Another week, another round of extremely important starting/seating decisions. To help you make it, here’s a look at six players with bust potential in Week 13.

Something to keep in mind as you read this: A “fade” or “bust” designation does not automatically mean you should cut a player, depending on the depth of the rest of your roster or the available options on your waiver wire.

QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Okay, okay. Listen to me.

This is in no way a call to fill fantasy football’s entire QB1 this year – not at all. However, my duty as in-house Busts and Fades columnist is to warn about potential landmines in your lineups – not only do I want to warn you about players you should avoid altogether for fantasy reasons, but I also want to tell you when the stats are A player’s ceiling is lower than normal. Ultimately, this knowledge can change the way you approach the rest of your lineup.

Lamar Jackson had the safest floor of any fantasy quarterback this season; He only finished outside the top 12 once (Week 11 vs. the Steelers) and finished in the top 5 as a QB in seven of 12 games this season – the perfect mix of upside and security at a position we’ve rarely seen before have . This week, Jackson faces an up-and-coming Eagles defense that has made major strides in both coverage and rushing defense in the second half of the season.

Heat check 🔥 You still start Lamar Jackson in every one of your fantasy lineups throughout the season; Just prepare for a possible bad week.

RB James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

James Conner’s fantasy managers have been on a wild ride so far this season, with his production falling somewhere between his 21-122-1 line in Week 2 and his 7-carry, 8-rushing yardage in Week 12 . Like I said – a rollercoaster. However, it feels like the down weeks are becoming a little more frequent. In his last four games, he averaged just over 50 rush yards per game (37.3 receiving yards). He has averaged 3.53 yards per carry in that span and has a stuff rate of 22.8%, which ranks sixth-highest among the 26 RBs with 50+ carries since Week 8.

In addition to Conner’s declining efficiency in recent weeks, he faces a challenging matchup with the Minnesota Vikings – one of the most formidable rushing defenses in the league this season. The Vikings lead the league with an 86.1 PFF run defense grade, the fourth-lowest average tackle depth (3.41 yards) and a league-low 27 missed tackles. Minnesota’s defense is at the lowest level in the league this year with five rush TDs allowed, which has the second-lowest YPC average (3.6), the second-fewest yards after contact per attempt (2.4), and the third-lowest explosive run rate. Rate (9.4%) enabled. All told, it was the second-fewest fantasy PPG for opposing RBs.

Heat check 🔥 As the starting player of a good (albeit inconsistent) offense, keeping Conner on the bench is a challenge. However, with all 32 teams playing this week, you have more options than you did in Week 12. If you have better flex options (e.g. Bucky Irving), don’t hesitate to start them over Conner this week.

RB Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commander

I have a distinct feeling that Jeremy McNichols will be on many sleeper lists this week as the “in case of emergency” button. Commanders starting RB Brian Robinson Jr. is dealing with a severe ankle sprain and his status is uncertain for Week 13. Meanwhile, teammate Austin Ekeler is in the concussion protocol after suffering a brutal hit on a kickoff return in the same match. This leaves McNichols, Mr. RB3, in their footsteps.

Even if McNichols starts in Week 13, he faces a challenging matchup against the Tennessee Titans, who have been a tough, rushing defense this season. The Titans boast the fourth-highest rated rushing defense unit this year, tied for the fifth-lowest YPC average allowed (4.0), the seventh-fewest rush yards after contact per attempt (2.7) and the fourth-fewest tackles for loss or no profit during this period per PFF.

Heat check 🔥 McNichols remains on the fantasy benches in most fantasy leagues, even if he makes the start and will see volume.

WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Commander

It’s no secret that the Washington Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury-led offense has cooled since their red-hot start to the season. Terry McLaurin, in particular, has been a big beneficiary of improved quarterback play and is averaging 15.8 YPR as the WR5 overall in half-PPR scoring formats, already averaging his career-high seven receiving touchdowns in just 12 Playing has achieved.

The Titans allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing WRs, but have yet to give up a single game with more than 18 fantasy points to an opponent this year despite facing stiff competition (Nico Collins, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Garrett Wilson). This team allows the third-lowest successful play rate in the league on targets to WRs this season at 45.7% per NFL Next Gen Stats, and has the fourth-fewest yards per target and fifth-lowest completion rate on such plays all season (59% ).

Heat check 🔥 Insert McLaurin into your lineups for Week 13, but with the expectation that the best bet for a big fantasy day is another 86-yard home run to save the day.

WR Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills

There is no doubt that Buffalo Bills WR Khalil Shakir has been one of the league’s surest targets this year. He has reliable hands for days with an 87.5% catch rate dating back to last season that leads all WRs (minimum 50 targets, including postseason). He’s also incredibly efficient with his opportunities, boasting a passer rating of 124.5 when targeted (third-best) while averaging 7.7 yards per reception after the catch (fourth-highest). However, Week 13 could challenge his normally safe level.

Shakir’s consistent performance (7+ goals in each of the last five games) has made him a popular flex/sleeper option each week. However, the San Francisco 49ers could be a limiting factor for him in Week 13, although there are some free targets at center due to the absence of the injured Dalton Kincaid. Even though the Niners are a bit of a mess right now, LB Fred Warner remains the glue that holds their coverage together in the middle of the field. Warner continues to be one of the best coverage linebackers in the league, and he has plenty of slot receiver coverage. Since Week 7, the 49ers are allowing the second-lowest EPA per play on slot targets (-0.176), giving up 0 TDs, 3 INTs and a league-low passer rating of 46.3 on such plays. Shakir, who has played primarily out of the slot this season at a rate of 75.8%, could see a decline in his efficiency in this spot.

Heat check 🔥 Shakir is a good gameweek replacement, but with all 32 teams in play, his ceiling isn’t high enough to risk defeat in a demanding match.

TE Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a bye in Week 12, meaning TE Evan Engram is freshly rested and ready to take on all the work he can handle. There should be a lot of work for him this week, as the team received more bad injury news before his departure, leaving WR Gabe Davis out for the season with a knee injury after Christian Kirk (also out for the season with a knee injury). broken collarbone). But even if he sees decent volume, it might not be a good match for a big fantasy tag.

In Week 13, the Jaguars face the Houston Texans in a challenging intra-division matchup – a matchup that has seen some disappointing TE performances from even the league’s best. Houston ranks 27th with 7.51 fantasy points per game allowed to opposing TEs (3.3-25.5-0.4 average line), while averaging the third-lowest EPA per dropback and one in the League lowest success rate of 39.1% when targeting the TE position per NFL features next-generation stats.

Heat check 🔥 Due to the need for target volume, Engram should have a solid floor in the half and full PPR scoring formats, but don’t expect great efficiency. This defense has only allowed three TEs to exceed 50 yards all season.