Thanksgiving week is a double-edged sword in the world of content creation. With thrilling matchups on Thanksgiving Day, including three games and an additional one on Friday, it also means a sprint for those of us trying to generate a week’s worth of content in just three days.
As we reflect on this season of gratitude, I want to thank each of you for reading this column. Although many have expressed nostalgia for my previous work, Love/Hate, I can’t deny that the adjustments I’ve made have made my life more manageable. While the traffic for this column doesn’t quite match that of Love/Hate, NBC is pleased with the reception, and for that, I’m grateful. Your continued support has truly meant a lot.
As a reminder, any utilization statistics I reference in this column are sourced from Dwain McFarland’s impressive Utilization Report available on FantasyLife.com.
This week, our Fantasy Football Happy Hour is on a shorter schedule, with today (Wednesday) being our final show before the weekend. We will preview Week 13, which you can catch on YouTube or through Peacock and NBC Sports NOW, as well as other podcast platforms. Regular programming will resume next week, but first, we’ll have our Fantasy Football Pregame on Sunday from 11 AM ET to 1 PM ET.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’re excited to announce our Black Friday sale on FantasyLife.com, offering 40% off a 12-month subscription. This package will carry you through the rest of the current season, into the playoffs and off-season, complete with tools for Dynasty and Best Ball, as well as all the necessary fantasy draft tools, ranks, and analysis for next August. It’s an excellent gift option for any passionate fantasy player.
Now, let’s dive into this week’s insights courtesy of Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, featuring star players like Jalen Hurts, Christian McCaffrey, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Trey McBride.
Here are 10 essential facts to know before Week 13:
1. The only quarterback to score fewer than 17.7 fantasy points against the Dallas Cowboys this season is Geno Smith. Interestingly, eight of the eleven QBs facing Dallas this year have tallied at least 23 points.
2. Jacoby Brissett has performed notably as a starter, averaging 314.5 passing yards per game with at least 18 fantasy points in all his starts this season. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as his next opponent—who are currently surrendering the most passing yards—Brissett may surprise.
3. Travis Etienne ranks as one of the top RBs in fantasy football over the last month, following a robust showing within the Jacksonville offense. With continued target share and red zone opportunities, he faces a Tennessee Titans team that has allowed considerable rushing touchdowns.
4. The Washington Commanders allow a significant number of fantasy points to opposing backfields and continue to struggle in pass defense, making RJ Harvey an interesting pickup this week.
5. Ken Walker’s snap share has climbed gradually, highlighting his growing role in the Seahawks’ offense. With the Seahawks favored against a soft matchup, expect more volume from Walker.
6. Michael Wilson and Khalil Shakir have both emerged as valuable options, signaling their budding importance in their respective offenses as defenses struggle against wide receivers from their teams.
7. The Dallas Cowboys face a concerning statistic, allowing an abundance of yards on deep passes. This provides an intriguing opportunity for players like Xavier Worthy, who boasts significant upside heading into this Thanksgiving matchup.
8. The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed more touchdowns to tight ends than any other team this season. With Mark Andrews facing them this week, he stands out as a must-start option, capitalizing on this weakness.
9. Newly minted starter Tyler Shough sees Juwan Johnson finishing as a top-12 fantasy TE in each of his starts, suggesting that he could be a reliable option against a vulnerable Miami defense.
This Thanksgiving week is more than just football; it’s an opportunity to engage with the fantasy community and make strategic decisions that could impact your league standings. Enjoy the games, the food, and the company!