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

Bears@Lions

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Thursday, November 28th at 12:30 pm EST

Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI

Betting Odds: CHI -3, 38.5 Total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: Tarik Cohen

 

Chicago Bears

 

Quarterback: 

• Mitchell Trubisky (start, mid-QB2)

 

Trubisky is coming off his top fantasy finish of the year finishing last week as the QB9. He was the QB10 in Week 10 when these two teams last faced. The Lions have allowed a top-12 quarterback in 9 of 11 games this year and might be without two of their top four cornerbacks in Rashaan Melvin and Jamal Agnew, further enhancing Trubisky’s outlook. The Lions are bottom-five in both sacks and QB hits and could be without top pass-rusher Trey Flowers due to injury. With a full slate of games this week Trubisky is nothing more than a QB2, but don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the top-12 by the end of week 13.

 

Running Backs:

• David Montgomery (start, low-RB2/flex)
• Tarik Cohen (start, flex)

 

Cohen’s usage has spiked recently as he has gone over 50% of the snaps over the last three weeks and has 7,14, and 13 touches over that time. That has led him to be the RB9 in PPR leagues from weeks 10-12, while the Lions have allowed the third-most receiving yards per game to running backs this season. Cohen is second on the Bears in targets with 70, and the Bears will likely be playing without receiver Taylor Gabriel (5+ targets per game) who has a concussion. David Montgomery is the main runner in this backfield and has logged 15 or more touches in five straight games. He has 30 targets through 11 games compared to Cohen’s 70. Montgomery’s snap share has been over 50% in seven of the last nine Bears games. The Lions defense is 20th in run defense DVOA and opposing running backs have 17 total touchdowns in 11 games against them. Montgomery leads the league with 13 carries inside the five-yard line. Both of these backs are in play this week against the poor Lions run defense.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

• Allen Robinson (start, mid-WR2)
• Anthony Miller (sit, WR4/wire)

 

Allen Robinson has 60 plus yards and/or a touchdown in 9 of 11 games on the year. When these two teams met a couple of weeks ago, Robinson only had two of his nine targets in Darius Slay’s coverage. He was constantly schemed away from Slay to draw plus coverage and turned that into six receptions and 86 yards. With the Lions down two of their top-four cornerbacks, there will be good matchups for these Bears receivers throughout the game. Robinson is the WR17 in PPR leagues this year but it has been very boom or bust for him. He has three top-10 performances but also four games where he has been the WR40 or worse. Anthony Miller has seen 20 targets the last two weeks and stands to benefit with Gabriel missing this one. He is due for some positive touchdown regression as he has zero touchdowns this season after scoring seven last year. Miller has been the WR22 in PPR leagues over the last two weeks but it is hard to trust him with Trubisky and his erratic play as his quarterback.

 

Detroit Lions

 

Quarterback:

• Jeff Driskel (sit, low QB2)

 

It remains to be seen if Driskel will play in this one after he suffered a hamstring injury in week 12. Browns’ camp arm David Blough would start if Driskel can’t go. If Driskel isn’t running effectively or as much, that saps most of his fantasy value. The Bears’ defense has only allowed one top-12 quarterback performance this year. Driskel can be safely avoided in standard 12-team leagues this week. 

 

Running Backs:

• Bo Scarbrough (sit, flex, bench)

 

Bo Scarbrough has played about half of the offensive snaps in each of the last two games. He has 32 carries and one target over that span and other Lions running backs have 10 carries and nine targets. He is the only Lions running back that is relevant right now and the only one that should be owned in standard fantasy leagues. The Bears are 12th in rush defense DVOA, and the Lions offensive line is a mediocre 21st in adjusted line yards through 11 games. It is worth noting the Bears will be without starting inside linebacker Danny Trevathan. Scarbrough has a low floor as he gets no passing game usage and will likely need a touchdown to be relevant in fantasy this week. With a full-slate of running backs available to us, he is nothing more than a shaky flex option in PPR leagues.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

• Kenny Golladay (sit, WR3/flex)
• Marvin Jones (sit, flex/bench)
• Danny Amendola (sit, bench)
• T.J. Hockenson (sit)

 

If Driskel sits, I would look to play any reasonable option over these receivers. With Driskel under center, Marvin Jones has four more targets and 68 more air yards than Kenny Golladay. He has also been the WR17 in PPR leagues compared to Golladay’s WR35. The Bears have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this year, so the tough matchup and level of quarterback play make it hard to be confident in these two. Danny Amendola doesn’t have touchdown since week one and doesn’t have more than eight PPR in Driskel’s three starts. T.J. Hockenson has six total yards over the last two weeks and can be avoided.

 

–Kevin Taylor (@ktbeast918)