5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 13

A trio of running backs and a pair of interesting wide receivers make up this week’s top fantasy football pickups.

Week 13 brings December with it to the NFL, making every week more critical for fantasy owners. With only two weeks left in most fantasy regular seasons, the pickups you make in a given week can be the difference between making the playoffs and trying to avoid that dreaded last place punishment in the consolation bracket.

As we do every week in this space, let’s take a look at the top fantasy football pickups to help you win in Week 13 and beyond. All rostered percentages referenced in this slideshow are courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

5. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 13 – New York Jets RB Tevin Coleman

The loss of Michael Carter to a high-ankle sprain was a tough blow for the Jets since he was coming into his own as a quality starter. Carter landed on injured reserve this week, meaning he is out for at least two more weeks, creating an opportunity for shrewd fantasy owners to add a short-term running back option.

Tevin Coleman was the immediate beneficiary for New York, recording 16 carries for 67 yards against the Houston Texans in Week 12, out-carrying both Ty Johnson and practice-squad call-up Austin Walter in the process. Walter and Zach Wilson did score both rushing touchdowns for the Jets but Coleman was clearly the most trusted option here by the coaching staff.

Rostered in just 18 percent of Yahoo leagues, Coleman has the potential to be a volume-based RB2 over the next few weeks while the Jets wait for Carter to return from his injury. New York is clearly going to try running the football more to help take some of the load off of Wilson, making Coleman a sneaky-good flex play for all fantasy managers in need of help at the position.