Fake Teams - Everything you need for NFL Week 11The Key Source For Incisive Fantasy Sports Analysishttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50153/fake-fav.png2019-11-15T17:00:00-05:00http://www.faketeams.com/rss/stream/207271062019-11-15T17:00:00-05:002019-11-15T17:00:00-05:00Start David Johnson or Raheem Mostert?
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<figcaption>Getty Images/Pete Rogers Illustrations</figcaption>
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<p>Plus, Jamison Crowder or Carlos Hyde?</p> <p id="Y2Dl4e">Welcome to the Fake Teams’ <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/fantasy-football">fantasy football</a> mailbag! If you want to send in your questions for next week’s mailbag, here are the ways to join:</p>
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<li id="C4POkC">tweet @petemrogers or @Faketeams using #FTFFmailbag</li>
<li id="KydTCI">email at ftffmailbag@gmail.com</li>
<li id="wbC9l0">leave your question in the comments!</li>
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<p id="OYtMzA">Onto the mailbag:</p>
<h4 id="Hg6wAq">Q: Need 2, ppr, 1/4pt-per carry- <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/9/1/20843960/tarik-cohen-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Tarik Cohen</a>, <span>Alexander Mattison</span>, <span>Gus Edwards</span>.<br>— @NFLClark</h4>
<p id="VXxTFo">Can I say none? I feel like that would be a really helpful answer for you if I just say “nope, none of those get a better team”. Am I right?</p>
<p id="jDS8pr">Mattison I like a lot because he’s consistently gotten work in the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> ground game and they’re facing an average <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a> defense. Plus, given how good the Broncos pass defense has been, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mike Zimmer do what Mike Zimmer loves and run the ball 45 times. I’d ride with Gus the Bus as your number two. Maybe I’m being too persuaded by my own thoughts and feelings rather than stats and data but I have zero faith in the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> offense and <span>Tarik Cohen</span> is so touchdown dependent and I don’t think that happens against the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Rams</a>.</p>
<h4 id="B4p3Na">Q: Akins or Knox?<br>— @andrew_schuba</h4>
<p id="ATkBBD">I’m confidently going with <span>Dawson Knox</span> over Jordan Akins. You fire up all your <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Bills</a> pass catchers against the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a>. The <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Ravens</a> also have been tough on tight ends this year and Akins is still the TE2 on the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a> behind Darren Fells. Knox all the way.</p>
<h4 id="2aykyx">Q: <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20837360/david-johnson-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">David Johnson</a> or diggs or mostert? 1PPR, 12 teams<br>— @BarberTheKing</h4>
<p id="A26HRD">What is going on with <span>David Johnson</span>? Does anyone know? It really upsets me to see a player who we know is so talented and could thrive in an offense like this look clearly banged up and almost like he’s lost a step (even multiple steps). I’m starting to think we may never see the MVP <span>David Johnson</span> of 2016 ever again. And that’s sad. I do not like that. I especially don’t like it against the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>.</p>
<p id="2ExKMs">But I also don’t love <span>Stefon Diggs</span> against a Broncos secondary that’s allowing the 3rd fewest points to wide outs. In fact, I’d say I actively hate this matchup. So I guess <span>Raheem Mostert</span> against the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a>? No Matt Breida meaning <span>Mostert</span> steps in as the RB2 there in SF and we know two running backs can eat in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, facing off against a Cardinals defense that’s given up the 4th most points to backs the last four weeks. I’ll take it!</p>
<h4 id="Ph5TMX">Q: Contrasting styles question! Slow ass <span>David Johnson</span> or lightening bug Mecole Hardman PPR? (We get a point for every 25 yards of return yards too)<br>— @StillyRyan</h4>
<p id="6IPfyr">I just spent the better part of last question bemoaning the fate of <span>David Johnson</span> and I really, reeeeaaaally don’t trust him to do anything this weekend. So Mecole Hardman baby! RIDE OR DIE!!!!!!</p>
<h4 id="o1xhpN">Q: Flex: <span>Crowder</span>/Duke/<span>Hyde</span>?<br>— @speediusreedius</h4>
<p id="X99R9Y">Good question! I could see all three of these guys having solid games for you but also, they all face tough matchups. The Ravens are giving up the 10th fewest points to running backs the last four weeks while Washington has been sneaky good against wide receivers recently, giving up 3rd fewest points in the same amount of time. I don’t think you can go wrong starting <span>Jamison Crowder</span>, but I’ll start <span>Carlos Hyde</span> who’s seen 19 plus carries in four out of his last five games and has a good chance to score on the ground against a Ravens defense that’s allowing the 4th most rushing touchdowns on the season.</p>
<h4 id="lr8frE">Q: Should I accept a trade of <span>Josh Jacobs</span> for a 2020 1, 2 and <span>Chase Edmonds</span> chucked in? I’m 3-7 is this dynasty league and thinking of rebuilding.<br>— @PaddiCooper</h4>
<p id="LiiYte">Yes. Running backs are entirely replaceable in my mind in fantasy and you can find yourself a back who can get you just as much production as Jacobs next year (slash you may already have him on your team). With a LOADED rookie wide receiver class coming, might be a great year to stock pile on picks to get as many of them, or guys who fall because of the receivers, onto your fantasy team. I think rebuilding/retooling is always the way to go in a dynasty season you’re losing.</p>
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https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/15/20966962/fantasy-football-start-david-johnson-or-raheem-mostertPete Rogers2019-11-15T13:30:00-05:002019-11-15T13:30:00-05:005 must starts for fantasy football in Week 11
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<p>Who to put in your line up to secure a Week 11 victory.</p> <p id="9V3Zhp">Another solid week for my must starts in Week 10, with a pair of top 10 quarterback performances from <span>Sam Darnold</span> (21.7 points, QB7) and <span>Ryan Tannehill</span> (18.9 points, QB10). There were also strong fantasy performances from the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Ravens</a> defense (23 points, D/ST1) and Hollywood Brown (18 points, WR14), with Devante Parker also chipping in with a solid 11.9 points, which could have been even better if he hadn’t dropped a pass in the end zone. The only relative underachievement came from <span>Jamaal Williams</span> who saw some decent touches on the ground (13 rushes for 63 yards), but was only targeted once in the passing game, down from his usual average of 5. That’ll teach me for revisiting the same well two weeks in a row!</p>
<p id="jmKpWT">Onto Week 11 and here are my must starts to help you win that key fantasy matchup this week.</p>
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<h3 id="MRt3s0">WR DJ Moore, <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a> vs <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> - 93.6% owned</h3>
<p id="s5sE6a">We love opportunity here at Fake Teams and Moore is coming off three weeks where has seen 9, 10 and 11 targets, with the last two weeks seeing him go for over 100 yards. That means a huge floor this week against a Falcons team that I have ranked dead last against the pass. If he can put one in the paint alongside his catches and yards and Moore could be a top-5 receiver in Week 11.</p>
<h3 id="1Vq2RX">RB <span>Tevin Coleman</span>, <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> vs <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> - 96.0% owned</h3>
<p id="SYqC3y">Another volume play that can turn into fantasy gold. <span>Matt Breida</span> is on track to miss the matchup against the Cardinals with an ankle sprain and this gives <span>Coleman</span> the green light to see upwards of 20 touches this week. The Cardinals have been better against the run recently, but they have allowed 100 yards rushing in every game this season. <span>Coleman</span> is a solid RB2 with RB1 upside this week.</p>
<h3 id="tOzZLi">QB <span>Josh Allen</span>, <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Bills</a> @ <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> - 85.7% owned</h3>
<p id="lptgZw"><span>Allen</span> may not be the best passer in the league, but his rushing floor that has seen him score six rushing touchdowns (tied with <span>Lamar Jackson</span>) has him sitting at the QB10 through 10 weeks. The Dolphins are riding high after back to back wins but <span>Allen</span> is always a good bet to score a rushing touchdown and had 19 points against them in Week 7. Solid QB1 this week.</p>
<h3 id="fJL9aX">RB <span>Brian Hill</span>, Falcons @ Panthers - 59.0% owned</h3>
<p id="rdOF6J">Week 11’s hottest waiver wire target so why not include him in the must starts. I think I picked him up in around half of my leagues and with <span>Devonta Freeman</span> out and literally nothing else in the Falcon’s backfield, <span>Hill</span> can see all the touches. The Panthers have allowed the most rushing fantasy points to running backs in 2019 so wind <span>Hill</span> up and let him go in your RB2/Flex spots this week and reap the rewards.</p>
<h3 id="Uxz2Ej">WR <span>Jamison Crowder</span>, <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> @ Washington - 68.8% owned</h3>
