It’s time to lock in fantasy wolves!
Week 11 is upon us, and all eyes are on MVP candidate Drake Maye as he looks to continue his aerial excellence against the white-flag waving Jets.
Will TreVeyon Henderson slam the door on a gross fantasy committee with another strong performance?
How does the Marvin Harrison Jr. appendectomy affect fantasy football this week and possibly beyond?
Will Jameis Winston sustain life in the New York Giants offense?
There are a lot of questions fantasy managers are yearning to know the answer to.
Without much left to say let’s dive in and win this week! Let’s go!
WEEK 11 PLAYERS TO START
Quarterbacks to start
Justin Herbert vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
It looks like the Chargers pass catchers will be close to full strength against a vulnerable (I’m being polite) Jaguars secondary.
Herbert has been on a tear until a bit of a snoozer against Pittsburg in week 10.
In the last four games, Herbs has scored at least 30 points in half and flirted with another 30-burger against the Vikings.
He’s tip-toed the bust line in a pair of games in the middle, but has averaged a studly 23.1 points per game.
For reference, Joe Burrow has never averaged 23 fppg for a season and was viewed as a locked in top 5 QB during draft season.
For the season, Herbert is pacing for over 4,400 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns to go along with 551 rush yards and a pair of scores.
With Jacksonville allowing over 30 points per game in its last three (including Geno Smith and Davis Mills… yuckkk!), Herbert is a strong candidate to finish as the QB1 overall on the week and is the start of the week!
Caleb Williams vs. Minnesota Vikings
I have not been shy about my criticism of Williams as a prospect and on the field.
With that being said, progress as a QB has been made and he’s been heating up as a fantasy option.
Whie he still holds on to the ball too long and is slow to move through his progressions, Williams continues to make his hay with a bazooka arm and an ability to scramble for yardage while under duress.
He had an explosive outing (26.2) against the Viikings to start the season: 210 passing yards, 1 TD, 58 rushing yards, 1 ruTD
After seeing start of the week Herbert put up 27.6 against the Vikings in week 8, it’s reasonable to expect Williams to have another strong finish this week.
Other starts: Dak Prescott vs. LV, Baker Mayfield vs. BUF, Marcus Mariota vs. DET
Quarterbacks to Sit:
Sam Darnold vs. Seattle Seahawks
Scandalous!
Darnold has silenced all doubters and detractors. Many were slow to jump on board with Darnold as a franchise QB after his strong showing in Minnesota in 2024 (raises hand slowly).
I only have one word to say… excepetional. Darnold has been exceptional this season. He has earned all his roses and then some.
Still, he’s in a bit of a fantasy slump right now and hasn’t exactly been a fantasy powerhouse all season.
As you can see, he’s scored fewer than 13 fantasy points in two of his last thre games. Meanwhile, the Rams have allowed 20+ points to opposing QBs only three times this season (Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones x2)
While Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to cement himself as a strong MVP candidate, I don’t think he will be enough to bolster Darnold into QB1 status this week.
Consider him a QB2/SF flex at best this week.
Jared Goff vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Goff has scorched the earth as he’s moonwalked through opposing defenses the last five weeks.
I’m pretty sure the King of Pop gave an appreciate “hee-hee!” from the grave.
The Eagles defense has been stingy against the pass the last three weeks. It’s turning into the age-old argument of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
While the laws of physics bend and break at the notion of these two things happening, a side must be taken on the gridiron.
Only one quarterback has thrown for at least 2 TDs against the Eagles and none have done it since week 4.
So who wins? This?
Or the defense that has clamped down on opposing QBs and ranks 8th overall at the position?
I consider Goff a likely bust and a superflex starter at best.
Other QBs to sit: Bo Nix vs. KC, Aaron Rodgers vs. CIN, Tua Tagovailoa vs. WAS (or anyone really)
Running backs to start:
TreVeyon Henderson vs. New York Jets
Do it! Do it!
No round mound of fumbling for the Patriots for the second straight week. The word tied to Henderson is explosive.
Aside from his 55 and 69 yard touchdown scampers, Henderson averaged a paltry 1.9 YPC on his remaining 12 totes and he only had one target; a 3-yard catch.
Still, when Henderson is scripted in space or he finds a lane, he can explode through it and take any given tote to paydirt.
The Jets have allowed seven running backs to score more than 13 points per game this season and really have nothing to play for other than divisional pride.
There’s still a clear path for Henderson to flop, but he should be started with confience as a backend RB1 this week.
D’Andre Swift vs. Minnesota Vikings
Don’t fear Monangai!
Blue Oyster Cult’s smash hit may now echo in the back of your mind like an annoying ear worm and, honestly, I’m okay with that.
