Week 13 Fantasy Picks: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Vikings vs Lions

The Detroit Lions will attempt once again to grab their first win of the season when they host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13 NFL action. FanDuel Sportsbook has the Vikings slated as 7-point road favorites in a matchup that is sure to have an impact on the NFC playoff race.

If you need some help with your fantasy lineups, here's some start 'em, sit 'em advice for this Week 13 NFC North showdown.

Alexander Mattison Fantasy

Start Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings: With Dalvin Cook expected to miss at least few weeks due to a shoulder injury, backup Alexander Mattison is set to start in the backfield. The third-year pro draws a favorable matchup going up against a Lions' defense that is allowing the fourth-most PPR fantasy points to opposing RBs. Keep in mind that Mattison has finished as a top-7 fantasy RB in each of his two starts this season. In fact, he racked up an impressive 324 total yards and 1 touchdown on 64 touches during that span (Weeks 3 & 5). Mattison is a rock-solid RB1 this week and should be started across all league formats.

Jamaal Williams Fantasy

Start Jamaal Williams, RB, Detroit Lions: Much like Mattison, running back Jamaal Williams has an opportunity to take on a bigger workload this week. Starter D'Andre Swift is banged up and will likely be unable to play on Sunday. That means Williams will see a bulk of the carries against a Minnesota defense that has posted the fourth-worst rush defense DVOA rating in the NFL. Even if the Lions go down early, Williams has shown enough upside as a receiver to earn a starting spot. The veteran ball-carrier has hauled in 21 of his 23 targets on the year for 117 yards. Start him with confidence in Week 13.

Tyler Conklin Fantasy

Sit Tyler Conklin, TE, Minnesota Vikings: Tight end Tyler Conklin has been a popular streaming option at the position throughout the course of this season. However, his upside is quickly disappearing. Conklin has posted 60 receiving yards on 5 receptions in the last two weeks following his 2-touchdown performance in Week 10. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Vikings lean on the rushing attack in this game assuming they get out to an early lead. That does not bode well for Conklin from a fantasy football perspective. It'd be smart to keep him on the bench for this one.

TJ Hockenson Fantasy

Sit TJ Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions: Fantasy managers rostering tight end TJ Hockenson likely cannot afford to bench him, but he is a name to avoid in the daily market. Minnesota has been dominant against opposing TEs, giving up the third-fewest PPR fantasy points to the position overall. The Vikings have also allowed just 1 touchdown to an opposing TE this year. It's notable to point out that Hockenson has racked up only 80 receiving yards and 1 touchdown over the last three weeks. That is not the kind of production fantasy managers want to see out of their TE1. Temper expectations with the Pro Bowler on Sunday.

SIGN UP AND GET AN INSTANT DEPOSIT BONUS UP TO 500! We'll match 20% of your first deposit on FanDuel Fantasy Sports. Max bonus $500

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. 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.