High-Cost Option: Cam Newton $7,400
Cam Newton has been on an absolute tear this season and squares up this week against one the worst pass defenses according to numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics in the Saints. In their previous matchup against New Orleans, Newton threw for a season-high 314 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns while rushing a third one in on the ground. That was one of Newton's three 30-plus fantasy point outings this year. He looks to be in great shape to repeat such a feat in Week 13. The Saints are giving up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, the most passing touchdowns, and the third-most passing yards. Newton's price has gone up, but for $7,400 you're paying for a top-flight quarterback in a plus matchup with a built-in rushing floor. Fade at your own risk in cash games.
Mid-Cost Option: Andy Dalton $6,700
Andy Dalton and the Bengals travel to Cleveland this week in an AFC North showdown. The Bengals are seven-point favorites in this matchup on the road, with the third-highest implied point total of the week by Vegas. Dalton has averaged 22.7 fantasy points per game in road contests this year and will look to improve on that number against a Browns defense giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Dalton threw for 234 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in their last matchup and will look to repeat that feat this week.
Low-Cost Option: Jay Cutler $5,100
There's a ton of terrific low-cost options worth mentioning here, and Jay Cutler's ceiling is absolutely one worth pursuing at just $5,100. The hapless 49ers travel to Chicago this week and have been allowing 35.2 points per game to opposing offenses. The 49ers are fifth-worst against the pass according to numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics and have been allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. This looks to be a terrific bounce back game at home for Cutler, following two rough road performances without a full deck of cards. A healthy Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett should do wonders for this offense, as the Bears look to build off last week's win against Green Bay.
GPP Wildcard: Alex Smith $5,000
Alex Smith and the Chiefs travel to Oakland this week in what projects to be a close three-point game favoring Kansas City. The Raiders have been the third-worst team against the pass according to numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics and have given up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Oakland's secondary has given up the fourth-most passing yards this season and Touchdown Jesus Alex Smith should have little difficulty hooking up with Travis Kelce this week. In Smith's last three games against the Raiders, he's thrown 9 touchdowns with no interceptions while averaging 273 passing yards. At $5,000, rostering Smith provides plenty of cap flexibility in your roster construction this week.