After week 9, shiny new toy savants all said this was the rookie’s job to lose and Swift slammed that door not-so-politely in their noses.
He out-touched Monangai 18-7 and carried the ball 13 times for 80 yards, while catching five of eight (yes eight!) targets.
Swift is pacing for 1600 YFS and 10 TDs on the season. He’s scored at least 14 points per game in five straight games, excluding his game he missed.
Against the Vikings in week 1, Swift only scored 9.5 fantasy points, but the Vikings have allowed at least 13 points to six backs this season.
With the Bears offense starting to find it’s groove, Swift is still a solid bet for good RB2 production.
Other RBs to start: Chase Brown vs. PIT, Woody Marks vs. TEN, Aaron Jones vs. CHI
Running backs to sit:
Kenneth Walker vs. Los Angeles Rams
It’s time to maybe face the facts that Walker is just not a very good running back. Explosive? Yes nobody can deny that.
But he is what he is at this point in his career. An indecisive RB that lacks vision that cannot escape his hero-ball complex and take what’s given.
He turned 15 opportunities against Arizona into only 70 YFS and has scored 8 or fewer points in his last four games.
Walker hasn’t scored a touchdown since week 3, while Zach Charbonnet has scored five.
Now Walker has to face the Rams, who are the stingiest defense in the league against the RB position. Only one back has scored on them all season and Walker isn’t a strong bet to make it two.
Tyrone Tracy vs. Green Bay Packers
Winston starting could mean more TD equity all around! It could also mean chaos and five interceptions thrown before the end of the first half. That’s what makes Winston so fun!
Tracy has been the main beneficiary without Cam Skattebo, but he has yet to capitalize in the end zone.
Devin Singletary continues to get more work in the passing game and has been the more efficient back.
With a tough matchup against the Packers (6th fewest RB points), Tracy should be benched without much hesitation.
Other RB sits: Rachaad White vs. BUF, Tony Pollard vs. HOU, David Montgomery vs. PHI
Wide Receivers to start:
DeVonta Smith vs. Detroit Lions
“If you got me in fantasy, get rid of me.” – AJ Brown.
I’ll take you at your word chief, you haven’t been worth it anyways!
Hot take: Smith is the best Eagles wide receiver anyways. Brown is the most talented, but there’s just a massive disconnect upstairs.
Smith has been on fire lately, scoring at least 14 points per game in three straight games.
On the season, Smith has five top 24 finishes, with three trips in the top 12.
The Lions have allowed seven wide receivers to score more than 13 points per game and rank 22nd overall against the position.
Sorry Brown. But I’ll choose to listen to you here.
George Pickens vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Pickens has cooled down slightly. It’s not unexpected. CeeDee Lamb has returned and changed the dynamic of the offense.
Before his bye, Pickens had finished as a WR2 or better in six of eight games. However, Pickens hasn’t scored since Lamb returned. This is his get right game.
The Raiders have allowed 10 touchdowns on the season and are giving up the 6th-most fantasy points to the position.
Dak, Pickens, and Lamb are licking their chops as the passing game should carve up the Raiders like a succulent turkey on Thanksgiving.
Other WR starts: Tez Johnson vs. BUF, Stefon Diggs vs. NYJ, Wan’Dale Robinson vs. GB
Wide Receiver Sits:
Xavier Worthy vs. Denver Broncos
Rashee Rice has caused a problem for the rest of the Chiefs pass catchers. He’s just that good!
24.1. That’s how many points Worthy has put up since the return of Rice. It’s sad honestly, seeing a player as dynamic and dangerous as him an afterthought in a suddenly thriving offense.
What’s even more sad is that he wasn’t doing anything beforehand.
With the Broncos allowing the fewest WRs to score on the season, Worthy cannot, in good conscience, be started.
However, with Rice garnering so much attention, it’s not out of the question that Worthy could slip through unnoticed for a deep shot.
DJ Moore vs. Minnesota Vikings
Oh how the mighty have seemingly fallen.
Aside from a joker game in week 9, Moore has stunk it up on the field and on fantasy rosters.
He’s scored fewer than 10 points in six games this season, but has just enough talent and name-value that you cannot drop him.
He’s a roster clogger and, unfortunately, fantasy managers are stuck with him unless they have the fortitude to “hate-cut” him.
Minnesota held Moore to 68 yards on three catches in week one… not a terrible game.
With a shoulder injury and a lack of a reliable role in the offense (zero catches on four targets W10) Moore has to just sit on fantasy benches and watch Luther Burden supplant him.
Other WR sits: Tetairoa McMillan vs. ATL, Deebo Samuel vs. MIA, Courtland Sutton vs. KC
