The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 13: Matchups key to playoff success

The next two weeks might be the bulk major in the fantasy football season Not only are they the final contests of the regular season but they re also your last chance to bulk up your roster for the playoffs in Weeks and The NFL s matchups in those weeks are critical Who your standouts are facing can have as much to do with your success or lack thereof as those players r sum s The Vikings for example have a rather favorable trio of games against the Cowboys Giants and Lions But their quarterback issues could make those defenses look impregnable Next week we ll look at the stars who are looking at a rocky road the last three weekends of December But in the modern day we ll list fellows who could have especially smooth sailing Jonathan Taylor Colts RB NFL rushing leader demands to average yards over final six games to top He ll average more than that against the Seahawks Niners and Jaguars Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor celebrates the team's win against the Tennessee Titans after an NFL football meeting Sunday Dec in Indianapolis AP Photo Michael Conroy De Von Achane Dolphins RB He has a shot to surpass total yards and that effort will be boosted with games against Steelers Bengals and Buccaneers MIAMI GARDENS FLORIDA - OCTOBER De'Von Achane of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball against the New York Giants during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October in Miami Gardens Florida Photo by Megan Briggs Getty Images TreVeon Henderson Patriots RB The hottest rookie runner from The Ohio State University won t be cooling off when he faces the Bills Ravens and Jets New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson carries the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football event against the New York Jets Thursday Nov in Foxborough Mass AP Photo Robert F Bukaty Emeka Egbuka Buccaneers WR This year s top rookie receiver will face three supple pass defenses in the Falcons Panthers and Dolphins Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka signals during a pre-season NFL football challenge Saturday Aug in Pittsburgh AP Photo Matt Durisko A J Brown Eagles WR The malcontent receiver seems happier now and with the Raiders Commanders and Bills ahead his fantasy backers will be happier still Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A J Brown scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton defends during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl football meeting Sunday Feb in New Orleans AP Photo Brynn Anderson Trey McBride Cardinals TE He s the league s No tight end for a now-pass-happy Arizona offense It will be bombs away against the Texans Falcons and Bengals Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride takes part in drills at the NFL football team's practice facility Monday May in Tempe Ariz AP Photo Rick Scuteri George Kittle ers TE He s again the Niners top receiving threat And the Titans Colts and Bears defenses are not very threatening George Kittle of the San Francisco ers dives for the pylon after a catch and run during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on Oct in Santa Clara California Photo by Lachlan Cunningham Getty Images Joe Burrow Bengals QB He ll be back this week and looking to pad his stats in a lost season The Ravens Dolphins and Cardinals defenses will help him Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow bottom goes down with a season-ruining turf toe injury as he is sacked by Jacksonville s Arik Armstead during last Sunday s match in Cincinnati AP Photo Carolyn Kaster Jayden Daniels Commanders QB Last year s rookie of the year should be back just in time to face three NFC East rivals Giants Eagles and Cowboys Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders looks to pass during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT T Stadium on Oct in Arlington Texas Photo by Stacy Revere Getty Images Tua Tagovailoa Dolphins QB He has fooled us countless times before but the Steelers Bengals and Bucs have pass defenses Miami can exploit Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins celebrate after Tagovailoa's touchdown in the third quarter of a competition against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on Nov in Miami Gardens Florida Photo by Megan Briggs Getty Images Sitting stars Seems hard to believe but you MIGHT want to keep both Vikings WR Justin Jefferson and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on the bench this week Unless you have no better options Neither Vikings RB Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason will do much against Seattle defense Preponderance overrated participant in NFL Could be Lions WR Jameson Williams who might get another goose egg against Green Bay Just a hunch but Lions may get revenge on Packers QB Jordan Love for his great event in the opener San Fran QB Brock Purdy looked bad at times Monday night and he ll look worse with Cleveland s Myles Garrett breathing down his neck Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the fourth quarter of an NFL challenge at U S Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday Nov The Ravens beat the Vikings - John Autey Pioneer Press Matchup competition New England WR Stefon Diggs has run a bit hot and cold this season but he ll be on point Monday night against the Giants Dallas will need to run the ball to upset Kansas City on Turkey Day so Javonte Williams could have a big day A no-name RB who could find paydirt this week Saints backup Devin Neal Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews revival will accelerate against Cincinnati We have no idea why Jacoby Brissett is suddenly a mad bomber but the Cards QB will post strong numbers again in Tampa And two quarterbacks we expect to feast against bad defenses are Jacksonville s Trevor Lawrence versus Tennessee and Denver s Bo Nix against Washington New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs during an NFL football practice Monday June in Foxborough Mass AP Photo Charles Krupa Injury watch All eyes are on Packers RB Josh Jacobs who sat last week due to a knee injury Will he return or will the short week before their Thanksgiving challenge in Detroit mean another big start for Emamuel Wilson As for quarterbacks the Steelers Aaron Rodgers is expected back but Tampa s Baker Mayfield and Washington s Daniels are much iffier The list of questionables includes three running backs Raiders Ashton Jeanty Bucs Bucky Irving Saints Alvin Kamara eight pass catchers Dallas George Pickens Chiefs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy Cards Marvin Harrison Jr Steelers D K Metcalf Jags Brian Thomas Jr Buffalo TE Dalton Kincaid Lions TE Brock Wright and two quarterbacks Giants Jaxson Dart Texans C J Stroud Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs runs near Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt in the second half of an NFL football contest Sunday Oct in Green Bay Wis AP Photo Matt Ludtke Deepest sleeper Cincinnati WR Andrei Iosivas is back on the radar He has only catches for yards and one TD over his past three games but he could be in for big challenge Thanksgiving night in Baltimore Tee Higgins is out and Ja Marr Chase is dealing with the pressure of trying to avoid spitting at his opponent again With Burrow returning Iosivas could find himself back in the end zone CINCINNATI OHIO - DECEMBER Andrei Iosivas of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium on December in Cincinnati Ohio Photo by Andy Lyons Getty Images The Thursday Friday picks Packers at Lions - Pick Lions by Chiefs at Cowboys Pick Chiefs by Bengals at Ravens - Pick Ravens by Bears at Eagles - Pick Eagles by You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere s BS Show podcast on iTunes You can follow Kevin on X theloopnow He can be reached at kcusick pioneerpress com Related Articles The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week Last-minute moves The Loop NFL Picks Week The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week Last-minute moves The Loop NFL Picks Week The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week Last-minute moves