Underdog Battle Royale Week 13 Rankings

Quarterbacks:

1. Jalen Hurts
2. Tua Tagovailoa
3. Brock Purdy
4. C.J. Stroud
5. Justin Herbert
6. Sam Howell

Sleepers: Jared Goff, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Gardner Minshew, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, Baker Mayfield

Unlike last week when there were really only 5 viable QBs you wanted to draft this week is a bit deeper. This means that you won’t feel completely left out if you wait on the position this week.

It’s hard to not give the top spot to Jalen Hurts, but it was worth considering given the recent history of QBs vs the Commanders defense. Tua could easily do what Dak did on Thanksgiving, and if Hurts doesn’t get 2 rushing TDs vs a tough 49ers team.

Purdy on the other side of the Eagles is a strong play as well, with Philadelphia giving up some serious points to opposing quarterbacks. Stroud, Herbert, and Howell all have tougher match-ups on paper, but their passing volume keeps them in the discussion.

If you want to go deeper I do like Minshew vs the Titans this week. He has capable receivers, and he also has a rushing ability that could get used a bit more with Taylor out. Wilson is a little interesting as well as the Texans secondary is still a work in progress, and this game could end up high-scoring.

Running backs:

1. Christian McCaffrey
2. Alvin Kamara
3. Kyren Williams
4. Raheem Mostert
5. Zack Moss
6. Bijan Robinson
7. Austin Ekeler
8. Rachaad White
9. David Montgomery
10. Najee Harris
11. Rhamondre Stevenson
12. Derrick Henry

Sleepers: Jahmyr Gibbs, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Warren, Javonte Williams, Jerome Ford, Brian Robinson, James Conner, D’Andre Swift

Despite the byes, injuries and primetime games there are a number of really good RB plays this week. CMC is basically in a class by himself, but it’s hard to ignore the potential of Kamara and Williams.

Kamara could be heavily featured with all the injuries to the Saints weapons. Williams has a tougher match-up this week against the Browns, but his usage is pretty crazy. I also like Moss and Robinson in de facto bell cow roles in pretty good spots.

I like doubling up on backs this week for the flex spot as you have a lot of real touchdown hunters in pretty good spots. White, Montgomery, and Harris all would make tremendous flex options.

Even names in the Sleepers list can be very good plays, as you are taking the lower side of the platoon in those cases. But we’ve multiple times all of them outscore the back who gets more usage.

Wide Receivers:

1. Tyreek Hill
2. Keenan Allen
3. A.J. Brown
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown
5. Mike Evans
6. Jaylen Waddle
7. DeVonta Smith
8. Deebo Samuel
9. Michael Pittman
10. Tank Dell
11. Brandon Aiyuk
12. Cooper Kupp
13. Courtland Sutton
14. Nico Collins
15. Puka Nacua
16. George Pickens
17. Terry McLaurin
18. Adam Thielen

Sleepers: Chris Olave, Diontae Johnson, Josh Downs, DeAndre Hopkins, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, Amari Cooper, Jameson Williams

Receiver is fairly deep overall, but top 4 do have an extra edge and should all be taken in the first round. Hill is the clear-cut 1.1. this week, even above CMC, given his match-up against a Commanders secondary that can’t stop anyone.

If you don’t land one of the top 4 WRs there are still options for the top point getter. Smith and Waddle, have either outscored or come very close to outscoring the alpha WR on their team over the last few weeks. Evans is having a monster season, and Samuel/Pittman have tremendous match-ups.

As for a 2nd WR or Flex there are strong options with the Texans Duo, or Sutton in what could be a high scoring game. McLaurin (or any Washington WR) makes some sense from a game script perspective.

Tight Ends:

1. George Kittle
2. Sam LaPorta
3. Pat Freiermuth
4. Dalton Schultz
5. Trey McBride
6. Gerald Evertt

Sleepers: Logan Thomas, Kyle Pitts, Tyler Higbee, David Njoku, Juwan Johnson, Cade Otton

Tight end this week is a bit deeper and there no Travis Kelce 1st round decision to worry about. Both Kittle and LaPorta have shown repeatedly they can put up good scores, and in Friermuth’s first game under the new offensive coordinator, he broke out in a big way.

After the top three it does become a bit of a jumbled mess. I do like guys like Everett and Thomas as last-round guys in high passing offenses, if they get a TD you should be live to have a strong finish. Also, neither player will be 100% drafted.