The Fantasy Football Trainers room is here to update you on all the key Week 11Fantasy Football injuries, while (more importantly) giving you a backup plan for your lineup. To get up-to-kickoff updates on all actives and inactives, be sure to tune into the Fantasy Tailgate LIVE on Facebook. We’ll cover all these plus answer every single one of your Sit / Start dilemmas.
Sifting Through the Fantasy Garbage to Replace George Kittle (Knee) and Austin Hooper (MCL)
The thinnest and most pathetic position in fantasy is about to get even thinner and more pathetic in Week 11. With Austin Hooper (MCL) officially ruled out and George Kittle (knee) all but officially ruled out for this weekend, their owners will be forced to blindly throw a dart at the tight end waiver wire in hopes for a couple grabs and a touchdown.
Ryan Dwelley (10%) drew 7 targets in Kittle’s absence on MNF, and now gets the “Smash Button” Cardinals defense. At $3400, he’s a solid budget-saving option on DraftKings, and he’s my TE13 on the week.. For our complete list of tight end streamers (and a Week 12 stash), click here.
Iron Man Matthew Stafford is OUT again (back fracture), downgrades Lions weapons… again
The Lions are smartly holding out Stafford again due to fractures in his back. This was pretty much expected, but it’s now confirmed. The Wolf has journeyman Jeff Driskel at the bottom of his Week 11 QB Rankings at QB28. Even still, he’s worth a tournament dart throw on DraftKings with a $4600 price tag. They let Driskel throw the rock a ton last week, hucking the ball 46 times. However, he only completed 27 of those passes for 269 yards, one touchdown and one pick.
Kenny Golladay is down at our WR30 (-13 vs ECR) after corralling a touchdown last week. Marvin Jones grabbed five balls for 77 yards, but he’s also down at our WR43 (-8). It’ll be tough to trust either on the road against the Cowboys stingy defense. However, if you’re in a PPR league, JD McKissic would be an interesting RB streamer after Driskel checked the ball down to him six times and getting 10 carries last week.
Some of our favorite QB streamers include: Derek Carr (66% owned), Sam Darnold (22%), Kyle Allen (32%), and Jacoby Brissett (38%). Nick Foles (30%) is an interesting streamer or stash option as he returns from injury this week and gets the Titans and Bucs in Weeks 12-13.
Devonta Freeman (foot sprain) ruled out for Week 11, hands off the workhorse duties to Brian Hill
Freeman left last week’s game with a foot sprain and did not practice this week. He could be out a minimum of two weeks, but with the Falcons out of the playoff race, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Brian Hill is the ROS starter.
Hill wasn’t overly impressive against the Saints, totaling 61 yards on 20 carries. However, he did grab a 10-yard touchdown pass to ice the game. With Ito Smith on the IR and the Falcons’ season over, they’ll look to ride the 6-foot-1, 220 lb running back if/until Freeman returns.
He’ll face the porous Panthers run defense in a massive blowup opportunity in Week 12. The Panthers allowed Tevin Coleman, Derrick Henry and Aaron Jones to have their way on the ground over the past three weeks, and Hill will be a locked in RB2 in this spot. Not to mention they’ve allowed an absurd 17 rushing touchdowns this season, and rank dead-last in DVOA versus the run. Hill will be the complete chalk at $4800 on DraftKings, and he’s worth eating as my RB14 for Week 11.
Emmanuel Sanders (ribs) likely out with mysterious injury
UPDATE – Sanders WILL play Sunday despite not practicing all week. Manny torched Patrick Peterson for 7 rec, 112, and a TD last time vs. Arizona, but he’s tougher to trust at less than full strength. With the risk of a limited role or early knockout, Sanders drops to my WR25, so still playable. Deebo Samuel may take a slight hit, although drawing No.2 coverage almost enhances his outlook. His $4000 price on DraftKings is robbery.
Manny Sanders held his chest/ribs as he mysteriously walked off the field during Monday Night Football and is now trending to sit out Week 11 against the susceptible Cardinals’ defense. Since joining the 49ers, Sanders has been peppered by Jimmy Garoppolo, thus earning the WR17 (+9 vs ECR) spot on our ROS Big Board.
