Fantasy Focus Football: Week 13 Recap – Big Winners, Duds & Must-Know Takeaways

Podcast: ESPN Fantasy Focus Football
Hosts: Field Yates, Stefania Bell, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay
Date: December 1, 2025
Episode Theme: In this episode, the Fantasy Focus crew dives deep into all the key fantasy football storylines from Week 13, breaking down the biggest winners, surprise performers, disappointments, injuries, and essential takeaways for fantasy managers heading into the home stretch of the season.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode is all about making sense of the wild Thanksgiving weekend and Week 13 NFL slate—from game-changing catches and surprising duds to injury updates and evolving depth charts. The crew provides actionable analysis for the fantasy playoffs, spotlighting who to start, who to worry about, and what recent trends actually mean for winners and losers in fantasy football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Unforgettable Catches: OBJ vs. Traylon Burks

[02:40 - 05:07]

• The show kicks off with an animated debate: Was Traylon Burks' recent one-handed catch better than Odell Beckham Jr's iconic grab?
• Daniel Dopp: "I think that was the best catch I have ever seen in my life. Better than the Odell Beckham."
• Stefania points out Burks made the catch just a week after hand surgery and with a defender draped over him.
• Stefania: "[Burks] had surgery to stabilize a spiral fracture in that finger… and made that catch."
• Field Yates (playful): "I think you guys are nuts. OBJ had to run 40 yards down the field."
• A poll is run for listeners: 78% hadn’t seen Burks’ catch, leading to plenty of laughs and light-hearted ribbing.

Winners of Week 13

Davante Adams: Goal Line Machine

[05:19 - 06:34]

• Field Yates: "The best goal line running back in the NFL is Davante Adams… Over his last six games, he has 11 receiving touchdowns... none longer than 10 yards."
• Despite modest targets and yards, Adams’ red zone usage makes him impossible to bench.

A.J. Brown: Patience Rewarded

[06:57 - 07:54]

• Stefania: "My winner is a guy we've been calling a loser a lot... that’s AJ Brown, 35.2 fantasy points, season high… Second straight top five finish."
• A “squeaky wheel” situation, Brown is back in top form—if you waited, you're reaping the rewards.

Bijan Robinson: Steady High Floor

[08:10 - 09:02]

• Daniel Dopp: "Third game with 30+ fantasy points this season… Has been a top-15 RB in all but 2 weeks."
• Volume-proof, matchup-proof, and a must-start even in tough games.

Losers & Duds of the Week

Lamar Jackson: Panic Setting In?

[09:25 - 11:45]

• Field Yates: "Lamar over his last three games has not scored more than 7.22 fantasy points... It has been disappointing, to say the least."
• Stefania expresses deep concern—his running is down, and health is in question: “He has been hesitant to run... I don't know that this gets a lot better.”

JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba): Sudden Bust

[12:14 - 13:31]

• Stefania: "Wide receiver 64. That was just awful for him. Prior, he only had one finish outside the top 13 all season."
• The Vikings’ defense and game script contributed, but cause for concern as the playoffs loom.

Rome Odunze: From Breakout to Bust

[14:51 - 16:35]

• Daniel Dopp: "Eight and a half or fewer fantasy points in six of his last eight… feels like a dart throw boomer/bust play."
• Bears offense is “spreading it around,” making trust hard; now a low-end FLEX, not a reliable WR2.

Justin Jefferson: Benchable?

[17:43 - 20:39]

• Field Yates: "Justin Jefferson had 2.4 fantasy points. What the heck was that? …We don't need a star QB, but we need better than the crappiest play in the league."
• Stefania: “You can see the frustration... It's literally nothing he can do.”
• Daniel Dopp: "I'm at the point now where it's win-or-go-home—might have to bench him."

Saquon Barkley: Rock Bottom

[49:28 - 50:47]

• Field Yates: "Season low 5.6 points, one game this year over 20 points, one game over 100 rush yards… On a scale of 1-10 confidence next week? I’m a 2."
• Utter lack of receiving work and bad game script kill his value.

“What the Heck” Performers

Rashaad Rice: Quietly Elite

[24:17 - 25:29]

• Daniel Dopp: "Not sure there's a WR you want more than Rashi Rice right now... at least 18.5 points in five of six games."
• Exactly as productive as JSN over recent weeks, but with more stability.

Brock Bowers: The Raiders’ Bright Spot

[21:18 - 22:30]

• Stefania Bell: "Scores a TD, it gets blown dead for a timeout, then re-scores with a ridiculous one-handed catch. Continues to amaze, even on a struggling offense."

Must-Know Takeaways & Strategic Advice

Chuba Hubbard vs. Rico Dowdle: Panthers’ RB Split

[31:02 - 34:32]

• Chuba Hubbard regained lead role; Dowdle still involved, but usage is volatile.
• Stefania: “Hubbard said he came back too early from injury. Now he’s healthy, this split may persist.”

Joe Burrow: Trust Is Restored

[34:32 - 37:06]

• Overcame early rust in return—19+ fantasy points, big passing volume even in a win.
• Stefania: "Looked like a guy coming back from layoff, not foot injury. Protected himself smartly. You should feel good going forward."