<p id="D7eRAU"><span>Crowder</span> comes into Week 11 as both the target and reception leader for the Jets and is coming off back to back games with at least 19 fantasy points. Washington have been a bottom 10 pass defense in 2019 and Crowder offers not only a solid floor of 7 targets per game, but leads the league in Red Zone target % with 34.8% of the Jets’ Red Zone targets. Absolute must in the WR2/3/Flex this week.</p>
<h3 id="MjbjLA">Bonus Start - <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> D/ST vs <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> - 23.4% owned</h3>
<p id="my1ANU">Now here’s a bonus start for the ages. At just 1.2% owned at the start of the week, the Raiders have been one of the worst fantasy defenses of 2019. But when you face one of the worst offenses in the league in the Bengals, you have to take notice. The Raiders are coming off their best defensive performance of the season and the Black Hole will be rocking as the Raiders play the first of their final three games at the Oakland Coliseum. </p>
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https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/15/20963798/fantasy-football-must-starts-dj-moore-brian-hill-josh-allenPaddi Cooper2019-11-15T11:43:28-05:002019-11-15T11:43:28-05:00VIDEO: Top 5 starts & sits for Week 11
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<p>Pete gives his top 5 starts & sits for Week 11.</p> <p id="1VBV07">Pete gives his top 5 starts and sits for Week 11 in <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/fantasy-football">fantasy football</a>. He covers <span>Courtland Sutton</span>, <span>Christian Kirk</span>, <span>D.J. Moore</span>, <span>John Brown</span> and <span>Marvin Jones Jr.</span></p>
https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/15/20966667/starts-sits-top-5-starts-sits-for-week-11Pete Rogers2019-11-14T17:30:00-05:002019-11-14T17:30:00-05:00Fantasy Football Rundown: Week 11
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<figcaption>Getty Images/Pete Rogers Illustrations</figcaption>
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<p>Thoughts on every single NFL game and every single player that’s fantasy relevant for Week 11.</p> <p id="w67z7l">Welcome to the Rundown where I give at least a sentence on every single fantasy relevant player this week. Let’s begin!</p>
<p id="GHAsGf"><em>Teams on bye: </em><a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/"><em>Green Bay Packers</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/"><em>New York Giants</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/"><em>Seattle Seahawks</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/"><em>Tennessee Titans</em></a></p>
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<strong>TNF: </strong><a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/"><strong>Pittsburgh Steelers</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/"><strong>Cleveland Browns</strong></a><strong> </strong>
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<p id="vxyF37">Although Cleveland has generally been a fantasy-friendly defense for opposing passing offenses, they played much of the year without cornerbacks <span>Denzel Ward</span> and Greedy <span>Williams</span>. Mason Rudolph is not a recommended start, ranking as <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">just a back-end QB2</a>. <span>JuJu Smith-Schuster</span> can be started as a decent flex option. The aforementioned Browns CBs patrol the perimeter which means JuJu should remain mostly <span>Ward</span>/Greedy-free, running a majority of his routes out of the slot. Diontate Johnson and James Washington more or less cancel each other out and should not be considered for starting lineups outside of 2nd-flex PPR leagues with <em>deep</em> benches. <span>Vance McDonald</span> has seen reasonable volume since his return from injury. His matchup is strong, as Cleveland allowed <span>Noah Fant</span> to <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=TE&ntid=5">look like a true TE1 in Week 9</a> and <span>Dawson Knox</span> a <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=TE&ntid=5">moderate statline in Week 10</a>. James Conner is expected to return to action this week and <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">should be fired up confidently as a RB1</a>. It’s a great matchup and he should see 20+ touches after the Conner-less backfield <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams-pittsburgh-steelers-20191110023/">sputtered last week against the Rams</a>. Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds should not be in starting lineups, although both are good bench stashes.</p>
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<p id="KseDkW"><a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/28/20835194/baker-mayfield-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Baker Mayfield</a> has defied recent expectations, <a href="https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/reports/leaders/qb.php?year=2019&start=6&end=6">turning in Top 14 results in 3 of his last 4 games</a>. The Steelers got roasted early in the year by <span>Tom Brady</span> and <span>Russell Wilson</span>. They made a big move after those two contests though, trading for stud defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=QB&ntid=23">Although the Steelers’ slate of opposing quarterbacks has been largely unexciting</a>, they did face both <span>Lamar Jackson</span> and <span>Philip Rivers</span> post-Minkah-trade and <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=QB&ntid=23">handily held them in check</a>. He’s been a big time difference maker in the turnover department, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/minkahfitzpatrick/2560725/gamelogs">forcing three fumbles and intercepting <em>eight </em>passes since his arrival</a>. Mayfield recent success should not be expected this week. He’s just a mid-to-low QB2. That being said, Mayfield’s connection with Jarvis Landry is undeniable. The slot receiver has taken over as the team’s defacto No. 1 pass catching option, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/27591/gamelog">racking up an absurd 33 targets over the last three games</a>. He’s a matchup-proof WR2 with excellent upside in PPR formats. <span>Odell Beckham Jr.</span> remains just a high floor/capped ceiling WR2/3. Rashard Higgins is someone to keep an eye on but he does not belong on fantasy rosters yet. WR <span>Antonio Callaway</span> is ignorable. TEs <span>Demetrius Harris</span> and Ricky Seals-<span>Jones</span> <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=TE&ntid=23">have a nice matchup</a>. Demetrius Harris has seen mild usage in RSJ’s recent injury absence. RSJ is the No. 1 TE though so if you’re desperate for a spot-start at the position, he’s one to consider. The Browns immediately incorporated <span>Kareem Hunt</span> into their offense, <a href="https://subscribers.footballguys.com/teams/teampage-cle-6.php">having him on the field for 54% of their offensive plays</a>, while <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841675/nick-chubb-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Nick Chubb</a> <a href="https://subscribers.footballguys.com/teams/teampage-cle-6.php">logged 81%</a>. Even with Hunt seeing so much time on the field, Chubb still <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/buffalo-bills-cleveland-browns-20191110005/">logged 20 carries and 4 targets last week</a>. Hunt will undoubtedly become a featured part of this offense -- 10+ touches per week, especially air work, is a reasonable expectation. Chubb is the RB13 this week. Hunt is a great flex option, especially in PPR. </p>
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<a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons"><strong>Atlanta Falcons</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/"><strong>Carolina Panthers</strong></a>
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<p id="YwwTuf"><a href="https://twitter.com/adamlevitan/status/1194316165860020226">As Adam Levitan pointed out on twitter, the Panthers defense is a run-funnel -- they’re excellent against the pass but woeful against the run</a>. The matchup drops <span>Matt Ryan</span>’s ceiling but a high-scoring game script should fall in his favor. Ryan <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">is the QB13 this week</a>. With Austin Hooper likely out for a month with an MCL sprain, the big boys, <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841614/julio-jones-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Julio Jones</a> and <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20839829/calvin-ridley-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Calvin Ridley</a> should see 2 or more targets per week added to their workloads. Julio is a WR1. <span>Ridley</span> is a WR3 with WR2 upside in PPR. Slot receiver <span>Russell Gage</span> is not worthy of fantasy consideration with such a bad matchup and meager workload. On <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/process-the-process/establish-the-run">Establish The Run’s free podcast Episode 33: Week 10 Recap NFC Team-by-Team</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/adamlevitan">Adam Levitan</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/evansilva">Evan Silva</a> highlighted tight end <span>Jaeden Graham</span>’s preseason prowess. He’s a decent pass catching tight end but he’s got a tough matchup this week. He should be considered for next week though in a projected blowout affair against the Bucs at home. <span>Brian Hill</span> <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">is an immediate high-end RB2</a>, replacing the banged up Devonta Freeman. Hill is a talented back who <em>needs </em>to be in starting rosters. <a href="https://twitter.com/adamlevitan/status/1194316165860020226">As shown in the aforementioned Levitan tweet</a>, the Panthers are <a href="https://twitter.com/adamlevitan/status/1194316165860020226">the league’s worst run defense in DVOA</a>.</p>
