The Carolina Panthers will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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 WR Xavier Legette.
Is Xavier Legette Playing in Week 13?
Legette is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any unexpected setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Panthers’ 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 Xavier Legette in Week 13?
Did you know that Xavier Legette and David Moore have the same on-field target share this season?
My guess is no, and yet, one has been kicking around fantasy rosters while the other, before last week, you may not have known what team he was on. The rookie has some splash-play ability (a 34-yard catch on the first drive last week and four straight games with a reception of 23+ yards), but he’s not earning opportunities at nearly a high enough level to overcome the below-average QB play that Carolina runs out there.
I maintain my thought that this Panthers offense will be one that I’m looking at in the later stages of drafts this summer, but that’s a long-term thought that we will discuss at a later date. For right now, Legette doesn’t deserve lineup consideration (his next 70-yard game will be his first).
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.
Xavier Legette’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 13
As of 8 AM ET on Sunday morning, Legette is projected to score 10.1 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 2 receptions for 60 yards and 0.3 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 Buccaneers' Defense
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense matched their best performance of the season in Week 12. However, that is faint praise, given it was a matchup against Tommy DeVito in his first start of the season. Their previous best performance came against Spencer Rattler in his first start of the year.
To this point, Tampa Bay has only proven that it can beat up on backup quarterbacks. Even its ninth-ranked performance against the Eagles came against a team devastated by injuries at the time. Meanwhile, it has a terrible history when facing better offenses.
One saving grace with the Buccaneers is that they've played the hardest schedule to date but face the easiest schedule going forward.
We may continue to see improvements in the coming weeks, but that might not be indicative of a major improvement -- rather just an easing of the schedule. Whatever happens in the next few weeks, Tampa Bay's defense will be an area of concern if it makes the playoffs.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Xavier Legette’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 WR PPR Rankings
1) A.J. Brown | PHI (at BAL)
2) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. ARI)
3) Nico Collins | HOU (at JAX)
4) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (vs. PIT)
5) Puka Nacua | LAR (at NO)
6) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (vs. CHI)
7) George Pickens | PIT (at CIN)
8) Mike Evans | TB (at CAR)
9) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at GB)
10) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (vs. NYG)
11) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. TEN)
12) Cooper Kupp | LAR (at NO)
13) Tee Higgins | CIN (vs. PIT)
14) Drake London | ATL (vs. LAC)
15) Malik Nabers | NYG (at DAL)
16) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. CLE)
17) DK Metcalf | SEA (at NYJ)
18) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. SF)
19) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at WAS)
20) Zay Flowers | BAL (vs. PHI)
21) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at NYJ)
22) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at ATL)
23) Jayden Reed | GB (vs. MIA)
24) Jameson Williams | DET (vs. CHI)
25) Jauan Jennings | SF (at BUF)
26) Davante Adams | NYJ (vs. SEA)
27) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (at BUF)
28) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at GB)
29) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs. SEA)
30) DeVonta Smith | PHI (at BAL)
31) Darnell Mooney | ATL (vs. LAC)
32) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs. SF)
33) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at NE)
34) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (at MIN)
35) Tank Dell | HOU (at JAX)
36) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (vs. LV)
37) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at KC)
38) DJ Moore | CHI (at DET)
39) Xavier Worthy | KC (vs. LV)
40) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. HOU)
41) Keenan Allen | CHI (at DET)
42) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. ARI)
43) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at ATL)
44) Rome Odunze | CHI (at DET)
45) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (at DEN)
46) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (at DAL)
47) Elijah Moore | CLE (at DEN)
