Back to the fun random rankings to kick things off this week. Before we get to the Week 13 fantasy football rankings, projections, sleepers (and resulting rage over my ranks), it’s time for another reader suggestion, rankings wise. This week? It’s the Top 10 Adult Swim shows… for me! As seen from the HBO/SHO list, if I haven’t seen, or don’t like, your favorite, I’m a moron! As a quick note, I’m not including Toonami (DBZ) — that’s an entirely different genre/world — and I’m not including shows that are syndicated from other networks (Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, etc.).
Honorable Mention
NTSF:SD:SUV:: — If you never saw it, an underrated funny spoof on all the CSI type shows, and check out this clip
Metalocalypse — About a death-metal band, which is so popular, people literally die from them and companies do too, as if Dethlok supports them, every other competitor crumbles
Best Adult Swim Shows
10. Sealab 2021 — Random as it gets with some similarities to a comedy-based Star Trek show underwater… if that doesn’t intrigue you
9. Tim and Eric — Eric Wareheim (the GIF guy you never knew who it was/what from), John C. Reilly drinking wine, Bob Odenkirk involved
8. Robot Chicken — Similar to some other shows listed below, if I just took the first few seasons, Robot Chicken would be Top 3, and honestly, the stop motion comedy of the best in pop culture topics/characters is terrific
7. The Venture Bros — Like me, you might be too young for Jonny Quest, but you don’t need to have seen Quest to enjoy watching a genius scientist, his idiotic sons and Puddy as their bodyguard (Seinfeld shoutout)
6. The Brak Show — A spin-off from the next show (below), this is the most underrated show of all Adult Swim. The songs make the show, and you can watch a rap battle with Cee-Lo here
5. Space Ghost — A spoof on late-night talk shows. The best part is I never knew if the guests actually heard George Lowe or they asked different questions and then pieced it all together
4. Harvey Birdman — Gary Cole and Stephen Colbert! Another Hanna-Barbera recreation for humor where Birdman is a lawyer taking cases no one else will
3. Aqua Teen Hunger Force — Fell off just a bit towards the end, but so many laughs! Carl, Ignignokt and Err, the movie (I still remember the movie intro song, which is NSFW)
2. Final Space — So great. Character development, emotion, laughs. Genuinely upset for Olan Rogers that they didn’t renew so he could finish the series.
1. Rick and Morty — This isn’t an “if you don’t like it, you’re dumb” ranking. Yes, there are some weak episodes — mostly due to trying to cram in too many jokes, etc. — but some of the newest season’s episodes were as great as ever (Rickmurai Jack), though Total Rickall and Meeseeks and Destroy are two of the best
#CheckTheLink-age
Waivers | True SOS (APA — Wednesday update)
Strategy and Advice (Get In My Brain!)
Athletic Pod | All in Football (video pod)
🚨 REMINDER 🚨
Updated every day except Saturday all the way up to kickoff, Sunday
Sleepers are upside, often riskier, picks. Don’t bench players ranked higher… unless you’re shooting for upside
2021 Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings and Sleepers
QUARTERBACK
Derek Carr, LV — Whether basic fantasy points or APA (Adjusted Points Allowed), the Footballs rank above every team by a decent margin. They’ve allowed seven games of 23+ points with a broken Russell Wilson going for 19.5 on Monday night. Carr has been inconsistent, but his worst games have come against two high-quality pass defenses (LAC, NYG) and two mid-range opponents who can cause issues when they’re on their game (CHI, CIN).
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CHASING THE RIVER (aka, lotto ticket)
Jimmy Garoppolo, SF — Garoppolo managed just 11.2 points last week, but he had 25.3, 19.3, 15.4 and 15.6, respectively, in the four previous games with CHI, ARI, LAR in three straight weeks. Obviously, we’re aiming for the 20+ score and this is a risk, but if the Seahawks (Russell Wilson) bounce back, and this game becomes high-scoring, Garoppolo could be a fill-in for Aaron Rodgers relaxing this week.
RUNNING BACK
Boston Scott, PHI — Even if Miles Sanders is ready for Week 13, the Texans were the first team without a running back to score at least 13 on the Jets. It was only the fifth time two running backs haven’t hit double-digits against the Jets, as well. Sanders and Scott can return Top 25 value in Week 13, and Scott has Top 15 upside if Sanders is out or limited.
Damien Harris, NE — The Bills defense is a concern, but Jonathan Taylor destroyed them, as did Derrick Henry, while Michael Carter and Antonio Gibson had nice games of 16.2 and 16.9, respectively. So, they’re certainly vulnerable, and Harris has proven his three-down upside this year. While Rhamondre Stevenson gets plenty of work and Brandon Bolden could always get involved, Harris is still worthy of a Flex/RB3 play.
CHASING THE RIVER (aka, lotto ticket)
Ronald Jones, TB — This is a gamble for Jones to score in his third straight game. That’s it. Jones has rushing lines of 8-for-33 and 7-for-37 the past two games with no targets. But with the Buccaneers ready to steamroll the Falcons, Jones can get garbage/grind-the-clock touches. There’s your touchdown prayer.
WIDE RECEIVER
DeVonta Smith, PHI — Going back to the Eagles, Jalen Hurts and Smith should stay in your lineup even after last week’s frustrations. The Giants secondary is much better than the Jets, who let Brandin Cooks find the end zone. The Jets have allowed at least one double-digit receiver score in each game since Week 7 — Week 5 if you count Cordarrelle Patterson at receiver. In fact, all three Bengals had double-digits, and both Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis hit 12+ in their game.
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CHASING THE RIVER (aka, lotto ticket)
Josh Reynolds, DET — This isn’t just chasing Reynolds’ Thanksgiving performance. It’s a good matchup with the Vikings, and Reynolds showed the chemistry he and Jared Goff had on the Rams. Reynolds was second in snaps and first in routes in Week 11, not catching any of his three targets. Things clicked in Week 12, when he was second in snaps, third in routes, but led in targets (five), going 3/70/1. Here’s hoping the chemistry carries into Week 13.
TIGHT END
Foster Moreau, LV — The last time Darren Waller missed a game (Week 7), Moreau was on the field for 100% of the offensive snaps, running just three fewer routes than the team leader (Bryan Edwards — 33). Moreau was also second in targets (six) to Hunter Renfrow (seven) with a line of 6/60/1. Moreau was TE4 in Week 7, and as mentioned with Carr, the matchup is glorious too.
Week 13 Fantasy Football Projections
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
These differ some from my rankings, and my ranks are the exact order I’d start players. Just like preseason projections and rankings, I’ll play some with more upside even though a bit behind in projected points.
Also, based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR
Sunday morning cleanup to get straight to RANKS
Quarterback Projections
Running Back Projections
Wide Receiver Projections
Tight End Projections
Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings
ECR: Stands for Expert Consensus Rank. Don’t focus on it too much, as not all experts update consistently/constantly
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Jake Ciely is rankings: Fantasy Football, Fantasy Baseball, candy, movies, video games, cereal... anything! Truly, Jake is a ranking prodigy. Oh, he's also the senior fantasy writer for The Athletic, an award-winning analyst and loves DuckTales. Make sure you #CheckTheLink and #BanKickers ... woo-oo! Follow Jake on Twitter @allinkid
