For additional Week 13 pickups, check out ASL Founder, Leonard LaPadula's, Streamers For The Desperate - Week 13, or ASL's Colton Peter's Fantasy Football Adds - Week 13.
Quarterback
Injury – Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q – Shoulder)
Opportunity – Teddy “Two Gloves” Bridgewater
Mayfield suffered a shoulder injury on a halftime Hail Mary attempt that looked worse than it’s being reported. He still has a chance to play next week since the injury is to his non-throwing arm. I don’t see the result changing much for this offense whether an injured Baker plays or Bridgewater does. The game plan will simply be to run the ball again and again.
The Buccaneers get Bucky Irving back, and he’ll walk into a three-headed committee, so most of the offensive weapons take a slight dip this week.
Running Back
Injury – Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders (Q – Ankle)
Opportunity – Raheem Mostert, Zamir White
Jeanty did not return in the loss against the Browns after injuring his ankle. I suspect it’s at least a mid-grade sprain that will keep him out this week. We’ll still need to monitor practice reports, as Pete Carroll seems overly optimistic about his availability, but I’m not buying it yet.
That would give Mostert the most value in this backfield. He is experienced, a good pass catcher and blocker, so the Raiders will give him most of the work, especially if they’re playing from behind. I see him as a back-end RB3 in full PPR who could be serviceable in the flex.
Zamir White is also a worthy flex play. He should see most of the rushing attempts against a Chargers team that is weak against the run. I could see a world where he falls into the end zone, but that’s the only way you’ll be happy. He’s a better play in standard formats.
Injury – Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (D – Knee)
Opportunity – Devin Neal
Alvin Kamara will miss a few games; it’s just a matter of how many. It’s even possible he'll land on IR and be shut down for the season. Devin Neal figures to be one of the top waiver wire options without Kamara.
Most of the run game and receiving work from the backfield will fall to him. The Saints have not been a prolific offense, but volume is king, and Neal figures to see a lot of it. He’s an RB3 with weekly low-end RB2 upside.
Wide Receiver
Injury – Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (O – Concussion)
Opportunity – Ja’Marr Chase, Andrei Iosivas
Higgins has already been ruled out for Thanksgiving Day against the Ravens. Chase is obviously in your lineup. But Iosivas is a sneaky play. The Ravens’ defense has been stellar since returning from the bye, but the Bengals get Joe Burrow back, and this may be a higher-scoring affair than anticipated. He’s a viable flex option Thursday night.
I would also add Chase Brown as someone who should see at least a couple of extra targets with Higgins out, so Brown should slot right back into lineups if he wasn’t before.
Tight End
Injury – Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (Q – Ankle)
Opportunity – Brock Bowers
Another ankle injury for Las Vegas, this time to their TE2, Michael Mayer. With little information, we’ll act as if he will not be out there against the Chargers next week. Although this means Bowers will leave the field less, I don’t see him benefiting much.
It hasn’t been hard for teams to take him out of games due to the lack of talent elsewhere on this roster. You’re still starting Bowers, but this won’t make you feel any better.
