Start Em Sit Em Week 13 Patrick Mahomes sets up for monster performance against cowboy defense, but these three players must hit your bench

Start Em Sit Em picks for Week 13 fantasy football take center stage this Thanksgiving holiday. Patrick Mahomes is primed for a massive performance against an elite matchup, while several other players face tough defensive challenges. Expert consensus clearly identifies which players deserve spots in your lineups and which should hit the bench.

Why Patrick Mahomes Sets Up for Monster Thanksgiving Performance

Mahomes endured a rough three-game stretch before Week 13. He tallied just one total touchdown against the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and Indianapolis Colts. However, this Thanksgiving matchup represents a complete reset for his fantasy outlook. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback draws the most generous passing defense in the NFL this season.

Dallas has proven historically one of the worst passing defenses in fantasy football history on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys secondary has surrendered massive yardage and multiple touchdown passes throughout 2025. Mahomes should operate in a high-volume, high-efficiency environment where he exploits weak coverage consistently. Experts project this as an expected high-scoring affair with Kansas City likely leading most of the game.

Which Running Backs Deserve Starting Consideration

Kenneth Gainwell enters Week 13 with tremendous momentum. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back averaged 113.5 rushing yards over the last two weeks while scoring twice. He’s played over 50% of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps in three straight games. Buffalo allows the third-most rushing yards per game at 148.9 yards, plus a league-worst 30.3 tackling grade.

Devin Neal stands out as a strong option if Alvin Kamara remains sidelined. The rookie recently recorded 5 receptions for 43 yards against Atlanta. Miami has yielded the fourth-most rushing yards this season, creating ideal conditions for high-volume runs and pass-catching opportunities.

Wide Receiver Matchups Worth Exploiting This Week

Player	Team	Matchup	Status
Khalil Shakir	Buffalo Bills	at Pittsburgh	START
Xavier Worthy	Kansas City Chiefs	at Dallas	START
Stefon Diggs	Baltimore Ravens	vs New York Giants	START
Deebo Samuel	San Francisco	at Cleveland	SIT

Khalil Shakir just recorded 8 catches for 110 yards against Houston. He faces Pittsburgh, which has allowed the most receiving yards to wide receivers in the NFL this season at 2,029 total yards. Shakir continues serving as Buffalo’s top receiving threat with consistent target volume.

Xavier Worthy scored four catches for 59 yards recently and gets the Dallas matchup. The Cowboys defense allows the most fantasy points per game to receivers. Worthy’s speed creates constant separation issues for Dallas’s secondary, especially with Rashee Rice drawing coverage attention.

Quarterbacks and Tight Ends to Avoid This Week

Brock Purdy suffered a brutal three-interception performance recently against Carolina. He’s thrown multiple interceptions in three of his four games. Cleveland ranks third in fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks and features Myles Garrett’s elite pass rush. The Browns haven’t allowed many passing touchdowns, making Purdy a risky bench candidate.

Jared Goff faces a Green Bay defense that allowed just one touchdown to him in their Week 1 meeting. The Packers sit tied for seventh-fewest passing touchdowns allowed. Goff profiles as a sit-and-wait option this week despite his normally strong fantasy floor.

How Should Fantasy Managers Navigate This Critical Thanksgiving Week?

Week 13 represents a crucial decision point before the fantasy playoffs approach. All 32 NFL teams play, eliminating bye week concerns and forcing difficult lineup choices. Mahomes stands out singularly as the top priority quarterback, while running backs facing weak run defenses gain significant value. Players trending downward against brick-wall defenses deserve immediate benching despite their name recognition and typical production levels.

“Patrick Mahomes should bounce back big time in an expected high-scoring affair on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys, who have bled fantasy points to opposing offenses all season long.”

— Michelle Magdziuk, Pro Football Focus Fantasy Analyst

Exploit Tuesday morning waiver wire opportunities before the bulk of Thursday’s games. Stream defenses against struggling offenses or handcuff critical running backs. The holiday schedule compresses decision-making windows significantly, so fantasy managers must act decisively when studying updated injury reports and snap count trends Wednesday evening.

Sources

• Pro Football Focus – Weekly start/sit analysis and quarterback rankings
• USA TODAY Sports – Fantasy football positioning coverage
• NBC Sports – Fantasy football projections and analysis