Top 5 takeaways from week 13

Featuring Lamar Jackson, Devaughn Vele, and more.

December 01, 2025

Yooo!

Hope you enjoyed the long weekend. Wanted to start tonight’s newsletter with a shoutout to a cool, new tool in the fantasy football space.

I’m not getting paid to promote this, and I’m not affiliated with them. I just think it’s an awesome tool with a lot of potential.

Benchboom is trying to solve the age-old question of “Who do I start? in a new and faster way. It works like this:

  • You post a start/sit question

  • Other users swipe left or right with their votes

  • You get instant crowd-sourced answers

What I really like is that every voter gets tracked for accuracy, so you don’t have to question the credibility of who is voting on your poll.

And it’s all free. Try it out this week and lmk what you think. The more people that use it, the better the results will be 👇️ 

Now, let’s get into this week’s top takeaways from week 13.

Giddy up.

RB - Bucky Irving (TB)

  • Bucky Irving made his first appearance since Week 4, returning to the Buccaneers' backfield in a significant role despite playing only 54% of snaps in their 20-17 win over the Cardinals.

  • Irving demonstrated his potential as the lead back by accumulating 17 carries for 61 yards and scoring a touchdown, while also contributing two receptions for 20 yards. He even had another touchdown called back due to a holding penalty.

  • Head Coach Todd Bowles suggested a potential 'hot hand' situation in the backfield, but Irving's performance strongly indicates he may become the primary running back moving forward, outperforming teammates Rachaad White and Sean Tucker.

  • Our take: Bucky is back and already doing Bucky things. I’d expect his snap % to increase, and even if it doesn’t, he’s shown he can produce with less. We have him ranked just above a 2026 Early 1st.

WR - Adonai Mitchell (NYJ)

  • Adonai Mitchell, a Jets wide receiver, had the best game of his career in Week 13, catching eight of 12 targets for 102 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons. The article notes that while Mitchell's talent was never in question, his opportunity and focus were previously uncertain.

  • Mitchell is operating in a weak Jets passing game, but the team is likely to be playing from behind often this season, which could create more opportunities for him. Tyrod Taylor's ability to get Mitchell the ball in space is highlighted as a potential positive for his fantasy value.

  • With a favorable upcoming schedule (MIA, @ JAX, @ NO, NE) and consistent snaps expected, Mitchell is recommended as a boom-bust flex option in PPR formats. The article suggests he is worth adding in deeper leagues for managers seeking potential late-season wide receiver production.

  • Our take: I’m sure there will be ups and downs the rest of the way, but Mitchell has the talent and opportunity to put up a stat line like this any week. But good luck predicting when those weeks will be… If you could still get him for a 3rd, I’d take that shot on him.

WR - Isaac TeSlaa (DET)

  • With Amon-Ra St. Brown sidelined due to an ankle injury, Isaac TeSlaa stepped into a significant role for the Lions, achieving an 84% route participation rate - his highest mark of the season. Despite limited targets, he made the most of his opportunities, catching two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.

  • TeSlaa has demonstrated remarkable efficiency, scoring three touchdowns on just six career catches - an extraordinary 50% touchdown rate. While this rate is unsustainable, it highlights his potential as a playmaking rookie in an elite offensive system.

  • The article notes that St. Brown's injury is reportedly minor but likely to sideline him for at least a week or two. With Kalif Raymond also out, TeSlaa represents an intriguing, albeit risky, option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues looking for potential upside.

  • Our take: You never root for injuries, but I hope St. Brown sits a week or two and we can see what TeSlaa does with starting reps. There’s still a lot of competition in DET when everyone is healthy, but maybe he shows something these next two weeks.

WR - Devaughn Vele (NOR)

  • In Week 13, Devaughn Vele had a career-high 93 receiving yards on eight receptions, positioning himself as an emerging target in the New Orleans Saints' offense. His eight targets were second on the team, behind only Juwan Johnson.

  • The Saints traded a fourth and seventh-round pick to acquire Vele, suggesting the team sees potential in his future role within their offensive strategy. With New Orleans projected to be in numerous negative game scripts, Vele could see increased opportunities.

  • The article recommends Vele as a waiver wire addition, highlighting his potential value in upcoming weeks as the Saints continue to evaluate their offensive options.

  • Our take: This move really flew under the radar. A historically “meh” player gets traded to a “meh” offense with a “meh” QB. Vele feels like a candidate for “That one random player that goes off in the fantasy playoffs, and then we never hear from him again” guy. There could be value the rest of the way, but I’m not buying in long-term.

QB - Lamar Jackson (BAL)

  • Lamar Jackson is experiencing a significant performance decline, with Week 13 marking his second negative stat line in three contests and his third consecutive game without scoring a touchdown. Jackson appears uncomfortable on the field and has lost his usual dynamic playmaking ability.

  • Jackson's recent struggles are particularly evident in his passing performance, with a mere 56% completion rate over the last four games. He has also shown reduced elusiveness running the ball, potentially due to toe and ankle issues that are hampering his typical explosive style.

  • The upcoming home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 represents a critical opportunity for Jackson to potentially return to his MVP-caliber form, though his managers are understandably frustrated by his recent lack of productive performances.

  • Our take: I feel like this is the only possible explanation…

That’s all for tonight!

See ya pizza,

Joe

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