Sit/Start Week 13: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, December 4th, at 1:00 PM EST

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Betting Odds: PIT -1, 43 total via Oddsshark

Network: CBS

Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterback

Kenny Pickett (Sit)

Despite completing 71.4% of his attempts (20 of 28), Kenny Pickett only threw for 174 yards and zero touchdowns on Monday night in the win against the Colts. There were moments where his receivers didn’t do him any favors, but Pickett has had a fairly pedestrian go at his rookie campaign since taking over for Mitch Trubisky in Week 4. He doesn’t have a multi-passing touchdown game to his name, nor a 300+ yard showing. The Falcons line up as a great matchup, allowing the 10th most fantasy points to QBs this season, but Pickett is not worthy of a stream in single-QB leagues.

Running Backs

Najee Harris (Sit), Jaylen Warren (Sit), Benny Snell Jr. (Sit)

Najee Harris suffered an oblique injury that knocked him out of the game at halftime on Monday, though he did salvage his fantasy day prior. He scored a touchdown off of a 10-carry, 35-yard first half. As of Wednesday, he wasn’t practicing, so it’s hard to bank on him playing this week. Monitor his practice reps, but plan accordingly. Benny Snell Jr. took over for Harris when he exited and turned his 12 carries into 62 yards and a touchdown. Jaylen Warren is trending towards a return this week after a Week 11 hamstring injury, which would hamper any productivity out of Snell. If you can afford to look elsewhere for running backs, do so and avoid the Pittsburgh backfield as it’s shaping up to be a committee.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

Diontae Johnson (Start, WR3), George Pickens (Start, WR3), Pat Freiermuth (Start, TE1)

As I called out earlier, both Diontae Johnson and George Pickens let Pickett down a bit on Monday night, each dropping some ‘gimmie’ targets. Johnson has been a disappointment this season, failing to find the end zone still and it’s Week 13; and he hasn’t topped over 100 receiving yards in any game. Pickens has come on as of late, with a three-game average of 14.5 fantasy points per game in full-PPR leagues. Both he and Johnson can be pegged as WR3s with some higher upside, as they are going up against a Falcons defense that is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to WRs this season.

Pat Freiermuth had a down week against the Colts, catching three of just four targets on the night for 39 scoreless yards. Consider him a TE1 against an Atlanta defense that just allowed Commanders’ tight end John Bates to find the end zone last week.

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

Marcus Mariota (Sit)

Another week, another sub-200-yard passing effort from Marcus Mariota. He finished the loss to Pittsburgh with 174 yards, having completed 15 of 25 attempts, threw one interception and a touchdown. He also turned six carries into 49 yards, but it clearly was not enough to take down the Commanders. Mariota was stream-worthy earlier in the season, but those days seem behind him, even with Pittsburgh giving up the fifth most fantasy points to QBs this year.

Running Backs

Cordarrelle Patterson (Start, RB2), Tyler Allgeier (Sit)

Cordarrelle Patterson turned in his second 52 rush-yard performance in a row last week, adding an additional carry with 11 compared to his 10 in Week 11. He also caught three of five targets for 19 yards, but perhaps the target share may rise with Kyle Pitts having knee surgery that will keep him out of the rest of the season. Patterson projects to continue to be a steady RB2, whereas rookie Tyler Allgeier, while carving out a consistent role on the weekly, isn’t doing much with his share to be fantasy relevant.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

Drake London (Sit), Olamide Zaccheaus (Start if you must, FLEX), MyCole Pruitt (Sit)

The on-paper matchup is there for the Falcons receivers — the Steelers are the worst team in the league against fantasy WRs. The thing is, rookie Drake London hasn’t been much of a factor this season overall in a run-first offense, and Olamide Zaccheaus is eating into his targets, and producing for that matter. If I had to start one in an A+ setting, Zaccheaus gets my vote. He is coming off a 5 for 91 game against the Commanders, off eight targets. In comparison, London caught two of four targets for just 29 yards. MyCole Pruitt is the next TE-up with Pitts on the shelf, but isn’t an option for your lineup despite scoring against Washington last week.