With Sanders (and Kittle) likely out this week, expect a major uptick in targets for Deebo Samuel (46% owned), who grabbed 8 balls for 112 yards in Sanders’ absence last week. Kendrick Bourne (1%) tallied 42 yards and a touchdown on four receptions against the Seahawks and could be a Hail Mary play if you want to target the Cardinals’ secondary.
Auden Tate (16%), Phillip Dorsett (27%), Ted Ginn (9%) and Josh Reynolds (6%) are also intriguing streamers.
David Montgomery tweaks ankle, game-time decision
The frustrating David Montgomery randomly popped up on the injury list mid-week and his dummy coach said he “lightly rolled” his ankle on Wednesday. He rolled it so lightly that he’s now a game-time decision for their Week 11 matchup against the Rams.
If Montgomery can’t go, Tarik Cohen will get the bulk of the work, while something called Ryan Nall will also get some burn. The Eagles’ newly signed RB, Jay Ajayi (7% owned) has a decent shot for a touchdown if Jordan Howard can’t go, while JD McKissic (35%) is the preferred option in PPR formats.
Alshon Jeffery (ankle) out and Jordan Howard (shoulder) “iffy,” Eagles sign Jay Ajayi
Alshon Jeffery did not practice all week and it’s tough to imagine that he’ll be good to go for his matchup against Stephon Gilmore this weekend. Jordan Howard is also likely to miss the game, since he is still not cleared for contact after suffering a shoulder stinger.
When it comes to the latter, the Eagles’ signed Jay Ajayi off the streets. He could fall into the end zone, but it’ll likely be the Miles Sanders show with Darren Sproles on IR. You likely have a RB2 or another option to fall back on, but Ajayi or McKissic are two solid options off the wire. Sanders leaps up to my RB22, and is a very cheap $4100 on DraftKings. The Patriots defense is stellar, but have been sneakily gashed by RBs in recent weeks. Sanders could see his highest professional workload yet, even though Ajayi is expected to be active and could be a GL Vulture.
Alshon has been next to nothing all season fantasy wise and if you were still starting him… your season is likely over anyways. Tough luck.
Matt Breida (ankle) OUT for Sunday
This was the expectation all along, but has been confirmed. I sneakily LOVE Raheem Mostert as a budget-saver on DraftKings ($3400). He could inherit that receiving based role and haul in 5-6 passes. Tevin Coleman also gets a bump up to RB16 in a nice matchup ($6100 on DraftKings).
Players Returning / Good-to-go:
- Jacoby Brissett (MCL) will return to action after Brian Hoyer couldn’t beat the Dolphins
- Amari Cooper (knee,ankle) got in a bunch of limited practices this week and should play Week 11. He’s been a warrior thus far and we expect him to continue to play through injuries
- Ty Johnson has been cleared from concussion protocol, which lessens the streaming appeal of JD McKissick only slightly. McKissick is still likely to haul in 5-6 balls with the Lions in comeback mode, and is a fine FLEX option.
- Le’Veon Bell (ribs/knee/illness) is expected to suit up. He’s averaging a league-worst 3.1 YPC, but will still be seeing volume against a Redskins defense that has surrendered the 5th most yards on the ground. This keeps him in the (ugly) RB1 conversation.
- Marquise Brown (ankle) WILL play Sunday. Brown’s ceiling is always astronomical, and the blow-up spot is right against a Texans defense that allows the 3rd most FPs to WRs.
Others to Monitor:
- Josh Jacobs (shoulder) was limited during the week, but it looks like the Raiders are just managing his reps at this point in the season
- Will Fuller (hamstring) got in a handful of limited practices this week and is questionable for Week 11. Who knows at this point. UPDATE – Fuller is OUT, giving Kenny Stills continued streamability.
Obviously Out:
- As expected, TY Hilton (calf) didn’t practice this week and should be on the shelf for the foreseeable future
- Adam Thielen (hamstring) was declared out on Friday and should come back next week
- Also as expected, AJ Green (“ankle”, hates team) will not play this week and he’ll likely be out for the year with his fake injury
- Saints’ shutdown CB Marshon Lattimore did not practice this week and will likely be out Week 11
- Darren Sproles tore his hip flexor and his season (and possibly career) will be over. Pour one out for the cute one
Check back here throughout the weekend and follow us on Twitter for Week 11 injury updates!
