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Predicting studs and duds for NFL Week 13

Le'Veon Bell
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into NFL Week 13, the playoff picture is forming. But whether they have playoff hopes or not, all 32 teams will still show up on game day to compete. In addition to some new faces making their debuts, there are multiple divisional games on the schedule.

One hot competition on this week’s agenda is a matchup between the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. Both clubs are 8-3 and really need their star players to step up, rather than step back.

Another contest one head coach in particular is dreading is his game against the New England Patriots. Will New England advance to 10-2 after this week? Or will the underdog team prevail?

Soon enough, we will see how all 16 games play out. For now, here are our stud and dud predictions for NFL Week 13.

Stud: Le’Veon Bell, running back, Pittsburgh Steelers

Bell has had his ups and downs this season and is not always a sure bet to produce a monster game. After all, he is averaging an un-Bell-like 89.2 rushing yards per game. In Week 13, he should roll out some eye-opening numbers against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are giving up 126.6 rushing yards per game and Bell is the obvious workhorse to receive the bulk share of the carries. Plus, Cincinnati has allowed a total of four running back touchdowns in the last four weeks.

Dud: Derrick Henry, running back, Tennessee Titans

Henry and the Titans host the Houston Texans, and the second-year running back could hit walls. Last week we saw Henry rush for 6.08 yards per carry when he tallied 79 yards on the ground. Unfortunately, the Texans rush defense has allowed only 3.8 yards per attempt and just three running back rushing touchdowns all season. If Houston’s defense does give up a ground score, it could easily be stolen by Henry’s teammate, DeMarco Murray.

Stud: Case Keenum, quarterback, Minnesota Vikings

There should no longer be any doubt that Keenum is a legitimate threat under center. He currently sports a 96.2 quarterback rating and has thrown just five picks compared to 14 touchdowns. He should keep the momentum going on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons, in particular, have been terrible against quarterbacks who can also run. In their last four games, the Falcons have allowed an average of 53.5 rushing yards per game. They have also given up three quarterback rushing scores in this stretch. Keenum might just dazzle through the air as well as on foot.

Dud: Josh Gordon, wide receiver, Cleveland Browns

This is the game Browns’ fans have been waiting for. Cleveland plans to activate Gordon after his nearly three-year dry spell. So what is in store for the 26-year-old receiver? That would be a road game at the home of the Los Angeles Chargers. This matchup will be anything but a piece of cake for Gordon. The Chargers defense should present nightmares all day long for rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, just as it did for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott last week. Gordon’s production only looks to suffer as a result.

Stud: Damarious Randle, cornerback, Green Bay Packers

Randle and the Packers put up an unexpected fight when the cornerback added one interception to his stat line against Pittsburgh last week. Randle will now get to feast on a home tilt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Whether it is Ryan Fitzpatrick or Jameis Winston leading the Bucs offense, there are bound to be mistakes made. To date, Randle leads the Packers with four interceptions, one touchdown and 10 defended passes. Surely, he could stand to throw some monkey wrenches into a vulnerable Bucs’ offense.

Dud: Alex Smith, quarterback Kansas City Chiefs

Smith’s stock has taken a cliff dive as of late. Unfortunately, things might not get any easier for Smith playing at the home of the New York Jets this Sunday. For starters, the Jets are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 59.3 percent of their passes. As for Smith, his newly developed skill of completing long passes is dwindling. He has averaged just 5.6 yards per pass over his last two games. This stinks, especially compared to him opening the season averaging 10.5 yards per pass. We hate to count Smith out prematurely, but he is not giving us much hope these days.

Stud: Rod Smith, running back, Dallas Cowboys

Nobody will take the place of suspended Ezekiel Elliott on the Cowboys’ offense. But, we like Smith at home hosting the Washington Redskins this week. The young running back will be facing a Redskins defense that has given up the fifth-most receiving yards (193) to opposing running backs in the last four games. Even better, Washington has yielded 4.9 yards per carry on average in this span. The pass-catching Smith might just climb the depth chart over fellow back Alfred Morris in Week 13.

Dud: Alvin Kamara, running back, New Orleans Saints

It is hard to put Kamara in this category given his explosiveness as of late, but let’s just say he gets a downgrade this week. When the Panthers come to town, they will be pulling out all of the stops to slow down Kamara. The Panthers have been stingy against the run, giving up just 3.9 yards per attempt and 83.2 yards per game. We envision quarterback Drew Brees having to throw more than the usual in this contest. It may be difficult for Kamara to maintain his 7.1 yards per carry against linebacker Luke Kuechly and Co. this week.

Stud: Jared Cook, tight end, Oakland Raiders

Somebody is going to have to step up and catch the ball from quarterback Derek Carr on game day. Amari Cooper could be out and Michael Crabtree is suspended for fighting. Fortunately, the Raiders host the New York Giants, who have been bad against defending tight ends. On the season, the Giants have allowed a league-high 10 tight end touchdowns. This comes along with yielding 76.8 yards on average per game. Cook should be a major part of the Raiders moving the ball downfield in this very friendly matchup.

