Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 13

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 13 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 13 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

Start

Carson Wentz, Eagles

at Dolphins

Wentz has struggled over the last month due to injuries in the Eagles' receiving corps and an incredibly tough schedule. Fortunately, both of those things are about to change. Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor are expected to return to the lineup for a get-right game against Miami. The Dolphins' defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, including three-touchdown days to both Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield in the last two weeks. After Miami, Wentz takes on the Giants in Week 14 and the Redskins in Week 15, making him worthy of consideration as a fantasy starter for the rest of the season.

Boone's projection: 267 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 21 rushing yards

Other QBs to start

• Sam Darnold at Bengals
• Nick Foles vs. Buccaneers
• Jared Goff at Cardinals

Ronald Jones, Buccaneers

at Jaguars

Jones has seen at least 15 touches in three of his last four games and scored a touchdown in each of those contests, making him the Bus' unquestioned lead back. With that kind of volume, he could be in for a career day against the Jacksonville, a team that appears to have given up trying to stop the run; four different backs have eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the Jaguars' last three outings. I've been hard on Jones in the past, but if there was ever a time to use him as an RB2 with upside, this is it.

Boone's projection: 104 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• Jonathan Williams vs. Titans
• Miles Sanders at Dolphins
• Phillip Lindsay vs. Chargers

Tyler Boyd, Bengals

vs. Jets

It's redemption week in the SSSQ column. Wentz, Jones, and Boyd have all spent their fair share of time in the sit section, but you can fire them up with confidence this week. The Bengals' offense escaped a nightmare stretch with underqualified rookie Ryan Finley at the helm and now turns back to steady-yet-unspectacular starter Andy Dalton. That's good news for Boyd, whose volume alone makes him a solid low-end WR2 play with Dalton under center, especially against the Jets' shaky pass defense.

Boone's projection: 89 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• Jamison Crowder at Bengals
• Robert Woods at Cardinals
• Dede Westbrook vs. Buccaneers

Jack Doyle, Colts

vs. Titans

Doyle is the TE19 on the season with 30 receptions, 304 yards, and three touchdowns. That's about to change with Eric Ebron going on injured reserve and T.Y. Hilton sidelined again with his calf issue. As The Quant Edge's Matthew Hill points out, Doyle's splits change drastically with Ebron out of the lineup.

Doyle now needs to be viewed as a top-12 weekly option. That's how we have him ranked for this matchup with the Titans, who are allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to the position, giving up 75 yards and/or a touchdown to seven different tight ends on the year.

Boone's projection: 74 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Dallas Goedert at Dolphins
• Ryan Griffin at Bengals
• Kyle Rudolph at Seahawks

Sit

Deshaun Watson, Texans

vs. Patriots

You have no idea how much it pains me to list Watson as a sit. But due to his opponent this week, he has to be ranked outside the top 12 QBs. Of course, the decision to bench him will depend entirely on your other options. You may elect to bet on his talent overcoming the Patriots' shutdown defense, it's just an extremely risky proposition. Not only is New England allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, but it's also permitted just four passing touchdowns through 11 games. Watson is capable of producing in any contest, but you should be looking elsewhere for a fantasy starter this week.

Boone's projection: 221 passing yards, TD, INT, 33 rushing yards, FUM

Other QBs to sit

• Jimmy Garoppolo at Ravens
• Baker Mayfield at Steelers
• Philip Rivers at Broncos

Tevin Coleman, 49ers

at Ravens

Since his four-touchdown performance in Week 8, Coleman hasn't topped 40 rushing yards in a single game and has reached the end zone just once. The 49ers now travel across the country as six-point underdogs versus one of the league's best defenses. This isn't the week to bet on Coleman restoring his fantasy value. Better days will come, but he needs to be treated as an RB3/flex for this heavyweight bout.

Boone's projection: 38 rushing yards, 17 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• David Johnson vs. Rams
• Carlos Hyde vs. Patriots
• James White at Texans

Terry McLaurin, Redskins

at Panthers

McLaurin's recent stat lines of 3-69-0 and 5-72-0 aren't terrible considering how bad Dwayne Haskins has looked at quarterback; the rookie passer missed McLaurin on two potential touchdowns last week alone. Sadly, Haskins' accuracy issues combined with an afternoon of James Bradberry's shadow coverage is enough to move McLaurin into fringe WR3 territory.

Boone's projection: 49 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• Marquise Brown vs. 49ers
• Will Fuller vs. Patriots
• Larry Fitzgerald vs. Rams

Mike Gesicki, Dolphins

vs. Eagles

Even with increased targets, Gesicki hasn't topped 30 yards in four of his last five appearances. The Eagles are a challenging matchup for tight ends, allowing only three to crack the 40-yard barrier in 2019. Don't expect Gesicki to be the fourth. The sophomore is a touchdown-dependent TE2 option at best this week.

Boone's projection: 31 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Jimmy Graham at Giants
• Darren Fells vs. Patriots
• O.J. Howard at Jaguars

Stash

Auden Tate, Bengals

Boyd isn't the only Bengals receiver who can be useful in fantasy. Dalton's return gives Tate (10% owned) a chance to recapture the early-season success that saw him post 50 yards and/or a touchdown in six straight games. He's an excellent stash with A.J. Green unlikely to see the field in 2019 and could even sneak into your lineup as a flex play this week.

Ryquell Armstead, Jaguars

Armstead (1% owned) doesn't have the same prestige as other top-shelf backup running backs like Alexander Mattison or Tony Pollard, but he carries similar upside as a three-down back should Leonard Fournette go down with an injury. The Jags' schedule in the fantasy playoffs is also favorable: Their Week 14 and 15 opponents - the Chargers and Raiders - rank in the bottom 10 of Football Outsiders' run defense DVOA.

Quit

Royce Freeman, Broncos

The Broncos have made it clear they want to feature Phillip Lindsay the rest of the season, and that's caused Freeman's workload to fall off completely. After receiving just four touches to Lindsay's 14 last week, Freeman (65% owned) is simply a handcuff and would require some injury luck to become fantasy relevant.

Jimmy Graham, Packers

Tight end can be a frustrating position for anyone who doesn't own a top option, but there's really no reason to roster Graham (48% owned) at this point. The Packers veteran has 20 yards or fewer in three of his last four games and hasn't scored a touchdown since the first half of the season.