<p id="IdVoFQ"><span>Kyle Allen</span> deserves real streaming consideration this week against one of the league’s worst overall defenses. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">He’s a high-end QB2</a>. Accordingly, this is also a blowup spot for the DJ Moore/<span>Curtis Samuel</span> wide receiver duo. Both are high floor WR2s with decent chances at a big day, given their unique run after the catch abilities. <span>Greg Olsen</span> <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/carolina-panthers-green-bay-packers-20191110009/">returned to TE1 form last week, hauling in 8 of 10 targets for 98 yards</a>. If he’s got a shot to turn in that sort of a performance again this year, it’s this week. He’s a risky TE1 with a grand ceiling. <span>Christian McCaffrey</span> is, of course, <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">the overall RB1</a>. This is a dream matchup. Keep Reggie Bonnafon as a handcuff if you’re a CMC owner.</p>
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<a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/"><strong>Dallas Cowboys</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/"><strong>Detroit Lions</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="txV5vW">If not for Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson, <span>Dak Prescott</span> would be the top contender for MVP honors this year. He’s the real damn deal and he’s got an outstanding matchup against <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=QB&ntid=8">one of the league’s worst pass defenses</a>. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">He’s the QB3 this week</a>. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20838514/amari-cooper-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Amari Cooper</a>’s <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-dallas-cowboys-20191110006/">sore knee didn’t slow him down at all last week</a>. He’s a top-tier WR1 against this secondary. Like <span>Cooper</span>, <span>Michael Gallup</span> <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-dallas-cowboys-20191110006/">also had a successful outing last week</a>. He’s solid WR2. Even Randall Cobb got in on the fun in last week’s game against the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a>, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-dallas-cowboys-20191110006/">hauling in 6 of 9 targets for 106 yards and a score</a>. He’s a flex option this week with a low-end WR2 ceiling in PPR. <span>Jason Witten</span> is sadly no more than a TD-dependent TE option. This is as good of a week as any though. He’s a desperation option. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20841823/ezekiel-elliott-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Ezekiel Elliott</a> is <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=RB&ntid=8">the overall RB2</a>, <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=RB&ntid=8">squaring off against fantasy’s 2nd-most friendly .5PPR running back defense</a>. <span>Tony Pollard</span> is a great bench stash.</p>
<p id="sp8EBV"><span>Matthew Stafford</span> <a href="https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player/2679/matthew-stafford">has still not returned to practice</a>. Jeff Driskel will likely start this week <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">but he should not be in fantasy lineups</a>. With Driskel at the helm and a <em>bad</em> matchup on tap, <span>Kenny Golladay</span> must be downgraded to a WR2. <span>Marvin Jones Jr.</span> is just a PPR flex option. Wide receiver Danny Amendola is not a recommended fantasy asset until <span>Matthew Stafford</span>’s return -- at that point, he will reassume his stout PPR flex-ability. TJ Hockenson is a low-end TE1 this week. <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/31840/gamelog">His usage has been solid since the bye</a> and the Driskel-safety-blanket effect could be in play. As of now, JD McKissic is the presumed bell cow for Sunday’s stiff matchup, <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">making him a decent flex option</a>. <span>Ty Johnson</span> <a href="https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player/51819/ty-johnson">has resumed practicing</a>, however, part of clearing the concussion protocol -- which he is currently still in -- is getting in full practices and seeing how his noggin responds. He’s not out of the woods yet.</p>
<h2 id="zsiWVf">
<a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/"><strong>Jacksonville Jaguars</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/"><strong>Indianapolis Colts</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="kDbGpC">Nick Foles is set to make his return this week after Garnder Minshew II blew his opportunity to retain the starting job. The Indy defense is no slouch, making this a relatively tough spot for Foles come back to. He can only be considered as a mid-tier QB2, although he’s a worthwhile investment for the rest of the season. Their Weeks 12-16 schedule: at TEN, TB, LAC, at OAK, and at ATL. Foles showed no connection with breakout WR <span>DJ Chark Jr.</span> before getting injured in Week 1. It’s reasonable to assume Chark remains the team’s nominal No. 1 WR, but expectations must be dropped. He’s a high floor/capped ceiling WR2 until they show otherwise. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/29/20838558/dede-westbrook-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Dede Westbrook</a> was slated to be Foles’ favorite passing game option. Consider him a flex with upside in PPR leagues for now. TE <span>Seth DeValve</span> is the other pure pass catcher worth discussion. He’s a TE1/2 as we don’t know how the two will mesh. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20838791/leonard-fournette-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Leonard Fournette</a> may see a bump in his already-monstrous workload this week, as the Jags may opt to ease Foles back into live action. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s a Top 5 running back option</a> -- let’s hope his aerial usage continues with Foles. Ryquell Armstead is the handcuff.</p>
<p id="nxAV1F"><span>Jacoby Brissett</span> should return for this divisional showdown. It’s likely he could’ve played last week, but the team presumably thought they could squeak past Miami without their starting quarterback. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">He’s a back-end QB1 in a decent matchup</a>. With TY Hilton and Parris Campbell <a href="https://twitter.com/KBowen1070/status/1195052307114795009">likely out (Kevin Bowen)</a>, Zach Pascal and <span>Chester Rogers</span> are the wide receivers of note. Rogers is a long-shot 2nd-flex option. Pascal has flex appeal with a back-end WR2 ceiling. <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/miami-dolphins-indianapolis-colts-20191110011/">The tight ends were the stars of the show last week</a> with Eric Ebron seeing 12 targets and Jack Doyle securing 3 of 4, one of them going for a score. The tight ends are a toss up but both are reasonable back-end TE1 starters. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20840982/marlon-mack-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Marlon Mack</a> is a <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">Top 10 RB</a> this week, in a decent matchup. He should hit 20 touches, no problem. <span>Nyheim Hines</span> doesn’t belong on fantasy rosters.</p>
<h2 id="tQgKYY">
<a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/"><strong>Buffalo Bills</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/"><strong>Miami Dolphins</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="Wapz4D">Blowup spot here, for QB Josh Allen. He should run (and throw) wild in this one. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">He’s the overall QB5 on the week</a>. John Brown hasn’t shown us a ceiling game in a while but Miami is an <em>excellent</em> place for him to do it. Get him into your lineup as a WR2. <span>Cole Beasley</span> is a viable flex option in PPR formats. If he plays (<a href="https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player/50082/dawson-knox">knee</a>), Dawson Knox is a back-end TE1. His season’s been <em>very</em> up and down though. Devin Singletary’s <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/buffalo-bills-cleveland-browns-20191110005/">usage last week was superb</a> -- he stumbled in the box score though. Still, if he continues seeing this kind of passing game volume, the big days will come. Against Miami, this should be the day. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He (boldly) comes in as the RB12 this week</a>. Frank Gore will, no doubt, be given some <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7241/">revenge</a> touches against the Dolphins. He’s a decent flex in Standard, but don’t expect a ceiling game.</p>
<p id="G14KWO"><span>Ryan Fitzpatrick</span> gets to face-off against Buffalo’s buzzsaw pass defense this week. He’s just a back-end QB2. <span>DeVante Parker</span> is a flex option with WR2 upside, based on the likelihood of Fitz shooting him double digit targets this weekend. There’s a <em>very</em> outside chance that Mike Gesicki could produce this week but he’s not a recommended start -- neither are any of the other pure pass catchers. Kalen Ballage has stepped into bell cow duties. Buffalo is <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=RB&ntid=2">surprisingly weak against opposing backfields</a>, making Ballage <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">a decent flex this week</a>. </p>
<div id="q4JdZH"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QLPw0fsWTwM?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<h2 id="A4No6h">
