Fantasy football starts & sits: D.J. Chark, James, White, Marvin Jones & more

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Since we’re not recording our usual start and sit RB1 Podcast this week, I figured I’d write up some Week 13 starts and sits for your fantasy benefit. It obviously won’t be as enjoyable as listening to Clark, Jordan, Nic, and my beautiful voices in your ears but hey, I figure it’s the least I can do.

Without further ado, here are five players to start and five to sit this week in fantasy football.

Starts

James White vs Houston Texans

White has been one of the most solid and consistent PPR producers this season but is coming off a utter dud of a game against the Cowboys. However, the worst thing you can do is to panic and take him out of your starting lineup. The Texans are allowing the most receptions and second most receiving yards to running backs and given a) the Patriots’ youth at wide receiver and b) the indoor-ness of Houston’s stadium, I would expect White to return to seeing eight to nine targets Sunday.

Jonathan Williams vs Tennessee Titans

Williams has taken the Colts backfield by storm, averaging 19.5 attempts and 110 rushing yards in his last two games. Now the Colts face off against a Titans defense that given up the fifth most fantasy points to backs in the last four weeks. Keep riding the hot hand and trust Williams to once again give you RB2 numbers this week.

Davante Adams vs New York Giants

You might think this is an unnecessary start given the name power Adams has. However, he’s been far from a fantasy stud this season, scoring only once and has paired a few breakout games with a couple of true duds. I should know, he’s on my fantasy team. But cloudy skies are going to clear up this week and start Adams with the same confidence you had drafting him all those months ago. The Giants who are allowing the second most yards and fantasy points to receivers this year. Old Adams is going to shine once again.

D.J. Chark vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chark did not have a great game against the Titans last week, catching five balls for 38 yards and failing to score a touchdown for just the fifth time this year. Any trepidation you have about starting him this week should be forgotten as the Buccaneers are a wide receivers best friend this year, giving up the most fantasy points to the position. And if you allow me to get bold with you for a second, I think this is the game we see Gardner Minshew return to his rightful throne as the Jaguars starting QB. Foles will throw a few silly picks, allowing Doug Marrone to jettison his butt back to the bench and in will step Minshew’s glorious mustache, casually tossing for four touchdowns and leading the Jags to a win. Mark my words.

Jacob Hollister vs Minnesota Vikings

Hollister is dealing with a sore foot, but if he plays Monday night, he could be in for a big game. The Vikings are giving up the seventh most yards to tight ends and lead the league in TE targets with 108 (almost 10 a game). We know Russell Wilson loves his tight ends and I’d bet A healthy Hollister manages to find himself in the end zone at least once this week.

Sits

Rashaad Penny vs Minnesota Vikings

Sorry for all those excited hopefuls who rushed to get Penny off the waiver wire this week. Regardless of the fact that by starting Penny you’re trusting Pete Carroll to do the right thing and start the second year back (which very well might not happen), this matchup does not bode well for any Seahawks running back. Minnesota is allowing the fourth fewest points to running backs and have given up only three touchdowns on the ground this season. Don’t rush to start him this week.

Joe Mixon vs New York Jets

I had Mixon has a sit last week and he more or less held up his end of the bargain, rushing for 79 yards on 14 carries. Keep him on your bench again this week as the Jets run defense has been downright dominate the last four weeks. In that time, they’ve allowed the fewest fantasy points and fewest rushing yards to opposing backs. I have no faith in the Bengals to be the offense that gets it going on the ground vs New York.

DeAndre Hopkins vs New England Patriots

Do not start WR1s agains the Patriots. Just don’t. They’re allowing the fewest points to the position by a large margin and have allowed only one touchdown. And Hopkins won’t just be playing against this secondary, he’ll be facing off against Stephon Gilmore who just goose egged Amari Cooper. I’m not expecting Gilmore to hand out another zero this week (though he damn well might) but Hopkins certainly isn’t going to give you a WR1 or even WR2 performance this week.

Marvin Jones Jr vs Chicago Bears

The Lions receivers have been looking more and more like the Buccaneers wideouts recently: you never know which one is gonna go off which week. Recently Marvin Jones has been the one who’s leading the Lions receiving core but I just have a feeling that the pendulum will swing in Kenny Golladay’s way this week. Plus, the Bears are allowing the second fewest fantasy points to receivers this season so he’s facing a tough matchup too.

Mark Andrews vs San Francisco 49ers

It pains me to say this as a Mark Andrews owner, but the 49ers defense is not to be messed with and have given up only 6.5 points per game to tight ends, best in the league. Andrews’ flaming hot start to the season has cooled off recently, only scoring double digit points twice in his last five games, including Monday’s game against the Rams where he caught only two balls for 45 yards. If you can sit him this week, I highly recommend you do.