The Atlanta Falcons will face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13.Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding RB Bijan Robinson.
Is Bijan Robinson Playing in Week 13?
Robinson is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Falcons’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Bijan Robinson in Week 13?
It’s funny how impactful creativity can be, isn’t it? Arthur Smith was unwilling to explore new-age play-calling a season ago, and that limited the Falcons’ potential across the board. This year? Different story. For Bijan Robinson …
- 2023: 32.2% vs loaded boxes
- 2024: 15.6% vs loaded boxes
His fantasy stock has also gained stability by seeing at least four targets in six straight games; with the variety of looks, Robinson’s raw talent is shining through with more regularity (he has a 15+ yard catch and rush in two of his past three games).
With Atlanta in an advantageous rest spot this week, I think they can be just fine against Los Angeles’ elite defense. Robinson is capable of taking over at a moment’s notice, and that fact, coming off a bye, lands him as a top-five running back for me this weekend.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 13 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Bijan Robinson’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 13
As of 8 AM ET on Sunday morning, Robinson is projected to score 18.5 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 18.1 rushing attempts for 83.4 yards and 0.5 touchdowns. It also includes 2.1 receptions for 37.8 yards and 0.2 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Chargers' Defense
The arrival of Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter from Michigan has had an instant impact on the Los Angeles Chargers' defense. Despite being led by a defensive-minded coach in Brandon Staley, the Chargers had ranked 24th or below in each of the last four years. With some minor tweaks in personnel and a new philosophy, Harbaugh and Minter have this group ranking as a top-five unit at this stage of the season.
As we suspected, they struggled against the Ravens, who took full advantage of their middling run defense and then were able to attack their secondary when the Chargers committed more men to the run. Their red-zone defense was also not up to its usual standard, and that ultimately proved the difference in a one-score game.
Week 12 was Los Angeles' second week ranked outside the top 20, so it is certainly no reason for panic. They will want to bounce back against the Falcons in Week 13, but it is a tough spot on a short week after facing a physical team on Monday, especially with an early kickoff on the other side of the country.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Bijan Robinson’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 10:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 13 RB PPR Rankings
1) De'Von Achane | MIA (at GB)
2) Saquon Barkley | PHI (at BAL)
3) Joe Mixon | HOU (at JAX)
4) Christian McCaffrey | SF (at BUF)
5) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. LAC)
6) Derrick Henry | BAL (vs. PHI)
7) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (vs. CHI)
8) Jonathan Taylor | IND (at NE)
9) Kyren Williams | LAR (at NO)
10) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. SEA)
11) James Conner | ARI (at MIN)
12) Josh Jacobs | GB (vs. MIA)
13) David Montgomery | DET (vs. CHI)
14) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (at NYJ)
15) James Cook | BUF (vs. SF)
16) Alvin Kamara | NO (vs. LAR)
17) Chase Brown | CIN (vs. PIT)
18) Aaron Jones | MIN (vs. ARI)
19) Bucky Irving | TB (at CAR)
20) Najee Harris | PIT (at CIN)
21) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (vs. TB)
22) Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG (at DAL)
23) Tony Pollard | TEN (at WAS)
24) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (vs. TEN)
25) Rico Dowdle | DAL (vs. NYG)
26) Kareem Hunt | KC (vs. LV)
27) D'Andre Swift | CHI (at DET)
28) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE (vs. IND)
29) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (vs. HOU)
30) Gus Edwards | LAC (at ATL)
31) Rachaad White | TB (at CAR)
32) Nick Chubb | CLE (at DEN)
33) Tank Bigsby | JAX (vs. HOU)
