As we approach the fantasy football playoffs, with just two weeks left in most leagues, managers are faced with the crucial task of identifying reliable starters for a pivotal week. The challenge of bye weeks affects all positions, presenting a significant issue in Week 13.
In the final weeks of the fantasy football regular season, the objective for every fantasy owner is to deploy a strong receiver corps consisting of wideouts poised for high-usage days. The likelihood of ending the week in the win column is further increased when these WRs are in favorable matchups. Our Week 13 fantasy WR PPR rankings can assist in identifying both standout performers and potential sleepers in the deepest position in fantasy football.
This week, the presence of studs or sleepers is not as abundant. We have six byes and untimely injuries impacting our rankings. Nevertheless, the necessity to fill out the same number of starting spots in our lineups remains. This means those in 12-team leagues might need to delve deep to find viable WR3s and flex options.
Teams on Bye
In Week 13, the Ravens, Bills, Vikings, Raiders, Giants, and Bears are on a bye, resulting in the absence of notable wideouts. The absence of wide receivers in Week 13 due to bye weeks will be challenging to address. Must-start fantasy football options such as Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams, and DJ Moore won't be available, and the contributions of Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, and Jakobi Meyers will be sorely missed as well.
Top Fantasy Football Picks
Tyreek Hill overcame a challenging Week 12 matchup. He surged back to the top position with a stellar performance against the struggling Washington defense. CeeDee Lamb, designated as Dallas' primary wide receiver, aims to sustain his effectiveness in the upcoming game against the Seahawks.
Hill, of course, is an All-Pro wide receiver. His hand injury kept him on the Miami Dolphins injury report leading up to their Week 12 Black Friday clash with divisional rivals. Now, however, he is cleared. Despite injuring his hand in Week 11, Hill should play now. Despite a tough matchup against the Jets' formidable cornerback duo last week, Hill should do well in Week 13.
In Thursday's 45-10 victory over the Commanders, CeeDee Lamb secured 4 of 9 targets for 53 yards and a touchdown. Sure, this marked his lowest reception count in the last six games. That said, Lamb's consistent end zone presence continues, scoring for the third consecutive week and the fifth time in the last five games. With a reliable fantasy football floor and substantial weekly potential, Lamb is projected to maintain WR1 status going forward.
Other Top Picks
Amon-Ra St. Brown, known for his recent string of targets, should sustain his workload in a rebound game for the Lions. Keenan Allen, the preferred target for Justin Herbert, seeks to extend his impressive form against the Patriots.
Mike Evans, boasting four touchdowns in the last three weeks, secures a spot in the top 10 for Week 13. AJ Brown, despite facing a formidable San Francisco coverage unit, remains a top-3 PPR play due to his proficiency in the red zone. Ja'Marr Chase, maintaining WR1 potential with over 20 yards per reception in Week 12, retains his upside as well.
Michael Pittman Jr. is poised to exploit the vulnerable Texans' pass defense. Meanwhile, Jaylen Waddle looks to capitalize on his recent success against the struggling Commanders' coverage unit. Tank Dell also concludes the top 10 as a reliable option for CJ Stroud.
Fantasy Football Sleepers
Jayden Reed emerges as a noteworthy sleeper and a viable addition to the waiver wire this week. In the Packers' 29-22 victory over the Lions, Reed caught 4-of-8 targets for 34 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, he contributed 16 rushing yards on two carries. The developing chemistry between Love and Reed is evident. Take note that Reed has now scored a touchdown in three consecutive games. Fantasy football managers are encouraged to confidently start Reed moving forward.
Another sleeper to consider is Cooper Kupp. Despite a modest performance of three receptions on five targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 37-14 win over the Cardinals, Kupp's questionable status leading up to Week 12 did not hinder his participation. However, his fantasy football outlook for the remainder of the season should be pretty bright.
Nico Collins is another sleeper worth noting. In Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Jaguars, Collins secured 7-of-9 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown. This marked his second consecutive game with seven receptions. That performance brought his season total to 50 catches for 800 yards and five touchdowns through 10 games. Collins is currently a solid WR2 in fantasy football.
