Elijah Southwick
@ecsouthwick
With six teams on bye in the NFL in Week 13, many of fantasy football’s every week starters are not available. With just two weeks left in the regular season, their absence comes at a difficult time. Some of the top potential lineup options are facing incredibly tough matchups, making the week as a whole a bit of an ugly one. Let’s take a look at some of the toughest lineup decisions of the week.
Breece Hall (RB - NYJ) vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have allowed just the second-fewest points to the running back position across the league this season. While Hall is one of the league’s top ascending running back talents, he continues to suffer from bottom of the league quarterback play, limiting his fantasy upside. Last week, Hall caught seven passes on nine targets from QB Tim Boyle, but he turned his catches into just 24 yards. His seven carries went for just 25 yards.
Hall is seeing consistent volume, so he’s very tough to bench. But the Jets offense needs to get into a position to score points for Hall to reach his ceiling. In his four games with a touchdown this season, Hall has scored 28.4, 20.3, 21.3 and 18.3 PPR fantasy points. On top of being stuck in a painfully low-scoring offense, Hall was limited at practice Wednesday with a hamstring issue. If you have a solid option you can turn to, this might be as good a week as any to bench Breece Hall.
De’Von Achane (RB - MIA) @ Washington Commanders
Achane may not even play in this game after reaggravating the knee injury in Week 12 that landed him on injured reserve. Achane was an auto-start for me last week before his setback. Now, if he’s active on Sunday, I’m feeling gun shy about trusting him right away. He’s one of the biggest boom or bust players on the entire slate. Making the wrong decision with Achane at this point of the season could legitimately cost you a chance at a fantasy football championship.
There’s not enough information yet regarding his injury to make a definitive start or sit call. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday, which definitely gives him a chance to play. He’s one of the top players to monitor as Friday practice reports are released. If he practices in full and doesn’t carry an injury designation into the game, I will feel a lot better about starting him.
Rashee Rice (WR - KC) @ Green Bay Packers
Rice flashed his potential last week in the Chiefs’ road win against the Raiders. He recorded eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. He’s a top 10 player in the NFL this season in yards after catch (372), and there’s major room in the Chiefs offense for him to emerge as a fantasy football lineup lock.
But the Chiefs haven’t totally shed their wide receiver by committee approach, and the forecast in Green Bay isn’t looking favorable for wide receivers. It will be cold and snowy on Sunday at Lambeau Field. It’s going to be very tempting to start Rice over a slumping star (Rams WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua come to mind), but Rice could quickly revert to the modest role he’s had with the Chiefs for a majority of the season.
Travis Kelce is still lurking in the Chiefs offense as the target and touchdown hog, and the Packers are a top 10 toughest defense against fantasy football wide receivers. Start Rice at your own risk.