Week 13 of the fantasy football season featured plenty of notable performances. What should we make of them? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft are here with analysis on the biggest performers -- and duds -- of the week.
Career day for DeVante Parker
For the first time in his 66-game NFL career, Parker reached the 150-yard receiving plateau, and he also scored multiple touchdowns for the first time, resulting in 34.9 PPR fantasy points -- tops among all performers in the 1 p.m. ET games. That obliterated his previous career best of 21.9 points, set in Week 11 of 2016, and it was only the fifth time in his career that he scored even 20 points, underscoring how much of a disappointment he has been in five seasons. In Parker's defense, though, six of his 15 career games of 15-plus PPR fantasy points have all occurred this season, his 93 targets are only three shy of his previous single-year best of 96 (2017) and his 53 receptions are only four shy of his 57 in 2017. That he did this against the Eagles, a defense playing much better against wide receivers of late, only strengthens his case. Parker wouldn't be a reliable fantasy option in leagues that use Week 17 because he'll draw the Patriots (and probably Stephon Gilmore) but could be sneaky-useful in Weeks 14-16, when he faces the Jets, Giants and Bengals. -- Cockcroft
Just keep feeding Parker. That was pretty clear today for Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick versus the Eagles' secondary. Fade ball throws -- those are 50/50 shots that benefited Parker, who used his body control and frame to go get it against Philadelphia cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills. And after grabbing 7 of 10 targets for 157 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, Parker has now seen at least 10 targets in four straight games. The volume is there, Fitzpatrick has no issues chucking the rock down the field and the matchups -- as Tristan noted -- look pretty decent for the next three weeks. Give me Parker as a solid WR2 heading into the fantasy playoffs. -- Bowen
Lamar Jackson goes for 100 yards on the ground ... again
Jackson missed on some throws today in a brutal weather game against the 49ers' top-tier defense, finishing with just 105 yards on 14-of-23 passing. However, Jackson did hit tight end Mark Andrews on a red zone pass for a touchdown (which will continue to stay open versus defenses that insist on playing Cover 3 inside the 20-yard line), and those rushing totals jumped again. Jackson topped the 100-yard rushing mark on 16 carries, which included a walk-in score on the goal line off a QB keep scheme. I don't see an immediate answer here for NFL defenses given Jackson's ability to consistently influence defenders on designed runs or second-reaction plays. You're up next, Buffalo. -- Bowen
Jackson keeps making history: The 100-plus rushing yards Matt mentioned gave Jackson a fourth game with at least that many this season, the most by any quarterback in a single year in history. Fantasy-wise, he now has 329 points, which is the second most by any quarterback through his team's first 12 games of a season, trailing only Patrick Mahomes' 332.7 in 2018. -- Cockcroft
Alshon Jeffery comes up big, has favorable upcoming schedule
Jeffery's 28.7 fantasy points were a season high and his most in a game since Week 6 of 2015 (also 28.7), as he rebounded in a big way in his first game back from an ankle injury that cost him Weeks 11 and 12. Only a limited number of fantasy managers started him -- he got the nod in 22.2% of ESPN leagues -- but this could've been the performance that earns him back enough trust to be a worthwhile play facing an above-average schedule including the Giants twice (Weeks 14 and 17), Redskins (Week 15) and Cowboys (Week 16). Jeffery has had at least a 20% target share in seven of his eight fully healthy games -- that's excluding Week 2, when he played only five offensive snaps -- and at least 25% in five of those. -- Cockcroft
Quick-hitters
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: Snow and near-freezing temperatures? It was no problem for Rodgers on Sunday, as his 28.1 fantasy points paced all quarterbacks from the 1 p.m. ET games. That's the 10th-best point total he has had in a game played in temperatures below 40 degrees -- and remember, since he calls Green Bay home, he has played a lot in his career (43, to be exact) -- and it's the third-best total he has had in any of the 12 road games he has played at below 40. -- Cockcroft
