Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: 16 players to start or sit in NFL Week 13

Just two weeks.

That's all that remains before the fantasy football playoffs begin. Unless you play in one of those weird leagues that plays through Week 18 of the NFL season. If that's the case, there is no saving you. Your championship will be dependent on which teams decide to bench their star players. Tragic.

However, for everyone else, you've got a serious playoff push to make. Whether you're pushing for a bye in the first round of the playoffs, looking to sneak in for a shot at the championship, or just looking to ruin someone else's year, there is plenty of reason to want to know who to start in Week 13. With that, here are eight players to start and eight more to sit in fantasy football this week.

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Players to start in Week 13

Quarterbacks

• Bo Nix, Broncos

Bo Nix is good at football, and it's about time we realize it. Nix has scored at least 16 points in five straight games and in seven of his last eight.

Denver's opponent this week, the Cleveland Browns, has surrendered nearly 19 points per game to opposing quarterbacks and has allowed quarterbacks to score at least 17 points in seven straight games.

• Derek Carr, Saints

Prior to their bye week, Carr had scored at least 18 points in two straight games. Now, playing with fresh legs and even without Chris Olave, Carr should have a good opportunity to score points against a Rams team that has given up 16 or more points to opposing QBs in four of its last five.

Running backs

• Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Although Warren is still seeing fewer carries than Najee Harris, Warren has been the more efficient back of late, and he should see his usage increase as the Steelers push for an AFC North title.

The Cincinnati Bengals have surrendered four rushing touchdowns in their last three games. In fact, they've surrendered either 100 yards on the ground or at least one rushing touchdown in every single game this season. Warren is a must-start in 12-team leagues.

• Rico Dowdle, Cowboys

The New York Giants just allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to score four rushing touchdowns. Each by a different player. If a committee like Tampa's backfield can generate multiple fantasy-relevant performances, just imagine what Dowdle, who commanded 22 of Dallas' 26 backfield touches Sunday, can do.

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Wide receivers

• Tank Dell, Texans

It appears the return of Nico Collins has done wonders for Dell's value. In Week 13, Dell faces a Jaguars' defense that allowed Houston's receivers to walk all over it in Week 4 (19 receptions, 237 yards, and a touchdown).

Of course, Stefon Diggs was still around for that game, and Collins did the bulk of the work, going off for 12 catches, 151 yards, and that lone receiving touchdown. The Jags will likely key in on Collins in Week 13 to prevent a repeat performance, giving Dell just a little more space.

• DeVonta Smith, Eagles

Smith has been dealing with an injury and did not play in Week 12. However, if he can play in Week 13, he will have a terrific matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Smith was great before his injury surfaced, tallying 87 yards and a touchdown in Week 9. The week of rest could have done him wonders as he gets one of the best matchups in the NFL.

Tight ends

• Cade Otton, Buccaneers

Otton got little work in Week 12, and while fans may assume the return of Mike Evans had something to do with that, it was more likely because of how efficient the Bucs' running backs were both on the ground and through the air.

While that could happen again, facing the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, Otton has earned a little leeway. After all, prior to Week 12, he'd earned at least six targets in seven of his previous eight games. The Panthers have allowed the most non-PPR points to tight ends all season. Give Otton another chance.

• Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed opposing tight ends to score in each of the last three games and four of the last five. That alone should be enough to warrant starting Freiermuth.

Players to sit in Week 13

Quarterbacks

• Brock Purdy, 49ers

All last week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan assured fans that Purdy's injury was not long term. If that is the case, the team will be glad to have him back in Week 13 after Brandon Allen stumbled around all over Lambeau Field.

That said, a matchup with the Buffalo Bills will not be a warm return for Purdy. Until the 49ers figure out what is wrong with their offense, starting Purdy, especially against such a tough opponent, is not a smart choice.

• Caleb Williams, Bears

Williams may have tallied 26 fantasy points against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, but the Lions are a much tougher opponent. They've surrendered the third-fewest points per game to quarterbacks all season, and haven't allowed a quarterback to score more than 12 fantasy points in four straight games.

Running backs

• D'Andre Swift, Bears

The Lions are also an abysmal matchup for running backs. Not only have they gone two straight games allowing fewer than 40 total rushing yards, but they have been great at preventing halfbacks from catching passes, as well.

Opposing running backs have tallied three or fewer receptions in five of the last six games. Even in PPR leagues, Swift's ceiling is too low to warrant a starting spot.

• James Conner, Cardinals

The Minnesota Vikings have been incredibly stout against running backs as of late. Prior to Week 12, the Vikings had allowed only 14 non-PPR points combined to opposing running backs between Weeks 9 and 11.

Conner was atrociously inefficient in Week 12, and a lot of the rushing work for Arizona was transferred to Trey Benson as a result. Conner still has a solid floor considering his receiving work, but facing the Vikings, Conner's ceiling is lower than it usually is.

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Wide receivers

• Cedric Tillman, Browns

Tillman's injury kept him out of the end of Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh. Injury aside, though, it appears Tillman's fairy tale is coming to an end sooner than we'd hoped. Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore have each seen more targets than Tillman in the two games since Cleveland's bye.

With Jameis Winston at quarterback, the Browns are a pass-happy offense, but with Cleveland facing a tough Denver secondary in Week 13, Tillman likely won't see much fantasy production as long as he remains the team's third option at receiver.

• Amari Cooper, Bills

Cooper has struggled to get anything going since joining the Buffalo Bills. The hope is that Buffalo's bye week gave the team enough of a break to get Cooper more familiarized with the Bills' offense. However, even with the extra rest, the San Francisco 49ers have not been kind to opposing wide receivers, having allowed fewer than 20 non-PPR points to wideouts in four of their last five and seven of their last nine games.

The Bills know how Josh Jacobs dominated for Green Bay against San Francisco in Week 12. Expect a heavy dose of James Cook and another dud from Cooper.

Tight ends

• Mark Andrews, Ravens

Andrews has been inconsistent all season, and a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles won't help. The Eagles have only allowed more than 60 yards to opposing tight ends twice all year. They've also only given up one touchdown to tight ends all season.

• Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Fantasy players have been pretty disappointed in Atlanta's tight end lately. The former top-10 draft pick has only corralled one pass in two of his last three games. Anyone hoping he can turn it around in Week 13 will probably be disappointed yet again.

Entering their Monday night game, the Los Angeles Chargers had not allowed a touchdown to opposing tight ends all year. In fact, they'd only allowed double-digit non-PPR points to tight ends once all season, and that was to Travis Kelce and Noah Gray for the Kansas City Chiefs. Pitts is still not at that level. Don't expect much from him this week.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 13: 16 NFL players to start, sit in your league