<a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/"><strong>Houston Texans</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/"><strong>Baltimore Ravens</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="xPPlp6">This isn’t a great matchup for <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841565/deshaun-watson-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Deshaun Watson</a> <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">but he can’t be lowered past the QB8 spot.</a> Will Fuller and his balky hamstring have returned to practice this week, likely kicking <span>Kenny Stills</span> back into the slot and <span>DeAndre Carter</span> out of the starting lineup. <span>DeAndre Hopkins</span> remains a no-brainer WR1. Fuller would be the boomest/bustest flex option. Stills would be just a PPR flex. TE <span>Darren Fells</span> is a red zone machine. He’s a TE1. <span>Carlos Hyde</span> will receive his requisite 20ish carries, making for RB2/3 production. <span>Duke Johnson Jr.</span> has earned PPR flex-ability at this point as well.</p>
<p id="dRpTix">Lamar Jackson should obliterate this JJ Watt-less defense. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">He’s the overall QB1</a>. Marquise Brown worryingly was a limited practice participant on Wednesday but was unable to practice on Thursday. We’ll need to monitor this closely as Hollywood has serious upside with a WR2 floor. Willie Snead IV would garner strong flex appeal, should Brown miss this weekend’s game. Tight ends Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle are both TE1s this week with Andrews retaining the higher ceiling. Should Brown be absent both would be <em>strong</em> plays. WR Myles Boykin would be a flex consideration as well. <span>Mark Ingram II</span> should have no issue producing in such a good matchup this week. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s a back-end RB1</a>. <span>Gus Edwards</span> and <span>Justice Hill</span> can be ignored, although Edwards is a worthy bench stash.</p>
<h2 id="vFLNeG">
<a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/"><strong>New York Jets</strong></a><strong> at Washington Football Team</strong>
</h2>
<p id="1ECjGe"><span>Sam Darnold</span> continues to be a terrifying start, even in cake matchups. He got the job done last week but has otherwise stumbled should-be great spots. Given the recent success though, he comes in as the QB18, one spot ahead of Nick Foles (for reference). <span>Jamison Crowder</span> has been an animal over the last two weeks. He deserves WR2 consideration across all formats with back-end WR1 upside in PPR. Both Robby Anderson and <span>Demaryius Thomas</span> are ignorable outside of <em>very </em>deep leagues. With Chris Herndon headed to injured reserve, Ryan Griffin assumes full-time TE starter status. He’s a back-end TE1. Le’Veon Bell has shown enough consistency to be let out of the RB2 doghouse. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s back in the weekly-RB1 good graces</a>. <span>Bilal Powell</span> <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/new-york-giants-new-york-jets-20191110020/">may have usurped the handcuff role for the NYJ squad</a>.</p>
<p id="TLfrW4">Dwayne Haskins Jr. gets his easiest matchup to date <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">and is still entirely unstartable</a>. Of the pass catchers, only Terry McLaurin deserves starting consideration this week <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=WR&ntid=20">against the Jets’ silly secondary</a>. He’s a high-upside flex. <span>Adrian Peterson</span> is a <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">great flex option</a> with serious RB2 upside in such a good matchup. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/10/29/20937657/derrius-guice-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Derrius Guice</a> <em>should</em> immediately step into Chris Thompson’s pass catching role. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He could be flexed in PPR leagues this week <em>if necessary</em></a>.</p>
<p id="qONzrJ"></p>
<h2 id="xQWn10">
<a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/"><strong>New Orleans Saints</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/"><strong>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="bdMrOI">Short answer: Start them all.</p>
<p id="6cJ7xH">Drew Brees <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">is a Top 5 option this week</a>, facing the Bucs pass-funnel defense (<a href="https://twitter.com/adamlevitan/status/1194316165860020226">hat tip to Mr. Adam Levitan and his good, good tweet</a>). Michael Thomas is a dominant WR1 with an astronomically high ceiling. Burners <span>Ted Ginn Jr.</span> and Tre’Quan Smith are likely best left on benches/free agency, however, one could start Ginn as a <em>very</em> boom/bust 2nd-flex option in Standard leagues. <span>Jared Cook</span> should be in lineups this week with a high upside as a TE1. It’s been ages since <span>Alvin Kamara</span> gave us a box score-shattering performance. As long as they get him involved in the passing game this week, he should hit that mark. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s the overall RB6</a>. Latavius Murray is unlikely to be productive this week and TB typically shuts down pure rushing -- the type of work Murray is likely to see.</p>
<p id="7CGK6r">Saints’ CB <span>Marshon Lattimore</span> <a href="https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/injury-report/">pulled his hamstring last week, potentially setting him up for a multi-week absence</a>. It’s a devastating blow that bodes <em>extremely</em> <em>well</em> for <span>Jameis Winston</span> and Co. Winston is the <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">overall QB7</a> and both <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841107/mike-evans-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Mike Evans</a> and <span>Chris Godwin</span> should be considered top-tier WR1s. OJ Howard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals-tampa-bay-buccaneers-20191110027/">finally broke out last week</a>. The Saints pose a difficult matchup but Arians may opt to reward Howard for the good work -- we know he’d love to keep Howard as a featured part of the Bucs’ offense moving forward. Consider him a startable TE1. <span>Ronald Jones II</span> <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals-tampa-bay-buccaneers-20191110027/">erupted last week</a>, being given bell cow duties. He lost a fumble though and <span>Peyton Barber</span> immediately came in and stole a red zone touchdown. On Wednesday, Bruce Arians quelled fears over a reduced workload for Jones, as punishment for the fumble, <a href="https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player/12162/ronald-jones">by stating he’d like to get Jones even more involved in the passing game</a>. He’s a rock-solid RB2, even in a tough matchup. Peyton Barber and Dare Ogunbowale are ignorable.</p>
<h2 id="OySex7">
<a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/"><strong>Arizona Cardinals</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/"><strong>San Francisco 49ers</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="bOzglG">Facing a battered and bruised (<a href="https://twitter.com/evansilva/status/1194775075419049990">hat tip to Mr. Evan Silva for the injured personnel info</a>) 49ers team coming off of a short week of rest from Monday Night Football that went into overtime (<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-snap-count-wide-receiver-inconsistency-seen-loss-seahawks">88 snaps for the offense and 74 snaps for the defense</a>), the Cardinals may actually surpass <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers-arizona-cardinals-20191031022/">their outrageous production from Week 9’s SF at ARI tilt</a>. Kyler Murray <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">is the overall QB9 with a shot to finish in the Top 3</a>. Christian Kirk has ascended to every-week high-end WR2 status with an easy shot at a WR1 finish this week. Larry Fitzgerald <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals-tampa-bay-buccaneers-20191110027/">shook off some rust and had himself a day last week</a>, but he shouldn’t be considered outside of 2nd-flex PPR leagues. <span>Andy Isabella</span> has burst onto national radar over the last two weeks and could similarly be started in a team’s 2nd-flex, although his ascension makes him a more attractive option. He’s a dart throw but I <em>love</em> his odds to reel in a long touchdown this week. <span>Chase Edmonds</span> and his bum hammy are shelved for now and <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/4/20937422/kenyan-drake-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Kenyan Drake</a> is playing so damn well. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20837360/david-johnson-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">David Johnson</a> is fighting through ankle and back injuries -- which was clear to the naked eye last week. <a href="https://www.azcardinals.com/team/injury-report/">Incredibly, he’s not listed on this week’s injury report though</a>. I’m rolling with <em>my</em> analysis over Kliff Kingsbury’s possible trickery. <span>Kenyan Drake</span> is set to lead this backfield as a true workhorse. He’s this week’s <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">RB14</a> but can easily vault into the Top 10. I expect <span>David Johnson</span> to be an active roster decoy. He’s the <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">RB36</a>.</p>