DeAndre Swift & Kyle Monangai: Bears RBBC

[42:43 - 43:59]

• Both had 20+ fantasy points; Swift more involved, Monangai now touchdown-dependent.
• It’s a committee, but both are usable (Swift ranked higher).

Chris Godwin & Bucky Irving: Trending Up

[26:00 - 28:27]

• Bucky Irving looked “really good” in limited snaps; Chris Godwin “eye test was really strong.”
• If Godwin is on waivers, grab him.

Injury Updates

[51:54 - 55:22]

• Amon-Ra St. Brown: Lateral ankle sprain, “could be a one-week injury, but prepare not to have him Thursday.”
• Justin Herbert: Non-throwing hand fracture, surgery expected; could be back in a week if protected.
• Marvin Harrison Jr.: Heel injury, monitored after appendix recovery.
• Drake London: Multi-week injury.
• Aaron Jones: Left with shoulder injury.

Trending Players, Waiver Targets, Worries

Studs

• Patrick Mahomes: 29.4 fantasy points, found chemistry with Rice.
• Jordan Love: "Awesome," gets the Bears next week.
• Adonai (AD) Mitchell: Emerged as Jets top WR; 24.2 fantasy points.

Duds

• Travis Etienne: 5.1 points, just one target, TD-dependent.
• Khalil Shakir: Super dud; zero production.
• Vikings skill players (Addison, Mason, Mattison): None trustworthy for playoffs.

Tight Ends Not Named Bowers/McBride: Stream, Don’t Hold

[44:12 - 45:34]

• Dalton Schultz, Brenton Strange, and Harold Fan all viable streamers.
• Stefania: "You can still perhaps pick up a Strange or Fan. If you had Mark Andrews, check availability."

Jaguars WRs: Jacoby Myers #1

[41:02 - 42:36]

• "He’s clearly the top Jags WR," even with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter on roster.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Field Yates: "The best goal line running back in the NFL is Davante Adams… oh, he’s a wide receiver." [05:19]
• Stefania Bell: "My winner is a guy we've been calling a loser... AJ Brown, 35.2 fantasy points." [06:57]
• Daniel Dopp: "I might start a dead horse over a Viking in my fantasy playoffs." [39:10]
• Field Yates: "You know who cares zero about this? The Bears." [17:27]
• Stefania Bell (re: Traylon Burks): "He had surgery to stabilize a spiral fracture in that finger… and made that catch." [03:31]
• Daniel Dopp: "I'm at the point now where it's win-or-go-home—might have to bench [Justin Jefferson]." [20:25]
• Stefania Bell: “Maybe it’s emotional, but I just can’t trust any Vikings in the playoffs after this week.” [39:50]
• Daniel Dopp (on Kyle Monangai): "Matt Forte after that. Just out of respect." [43:42]
• Field Yates: "This may have been the final hurrah for Vidal as a starting option. Wanted to give some love." [38:39]
• Field Yates (on Saquon Barkley): "Season low 5.6 points... On a scale of 1-10 confidence next week? I’m a 2." [49:28]
• Stefania Bell (on Amon-Ra St. Brown): "He escaped something that could have been much more serious..." [52:05]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:40 – Traylon Burks vs. OBJ catch debate
• 05:19 – Winners of the week (Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, Bijan Robinson)
• 09:25 – Lamar Jackson’s struggles and outlook
• 12:14 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s bust performance
• 14:51 – Rome Odunze’s decline
• 17:43 – Justin Jefferson: benchable?
• 21:18 – Brock Bowers’ circus-catch sequence
• 24:17 – Rashi Rice’s emergence
• 26:00 – Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin trending up
• 31:02 – Panthers RB dilemma (Hubbard/Dowdle)
• 34:32 – Joe Burrow’s return and health
• 39:50 – Any trustworthy Vikings for playoffs?
• 41:02 – Jaguars WR pecking order
• 42:43 – Bears RBBC (Swift/Monangai)
• 44:12 – Tight end streaming options
• 49:28 – Saquon Barkley’s rock bottom
• 51:54 – Key injury updates
• 55:22 – Trey McBride’s MVP-level impact
• 56:08 – Patrick Mahomes, Love, Packers, and other studs
• 58:39 – Monday Night Football preview
• 62:33 – Listener mailbag: Flex & roster questions

Mailbag Highlights

• Start Tyrone Tracy (Patriots) or Theo Johnson (Giants) at flex?
  • Consensus: Tracy for volume/upside. [62:33]
• Drop Roma Odunze for Trey Benson?
  • Not unless Benson’s health becomes clear. [63:07]
• Rest-of-season: Juwan Johnson or Brenton Strange at TE?
  • Slight edge to Strange for upside. [64:15]

Final Notes & Playoff Action

• The hosts agree on several “must-starts” and “must-sit” players.
• Key caution for Vikings skill position starters.
• Injuries could dramatically change fantasy outcomes—follow updates on Amon-Ra, Herbert, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Drake London.
• The episode ends with a MNF preview and quick-hit mailbag—be ready for final playoff pushes!

Overall Tone:
Expert, conversational, and good-humored—plenty of friendly debates and music/sports trivia mixed in with actionable advice.

**Want to win your playoff matchups? The full breakdown above should help you avoid landmines like Barkley and Jefferson (if necessary), give proper credit to surging stars (Adams, Rice, Bowers), stream tight ends smartly, and (most importantly) keep having fun with the game!