Dud: Doug Baldwin, wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks

Last week, we missed “Angry Doug” in action. He had a sleepy two-catch, 25-yard performance against the San Francisco 49ers. This week at home against the Philadelphia Eagles, expect another potentially dreary game. So far this season, the Eagles have given up just six touchdowns to opposing wideouts. It already looks to be a long day as quarterback Russell Wilson will be challenged in general to get his Seahawks scoring.

Stud: Brett Hundley, quarterback, Green Bay Packers

We saw the revival of Hundley last week against a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense, and we liked it. In Week 13, we like Hundley even more at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over their last four games, the Buccaneers have surrendered an average of 302 passing yards per game. The team is also allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete a friendly 67.4 percent of their passes. Hundley is primed for a successful performance if he can fully take advantage.

Dud: Cooper Kupp, wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams

Kupp is not likely to spit out another 116-yard performance like he did in his last game. He will be facing a Cardinals defense that did not allow more than 42 receiving yards to one individual player in its last game. Plus, the rookie will also be hard pressed to score. The Cardinals defense has given up only one wide receiving touchdown in the last four games. Kupp is more in line for a quiet game.

Stud: Terrell Suggs, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Suggs and the Ravens will look to continue their winning streak when they host the Detroit Lions. It should be an easier task than not for Suggs to add a sack — or even two — to his stats when the Lions come to town. Outside of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett, quarterback Matthew Stafford has been sacked the second-most times (36) in the league. On the ground, Detroit’s offense ranks third-worst. We are sure Suggs helps keep this stat in place as well.

Dud: Geno Smith, quarterback, New York Giants

We are not sure what Giants head coach Ben McAdoo is thinking here. But starting Smith on the road in Oakland against a defense that contains linebacker Khalil Mack sounds like a recipe for disaster. Insert one of Eli Manning’s distraught faces here. Smith has one start in his last three seasons. In his five-year NFL career, the maligned quarterback has completed an average of just 57.7 percent of his passes while throwing 28 touchdowns and 36 picks. Even against a generous Raiders passing defense, Smith is set up for a crash landing.

Stud: Blake Bortles, quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles NFL Week 3

It is rare that Bortles makes this list in the stud category. But, his home matchup against the Colts compels us to predict a wonderful outing this week. First of all, the Colts are giving up the third-most passing yards (266) per game. Bortles also just ran in two touchdowns last week. He will face a Colts defense allowing 4.0 yards per carry and a total of 11 rushing touchdowns. Only two other teams have surrendered more rushing scores. Those struggling at the fantasy quarterback position might consider giving Bortles a whirl this week.

Dud: Zay Jones, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills

Jones’ stock is on the rise and he just scored his second touchdown of the season. This will only put him on head coach Bill Belichick’s radar when the Bills host the Patriots. The Patriots defense is much improved and has found ways to neutralize opposing teams’ hottest receivers. It just held Miami’s speedster wideout Kenny Stills to three catches for 47 yards and zero scores. The Patriots will have Jones’ number this week.

Stud: Delanie Walker, tight end, Tennessee Titans

Walker is often quarterback Marcus Mariota’s security blanket. After scoring his first touchdown of the year last game and tallying 92 yards the week prior, we predict more success for Walker when the Texans come to town. From a fantasy-football standpoint, the Texans have allowed the sixth-most points to the tight end position. This equates to an average of 63.9 yards gained per game and six total touchdowns. Walker is poised for a grand day.

Dud: LeGarrette Blount, running back, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount is under tremendous pressure to do something positive in NFL preseason Week 3

The Eagles take flight and head to Seattle to face the Seahawks this week. This game should prove to be far more difficult than last week’s tilt against the Chicago Bears. Meaning, Blount won’t receive the 15 carries that he turned into 97 yards his last game. Seattle is giving up just 3.9 rushing yards per attempt. Even worse, opposing running backs are rushing for a meager 84.1 yards on average per matchup. Philly’s crowd of running backs won’t help Bount’s value this week.

Stud: Kendall Fuller, cornerback, Washington Redskins

Fuller must be thrilled for his upcoming matchup against the Cowboys. Even on the road, Fuller should have a blast feasting on a burned-out quarterback Dak Prescott and his offense. It should be cakewalk for Fuller to add to his team-high four interceptions, facing Prescott who has tossed five in his last two games. Fuller has also defended 10 passes and forced a fumble this season. He should put up one of his better performances when he takes advantage of everything gone wrong in Dallas.

Dud: DeVante Parker, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins

Parker’s targets have been paling in comparison to that of his fellow receivers. No matter who is quarterbacking for the Dolphins, it is difficult to trust that Parker is suddenly going to have a stellar performance. Even facing the Denver Broncos at home, we do not see Parker snapping out of his funk. He has managed to catch only five of his 12 targets for 31 yards in his last two games. Meeting the likes of an angry Broncos’ defense does nothing to help Parker’s case this week.

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