Derrius Guice: Guice tore up the Panthers' run defense, rushing for 129 yards and two scores on just 10 carries. And he looked healthy, showcasing the same traits we saw back on his college film at LSU. This guy runs hard, with the footwork and shake to get free. However, we also know that Washington is going to ride with a split backfield, as Adrian Peterson still gets touches. Because of that, Guice has a lower floor heading into the fantasy playoffs as a possible flex option with the Packers on tap in Week 14. -- Bowen
Sam Darnold: Darnold's 10.5 fantasy points on Sunday was quite the letdown for fantasy managers, considering he had scored 20-plus in three straight games and was facing the seventh-best schedule-adjusted matchup for a quarterback (using full-season stats). It makes it more difficult to trust him in a similarly favorable matchup against the Dolphins in Week 14, a playoff week in most leagues, and that's assuming his teams actually advanced -- he was started in a season-high 12.5% of ESPN leagues. -- Cockcroft
Raheem Mostert: What are fantasy managers waiting for? Leaving handcuffs out there at this time of year is a dangerous thing. Mostert's speed is excellent, with this stat saying it all: With his four runs of 10-plus yards Sunday, he now has managed double-digit yardage on 16.3% of his total rushing attempts this season. That ranks third among running backs with at least 25 attempts. He also gets great blocking, making the 49ers' backs somewhat interchangeable. Mostert remains available in 85.9% of ESPN leagues. -- Cockcroft
Jack Doyle: Doyle produced season highs on Sunday in receptions, targets and yards, grabbing 6 of 11 passes for 73 yards and a score against the Titans. Yes, T.Y. Hilton was out of the lineup. But with Eric Ebron down for the rest of the season, why wouldn't you roll with Doyle as a pretty safe TE1 in the fantasy playoffs? He's going to see high-percentage throws from quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and the Colts have one of the most efficient red zone game plans in the NFL. I'll take that in my lineup. -- Bowen
George Kittle: Kittle's fantasy managers have to hope other players on their rosters carry them in Week 13, because his 3.4 fantasy points on Sunday represented his worst single-week score since Week 14 of 2017 (3.0 points) -- 29 games ago. Against the Ravens, it was clear this would be a tough matchup, but he was started in 80.5% of ESPN leagues nevertheless, third highest among tight ends. -- Cockcroft
Tyler Higbee: Filling in for the injured Gerald Everett (knee), Higbee set personal bests with his seven receptions, 107 receiving yards and 23.7 PPR fantasy points, as we saw yet another tight end carve up the Cardinals' defense. It has been the one true automatic among matchups at that position, as the Cardinals have allowed a league-most 254.8 PPR fantasy points in 12 games, 69.2 more than any other team (though the Seahawks could lower that number on Monday night). Higbee could have relevance again if he starts in Week 14 against the Seahawks, another team that struggles to defend tight ends, as well as in the Week 17 rematch against the Cardinals if your league includes it. But for those seeking matchup candidates off the free-agent list, consider these future Cardinals tight end opponents: Vance McDonald of the Steelers (40.1% available) in Week 14, David Njoku (78.8%) and Demetrius Harris (99.7%) of the Browns in Week 15 and Jacob Hollister of the Seahawks (62.0%) for Week 16. --Cockcroft
Courtland Sutton: In what was rookie Drew Lock's first career NFL start, Sutton enjoyed one of the best games of his career to date, scoring 23.5 PPR fantasy points despite only five targets while drawing a critical defensive pass interference on his Broncos' next-to-last play of the game which set up the winning field goal. Sutton has now scored at least 18 PPR fantasy points in games started by Lock, Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen this year, showing that chemistry isn't remotely a concern for him and his quarterback -- though Lock and Sutton certainly seemed to be clicking in this game. For the moment, Sutton is the No. 15 wide receiver in scoring this season, though Tyler Lockett and Stefon Diggs have a chance to pass him in their Monday night game. Best yet: Sutton faces the Texans in Week 14, which is a much better matchup even than Sunday's was. --Cockcroft
Darwin Thompson: With Darrell Williams going down with a leg injury, Thompson saw some run today in the Chiefs win over the Raiders, rushing 12 times for 44 yards with his one touchdown coming on a tight red zone carry. Thompson -- who is rostered in just 5% of ESPN leagues -- will share the backfield load with veteran LeSean McCoy. However, if can garner 10-12 touches a game, the rookie has some Flex value given the Chiefs offensive script. Thompson showed some juice in the preseason, and I think he is worth the pick up here if Williams is unable to go in Week 14. --Bowen