48) Christian Watson | GB (vs. MIA)
49) Noah Brown | WAS (vs. TEN)
50) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (vs. SF)
51) Xavier Legette | CAR (vs. TB)
52) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. IND)
53) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at WAS)
54) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs. SF)
55) Adam Thielen | CAR (vs. TB)
56) Brandin Cooks | DAL (vs. NYG)
57) Ricky Pearsall | SF (at BUF)
58) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. IND)
59) Alec Pierce | IND (at NE)
60) Devaughn Vele | DEN (vs. CLE)
61) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (vs. LAC)
62) Darius Slayton | NYG (at DAL)
63) Rashod Bateman | BAL (vs. PHI)
64) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (vs. NYG)
65) Mike Williams | PIT (at CIN)
66) Jalen McMillan | TB (at CAR)
67) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at ATL)
68) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at NYJ)
69) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (vs. LV)
70) Michael Wilson | ARI (at MIN)
71) Tre Tucker | LV (at KC)
72) Van Jefferson | PIT (at CIN)
73) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (at NO)
74) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. HOU)
75) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. IND)
76) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs. SF)
77) Adonai Mitchell | IND (at NE)
78) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at WAS)
79) Calvin Austin III | PIT (at CIN)
80) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (vs. MIA)
81) Justin Watson | KC (vs. LV)
82) Diontae Johnson | BAL (vs. PHI)
83) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (vs. NYG)
84) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. CLE)
85) Lil'Jordan Humphrey | DEN (vs. CLE)
86) John Metchie III | HOU (at JAX)
87) Ja'Lynn Polk | NE (vs. IND)
88) Jalen Nailor | MIN (vs. ARI)
89) Troy Franklin | DEN (vs. CLE)
90) Odell Beckham Jr. | MIA (at GB)
91) Kalif Raymond | DET (vs. CHI)
92) Tim Patrick | DET (vs. CHI)
93) Jahan Dotson | PHI (at BAL)
94) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (vs. TEN)
95) Malik Washington | MIA (at GB)
96) Nelson Agholor | BAL (vs. PHI)
97) Bo Melton | GB (vs. MIA)
98) Tylan Wallace | BAL (vs. PHI)
99) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (vs. TEN)
100) Mecole Hardman Jr. | KC (vs. LV)
101) Tutu Atwell | LAR (at NO)
102) Jalen Brooks | DAL (vs. NYG)
103) Dyami Brown | WAS (vs. TEN)
104) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (at JAX)
105) DJ Turner | LV (at KC)
106) Tyler Johnson | LAR (at NO)
107) Robert Woods | HOU (at JAX)
108) Jalen Reagor | LAC (at ATL)
109) Jake Bobo | SEA (at NYJ)
110) Jordan Whittington | LAR (at NO)
111) Greg Dortch | ARI (at MIN)
112) Jonathan Mingo | DAL (vs. NYG)
113) Sterling Shepard | TB (at CAR)
114) Parris Campbell | PHI (at BAL)
115) Trey Palmer | TB (at CAR)
116) DeAndre Carter | CHI (at DET)
117) Laviska Shenault Jr. | SEA (at NYJ)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers Trends
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Team: Tampa Bay closed last regular season by winning five of six games, a run they might need to replicate this year to make the playoffs.
QB: Baker Mayfield completed five of six deep passes on Sunday against the Giants with Mike Evans back in the mix. He completed five-of-17 such attempts in the three games prior.
Offense: The Bucs have scored a touchdown on 12-of-15 red zone drives over their past four games (80%).
Defense: In Week 12 against the Giants, the Bucs allowed seven points on 10 drives (0.7 points per drive). In their four games prior, 3.1 points were allowed per drive.
Fantasy: Rookie running backs over the past decade to have multiple games with at least 40 rushing yards and six receptions: Alvin Kamara (five), Saquon Barkley (four), Najee Harris (three), James Robinson (two), Bijan Robinson (two), and Bucky Irving (two).
Betting: After six straight overs, consecutive Tampa Bay games have checked in under the closing total.
Carolina Panthers
Team: Carolina has played three straight games decided by three or fewer points (their first eight games this season were all decided by double digits).
QB: Bryce Young averaged 7.5 yards per pass against Kansas City, his best showing in a start since Week 16 of last season (vs. Packers).
Offense: The Panthers averaged 44.6 yards per drive against the Chiefs, 23.9% better than in any other game this season.
Defense: Over their past three games, Carolina has allowed a touchdown on just five-of-12 (41.7%) of red zone trips (NFL average: 56.7%).
Fantasy: Until the usage changes, there’s no reason to hesitate in playing Chuba Hubbard – he’s cleared 18.5 expected fantasy points in three straight games, his second such streak of the season.
Betting: Over their past seven Week 13 games, the Panthers are 1-6 ATS with overs going 6-1.