It's maybe the best Monday Night Football game of the year, it's a possible NFC Championship Game preview, and it's a game that could go a long way toward deciding the top overall seed in the NFC. You know, just your average New Orleans Saints-Seattle Seahawks Week 13 game. The two teams face off in Seattle at 8:30 p.m. ET Monday night, and there will be plenty of fantasy-interesting players to keep an eye on:
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Saints vs. Seahawks
It’s the 13th week of the NFL season, and the two teams facing off in Monday Night Football have a combined three losses. Hey, good job, NFL, you got a good one!
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Saints
Start in every league: Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas, Jimmy Graham, Garrett Hartley
Start if you're desperate: Darren Sproles, Marques Colston, Defense/special teams
DIrty little secret: Brees is averaging 26.8 fantasy points in his six home games, but only 17 in his five road outings. Yeah, no one is benching Brees anywhere, but it’s something to be aware of, with the Saints playing in the tough road confines of Seattle. ... Thomas has pretty obviously supplanted Sproles as the team’s top running back, and even against a tough defense, he ought to get his. ... Were you thinking of benching Graham? Don’t be dumb. ... Hartley has been a top-10 fantasy kicker, with three or more field goals in four different games, and his rough streak (four misses in a three-week span) seems to have been put to bed with four straight successful kicks.
Sproles appears likely to return to action Monday, and his diverse abilities always make him intriguing, but he’s only had double-digit fantasy points three times all season; he hasn’t scored higher than six otherwise. In PPR leagues, he will always-and-forever have value, but in standard, tread lightly. ... Colston has finally started looking like the receiver he’s supposed to be, but he’s still only 45th among fantasy wide receivers, and only has two touchdowns on the year. Against a stout defense, he might struggle. ... The Saints’ defense has been No. 8 in the NFL, and has been moderately matchup-proof, but the Seahawks don’t give up many points to defenses.
With Sproles back and apparently healthy, Ingram and Robinson are relegated to afterthoughts. ... The same basically goes for Stills, Moore, and Meachem, who will be behind Graham, Colston, Sproles, and Thomas in looks.
Seahawks
Start in every league: Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Steven Hauschka, Defense/special teams
Start if you’re desperate: ...
Bench: Percy Harvin, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Zach Miller
It certainly looks, through almost two seasons of his career, that Wilson is matchup-proof, with double-digit fantasy points in every game but one this year. His fantasy owners had better hope so, as the Saints allow the third-fewest points to opposing quarterbacks on the season. ... Lynch has been the No. 3 running back in fantasy this year, averaging 15.2 fantasy points a game. Start and enjoy. ... Ranking even better at his position is Hauschka, who has converted multiple field goals nine times in 11 games this season to come in as the No. 2 kicker. ... Even facing a good offense like New Orleans’ isn’t enough to keep the Seahawks’ defense from must-start status. The unit might struggle with the recently announced suspensions and injuries, but you still run them out there for now.
Harvin was downgraded to doubtful on Saturday, and with this being a Monday game, there’s just no way to use him at all. Far too risky. ... Harvin’s return really hurts the fantasy values of anyone else that catches passes in a Seahawks uniform -- Tate becomes a matchup play at best, while Baldwin, Kearse, and Miller are only even ownable in the deepest of leagues.
• Week 13 fantasy football position rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
