The Herd with Colin Cowherd

FantasyPros: Week 13 Fantasy Football QB & TE Rankings — Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts
Episode 1869 | November 28, 2025
Guests/Analysts: Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice ("Fitzy"), Andrew Erickson

Overview

This episode dives deep into Week 13 Fantasy Football quarterback and tight end rankings with Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Andrew Erickson, focusing on who to trust, who to avoid, and the players that could be sneaky starts to help you head into the fantasy playoffs. The trio discusses the safety and upside of top-ranked QBs and TEs, debates controversial options, highlights must-starts and possible fades, and sprinkles in classic narrative-driven analysis and banter with fantasy insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comfort Level with QBs and TEs This Week

[01:13]

• Pat Fitzmaurice: Rates Week 13 as “C-plus at quarterback” owing to solid top options and a steep drop-off after the top 14; gives “B” to tight ends, noting better depth and streaming choices.

  "The top options look pretty solid but I get real uncomfortable outside the top 14 or so." ― Pat Fitzmaurice [01:14]

[01:45]

• Andrew Erickson: Laughs about being “never wrong, just one week early” on Taysom Hill, immediately setting up the recurring fantasy wildcard discussion.

2. Quarterback Rankings & Notable Decisions

Top 12 Big Board (per show discussion)

[03:18]

• Patrick Mahomes
• Josh Allen
• Lamar Jackson
• Jalen Hurts
• Drake Maye
• Matthew Stafford
• Joe Burrow
• Justin Herbert
• Dak Prescott
• Jacoby Brissett
• Bo Nix
• Jared Goff

Matthew Stafford

• Chris Welsh: “Hard to not have him as the number one QB every week… He can just do what he wants at will.”
  Notes his placement at 6th is due to concern Rams could run after early passing success [03:32].

Jacoby Brissett vs. Bo Nix

[04:57]

• Pat: Ranks Bo Nix higher due to the great matchup against the Commanders (league-worst pass defense), but still sees strong volume for Brissett (“44, 57, and 49 pass attempts in the last three games”).

• Erickson: Also favors Bo Nix, but thinks Brissett is a solid streamer if you’ve been starting him.

  "If you're going to throw the ball 50 times, it's just really hard not to be fantasy QB1, even if you don't necessarily play the quarterback position in real life." ― Andrew Erickson [06:22]

Dak Prescott vs. Bo Nix

[07:00]

• Pat: Sticks with Dak over Nix, citing trust in Dak’s weapons, despite a past miss against Denver.
• Erickson: Challenges Pat, noting Dak struggled against tough defenses, but Pat doubles down.

Brock Purdy: Fade This Week

[07:54-09:42]

• All: Sound the alarm bells—Purdy is ranked ECR QB15 but both Pat (17, “maybe lower”) and Erickson (20, lowest in consensus) advise against starting him against Cleveland’s nasty defense and in bad weather.
• Erickson: “I would stay as far away from Brock Purdy as possible this week.”
• Pat: “He was sailing throws… I thought they had snuck JJ McCarthy into a 49ers jersey.”

Sam Darnold: Divergence of Opinion

[11:45-15:52]

• Pat: Cautiously ranks Sam Darnold behind Trevor Lawrence, worries Seahawks will go run-heavy, limiting pass attempts.

• Erickson: Boldly ranks Darnold at QB12, riding the revenge game/narrative street, thinking Seattle will want to air it out vs. his old team, the Vikings.

  "We're going down narrative street… Give me Sam Darnold. I think he's going to be dealing." ― Andrew Erickson [14:53]

3. Tight End Rankings & Debates

Top 12 Big Board (per show discussion)

[15:52]

1. Trey McBride
2. George Kittle
3. Brock Bowers
4. Travis Kelce
5. Tyler Warren
6. Mark Andrews
7. Ronnie Gadson
8. Jake Ferguson
9. Hunter Henry
10. Dallas Goedert
11. Kyle Pitts
12. Juwan Johnson

Mark Andrews: Perennial Disappointment with a Sweet Matchup

[16:45-17:34]

• Pat & Erickson: Both have him at TE6 or above because “everyone just rocks the Bengals.”

• Erickson: Predicts Andrews could explode for multiple TDs (“He might catch three touchdowns, to be honest.”)

  "This is so obvious of a smash spot for Mark Andrews." ― Andrew Erickson [17:17]

Brenton Strange: Potential Streaming Gem

[20:09-21:27]

• Erickson: Praises Strange upon return from injury, highlighting his immediate connection with Trevor Lawrence and fantasy TE1 potential.
• Pat: Places Strange in the Juwan Johnson/Kyle Pitts streaming tier, owing to Lawrence’s historical preference for tight ends (echoes Ingram/Kirk slot success).

Colston Loveland: Caution Week

[22:03-23:50]

• Pat: Ranks Loveland at TE17—touts talent but points out Philly is one of the worst matchups for tight ends.
• Erickson: Suggests Loveland is still a floor play because of steady catches, but “there are probably more better tight end options just this week.”

4. Memorable Quotes & Fun Banter

• “He’s a quarterback and tight end who’s actually a running back, sometimes a kick returner, occasional wide receiver, and also sometimes doesn’t do any of it. So he is the weirdest, weirdest player in the NFL.” — Chris Welsh on Taysom Hill [02:14]
• “I want to play Brock Purdy as much as I want to play Shador Sanders.” — Chris Welsh [11:45]
• “It’s skyline chili and Graeter’s ice cream for everyone, every tight end who faces the Bengals. It’s absurd.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [18:40]
• “Just drop the dude on us too, he’s like, dead like, dude… that’s the breakdown.” — Chris Welsh [18:22]
• "Who's going to be this year's Tucker Kraft? It's going to be Colson Loveland." — Andrew Erickson [23:01]

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:13 | Comfort levels for QBs/TEs this week (Fitzy’s and Erickson’s takes) | | 03:18 | QB Top 12 Rankings revealed, Stafford hot streak | | 04:55 | Analysis: Jacoby Brissett vs. Bo Nix | | 07:00 | Dak Prescott vs. Bo Nix debate | | 07:54 | Brock Purdy fade & analysis | | 11:45 | Sam Darnold range-of-outcomes argument | | 15:52 | Switch to Tight End Top 12 Rankings | | 16:45 | Mark Andrews “smash spot” breakdown | | 20:09 | Brenton Strange as a streamer | | 22:03 | Caution on starting Colston Loveland |

Tone & Delivery

The episode embodies the easygoing, punchy, opinion-driven style fans expect, with playful challenges between hosts, quick turns to “narrative street,” and fantasy analysis grounded in stats, matchup research, and bold predictions.

Useful Takeaways

• Don’t get cute with low-end QBs this week—stick with high volume or good matchups. Fade Brock Purdy even in superflex formats.
• Strong streaming QBs: Jacoby Brissett (volume), Bo Nix (matchup), Sam Darnold (floor, narrative play).
• At TE, prioritize matchups. Start Mark Andrews, Trey McBride, and George Kittle; Brenton Strange is a streaming option; fade Loveland against PHI.
• Watch for injury news (Trey Benson with ARI) and late-week weather (CLE, BUF).
• Lean on volume and scoring environment—both for QBs (Brissett, Nix) and TEs (Mark Andrews, Brenton Strange).

"That is going to do it. Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Black Friday, or just football whenever you are listening to this." — Chris Welsh [23:50]

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