Fantasy Football: Week 11 Starts And Sits
By Pat Pitts
Pitts is back to advise you who makes and misses the starting lineup this week. Last week was one of the most exciting weekends of football I have watched in a long time. I am officially tied for the first place spot in the 4AG league of record with my record improving to 7-3. Enough gloating. Time to sit down, relax and enjoy my thoughts.
Starts
Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert vs NYJ
Herbert is a front runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year and gets to face the New York Jets in Week 11. He's a Start of the Week candidate, even with his new haircut.
Ben Roethlistberger @ JAX
The Jaguars defense has allowed the fourth-most passing yards this season and the Steelers have two WR1s, by fantasy football stats, on their offense.
Big Ben is having an MVP-type season, and finds himself in the Top-5 in touchdown passes. This is a set it and forget it type play at QB this week.
Derek Carr vs KC
In the Raiders Week 5 win over the Chiefs, Carr threw for for 347 yards and 3 touchdowns. Since then, the Raiders have won four out of their last five games and although Carr has only hit in two out of the last four fantasy games since that Week 5 win, this game has major real life playoff implications. I view Carr as a low-end QB this week.
Running Backs
Antonio Gibson vs CIN
The Bengals defense has been atrocious this season and this is the perfect opportunity for Gibson to rack up more yards than he did last week against Detroit, as well as trips to the end zone.
D’Andre Swift @ CAR
D'Andre Swift finished last week with 81 yards on the ground and five catches for 68 receiving yards and a touchdown, which led to him being named the Offensive Rookie of the Week.
The Panthers defense has allowed the sixth-most rushing yards this season. Swift should be in your lineup this week as it is clearly his backfield in Detroit.
Nyheim Hines vs GB
Hines had one helluva birthday game, producing 115 total yards and two touchdowns against the Titans on Thursday Night Football. The Colts coaching staff seems to trust him the most in almost any situation in a three-headed monster backfield. Hines is the RB to roster in all formats, but mostly PPR.
Wide Receivers
Steelers WRs @ JAX
The trio of Chase Claypool, Dionte Johnson and Juju Smith-Schuster have all had multiple weeks finishing inside the Top-24 WRs. The Jaguars secondary is young and have struggled stopping the pass. All three of these guys are high-end WR2s with WR1 upside in Week 11.
Justin Jefferson vs DAL
Jefferson had a monster game on Monday night, snagging eight catches for 135 yards. Jefferson is a consistent WR2 start moving forward, especially against the second worst pass defense in the NFL.
Jameson Crowder @ LAC
Crowder returns from injury and well rested off the Bye Week. After he started the season with three straight Top-24 finishes, Crowder landed on the IR.
The Chargers defense has allowed 15 touchdowns in the second half of games. Crowder is the most consistent player in the Jets offense when healthy and that trend will continue this week against Los Angeles.
Tight Ends
Hayden Hurst @ NO
Hurst ranks as the TE9 this season, according to ESPN. He averages six targets per game and the Saints are one of the worst defenses against TEs this season, making Hurst a must start this week.
Jared Cook vs ATL
The Atlanta Falcons are THE worst defense against TEs this season, and with an offensive game plan made for Jameis Winston (who moves the ball down the field), Jared Cook should be eating Ws all afternoon. Cook is poised to have a solid game and be heavily used in the red zone, making him a Top-10 TE this week.
Logan Thomas vs CIN
Logan Thomas was targeted six times last week resulting in four catches for 66 yards. Alex Smith relies on his TE to move the ball down field and as a bailout on 3rd downs. Fire up Thomas as a TE2 with upside against the Bengals.
Sit
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson vs TEN
Is Lamar Jackson a fantasy bust this season? No, but it feels like it. Jackson is the QB9 heading into this week, but I’m not buying it. You're obviously starting Jackson, but he's more of a QB2 until he proves otherwise.
Jameis Winston vs ATL
Give it a week to see how Sean Payton game plans an offense for Winston.
Jared Goff @ TB
Jared Goff seems to have cooled off the past few weeks, finishing with over 15 points just once since Week 6. The Bucs defense is scary and are going to cause problems for Goff on Monday night.
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor vs GB
It seems like Taylor is in the coaching staff's dog house. Bench him until further notice.
Leonard Fournette vs LAR
As Ronald Jones continues to run wild in the Buccaneers' backfield, Fournette continues to lose touches. Not point starting a guy that isn't getting consistent touches.
Kenyan Drake @ SEA
Drake returned from injury on Sunday rushing for 100 yards on 16 carries. This Thursday night battle is going to be a pass heavy game with more WR involvement. Wait another week to see how Kingsbury uses Drake.
Wide Receivers
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown
Hollywood Brown is my vote for biggest bust of the 2020 fantasy season. He has a staggering 13 points in three weeks. Adding to his already atrocious weekly average stat line since the Ravens Bye week:
Four targets
Two catches
18.3 yards/game
He can make his way toward your league’s waiver wire. Brown is going to be irrelevant for the rest of the fantasy season.
DJ Chark vs PIT
With Jake Luton under center and a number of injuries on the Jaguars offense, it's a damn near impossible game for Chark to find success against the Steelers defense.
Brandin Cooks vs NE
The Texans look dazed and confused on offense. I would stay away from Texans WRs, but Cooks especially. He is too inconsistent to rely on against a very good Patriots secondary.
Tight Ends
Mark Andrews vs TEN
Mark Andrews may be the biggest bust at TE this season. Andrews has not finished a game with double digit fantasy points since Week 5. Until we see the Ravens put up early points and target Andrews in the red zone, it's getting tougher to start him every week.
Austin Hooper vs PHI
The Browns are going to need to use Hooper to block against Philly's elite pass rush to make sure Baker Mayfield doesn't get crushed by Fletcher Cox and company. No reason to be playing Hooper this week (or the rest of the season)
Robert Tonyan vs IND
Tonyan has been ice cold since Week 4. He has not recorded double-digit points since then and goes up against the best linebacker in the NFL, Darius Leonard.
The Fantasy Clocktower and I have watched enough of Leonard's highlights to know that you do not start TEs against him.
Good luck to all fantasy managers this week. It’s time to make that playoff push.