<p id="ZT9GLN">Jimmy Garoppolo had a <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers-arizona-cardinals-20191031022/">fantastic outing the last time these teams played</a>. This time around though, <a href="https://www.azcardinals.com/team/injury-report/">he’s likely to be missing</a> LT <span>Joe Staley</span>, pass catching RB <span>Matt Breida</span>, All-World TE <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/11/20959896/george-kittle-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">George Kittle</a>, and stud WR <span>Emmanuel Sanders</span>, among others. Although it’s a great matchup, he can only be considered a mid-to-high QB1. Deebo Samuel <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks-san-francisco-49ers-20191111025/">stepped the hell up last week</a> against Seattle and can be securely started as an upside flex this week. WR Kendrick Bourne and TE <span>Ross Dwelley</span> <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks-san-francisco-49ers-20191111025/">both had solid workloads</a>. (although, we must remember that this game did see overtime) The pair should remain part of this week’s game plan, assuming the aforementioned players indeed miss the contest. Bourne is a mild flex option while <span>Dwelley</span> is a TE1. Remember, Arizona is fantasy’s <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=TE&ntid=22"><em>friendliest</em></a><em> </em>defense to opposing tight ends. With Matt Breida sidelined, <span>Tevin Coleman</span> should see a <em>slight</em> uptick in touches, although <span>Raheem Mostert</span> will more or less slide in a directly take over the Breida role. Coleman is a <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">back-end RB2</a>. Mostert is a decent flex option. </p>
<h2 id="IdtfFO">
<a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/"><strong>Cincinnati Bengals</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders"><strong>Oakland Raiders</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="LWiAgA">The Ryan Finley-lead Bengals are a sorry sight. Even in a good matchup, he’s just a <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">QB3</a>. AJ Green will undoubtedly continue his injured-feigned holdout. <span>Tyler Boyd</span> and <span>Auden Tate</span> should continue to see a flex-able target distribution while <span>Alex Erickson</span> should not be started. TE Tyler Eifert is just a TE1/2. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/11/20959324/joe-mixon-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Joe Mixon</a> <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/baltimore-ravens-cincinnati-bengals-20191110004/">has suddenly seen a matchup-proof workload explosion</a> with Finley at the helm. In such a great matchup, with such a great expected workload, <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">he’s a high-end RB2</a>. </p>
<p id="3DLZ7G">As miraculous as it may seem, <span>Derek Carr</span> is the overall <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">QB10</a> -- and it’s not just the matchup. This Raiders offense is humming. WR <span>Tyrell Williams</span> is a good bet to find the end zone this week. He’s a WR2. Even slot man Hunter Renfrow should make noise in the box score. He’s a solid flex option. TE Darren Waller has been quiet over the last few weeks. This matchup with the Bengals is just what the doctor ordered though. He’s got Top 3-5 upside written all over him. <span>Josh Jacobs</span> is similarly set to smash this spot, coming in as this week’s <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">RB7</a>. The rookie’s playing out of his mind and he really can’t ask for a better matchup than with Cincinnati’s terribly slow linebacking corps.</p>
<h2 id="QiAh27">
<a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/"><strong>New England Patriots</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/"><strong>Philadelphia Eagles</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="LrSnuH">Attacking the Eagles’ defense via rushing is a fool’s errand and Bill Belichick is no fool. Expect a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> performance out of Tom Brady and James White this week. Brady’s locked-in as <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">the overall QB6</a> this week and James White finds himself as an <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">RB2</a>, likely operating as Brady’s go-to passing game option. Julian Edelam should be considered as a WR1 against Philly’s pathetic secondary. <span>Mohamed Sanu</span> and <span>Phillip Dorsett II</span> are both legit flex options across all formats. Ben Watson could be started as a <em>very desperate</em> TE, although he’s really not part of this passing game. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/9/1/20838872/sony-michel-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Sony Michel</a> is in line for a very down week and can only be started as an RB3. Rex Burkhead is perhaps startable as a 3rd-flex option in PPR leagues.</p>
<p id="3q6QSK"><a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20842014/carson-wentz-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Carson Wentz</a>’s ho-hum year is likely to continue against New England’s shutdown pass defense. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">He’s the QB15</a>. <span>Alshon Jeffery</span>’s <a href="https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/injury-report/">ankle injury</a> has kept him from practicing this week, putting his availability for Sunday squarely in doubt. Expect tight ends Zach Ertz and <span>Dallas Goedert</span> to lead the way in the passing game this week. <span>Nelson Agholor</span> will takeover as the team’s No. 1 WR but he is not a recommended start. Neither are any of the other receivers, including the newly re-signed Jordan Matthews. Both <span>Nick Chubb</span> and Mark Ingram II found running room against New England in Week 8 and 9, boding somewhat well for the rushing oriented Jordan Howard. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s a mild flex option</a>. <span>Miles Sanders</span> should see 10-15 touches, with an emphasis on passing game work. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s a strong flex, especially in PPR</a>.</p>
<h2 id="bUokIA">
<strong>SNF: </strong><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/"><strong>Chicago Bears</strong></a><strong> at Los Angeles Rams </strong>
</h2>
<p id="cYfsvy">As usual, <span>Mitchell Trubisky</span> is an outrageously low floor QB option. He’s likely to be under duress for much of this matchup. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">He’s a QB3</a>. For the first time this year, I’ll be suggesting <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841299/allen-robinson-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Allen Robinson</a> II be considered as just a PPR flex option. The combination of <span>Trubisky</span> on the run and <span>Jalen Ramsey</span>’s expected shadow coverage drop the talented WR’s prospects into shaky territory. If you have a better option, bench him. <a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/team/injury-report/">With <em>both</em> starting tight ends out</a> (<span>Trey Burton</span> and <span>Adam Shaheen</span>), it’s possible <span>Taylor Gabriel</span> and <span>Anthony Miller</span> get a flex-able workload. I do not suggest betting on it though. If anything, WR/RB <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/9/1/20843960/tarik-cohen-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Tarik Cohen</a> could be the beneficiary as a constantly-used safety blanket. He’s a PPR 2nd-flex option. David Montgomery was finally able to get in a <a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/team/injury-report/">limited practice</a> on Friday after turning his ankle. The fact that he was able to join practice bodes well for his availability on Sunday Night, however, he’s likely to be a game time decision as he’s truly Questionable. Savvy planners should look elsewhere for a RB2 option as the late kickoff could seriously tank a lineup, were he to be declared out at game time. UDFA RB Ryan Hall <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/3127335/ryan-nall">has never touched the ball during a pro game</a>. He would not be a recommended start if he were to “replace” Montgomery.</p>
<p id="8f7hD3">Los Angeles walks into this game with some troubling injury issues. RT <span>Rob Havenstein</span> <a href="https://www.therams.com/team/injury-report/">is likely to be out, as is</a> TE Tyler Higbee. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20837218/brandin-cooks-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Brandin Cooks</a> was ruled out at the beginning of the week as well. Jared Goff is likely to be feeling the heat from the Bears’ defensive front with <span>Havenstein</span> and Higbee out. Missing his deep threat doesn’t help either. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">In such a tough matchup, he’s just a back-end QB2</a>. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841593/cooper-kupp-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Cooper Kupp</a>’s been <a href="https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player/9293/cooper-kupp">battling an illness all week</a>. Coupling that with Goff’s issues, we should probably drop Kupp’s production expectations to the WR2 variety. <span>Robert Woods</span> is a flex. Gerald Everrett should be considered a mid-to-low TE1 this week, given the matchup. Chicago’s run defense has played below expectations but the Rams’ offense overall isn’t likely to exceed expectations. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20842033/todd-gurley-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Todd Gurley</a> II is <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">just a back-end RB2 on a limited workload</a>.</p>
<h2 id="Mfe7TO">
<strong>MNF: </strong><a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/"><strong>Kansas City Chiefs</strong></a><strong> at </strong><a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/"><strong>Los Angeles Chargers</strong></a>
</h2>
