Entering Week 13 of the NFL season, there are games with playoff implications seemingly everywhere you turn. The same can be said for your fantasy football matchups.
In most formats, the fantasy playoffs will begin in either Week 14 or Week 15, which means they’ll be here before you know it.
Amid injuries and bye weeks, you might be trying to get into the playoffs or striving to earn the coveted first-round bye without some of your big-name studs.
However, don’t fret. My weekly fantasy football sleepers will help you find the best pivots possible to help you win your week and, when it is all said and done, a 2021 fantasy football championship.
Now, here are my Week 13 fantasy football sleepers. Let’s get that win.
Week 13 Byes: Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans
Please note that all NFL gameday odds and lines below are current as of 1:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 30.
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13: Quarterback
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders vs Washington Football Team
- Football Team-Raiders Total: 49.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 49.5 (-110), Under 49.5 (-110)
While Derek Carr opened the year strong, he’s been erratic at times and is currently seated as the QB14. Carr has put up 19.3+ fantasy points in five of his past six games, including 24.8 last week against Dallas, his highest total since Week 6.
With Carr finally developing a rapport with DeSean Jackson, he has a legit deep threat back since losing Henry Ruggs.
In Week 13, Carr faces off against a Washington defense that is allowing the most FPPG (27.5) to enemy signal-callers. While Washington has played better at times in the second half, they have ceded 19.2 fantasy points to a quarterback in three consecutive games, including back-to-back games over 22.
Carr is in a smash spot in Week 13.
Deep QB Week 13 Sleeper: Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
- Colts-Texans Total: 46 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 46 (-110), Under 46 (-110)
Carson Wentz bounced back last week with 29.4 fantasy points following back-to-back outings in which he scored less than 11.1. When Wentz falters, it is not on him. He just isn’t needed to do much when Jonathan Taylor is dominating football games as a rusher.
While Taylor is in line for another monster game this week against the Texans, Wentz should also have a solid outing. Earlier this year, Wentz finished with 19.3 agasint Houston, throwing for 223 yards and a pair of scores.
The Texans are yielding 22.7 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, placing them just outside the bottom 10. While they have played better of late, they managed to contain Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissett, and Zach Wilson — not exactly the toughest opponents.
Look for Wentz, who’s thrown for 2+ scores in seven of his past nine games, to finish as a fringe QB1 in Week 13.
More Week 13 QB Sleepers To Consider
- Mac Jones, New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
DFS Week 13 Player Props To Play
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2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13: Running Back
Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins vs New York Giants
- Giants-Dolphins Total: 41.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 41.5 (-110), Under 41.5 (-110)
Myles Gaskin did the impossible last week, breaking his odd trend of scoring double-digit PPR points every other game and only on odd weeks since Week 1. He’s popped for 18.6 PPR points in back-to-back games and 17.7+ in three of his past four. Gaskin has also scored in two consecutive games as well.
Normally known as a receiving back, Gaskin has been doing work as a runner, garnering 12+ carries in six straight games.
In Week 13, Gaskin will get a Giants defense surrendering the seventh-most FPPG (25.9) to enemy backs. In four games since Week 8, the Giants have given up 10+ PPR points to six different backs.
The Dolphins have looked better, and Gaskin has played a large role in their recent four-game winning streak. Expect him to be involved heavily on Sunday.
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
- Vikings-Lions Total: 47 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 47 (-110), Under 47 (-110)
Alexander Mattison should be deployed in all fantasy lineups now that Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is on the shelf. In the two games Cook missed this season and Mattison was featured, the latter finished with 23.1+ fantasy points in both (Weeks 3 and 5). One of those games was against the Lions (Week 5), where he dropped 28.3.
Even last week against the 49ers, Mattison managed 10.8 PPR points in spot duty following the Cook injury. When Cook is out, Mattison smashes.
Mattison will get the familiar Lions in Week 13 and is in line for another big outing. In his last two games against the Lions — Week 5 of this season and Week 17 of last season — he finished with at least 28.3.
Deep RB Week 13 Sleeper: Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys vs New Orleans Saints
- Cowboys-Saints Total: 47.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 47.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)
Ezekiel Elliott is dealing with a lingering knee injury, and while he may not miss any time, barring a setback, we can assume he will continue to cede touches to Tony Pollard.
Pollard has finished with 10.8 PPR points in two of his past three games, handling 14+ touches in each of them. Expect Pollard to draw a similar workload on Thursday night against the Saints.
While the Saints have an elite run defense — No. 1 against fantasy backs — the Cowboys are in a must-win spot and have found success utilizing their do-it-all back, especially as a receiver. We have even seen formations featuring both Zeke and Pollard on the field at the same time.
Pollard is a high floor play in PPR but has the ability to pop in fantasy if he scores on a big play.
More Week 13 RB Sleepers To Consider
- Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings
- David Johnson, Houston Texans vs New York Jets
Find better Week 13 fantasy football players on the waiver wire with our 2021 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Top Pickups.
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13: Wide Receiver
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins vs New York Giants
- Giants-Dolphins Total: 41.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 41.5 (-110), Under 41.5 (-110)
Jaylen Waddle has emerged as the top pass-catching threat on the Dolphins. He has now strung together 10.1+ PPR points in six of his past seven games, including in four straight.
While he has only scored two times in that seven-game period, he’s drawn 6+ targets in all of them, including six games with 8+ looks.