Fantasy Football Busts
For Week 13, Terry McLaurin, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, Drake London, and Tyler Lockett are potential disappointments.
McLaurin's recent struggles, coupled with a challenging matchup against Jalen Ramsey, diminish his fantasy football value. In Thursday's 45-10 loss to the Cowboys, McLaurin caught 4-of-11 targets for 50 yards, trailing behind fellow Washington receivers Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson. This marks McLaurin's third consecutive mediocre performance, averaging 4.3 receptions (8.7 targets) for just 42 yards with no touchdowns. He is best considered a high-end WR3 for Week 13.
Nacua and Atwell are up against a formidable Cleveland coverage unit. Meanwhile, London's matchup against the Jets and Sauce Gardner presents challenges. Lockett, facing a robust Dallas coverage unit and considering Geno Smith's struggles, may be more suited for the bench in PPR leagues.
In the Seahawks' 31-13 defeat to the 49ers, Lockett secured three receptions on five targets for a total of 30 yards. The overall offensive performance for the Seahawks was subdued on that particular night. Additionally, Lockett had another reception that was nullified due to a penalty. Looking ahead, Lockett should be part of the discussion as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 in the upcoming matchup against Dallas.
Injuries
Tee Higgins, Noah Brown, Treylon Burks, and Kadarius Toney dealt with injuries entering Week 12. Josh Palmer's status will also be monitored, but he's unlikely to play against New England.
Notable WRs exiting Week 12 with injuries include Chris Olave, Amari Cooper, Demario Douglas, and Rashid Shaheed. Their playing prospects for Week 13 will be closely monitored as well.
Fantasy Football Strategy
Waiver wire options like Rashee Rice and Josh Downs should be prioritized if available in your league. Christian Watson, who showed up in Week 12, is worth considering, though caution is advised when inserting him into starting lineups.
None of those players will be able to replace someone like Stefon Diggs, and they may not even be able to replace Jakobi Meyers for you. However, they all have skill and opportunity, and those two things usually lead to success. When you're searching for replacements in a week with six teams on bye, you want upside.
Now, let's dive into our NFL Fantasy Football Wide Receiver rankings for Week 13 of the 2023 regular season. Standard rankings are indicated in parentheses.
NFL Fantasy Football Week 13 Wide Receiver Rankings
1. Tyreek Hill, MIA @ WAS (1)
2. CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. SEA (2)
3. AJ Brown, PHI vs. SF (6)
4. Amon-Ra St Brown, DET @ NO (3)
5. Keenan Allen, LAC @ NE (4)
6. Michael Pittman, IND @ TEN (8)
7. Mike Evans, TB vs. CAR (5)
8. Brandon Aiyuk, SF @ PHI (11)
9. Tank Dell, HOU vs. DEN (10)
10. Jaylen Waddle, MIA @ WAS (9)
11. DeVonta Smith, PHI vs. SF (15)
12. Adam Thielen, CAR @ TB (31)
13. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN @ JAC (7)
14. Nico Collins, HOU vs. DEN (23)
15. Calvin Ridley, JAC vs. CIN (13)
16. Puka Nacua, LAR vs. CLE (28)
17. Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. MIA (21)
18. DeAndre Hopkins, TEN vs. IND (18)
19. Deebo Samuel, SF @ PHI (17)
20. Cooper Kupp, LAR vs. CLE (14)
21. DK Metcalf, SEA @ DAL (16)
22. Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. ARI (30)
23. Christian Kirk, JAC vs. CIN (20)
24. Garrett Wilson, NYJ vs. ATL (12)
25. Chris Godwin, TB vs. CAR (26)
26. Marquise Brown, ARI @ PIT (27)
27. Courtland Sutton, DEN @ HOU (19)
28. Rashee Rice, KC @ GB (24)
29. Josh Downs, IND @ TEN (37)
30. Tyler Lockett, SEA @ DAL (35)
31. Drake London, ATL @ NYJ (36)
32. Jayden Reed, GB vs. KC (42)
33. George Pickens, PIT vs. ARI (33)
34. Christian Watson, GB vs. KC (22)
35. Romeo Doubs, GB vs. KC (29)
36. Brandin Cooks, DAL vs. SEA (39)
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