Bring in the Backups: Bench Players You Can Start in Week 13 Fantasy Football

After Cole Beasley put up six receptions for 110 yards and a score against his former team on Thanksgiving Day, fantasy owners might be open to starting some less-heralded players this week.

If you're looking to make a change to your starting lineup, here are three players, that are all normally bench options, you can feel comfortable starting in Week 13.

1. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles (Started in 45% of Yahoo! Fantasy Football Leagues)

With it looking increasingly like Jordan Howard will miss his third straight game, Miles Sanders becomes a great fantasy option here. He gets a fantastic matchup against a Miami Dolphins team that ranks dead last in Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings, and has given up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. Sanders is a remarkably explosive player, accounting for a play of at least 30 yards in five of his 11 games. Against a shaky Miami defense, Sanders has an extremely high ceiling here.

2. Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars (Started in 39% of Yahoo! Fantasy Football Leagues)

Dede Westbrook has quietly benefitted from Nick Foles re-gaining the starting job. While DJ Chark is still the clear-cut No. 1 wideout, Westbrook has seen at least six targets in each of the last two games with Foles at the helm. He's averaging 7.5 targets, 6.0 receptions and 50.5 receiving yards per contest during that span. Westbrook draws an incredibly enticing matchup in Week 13, facing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that surrenders a league-high 47.3 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. For context, no other team allows more than 41.1.

3. Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs (Owned in 29% of Yahoo! Fantasy Football Leagues)

Mecole Hardman is about as boom or bust as it gets, but there's reason to believe he'll be the former in Week 13. Patrick Mahomes shredded the Oakland Raiders when they met in Week 2, throwing for 443 yards (61 of which went to Hardman). He's reliant on his big-play ability, as he's never caught more than four passes in a game this season, but he's explosive enough to remain an interesting gamble. Oakland is also the third-worst passing defense in the league, per Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings, and just gave up a 69-yard score to Braxton Berrios last week. With such a great matchup on tap, Hardman has a chance at a big game in Week 13.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.