34) Jeremy McNichols | WAS (vs. TEN)
35) Jaylen Warren | PIT (at CIN)
36) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. LV)
37) Javonte Williams | DEN (vs. CLE)
38) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. LAC)
39) Audric Estimé | DEN (vs. CLE)
40) Roschon Johnson | CHI (at DET)
41) Justice Hill | BAL (vs. PHI)
42) Ray Davis | BUF (vs. SF)
43) Jaylen Wright | MIA (at GB)
44) Jerome Ford | CLE (at DEN)
45) Ameer Abdullah | LV (at KC)
46) Cam Akers | HOU (at JAX)
47) Trey Benson | ARI (at MIN)
48) Raheem Mostert | MIA (at GB)
49) Devin Singletary | NYG (at DAL)
50) Braelon Allen | NYJ (vs. SEA)
51) Emanuel Wilson | GB (vs. MIA)
52) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (at NYJ)
53) Jonathon Brooks | CAR (vs. TB)
54) Jordan Mason | SF (at BUF)
55) Samaje Perine | KC (vs. LV)
56) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN (vs. CLE)
57) Tyjae Spears | TEN (at WAS)
58) Blake Corum | LAR (at NO)
59) Antonio Gibson | NE (vs. IND)
60) Keaton Mitchell | BAL (vs. PHI)
61) Dylan Laube | LV (at KC)
62) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (at BAL)
63) Sean Tucker | TB (at CAR)
64) Khalil Herbert | CIN (vs. PIT)
65) Dare Ogunbowale | HOU (at JAX)
66) Ezekiel Elliott | DAL (vs. NYG)
67) JaMycal Hasty | NE (vs. IND)
68) Jamaal Williams | NO (vs. LAR)
69) Isaac Guerendo | SF (at BUF)
70) Will Shipley | PHI (at BAL)
71) Kyle Juszczyk | SF (at BUF)
72) Chris Brooks | GB (vs. MIA)
73) Cordarrelle Patterson | PIT (at CIN)
74) Ty Chandler | MIN (vs. ARI)
75) Trey Sermon | IND (at NE)
76) Emari Demercado | ARI (at MIN)
77) Carson Steele | KC (vs. LV)
78) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at JAX)
79) Hassan Haskins | LAC (at ATL)
80) Tyler Goodson | IND (at NE)
81) Patrick Ricard | BAL (vs. PHI)
82) Hunter Luepke | DAL (vs. NYG)
83) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE (at DEN)
84) Julius Chestnut | TEN (at WAS)
85) Craig Reynolds | DET (vs. CHI)
86) Dalvin Cook | DAL (vs. NYG)
87) J.J. Taylor | HOU (at JAX)
88) Michael Burton | DEN (vs. CLE)
89) Sione Vaki | DET (vs. CHI)
90) C.J. Ham | MIN (vs. ARI)
91) Ronnie Rivers | LAR (at NO)
92) Travis Homer | CHI (at DET)
93) Kenny McIntosh | SEA (at NYJ)
94) Blake Watson | DEN (vs. CLE)
95) Eric Gray | NYG (at DAL)
96) Tyreik McAllister | LV (at KC)
97) Joshua Kelley | NYG (at DAL)
98) Alec Ingold | MIA (at GB)
99) DeeJay Dallas | ARI (at MIN)
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons Trends
Los Angeles Chargers
Team: Los Angeles embarks upon its third two-game road trip of the season. In the previous two trips, they've won the first game and lost the second one (Week 14: at Kansas City).
QB: There have been 50 instances this season in which a QB has thrown 3+ touchdown passes in a game -- Justin Herbert's name is not on that list.
Offense: In Weeks 8-12, Los Angeles has picked up just 32.8% of their third downs (Weeks 1-7: 42.5%).
Defense: The Chargers have allowed more than three points in only two first quarters this season, something that has allowed this team to function from a position of power (7-3-1 record in first quarters).
Fantasy: During Los Angeles' first two drives on Monday night, JK Dobbins was involved in 11 of 24 plays (six carries and five targets).
Betting: The Chargers have seen under tickets cash in seven of their past eight games against the NFC.
Atlanta Falcons
Team: Five of the Falcons’ six home games this season have been decided by a single possession.
QB: Atlanta’s recent struggles have been the result of Kirk Cousins not living up to expectations. In Weeks 10-11, he completed just 60.4% of his passes with zero scores and two interceptions when not blitzed (Weeks 8-9: 82.1% with six touchdowns and zero interceptions).
Offense: The Falcons scored 3.1 points per drive in Week 8 against the Bucs – in Week 9 their rate fell to 2.5, in Week 10 to 1.6, and in the Week 11 disaster against the Broncos, just 0.6.
Defense: Atlanta hasn’t forced a turnover in three straight games (they only had two such games through the first eight weeks this season).
Fantasy: Drake London has twice as many top-20 finishes this season (six) as last.
Betting: The Falcons have covered five games this season, four of which came by four or fewer points.