Early takeaways from Week 13: Meyers is top dog among Jags WRs; Bucs’ Irving solid in return
Beyond the numbers: Is Lamb or Pickens Dallas’ best WR?
Chargers open practice window for RB Omarion Hampton
Everything that happens in the NFL has additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football Buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league.
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Kirk Cousins leaned on his tight end with Drake London sidelined. Pitts put forth a surprisingly efficient performance for the Atlanta Falcons, collecting a team-high 7 of 8 balls for 82 receiving yards. The mercurial tight end posted double-digit fantasy points (15.2) for the first time since Week 8. He’ll be on the streaming radar in a plus matchup versus Seattle (the Seahawks entered Week 13 allowing the third-most fantasy points to TEs) in Week 14.
It was a triumphant return for Irving, who hadn’t suited up since Week 4. The second-year RB resumed his role as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ undisputed RB1, recording 81 scrimmage yards and a rushing score on 19 touches (16.1 fantasy points). He would have had two scores had the first not been called back due to a holding penalty. Irving’s return could not be better timed for fantasy managers. He’ll be back on the RB1 fantasy radar versus New Orleans in Week 14.
The valuation gap between George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb has narrowed following Pickens’ back-to-back games of at least 29 fantasy points.
Pickens has delivered eight top-25 weekly scores in his 11 games, his 72.7% rate tied for fourth best among wide receivers, while his four games finishing among the position’s top five trail only Ja’Marr Chase (5) and Puka Nacua (5). Meanwhile, if we remove Lamb’s three injury absences, he has been a top-25 wide receiver in six of eight games (75%), but he hasn’t finished better than 10th (Weeks 2 and 7).
Lamb does have an advantage over Pickens, however, as his 29.0% target share since returning to action in Week 7 beats Pickens’ 26.0%, and he has three times as many red zone targets (9-3) in that time. It’s a compelling battle between the two for the honor of top Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, and as you’ll see, our rankings of the two have narrowed this week, with both inside the position’s top eight.
The Los Angeles Chargers announced that the practice window is being opened for RB Omarion Hampton, who has not played since Week 5 against the Washington Commanders due to an ankle injury.
If Hampton returns this Sunday, expect him to have a split with Kimani Vidal and eventually work his way back to being the main guy as he returns to full health.
As fantasy managers look for him on practice reports, keep in the mind that the fantasy trade deadline is Wednesday at noon — so if you want to add him for your playoff push, act fast.
Meyers’ change of scenery continues to salvage his fantasy stock and benefit fantasy managers. The former Raider (by way of New England) led all Jacksonville Jaguars pass-catchers in targets, converting all six of his looks for 90 yards and a score. The effort resulted in a season-high 21.3 fantasy points. Brian Thomas Jr. was back on the field, but Meyers’ opportunities were boosted when Parker Washington was forced out of the game with a hip injury. If Washington were to miss time, Meyers and TE Brenton Strange would likely lead the Jags’ passing attack versus Indianapolis in Week 14.
Harrison returned from a two-week hiatus (appendectomy), picking up where he left off in Week 10. Trey McBride led the Arizona Cardinals in targets (nine), and MHJ and Michael Wilson drew seven apiece. Harrison led the corps in receiving yards, posting a 6-69-0 stat line. It’s worth noting that Wilson’s targets jumped significantly in the game’s second half while Jacoby Brissett was chasing points. Harrison, on the other hand, endured as the team’s priority WR for the bulk of the contest. He’ll face a motivated Rams defense in Week 14.
Williams exited the Los Angeles Rams’ eventual loss at the Carolina Panthers with under three minutes left in the second quarter. The Notre Dame product appeared to injure an ankle, but he was able to return in the second half. Although Williams registered six more totes than Blake Corum, his backfield mate outproduced Williams, registering 81 rushing yards on seven carries. Both backs had a rushing touchdown. Neither recorded a catch. Assuming Williams doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he’ll be ready to roll in a gettable matchup at Arizona next week.
On pace for a record-setting 2,029 receiving yard season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has also been a model of consistent excellence at wide receiver. He has finished top-25 at his position in every one of his 11 games, two more such performances than the next best, and also leads with eight top-10 finishes.
It’s rare that we see a team defense/special teams put up the kind of consistent, weekly-start season that the Houston Texans have. The positional leader in fantasy points (118), the Texans have scored at least five points in every one of their first 11 games, matching the 2023 Baltimore Ravens as the only teams that can claim that among the past 15 NFL seasons.
Kyle Pitts Sr. posts season-high numbers in Week 13
What can we expect from Bucky Irving after 81-yard performance in return?
Here are some other statistically oriented insights to consider for Week 13:
Sam Darnold’s past two games — 4.26 fantasy points in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams, then 17.66 last week against the Tennessee Titans — perfectly encapsulate his inconsistent 2025. In 11 games, he has been a top-10 scoring quarterback an equal number of times as he has finished outside the top 20 (five apiece), as his scoring has vacillated and he has been largely susceptible to his matchups. The Seattle Seahawks face the toughest remaining schedule for a quarterback, making him a tough player to trust in the critical upcoming weeks.
Trevor Lawrence has scored 30 fewer fantasy points than expected, the widest margin in that direction among top-10 scoring quarterbacks. He has faced the position’s second-toughest schedule thus far, which could partly explain it. Lawrence does get a rare soft matchup in Week 13 against the Titans, though it also comes in a week when there aren’t any byes, which keeps him in more of the superflex/two-quarterback starting class. Enjoy it, though, as he has the seventh-toughest remaining schedule at the position.
With his 55.4-fantasy-point outburst in Week 12, Jahmyr Gibbs has moved into a tie with Jonathan Taylor for the most points scored over expected of any player (81). It has been stated previously in this space, but the mark of a great player is often the ability to exceed expectations similarly, but in Gibbs’ case, pump the brakes ever so slightly. His remaining schedule is the third toughest among running backs, meaning there’ll be a likely degree of regression from that current 81 number. That said, he’s averaging 23.5 fantasy points, third best in football, and even a 20-point weekly performance would probably carry most of his teams through the playoffs.
Speaking of NFC North players and the schedule factor, Caleb Williams could be in for a rocky finish. He has faced the easiest quarterback schedule of any player, during which time he has scored 22 more fantasy points than expected. Unfortunately, Williams’ remaining schedule is the third toughest and includes matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles (Week 13), Green Bay Packers (Weeks 14 and 16) and Cleveland Browns (Week 15) the next four weeks. He’s a dangerous “go with the guys who got you here” play for the fantasy playoffs.