FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast - Ep. 1866

The Biggest Fantasy Football Questions For Each Team in Week 13

November 25, 2025
Host: Ryan Wormley
Analysts: Derek Brown (DBro), Pat Fitzmaurice (Fitz)

Episode Overview

This special Thanksgiving Week episode delivers a comprehensive preview of every NFL Week 13 matchup, including the Thursday Thanksgiving games, Black Friday, and the full weekend slate. The hosts tackle the most pressing fantasy football questions for each team, featuring start/sit debates, injury updates, and insights for managers heading into a critical week for playoff positioning. Due to the early recording date (Tuesday), the crew frequently notes player injury uncertainty and advises listeners to double-check news as game day approaches. The show’s tone is energetic, practical, and sometimes irreverent, with occasional banter about food and fantasy heartaches.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Slate Preview

Packers at Lions

• Christian Watson is the consensus player the guys want to be ahead of on:
  • Fitz: “He’s been the Packers’ best wide receiver...Averaging 16.6 yards per catch, 11.8 per target. I think he has a good day.” (03:09)
  • DBro: “I can make a case for him as a wide receiver two...Since Week 10, he’s got a 25% target share and a 36.7% first read share...” (04:11)
• David Montgomery seen as a possible bounce-back with Gibbs' heavy workload Sunday: “Dan Campbell might look to balance things out with only 3 days rest.” (03:48)

Chiefs at Cowboys

• The team agrees it’s likely the best game on Thanksgiving:
  • Fitz: “Maybe Chiefs-Cowboys is a little bit sexy.” (06:12)
  • DBro: “I think that game is the blow-up game.” (06:18)
• Scoring expectations: Debate over the high 52-point Vegas total:
  • DBro: “I think both teams will struggle on the ground, but there’s a lot of points to be had through the air.” (06:54)
  • Fitz: “I think there’s a case to be made for the under here...the defenses have improved, and the Chiefs haven’t scored over 23 points since week eight.” (08:12)
  • Both warn against chasing overs above 50: “There’s too many ways for that to go sideways...I’m not touching the total.” (09:31)

Bengals at Ravens

• Joe Burrow’s return & offensive outlook:
  • Fitz: “It’s Joe freaking Burrow, man. What’s there to talk about?...The Bengals’ terrible defense is going to put him into shootouts.” (12:16)
  • He’s starting Burrow with confidence, ranking him QB8. DBro is a bit lower but still sees him as a startable QB1 (QB11) (13:00, 13:17)
• Ravens' defense realism:
  • DBro: “Is the Ravens pass defense for real? On paper they look amazing, but they haven’t faced many top QBs lately.” (13:29)
• Chase Brown hype:
  • “Since week nine, this dude has been RB9 in fantasy points per game—and that’s without scoring a single touchdown.” (14:26)
• Kyle Hamilton’s injury:
  • “If he doesn’t play, Burrow might be a QB3 this week, honestly.” (15:33)

2. Black Friday: Bears at Eagles

• AJ Brown volatility:
  • DBro: “The matchup is freaking fantastic...31.6% target share and a 40% first read share vs. single high, which Bears play a lot.” (19:33)
  • Fitz is more cautious: “I am a little more worried about the Jalen Johnson matchup...one of the 10 best outside corners in the league.” (20:32)
  • Both see Brown as a WR1/WR2, but Fitz prefers Devonta Smith this week.
• Game prediction: Eagles favored by a touchdown; both analysts lean Eagles to cover, noting Chicago’s record overstates their quality.

3. Early Sunday Slate: MVP & Super Bowl Debate

• Stafford MVP or Rams Super Bowl?
  • Fitz: “I think the odds of [Stafford] winning MVP are better...The Rams have a great setup, but the playoffs are hard.” (22:55)
  • DBro argues the Rams' versatility gives them a strong Super Bowl shot: “When you get to playoff football, you have to have the versatility to play a lot of different game environments. The Rams can do all of that.” (26:52)

4. Key Injuries and Usage Debates

49ers at Browns

• Shedeur Sanders (CLE QB):
  • DBro: “Very uneven, but they’re going to show signs of life and some explosive elements...You are going to see more signs of energy and life from this offense.” (28:36)
  • Fitz: “People know Shedeur has haters, but the more we see of him, the more we’ll see what made us like him as a prospect—accurate, anticipatory thrower. Numbers probably won’t be great for fantasy.” (29:17)
  • Pass-catcher value low outside of Judkins as a possible touchdown vulture.