Coming off of a career game last week in which he hung a 9/137/1 line on the Panthers, Waddle will look to exploit the Giants’ secondary, which has been as volatile as they come. A pure target vacuum, Waddle should bring his usual high floor into Week 13.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
- 49ers-Seahawks Total: 45.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 45.5 (-110), Under 45.5 (-110)
Deebo Samuel is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a groin injury, which means Brandon Aiyuk will operate as the 49ers’ WR1.
Now that Aiyuk is out of Kyle Shanahan‘s doghouse, he’s gone for 12.5+ PPR points in three of his past four games, including two straight. In those three games in which he had favorable fantasy outcomes, Aiyuk has drawn 6+ targets.
Aiyuk gets the Seahawks in Week 13. While their secondary has played better of late, they can still be exploited by a big-play threat like Aiyuk. Aiyuk has played in two career games against the Seahawks. While he was a non-factor in one of them, he dropped an 8/91/1 line on them in November 2020.
Deep WR Week 13 Sleeper: Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Rams-Jaguars Total: 48 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 48 (-110), Under 48 (-110)
Despite the addition of Odell Beckham Jr., Van Jefferson has been utilized since the Rams lost Robert Woods. In his past five games, Jefferson has drawn 6+ targets, including 7+ in four of them.
Although Jefferson has only gone for double-digit PPR points three times in that five-game stretch, he went off for 18.3 last week, his second-highest total of the season.
Look for Jefferson to once again be featured in Week 13 against the Jaguars, as their defense is allowing 36.6 FPPG to opposing wideouts. While the Jaguars have only given up one touchdown to a receiver since Week 9, they aren’t a good football team.
The Rams should be able to have their way with the Jaguars’ secondary.
More Week 13 WR Sleepers To Consider
- Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
- Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Rams wideout Van Jefferson is among the best pickups you can add at the position for this week in fantasy football. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13: Tight End
Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team @ Las Vegas Raiders
- Football Team-Raiders Total: 49.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 49.5 (-110), Under 49.5 (-110)
Logan Thomas returned from his hamstring injury on Monday night following a six-game absence. In his return, he hauled in three of his six targets for 31 yards. While he only managed 6.1 PPR points, the usage was three. He played in 61 snaps and drew six looks.
In his second game back, Thomas should pop against a Raiders defense ceding the second-most FPPG (17.1) to tight ends. The Raiders have allowed a tight end to score in six of their past eight games, including two last week to Dallas tight ends.
Deep TE Week 13 Sleeper: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens
- Steelers-Ravens Total: 44 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 44 (-110), Under 44 (-110)
According to FantasyPros, Pat Freiermuth is only rostered in 63% of leagues at ESPN and Yahoo. Thus, I will keep inserting him in my sleepers column with ease.
While Freiermuth is the TE11 on the year, he only began getting going in the second half for the most part. Since Week 6, Freiermuth is the TE4 in PPR.
So why is Freiermuth not rostered everywhere? Especially when he has managed 11.1+ PPR points in five of his past six games while scoring a touchdown in three of his past four and four total in that period?
And oh, by the way, Freiermuth gets the Ravens in Week 13. The Ravens are ceding the third-most FPPG (16.8) to enemy tight ends. Meanwhile, Freiermuth has drawn 4+ targets in six straight games, including four north of seven.
More Week 13 TE Sleepers To Consider
- Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears
- Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13: Kicker
Ryan Succop, Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons
- Buccaneers-Falcons Total: 50.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 50.5 (-110), Under 50.5 (-110)
Ryan Succop is attached to one of the NFL’s elite offense powerhouses. Going with kickers like Succop can go either way. He will pop or give you a solid floor. These offenses will always put their kicker in position for points whether it is field goals or extra-point tries.
Getting the Falcons in Week 13, Succop has a shot to hit 10+ points. Expect the Bucs to have to pay rent on the Falcons’ side of the field, because they will be living there. Succop is averaging 7.9 FPPG, which means he is always a field goal away from 10 or 11.
More Week 13 PK Sleepers To Consider
- Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears
- Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 13: Defensive Team
Miami Dolphins vs New York Giants
- Giants-Dolphins Total: 41.5 via Caesars Sportsbook
- Over 41.5 (-110), Under 41.5 (-110)
The Dolphins are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. Coming off a 10-win season led by their defense, the Dolphins took a nosedive early in 2021, but have now won four straight. In three of their past four games, the Dolphins have popped for 17+ fantasy points on Yahoo.
Now, the Dolphins will get the Giants and their decrepit offense. You know what to do from here, I’m sure.
Other Week 13 D/ST To Consider
- Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Jets
- Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
NFL Week 12 Injuries to Monitor
- RB Ezekiel Elliott (knee)
- RB Christian McCaffrey (ankle)
- RB Trey Sermon (ankle)
- RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder)
- WR Deebo Samuel (groin)
- WR Randall Cobb (groin)
- TE Dan Arnold (knee)
Anthony’s Accountable: Sleeper Pick Success Rate
This is a recap of my plays from Week 11 (skill position players only). I consider a sleeper a hit if the player scores 10-plus PPR points (15-plus for QBs):
Anthony’s Sleepers are 75-67-1 this season.
- QB Cam Newton (8.2)
- QB Joe Burrow (17.4)
- RB Javonte Williams (20.1)
- RB Miles Sanders (7.4)
- RB Tony Pollard (16.8)
- WR Elijah Moore (9.3)
- WR Marvin Jones (8.3)
- WR Brandon Aiyuk (12.5)
- TE Rob Gronkowski (19.3)
- TE Pat Freiermuth (14.0)
- K Greg Zuerlein (8.0)
- DST Houston Texans (6.0)
