Start 'Em, Sit 'Em QBs for Week 13 fantasy footballJacob Camenker, USA TODAYThu, November 27, 2025 at 10:45 AM UTC·5 min readThe fantasy football regular season is reaching its endgame, and fantasy managers will be granted a gift in Week 13. There will not be any teams on bye for this week's NFL action.
The NFL has, in recent seasons, adopted a practice during which all 32 of its teams play during Thanksgiving week. This prevents the league's Sunday slate from becoming too diluted by the league's six stand-alone games.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis will be a welcome sight for fantasy managers looking to field their best lineups in Week 13. Many will also welcome the return of Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow, who appears to be on track to play for the first time since suffering a significant turf toe injury in his team's Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Who can you trust at quarterback in Week 13? Our crew at USA TODAY Sports breaks down the quarterbacks to start and sit as the fantasy football regular season enters its stretch run.
QB Davis Mills, Houston Texans: 27.68 fantasy points
RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 49.6 fantasy points
WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons: 24.4 fantasy points
TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: 27.7 fantasy points
K Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks: 14 fantasy points
Seattle Seahawks D/ST: 21 fantasy points
1 / 6The top fantasy football scorers at each position in Week 10 in PPR formats
QB Davis Mills, Houston Texans: 27.68 fantasy points
1 / 6The top fantasy football scorers at each position in Week 10 in PPR formats
QB Davis Mills, Houston Texans: 27.68 fantasy points
2 / 6The top fantasy football scorers at each position in Week 10 in PPR formats
RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 49.6 fantasy points
3 / 6The top fantasy football scorers at each position in Week 10 in PPR formats
WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons: 24.4 fantasy points
4 / 6The top fantasy football scorers at each position in Week 10 in PPR formats
TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: 27.7 fantasy points
5 / 6The top fantasy football scorers at each position in Week 10 in PPR formats
K Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks: 14 fantasy points
6 / 6The top fantasy football scorers at each position in Week 10 in PPR formats
Seattle Seahawks D/ST: 21 fantasy points
Fantasy football start 'em: Week 13 QBs
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (at Baltimore Ravens)
Is there some risk is starting Burrow in his first game back from a significant turf toe injury against a now-healthy Ravens defense? Sure, but Burrow simply isn't the type of quarterback you can afford to sit in fantasy football.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLast season, Burrow led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He will have Ja'Marr Chase at his disposal on Thanksgiving night and should be asked to throw often in what could be a high-scoring game against Baltimore. That should give him a high floor, even if he needs time to shake off the rust.
So, fire Burrow up unless you have another high-end alternative at quarterback. You didn't stash him this long to keep him on the bench, after all.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (at Indianapolis Colts)
It may seem strange to back Stroud against a Colts defense that now has a top-tier cornerback duo – Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner – and just held Patrick Mahomes without a touchdown.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, Stroud was averaging 256 passing yards and 2.3 passing touchdowns over a four-game span before suffering a concussion in Week 9 against the Broncos. He should have a shot at similar production with Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins and Dalton Schultz all playing well.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (at Washington Commanders)
The Commanders just held Tua Tagovailoa without a touchdown before their bye. They seem unlikely to have similar success against Nix, despite his recent downturn as a passer.
Nix has just three passing touchdowns over his last three games but has faced a couple of tough defenses (the Chiefs and Texans) during that span. He should be able to enjoy a post-Thanksgiving feast against a Commanders defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFantasy football sit 'em: Week 13 QBs
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs. Green Bay Packers)
Goff faced the Packers in Week 1, and the results weren't pretty. The veteran quarterback racked up 225 yards and a garbage-time touchdown in a 27-13 loss, but he averaged a season-low 5.8 yards per attempt against Jeff Hafley's sting defense.
The Packers have remained strong against the pass throughout the year, as their 13 passing touchdowns allowed to quarterbacks is tied for the seventh-fewest in the league. Perhaps Goff and Co. will perform better in their second go-around, but it's hard to trust them to break through a stalwart Green Bay defense, especially on the shortest of short weeks.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCaleb Williams, Chicago Bears (at Philadelphia Eagles)
Williams just had a three-touchdown day against the Steelers, but he faces a tougher task in the Bears' "Black Friday" game against the Eagles. Philadelphia has allowed just 11 passing touchdowns thus far in 2025, tied for the fourth-fewest in the league.
It's also worth noting that Williams has followed up both of his three-plus passing touchdown games with one-passing-touchdown outings. It's hard to trust him to be consistent, especially on what could be a windy day in Philadelphia.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (at Cleveland Browns)
Purdy just struggled badly on "Monday Night Football" against the Panthers, throwing three interceptions and just one touchdown in a 20-9 win. He could be in for more difficulties against a terrific Browns defense.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCleveland has allowed the third-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season and ranks third-best in defensive EPA per play. Myles Garrett has racked up a whopping 18 sacks across 11 games and should be able to get plenty of pressure on Purdy. That makes it difficult to trust the 25-year-old quarterback as he continues to round back into form after missing six games with a toe injury.
Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em, Week 13
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here's who to start and who to sit in Week 13.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement→ The wide receiver position is one of the deepest each season. Set yourself up for success in Week 13 with start 'em, sit 'em advice for wideouts.
→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here's who you should start and sit in Week 13.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 13: 6 QBs to start or sit
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