Texans at Colts

• Tyler Warren (TE):
  • “A State of the Union address for the tight end position—it’s godawful after the top three or four guys...I actually have Jake Ferguson ranked ahead of Tyler Warren this week.” (32:01)
  • Fitz: “I do not have Warren ranked ahead of Kelsey; I’m tempted to put him below Mark Andrews who gets a red carpet matchup this week.” (31:32)

Saints at Dolphins

• Devin Neal (RB):
  • DBro: “I think he’s right on the cusp of high-end RB3; if he scores a TD, he’ll be an RB2...The matchup isn’t great, so I have more hope for him in PPR.” (33:48)
  • Fitz: “Taysom Hill is going to be a problem for [Neal] owners hoping for goal line work, but the passing game upside is why I’m intrigued.” (35:07)

Falcons at Jets

• John Metchie & Adonai Mitchell:
  • Fitz: “Mechie is WR46 for me; it’s a good slot matchup this week.” (36:18)
  • DBro: “Usage has been there for Mitchell...box scores haven’t looked great, but I lean him slightly over Mechie vs. ATL corners.” (37:30)

Cardinals at Buccaneers

• Bucky Irving (RB):
  • DBro: “Even with volume/role concerns, I have him at RB17—prime spot against a bad defense.” (39:10)
  • Fitz: “RB18 for me—as soon as he’s fully healthy, he’s going to be stiff-arming the competition. He’s a special player.” (40:33)

Jaguars at Titans

• Parker Washington vs. Jacoby Myers:
  • Both analysts have them close, Myers ranking higher due to better usage. “Lawrence wants to take the path of least resistance—throw to tight ends and slot receivers, which is Myers and Brenton Strange.” (42:14, 43:02)

Notable Fantasy Takeaways

Wide Receiver Conundrums

• Justin Jefferson, MIN:

  • DBro: “If you have Michael Wilson, I think you’re playing [Wilson] over Jefferson...Do I have a lot of faith in Justin Jefferson? The volume is there, but what’s he doing with it?” (44:25)
  • Fitz: “For the season, Wondell Robinson is at 10.9 points per game, Jefferson is 11.1...” (46:01)
  • Both agree Jefferson is no longer a must-start, but context is key. He lands in a true flex-conversation with names like Michael Wilson, Zay Flowers, and Wondell.

• Broncos WRs (vs Commanders):

  • Fitz: “Sutton is just the better player than Troy Franklin...I’m going to bet on the better player.” (54:11)
  • DBro: “Franklin is getting more high-leverage usage...red zone and deep targets...so I slightly favor Franklin.” (55:03)
  • Both agree both Sutton and Franklin are strong starts against Washington.

Running Back Tiers & Dilemmas

• Steelers at Bills:

  • DBro: “Kenneth Gainwell is getting more of the backfield...He looks like the script-agnostic player...Both Gainwell and Warren could be top-24 this week.” (50:37)
  • Fitz: “Warren is RB16, Gainwell RB23 for me. Both should be started.” (51:58)

• Raiders & Chargers RBs (injury questions):