<p id="A2Q4xI"><a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/29/20838560/patrick-mahomes-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Patrick Mahomes</a> is back, showing no ill-effects from his injured knee. He’s <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">the overall QB2</a> this week, behind Lamar Jackson. The Chargers, of course, boast a stout pass defense. But this is a “defenses don’t matter” situation. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20837404/tyreek-hill-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Tyreek Hill</a> is, as always, in contention to finish as the overall WR1. <span>Sammy Watkins</span> is a great PPR flex option. He doesn’t often produce in the yardage department but his target volume is excellent. Mecole Hardman always deserves flex consideration, given his propensity to house <span>Mahomes</span>’ long balls. His floor is a goose egg though, so start him at your own risk. Demarcus Robinson is an unattractive 2nd-flex option in PPR-only. Travis Kelce is a no-brainer Top 3 tight end. Damien Williams owns this backfield now. <span>LeSean McCoy</span> was a healthy scratch last week and neither Darrel Williams not Darwin Thompson saw serious action. It’s an <a href="https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/813451/pointsagainst?pos=RB&ntid=24">excellent matchup</a> against a <em>bad</em> Chargers Run D. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s a high-end RB2 with easy RB1 upside</a>.</p>
<p id="0aOfrn"><span>Philip Rivers</span>’ is just a <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/12/20961838/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-quarterbacks-week-11-kyler-murray-patrick-mahomes">high-end QB2</a>, even in a matchup where he should be forced to throw. This offense belongs to the ground game. <span>Keenan Allen</span> is a WR2 with decent upside in full-point PPR leagues. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841639/mike-williams-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Mike Williams</a> is a just a flex option, but not a strong one. Hunter Henry is a Top 5 tight end. Tight ends who are legitimate candidates to lead their team in targets on a weekly basis are so rare and so valuable. That’s Henry. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/8/20955621/melvin-gordon-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Melvin Gordon</a> III has shed his rust and now holds the reins to this offense. <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">He’s the overall RB4</a>, setting his sights on the defense that Derrick Henry <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs-tennessee-titans-20191110010/">just hung 191 yards from scrimmage and touchdown on</a>. KC’s run defense is nonexistent. <span>Austin Ekeler</span> can even be started as a <a href="https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11">mid-to-low RB2</a>. It’s a great matchup for the RB duo.</p>
<div id="mHQpIG"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9gIJPQnnUf0?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/14/20965462/fantasy-football-rundown-rankings-starts-sits-sleepers-week-11NHB2019-11-14T13:00:00-05:002019-11-14T13:00:00-05:00Tight end rankings for Week 11
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<img alt="Seattle Seahawks v Pittsburgh Steelers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i52MKx1BSbHX8hGghUea5Fse2jg=/4x0:2869x1910/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65701175/1168565142.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Heath ranks the safety blankets.</p> <p id="Bm5UYd">Last week yours truly ranked 40th of 135 in tight end accuracy per FantasyPros. I’m now sitting on 35th place in tight end accuracy through 10 weeks, and 48th in overall accuracy (again, of 135 degenerates). Let’s see if we can push both rankings up a bit these last few weeks, eh? Being upper third is nice, but it would be nice to sneak farther into the expert elite. We shall see.</p>
<p id="ZlKgcs">On bye this week are the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> (<span>Jimmy Graham</span>), <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> (<a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20837312/evan-engram-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Evan Engram</a>/<span>Rhett Ellison</span>), <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> (<span>Jacob Hollister</span>), and <a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Titans</a> (<span>Jonnu Smith</span>/<span>Delanie Walker</span>). We are also missing <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/11/20959896/george-kittle-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">George Kittle</a> (already ruled out for Week 11) and <span>Austin Hooper</span> (out for about a month). To summarize...we are missing a pair of solid TE1 options and a pair of solid low-end TE1 options. It may be a bit of a sparse week at tight end again. But let’s dig in and check it out.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="4C98zL"><div data-anthem-component="aside:8946796"></div></div></div>
<p id="gtFfKw"><strong>1 </strong><span><strong>Travis Kelce</strong></span><strong> @ LAC - </strong><a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/29/20838560/patrick-mahomes-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Patrick Mahomes</a> returned last week and Kelce scored an elusive touchdown, while also snagging all seven of his targets for 75 yards. Kelce leads all tight ends in red zone targets with 16, but a whopping 15 tight ends have scored more touchdowns than he has. Sounds like we may see a bit more positive regression moving forward, especially with <span>Mahomes</span> back at the helm.</p>
<p id="1Jtypk"><strong>2 </strong><span><strong>Hunter Henry</strong></span><strong> vs. KC - </strong>Henry ranked second among tight ends in air yards last week with 92, but only snagged four balls for 30 yards. Still, you like that the opportunity was there (7 targets) and that the aDOT was still massive at 13.1. For reference, <span>Eric Ebron</span> topped all tight ends with 134 air yards in Week 10, but did so with an 11.2 aDOT (12 targets). Point is, Henry gets high quality looks down the field, and the <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Chiefs</a> have allowed 65 receptions to enemy tight ends this year—or only one fewer than the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> (the most allowed). Since he returned from injury in Week 6, Henry leads all tight ends with 443 air yards, and ranks 14th in the entire NFL. Zach Ertz ranks second behind Henry over this stretch, and he is all the way down at 310 air yards. That’s a walloping. Henry’s 11.1 aDOT over that stretch bests every other tight end you’ve heard of (i.e. that actually receives volume). Ertz (10.3), Andrews (10.7), and Gesicki (10.3) are the only other guys in double digits.</p>
<p id="xqSfSS"><strong>3 </strong><span><strong>Mark Andrews</strong></span><strong> vs. HOU -</strong> Last week’s top tight end now gets the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a>, who have been generous to quality big guys. Andrews is quality, as he has amassed at least 70 air yards in six of 10 matchups so far (most among all tight ends). That’s a lot of opportunity, which slides him inside the top three...especially given the recent downturn in volume for the next guy...</p>
<p id="34TWqk"><strong>4 </strong><span><strong>Darren Waller</strong></span><strong> vs. CIN - </strong>Good tight ends show up against the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a>, with the exception of <span>Gerald Everett</span>’s pitiful 2-15 line (but he only had 3 targets that week). <span>Waller</span> is reduced to this rank due to the emergence of <span>Hunter Renfrow</span> and the health of Tyrell Williams. Renfrow topped Oakland in targets two weeks ago and tied <span>Waller</span> for the 2nd most looks among <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Raiders</a> last week. It’s a concerning trend (for Waller’s sake) since his team wants to run the ball whenever possible. The lower volume caps Waller’s upside, but the floor is still legitimate. This floor comes from Waller’s ability to rack up yards after the catch, as his 295 such yards leads all tight ends in 2019.</p>
<p id="c8rXSM"><strong>5 </strong><span><strong>Jared Cook</strong></span><strong> @ TB - </strong>Last week—in only his second game played with <span>Drew Brees</span>—<span>Jared Cook</span> had a whopping 10 targets despite the return of wideout Tre’Quan <span>Smith</span>. <span>Cook</span> managed a 6-74 line and gets elite treatment inside the top five this week. The <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> are a dream matchup, giving up the 4th most receptions (58), 2nd most yardage (695), and 3rd most scores (6) to opposing tight ends. I dare you to do better, as the next matchup isn’t what I would call favorable...</p>
<p id="gFrzWX"><strong>6 </strong><span><strong>Zach Ertz</strong></span><strong> vs. NE -</strong> In the end, the talent won out as I was deciding how low to go with <span>Ertz</span>. This ranking is a respect thing. He’s too good to drop below this point, but this is a BRUTAL matchup. It is made more brutal by the absence of <span>DeSean Jackson</span>, who would have at least been a threat as a field-stretching complement. Without <span>Jackson</span> to fret over, Wild Bill gets to narrow his focus even more on Ertz. I am afraid, very afraid. Just not as afraid as I am over the ensuing options. For instance, the next guy has a disturbingly low floor...</p>
<p id="et3DkY"><strong>7 </strong><span><strong>Greg Olsen</strong></span><strong> vs. ATL - </strong>I pushed him up to the No. 9 spot a week ago, as I liked his matchup against Green Bay. That was a tentative ranking, based on <span>Olsen</span>’s relative absence from the stat sheet in recent weeks. Given his strong effort (8-98) against the Packers, though, I think <span>Olsen</span> deserves another week’s worth of trust. The <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> are in shambles, and Olsen quietly ranks fourth in air yards (506) among tight ends on the season. Only Kelce (733), Ertz (677), and Andrews (652) have had more opportunity through the air.</p>
