Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Starting/Sitting Tips (Week 13)

Arguably the most frustrating thing about fantasy football is when someone in the starting lineup struggles that week. Therefore, the logic behind this article is simple: identify the landmines of the fantasy football lineup.

These are players you’d love to start this week, but they could end up being a landmine that explodes and destroys your starting lineup, potentially costing you your matchup.

Get ready and take cover. These six players could blow up in your face in Week 13.

Fantasy Football Lineup Landmines: Week 13

Brock Purdy (QB – SF) vs. Buffalo Bills

Unfortunately, Purdy missed the Week 12 contest due to a shoulder injury. However, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the star quarterback was able to make some easy throws on Monday and had no issues. He was playing well before the injury and averaged 21.9 fantasy points per game over his last five games. Still, fantasy players should have concerns about starting Purdy this week. He doesn’t play until Sunday night, so fantasy players may have to scramble for a last-minute replacement. Additionally, the former Iowa State star is coming off a terrible matchup against the Bills.

Buffalo has held quarterbacks to 13.7 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. They have given up one or fewer passing touchdowns in 54.6% of their games, including matchups against Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray and CJ Stroud. Additionally, quarterbacks not named Patrick Mahomes struggled against the Bills in Buffalo, averaging 1.3 passing touchdowns and 12.5 fantasy points per game in four road games against the AFC East division leader. Don’t be surprised if Purdy struggles with the cold in his first game back from injury.

James Conner (RB – ARI) vs. Minnesota Vikings

Last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Conner struggled, totaling eight yards on seven rushing attempts. The veteran running back has averaged 2.4 yards per rushing attempt and 31.3 yards per game in his last four games outside of the matchup against the Chicago Bears. While he scored 13.4 or more half-point PPR fantasy points in two of those three matchups, Conner needed a rushing touchdown to score in double figures. More importantly, the veteran has struggled against top run defenses, scoring 4.7 fantasy points against the Detroit Lions earlier this year.

After struggling in Week 12, Conner faced an elite Vikings run defense this week. Minnesota has held running backs to 14.6 fantasy points per game, the second fewest in the NFL. They have given up fewer than 9.3 fantasy points in three of their last four games and have held their running backs to 52 or fewer rushing yards in four straight meetings despite facing several talented rushers. More importantly, the Vikings have given up four rushing touchdowns to running backs, the third fewest in the NFL, and have allowed just one in the last five contests.

D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI) vs. Detroit Lions

Thanksgiving’s three-game tournament begins with an NFC North matchup between the last-place Bears and the first-place Lions. Additionally, it will be Swift’s first game against the team that drafted him in 2020. The veteran is the RB18 of the year and is averaging 12.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he was extremely inconsistent. Swift has scored 18.9 or more fantasy points in 36.4% of games. In comparison, the former Georgia star has scored eight or fewer fantasy points in 45.5% of games, including two of the last three.

Additionally, Swift has been in a bit of a slump lately. He has averaged 3.6 yards per rushing attempt and 10.4 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, totaling one touchdown. More importantly, Swift played fewer than 58% of snaps in both games under new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Meanwhile, Detroit has held running backs to 14.7 fantasy points per game, third-fewest in the NFL. They have given up 9.7 or fewer fantasy points to running backs in 45.5% of their games, including 3.5 to Jonathan Taylor last week.

Zay Flowers (WR – BAL) vs. Philadelphia Eagles

While Diontae Johnson hasn’t made a fantasy impact since joining the Ravens, Flowers’ production has plummeted recently. The sophomore star was the WR10 through the first nine weeks, averaging 7.4 targets and 12.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He had double-digit goals in 44.4% of those games and scored 15 or more fantasy points in all but four contests. However, Flowers has been struggling lately. He is the WR29 over the last three weeks, averaging 6.7 targets and 8.3 fantasy points per game, totaling 8.7 or fewer fantasy points twice.

More importantly, the Eagles’ secondary has been outstanding of late. Last week, the Los Angeles Rams’ wide receiver core had 233 receiving yards, two touchdowns and 46.8 fantasy points against Philadelphia, with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp each scoring 16 or more fantasy points. However, the Rams arguably have the best 1-2 punch at wide receiver in the NFL. In comparison, Philadelphia had held wide receivers to 73.3 receiving yards and 12.6 fantasy points per game over the last six games and had given up single-digit fantasy points in nearly half of those matchups.

Deebo Samuel Sr. (WR – SF) vs. Buffalo Bills

Many thought Samuel would develop into a top-10 wide receiver and a plug-and-play fantasy player option after Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury. However, the star wide receiver averaged just 6.9 half-points per game in the four contests without Aiyuk and scored 4.1 or fewer in consecutive weeks. Additionally, Samuel has one touchdown since Week 1 and has averaged fewer than 72 receiving yards in all but two contests this year. More importantly, the star wide receiver has been losing targets to Jauan Jennings since the Aiyuk injury.

Jennings did not play without Aiyuk in the team’s first game. However, he has seen 12 more goals than Samuel in the other three games (29 against 17), making a total of 11 goals in two competitions. Meanwhile, the Bills have held wide receivers to 23.6 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. More importantly, Buffalo has been shutting down opposing No. 1 wide receivers of late, giving up 59.6 receiving yards and 9.7 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks, while averaging 10.7 in all but one contest or gave less.

TJ Hockenson (TE – MIN) vs. Arizona Cardinals

Fantasy players who have placed Hockenson on injured reserve all year couldn’t be happier with the star tight end’s performance in Week 12. He had seven receptions on nine targets for 114 receiving yards and 14.9 half-point PPR fantasy points, setting season highs in yards and fantasy points. However, the Chicago Bears did everything they could to shut down Justin Jefferson and allow everyone else to thrive. More importantly, in his other three contests this year, Hockenson averaged 4.3 receptions on 5.3 targets, translating to 37.3 receiving yards and 5.9 fantasy points per game.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ defense has generally played well this season, giving up the 11th-fewest points per game (21.5). They have given up just one offensive touchdown in the last two contests. More importantly, Arizona has held the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game (7.5) this year. Additionally, George Kittle is the only tight end to score a touchdown against the Cardinals this season. In comparison, in their other 10 matchups, they have held tight ends to 6.6 fantasy points per contest and have given up 7.3 or fewer in 80% of those games.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. You can find more information from Mike here Archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.