  • Fitz: “Not really expecting an improvement from the Raiders offense after the OC change. The offensive line is such a mess.” (48:35)
  • DBro: “If Gentry is out, we get Raheem Mostert...But I have more faith that the Chargers at least get into the red zone.” (49:23)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Christian Watson:
  • DBro: “This is a glorious matchup for Watson in this Packers passing attack to get pushed.” (05:50)
• AJ Brown’s Rollercoaster:
  • Fitz: “He’s going to drive you insane if you try to jerk him in and out of your lineup every week...Just ride the wave.” (21:41)
  • DBro: “Like with George Kittle in previous years. You just got to ride the wave.” (21:48)
• On Justin Jefferson’s ranking drop:
  • “If you told us in August we’d consider starting Michael Wilson over Justin Jefferson...we’d have retired from fantasy analysis.” (44:57)
• Broncos WRs vs Commanders:
  • DBro: “It would not surprise me if the Broncos dropped 40 in this game—the Commanders defense is just abhorrent.” (57:31)
• Thanksgiving food takes:
  • Fitz: “My mom makes a pretty awesome stuffing with my grandma’s old recipe, so...gotta go with the stuffing.” (61:26)
  • DBro: “If I’m not going with old reliable mac and cheese, it’s grilled brussels sprouts, baby!” (61:40)
  • Ryan: “I think turkey is underrated on Thanksgiving. A well made turkey is awesome.” (62:31)

Important Timestamps

| Segment/Game | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------|------------| | Intro/Thanksgiving Slate Overview | 00:00 | | Packers at Lions | 02:27 | | Chiefs at Cowboys | 06:12 | | Bengals at Ravens | 11:58 | | Bears at Eagles (Black Friday) | 19:01 | | Rams at Panthers / MVP Debate | 22:31 | | 49ers at Browns / Shedeur Sanders | 28:36 | | Texans at Colts / TE talk | 31:32 | | Saints at Dolphins / Devin Neal | 33:42 | | Falcons at Jets / Metchie | 36:18 | | Cardinals at Bucs / Bucky Irving | 39:10 | | Jags at Titans / WRs | 42:14 | | Vikings at Seahawks / Jefferson | 44:25 | | Raiders at Chargers | 48:35 | | Bills at Steelers | 50:37 | | Broncos at Commanders (SNF) | 54:11 | | Giants at Patriots (MNF) | 58:05 | | Thanksgiving side dish draft | 61:01 |

Summary Table: Fantasy Upsides & Worries (Week 13)

| Player / Team | Confidence Level | Key Factors/Notes | |-----------------------|------------------|-------------------| | Christian Watson (GB) | ✅ High | Big-play upside, role stable, great matchup vs DET single-high coverage (04:11) | | Chiefs, Cowboys (O/U) | 😐 Uncertain | High total, but both teams’ recent trends/defenses could drag it down. (06:54, 08:12) | | Joe Burrow (CIN) | ✅ Start 'em | Volume, past success vs BAL, minor concerns for rust/injury (12:59) | | AJ Brown (PHI) | 🚩 Cautious | Coverage matchup tougher, volatility persists; solid floor (20:32) | | Chase Brown (CIN) | 🔥 RB1 upside | Elite usage, highly efficient without TDs (14:26) | | Bucky Irving (TB) | 🚦 Watch status | Great matchup, but monitor workload after injury (39:10, 40:33) | | Justin Jefferson (MIN)| 😬 Sit possible | Bad matchup, poor production, similar to WR2s/flex options (44:25-47:20) | | Cortland Sutton/Franklin (DEN) | ✅ Start both | Great matchup (WSH), both top 24-28 at WR (54:11-56:09) | | Gainwell/Warren | 🟢 Good starts | Both top 24 RBs this week in rankings (51:30-52:02) |

Closing Thoughts

The episode offers actionable lineup advice, flag-plant player takes, and candid caveats for fantasy managers navigating a week with no teams on bye but plenty of injury unknowns. There’s a consistent focus on WR and RB pivots, immediate reactions to recent workloads and injury reports, and pointed reminders to check updates closer to kickoff.

As always, plenty of laughs and Thanksgiving food hot takes round out the show. Fitz, DBro, and Ryan leave listeners equipped for the most crucial games of the fantasy season—and maybe with a new idea for stuffing, too.

“If you try to jerk [AJ Brown] in and out of your lineup every week...just ride the wave.”

— Pat Fitzmaurice (21:41)

“It would not surprise me if the Broncos dropped 40 in this game—the Commanders defense is just abhorrent.”

— Derek Brown (57:31)

Listen to every matchup breakdown with actionable tips, and double-check news as injuries develop! Good luck in Week 13!