<p id="ws7ALg"><strong>8 </strong><span><strong>Gerald Everett</strong></span><strong> vs. CHI -</strong> The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> are officially a decent matchup for tight ends. This is how to attack Chicago when passing (at least compared to wideouts). The Bears have suffered 75 targets towards enemy tight ends this year, the 8th most in the league. Against receivers, that ranking plummets to the 13th lowest (i.e. 19 teams have allowed more targets to WRs so far). Sure, the Bears have also allowed the most targets in the NFL to enemy running backs, at 83...but I don’t see Goff all of a sudden peppering any of the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Rams</a> backs with tons of looks in this one. All of the Rams running backs combined total about 11% of the market share, which is hardly noteworthy—especially if you think the Rams can run the ball against the Bears (I do). So when Goff does throw, I think Everett will be a one of the top targets—and at least one of those Rams wideouts is going to suffer in this matchup.</p>
<p id="a7QRz7"><strong>9 </strong><span><strong>Vance McDonald</strong></span><strong> @ CLE - </strong>Do the Vance Dance this week! Cleveland has been a sieve lately, allowing a 3-115-1 line to <span>Noah Fant</span> and 4-55 to <span>Dawson Knox</span> in the last two weeks. McDonald has seen 7 targets in each of the last two weeks, which is ELITE level volume at this position. Don’t believe me? Only two other tight ends in the NFL can make the same claim (7+ targets in each of the last two weeks). Those guys are <span>Travis Kelce</span> and <span>Hunter Henry</span>. Pretty fine company, and a pretty fine matchup. It’s not rocket science, sometimes.</p>
<p id="8MvcN3"><strong>10 </strong><span><strong>Ross Dwelley</strong></span><strong> vs. ARI -</strong> <span>Kittle</span> has already been ruled out and <span>Emmanuel Sanders</span> is banged up. <span>Matt Breida</span> also sounds doubtful to play. This reads like another potential eruption spot for <span>Deebo Samuel</span>, but also a spot where <span>Dwelley</span> could amass 5-7 targets against the same Cardinals offense that just allowed <span>O.J. Howard</span> to snag 47 yards and a touchdown last week. <span>Dwelley</span> ran a route on 84% of Jimmy G’s dropbacks last week. The tight end pool is too thin to ignore this matchup and that potential volume this week. Sure, pay attention to <span>Garrett Celek</span>, who was officially activated last week...but I think we get at least one more week of Dwelley in this role.</p>
<p id="x3NjRS"><strong>11 </strong><span><strong>Eric Ebron</strong></span><strong> vs. JAC -</strong> Just when I think I can write him off, he logs 134 air yards on 12 targets last week. Nutso. Of course, he only caught 5-for-56, but still. The <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jaguars</a> aren’t the typically scary defense of old, ranking bottom third (12th most) in fantasy points allowed to tight ends this year. This is despite not playing a lot of imposing guys, with <span>Travis Kelce</span> (3-88) and <span>Delanie Walker</span> (7-64) representing the cream of the crop that the Jags have faced. Ebron is generally targeted deep, as his elite (for a tight end) 9.9 aDOT shows. Among tight ends with more than 15 targets on the year, that aDOT is tied with mark Andrews for 2nd highest, as only <span>Hunter Henry</span>’s aDOT of 11.0 is superior. Ebron is always a risk to not get volume, but he got it last week and he’s always gotten looks down the field. Add in the 10 red zone looks so far (tops on the team for Indy) and you could do worse at this position. It helps that <span>Jacoby Brissett</span> is on track to play, too.</p>
<p id="Ppkor8"><strong>12 Dawson Knox @ MIA -</strong> Fresh off of catching 4-of-6 targets for 55 yards against the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a> last week, Knox now draws the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> in sunny Miami. He’ll probably get two targets, but the matchup dictates that I rank him aggressively. I’d rather chase this matchup than endure the floor of the guys who come after...</p>
<p id="bApdqt"><strong>13 </strong><span><strong>Kyle Rudolph</strong></span><strong> vs. DEN -</strong> As much as he has burned me in recent years, I can’t ignore the recent production—especially given the expected absence of <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/29/20838552/adam-thielen-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Adam Thielen</a>. Just don’t forget <span>Irv Smith Jr.</span>, but more on him in a second. Rudolph isn’t amassing tons of yards, so you’re essentially banking on a score. That said, he’s probably one of the top two bets to catch one for Minnesota with Thielen still shelved.</p>
<p id="xK3bWy"><strong>14 </strong><span><strong>T.J. Hockenson</strong></span><strong> vs. DAL -</strong> He’s logged his second and third highest yardage totals of the season in the last two weeks, even with <span>Jeff Driskel</span> at the helm last week. The target counts of 7 and 6 over the last two weeks also represent the second and third highest marks for Hockenson on the season. You could do worse at tight end, especially in this matchup. The <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> have allowed five scores to tight ends so far, the 4th most in the league.</p>
<p id="0W5G8r"><strong>15 </strong><span><strong>O.J. Howard</strong></span><strong> vs. NO - </strong>Howard isn’t back in my circle of trust, but welcome to the ugliness that is tight end rankings, folks. The <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> allowed a score to <span>Austin Hooper</span> last week, one week after letting <span>Charles Clay</span> of Arizona get loose for 88 yards. Stranger things have happened. I’m lower than the consensus on Howard (which is currently around TE11) and I feel like that’s smart.</p>
<p id="AuiMfp">After these guys, you can consider <span>Jack Doyle</span> in a PPR format, or take a shot on Noah Fant against Minnesota (they funnel targets to tight ends). Perhaps Mike Gesicki won’t let us down two weeks in a row, but the draw against Buffalo is rough. You could chase a good matchup for a low ceiling guy in <span>Jason Witten</span> (@ DET), or chase a score with <span>Darren Fells</span> (@ BAL). Don’t forget about Irv Smith Jr. if you need a dart throw in a PPR format, as he has target counts of 7 and 6 over the last two weeks—or three more targets than <span>Kyle Rudolph</span> over the same time frame. Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the rebirth of <span>Tyler Eifert</span>, who has totaled 6-74 against Seattle and 2-20-1 against Baltimore in his last two weeks. Unfortunately, <span>Ryan Finley</span> is at the helm, so it’s tough to go nuts there. I’d rather take a shot on <span>Dallas Goedert</span> against New England, honestly. All of these guys are TE2 types in my book.</p>
<p id="VbsALQ">That’s about it for me and tight ends this week. Let me know where I was too high or too low on, as usual...</p>
https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/14/20962354/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-tight-ends-for-week-11Heath Capps2019-11-14T10:00:00-05:002019-11-14T10:00:00-05:00Wide receiver rankings for Week 11
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<img alt="NFL: Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CGBXH3wqFY1SRsEndyXx44hDcBc=/200x281:3361x2388/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65699318/usa_today_13399691.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Ranking the best wide receivers by matchup and opportunity for Week 11 of the 2019 NFL Season.</p> <p id="KkXHPl">Week 10 was a decent showing for the wide receivers of the NFL in terms of <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/fantasy-football">fantasy football</a>. There were 29 wideouts that surpassed double digit fantasy points (0.5 PPR scoring), while not too many were buoyed by inordinate reception totals. Of those 29, there were a few blow-up performances that warrant attention. </p>
<p id="7Z1eAa"><span>Christian Kirk</span> went truly bonkers on the Tampa Bay secondary, something that was essentially written in stone before the week began. The peripheral numbers were there and the Bucs’ backend is a sieve, paving the way for the second-year wideout to explode. <span>Darius Slayton</span> had his second two-touchdown performance in three weeks, catching 10 passes for 121 yards and the scores against an embarrassing <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> secondary. </p>
<p id="NYBuBb">Then there were the big guns. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20837404/tyreek-hill-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Tyreek Hill</a> continued his torrid pace since coming back from injury, catching 11 of 19 targets for 151 yards and a score. <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20838514/amari-cooper-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Amari Cooper</a> disregarded his own injuries and went off for 11 catches, 147 yards and a touchdown against an underachieving <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> backend. </p>
<p id="yhj2ip">And then there’s Michael Thomas. The bye week didn’t slow him down, as he came out of it and caught 13 passes for 152 yards. Thomas has now scored over 12.9 fantasy points in every single game this season. He’s setting himself up to be a top 5 lock in fantasy drafts next year.</p>
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https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/14/20964619/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-wide-receivers-for-week-11Matias Wodner2019-11-13T15:00:00-05:002019-11-13T15:00:00-05:00The riskiest and safest plays for Week 11
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<figcaption>USA Today/Pete Rogers Illustrations</figcaption>
