times than not. Dreaming of scoring the game-winning touchdown and making an appearance at the after-party, rather than winning the talent show or a writing contest.
But eventually, there comes a day, when it’s all far in the rearview and just a distant memory that you wonder – “what would’ve happened if I truly embarrassed who I was?”
Would I have been labeled a freak, a geek, or just something in-between?
Week 13 Water Tower DFS Picks
WR: Justin Jefferson (Jacksonville at Minnesota) — $6,900
Justin Jefferson’s price hasn’t quite caught up with his performance yet. There are 10 active wide receivers above him, but I don’t believe they all are worth more than Jefferson has been lately to the Vikings. With Adam Thielen still on the COVID-19 list, and a good matchup against a weak Jaguars secondary, it should be another big week for Jefferson. – Elliot Hicks
QB: Aaron Rodgers (Philadelphia at Green Bay) — $6,800
Truthfully, I was inclined to draft Davante Adams this week, after witnessing D.K. Metcalf tear up Darius Slay and the Eagles’ secondary on Monday night. However, I’m more content on spending the $6,800 for his quarterback than I am the 9,000 for Adams.
Rodgers has finished as a QB1 nine times and a top-five QB six times this season. With Philadelphia’s most consistent defensive players, Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham, constantly clogging up the run game, I think Rodgers’ talents will once again be on full display in Week 13. – Seth Woolcock
RB: Austin Ekeler (New England at Los Angeles Chargers) — $7,100
Austin Ekeler is back! And he has a quarterback! Boy, did it show last week in his triumphant return to the football field? Without seeing the end zone, Ekeler put up RB1 fantasy point totals, picking up 23.9 in Draft Kings. While only receiving 14 carries for 44 yards, he had 16 targets from Justin Herbert resulting in 11 catches for 85 yards.
Ekeler is the clear RB1 in Los Angeles and that won’t change the rest of the season, barring injuries. In a matchup with a hapless New England defense that is allowing an average of 20 points to running backs and 29.1 to wide receivers, Ekeler stands to be targeted frequently on Sunday. – Nate Polvogt
RB: Aaron Jones (Philadelphia at Green Bay) — $7,200
Aaron Jones has been good but not great, scoring only one touchdown in the last four games and averaging just 58 yards per game. So, why am I so confident in paying up this week?
One, because he managed to get 5.2 yards per carry against a tough Chicago run defense last week. Two, because they’re playing the Eagles, who allow 133 rushing yards per game. At this stage of the season, running games out of the ground is a good way to keep an inconsistent defense fresher heading into the postseason. This game is Jones’s to take control of. – Thomas Cuda
Week 13 Typewriter DFS Picks
WR: Michael Pittman Jr. (Indianapolis at Houston) — $4,900
Michael Pittman Jr. has been the PPR WR29 over the last month.
Michael Pittman Jr. is the real deal, folks. Last week was a rough one for your Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS ) if you rostered Pittman. But I’m here to tell you to have no fear this week. He was a casualty of some bad targets last week against Tennessee.
That won’t be the case against a Houston defense that just had their top cornerback suspended for six games. Since becoming a full-time part of the Indianapolis offense, Pittman has consistently received an 89+ percent snap share and at least seven targets in three of four games. During that stretch, Pittman is averaging 13.05 Points Per Reception (PPR) points a game, even with his poor fantasy performance last week.
Look for him to be an affordable option who could put up large numbers this week against a mediocre Houston defense. – Polvogt
RB: David Montgomery (Detroit at Chicago) — $5,500
Listen I get the David Montogomery hate as much as anyone else. He hasn’t quite lived up to his Average Draft Position (ADP) two seasons in a row. But enough is enough. Montgomery is still averaging 13.6 PPR points a game and is currently the RB16 in season-long formats.
The Bears are handicapped by bad quarterback play, meaning they will need to continue to lean on the second-year back like they did last week where he scored 25.3 PPR points. And with this matchup against the Detroit Lions, who allow the most points to opposing running backs, this week, Montgomery is the ultimate value play here in Week 13. – Woolcock
RB: Frank Gore (Las Vegas at New York Jets) — $4,400
I know, I know, Frank Gore, really? Yes. The ever-present and eternal rushing talent that is Frank Gore again finds himself with lead back duties. He’s going to get 15-20 touches and be relied on heavily by New York with La’Mical Perine on Injured Reserve (IR). The Jets’ offense is shaky, but Gore has scored over 10 points in both games that he’s been the lead back.
He’s consistent and will be again this week. The Raiders have a poor run defense and that will be taken advantage of once again by Gore. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t view him as a swing for the fences who could win me cash by himself. But, Gore is the type of high floor player that I look to for stability on the low-cost side of my DFS lineups. – Cuda
TE: Eric Ebron (Washington at Pittsburgh) — $4,400
Eric Ebron has become one of the more expensive tight ends but is still a bargain at this price considering how his production has gone up in Pittsburgh. He’s become more of a receiving threat as Ben Roethlisberger has grown to trust him more. And being on a short week due to the infinite postponements of Steelers/Ravens should earn him more targets to help what could be a more fatigued wide receiver group. – Hicks
Thanks for reading. And for more feel-good life and fantasy football advice, follow the site on Twitter @IBT_Media.