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<p>Here are the most- and least-volatile players so far this season to help you with your Week 11 start and sit gambles.</p> <p id="7dV6yN">Either you are a risk-averse fantasy owner, or a risk-tolerant one. There is not a unique, written-on-stone way of winning at <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/fantasy-football">fantasy football</a>, nor a dominant personality of owner that always get the W. So no matter which side of the coin you fall on, here are some players that fit the risk-range-of-outcomes to different extents so you can put them in your lineups fully knowing what you’re getting into!</p>
<h2 id="3tbXjI">How does the season look so far (a little primer on volatility)?</h2>
<p id="NYtjsz">Okay, so to measure how risky a player is I did something very simple. I calculated the fantasy points per game each player has scored through all of the games he has played, and then calculated the standard deviation of his different scores through his games. This way not only do I get his average points per game, but also I get to know how his scores vary between games (how “volatile” they are).</p>
<p id="29dwFl">Having those two numbers it is easy to see who is putting on good performances constantly, who is having boom-or-bust games, etc. <strong>Through Week 10 there are 494 players with at least two games played in fantasy football.</strong> Here is how they are spread in a graph that includes their fantasy points per game and their standard deviation (we’ll call it <em>Volatility </em>from this point on) from their mean values:</p>
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<figcaption>FP/G and Volatility (StdDev) through Week 10</figcaption>
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<p id="ATdHc7">Now, that is a goddamn mess. At the top of the chart, you have the best players by points per game. At the left, you can find those who—almost—always score the same points, and at the right those who have wide variations between different games.</p>
<p id="u7V4pV">That chart is fine and all, but it’s much better to break it down and separate players into different categories so you can make decisions easily come lineup-locking time. Let’s get it poppin’!</p>
<h2 id="QK6W1e">Week 11 ultra-volatile plays</h2>
<p id="uwySFi"><em>These players have standard deviations from their averages of 12-plus fantasy points. They are as capable of putting on a monster, record-books performance as easily as they can lay a goose age any given day. You’re playing with fire here, boy.</em></p>
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<h3 id="q2W5op">WR <span>Mohamed Sanu</span>, NE (at PHI)</h3>
<p id="gkfoGk">So far, so random for <span>Sanu</span> in New England. It’s only been two games but they couldn’t have been more different in terms of their outcome: <span>Sanu</span> was targeted five times for 23 yards in his <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> debut and then exploded for 14 targets and 81 yards with a touchdown in his second game. That is not new in <span>Sanu</span>’s season, though. Back in Atlanta he was also highly volatile with performances ranging from 1.3 fantasy points to 18.1 only separated by a couple of weeks. Philadelphia should make things easy for Patriots receivers this week but what we have seen from <span>Sanu</span> scares the hell out of me. Sure, the first game should have been a fluke due to his short training time and preparation for his new environment, but his 24.1-point outing in his second one is his season-best and that is precisely what makes Mo <span>Sanu</span> a risky proposition. You know what he can get you on a good day, but you will also be putting on a massive leap of faith trusting a replay.</p>
<h3 id="Tu17B2">RB <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/4/20937422/kenyan-drake-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Kenyan Drake</a>, ARI (at SF)</h3>
<p id="kbtueg"><span>Drake</span> was freed a few weeks ago, and he became a little bit of a headache for fantasy GMs after debuting with Arizona. Pretty much like <span>Sanu</span> (read above), <span>Drake</span> put on a massive performance in his first game for the Cards (162 yards from scrimmage, one touchdown, 28.2 FP) and then came back to earth in his second (41 yards, no scores, 10.1 FP). That last mark was more in line with his season in Miami (he averaged 9.5 FP in six games with the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a>), but the fact that he showed a sky-high ceiling made some folks loose their minds over <span>Drake</span>’s upside. Facing a stout San Francisco we can expect Drake to hit the performance-wall again this weekend. Sure, he is able to rack up yards and points no matter if they come on the ground or through the air, but do we really trust him on another 28-plus outing? He’s wild, so don’t discard it, but count on a potential 8-point-at-most dud possibly coming his way.</p>
<h3 id="SCkxnz">WR <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841593/cooper-kupp-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Cooper Kupp</a>, LAR (vs CHI)</h3>
<p id="qv6YLJ"><span>Kupp</span> is having an incredible comeback season overall. Very few thought he would be able to play to this level after missing half of the 2018 season. He is the WR6 in both total fantasy points and FP per game (18.6), but his volatility is really high at 12.4 points. That is nuts, but it checks. Just this past week the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> limited <span>Kupp</span> to... zero (!) points (four targets). Truth be told, QB <span>Jared Goff</span> has been <em>bad</em> this year and that isn’t helping matters, but Kupp has been able to overcome the hurdle and has had four 26-plus points outings so far this year (two of them of 33.2 and 35 points). The problem with Kupp, though, is that he’s also dropped below 12 points four times already, including the goose egg against Pittsburgh this past weekend. With <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/31/20837218/brandin-cooks-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Brandin Cooks</a> out Kupp will definitely see balls thrown his way, but you never know if you’re going to get first-five-games Kupp (23.2 points on average) or last-four-games Kupp (12.9).</p>
<h2 id="ATD6nn">Week 11 relatively-risky plays</h2>
<p id="w6sihV"><em>These players have standard deviations from their averages between 9 and 12 fantasy points. We’re starting to get into the meat of the player’s pool, and decisions start to get tougher here.</em></p>
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<h3 id="rCDA3C">WR <span>Christian Kirk</span>, ARI (at SF)</h3>
<p id="iUSVMF">Every week there is someone who goes and puts on a show, and it often involves and unusual suspect. Congratulations to <span>Kirk</span> for becoming our Week 10 poster boy! He finished the day with 37.8 FP, which is to say the 25th-best performance of the season and the best of the weekend even beating <span>Lamar Jackson</span>’s. No wonder, considering <span>Kirk</span> caught six passes for 138 yards and scored three touchdowns while at it. Beast of a man, right? Wildly risky player, too. Kirk missed weeks 5 to 7 after having an average-ish start to the season in which he was putting up 13 fantasy points on a weekly basis. Then he came back in Week 8 and in three games he’s averaging a very sweet 19.7 FP. But if I tell you the details you might balk: he’s done it with performances of 17.8, 3.6 (!), and 37.8 points. His three touchdowns last weekend were his only three on the season. He’s got a ceiling as high as low is his floor. And I’m sorry, but against the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> I’m not betting on Kirk to put on another massive outing but rather on him dropping an egg and coming back to his single-digit habits.</p>
<h3 id="qMlDsx">QB <span>Ryan Fitzpatrick</span>, MIA (vs BUF)</h3>
<p id="QW7wrP"><span>Fitzpatrick</span> is here to save the Dolphins, baby!!! Like it or not, Miami is tanking yet winning. I appreciate the effort, not going to lie here. Players need to show and cash in, so they better go out there and play as good as they could if they want to keep being part of the league. It is what it is, no matter what their franchise wants them to do on the larger picture. Fitzpatrick is taking this to heart (as he’s always done) and he’s on a two-game winning streak. He’s been a literal shotgun this season, though. We all know Fitz as a boom-or-bust player in about everything. And in fantasy, that’s his exact definition. Here are Fitzpatrick’s last five fantasy scores: 11.1, 23.4, 15.2, 26.6, 14.8. Roller-coaster time! And if the series keeps the model, then Fitz should be in for a positive rebound. Do you believe in him doing so against Buffalo, though? The QB as been widely inconsistent all season, and Buffalo’s defense is kinda stout. Do your stress a solid and look for safer streaming options at the position this weekend.</p>
<h3 id="4fO3b6">WR <span>Taylor Gabriel</span>, CHI (at LAR)</h3>
<p id="egoVKy">There is a chance, out there somewhere, of <span>Taylor Gabriel</span> winning you the weekend. Seriously, he already did in Week 3 when he put up 32.2 points (ninth-highest score of the week) to the tune of 75 yards and three touchdowns, so you gotta believe. Not so fast, though. I like me some <span>Gabriel</span>, but who can trust him? He’s looked entrenched in the 9-to-14 points clip during the last three weeks—and he even scored a touchdown in his last game after <span>Mitchell Trubisky</span> looked like a quarterback once for all—but you need to factor in his other performances to know who you’re truly talking about. The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> are short of talent on offense and Gabriel features weekly, but as good as his 32-point game was he has also had three performances under five fantasy points (topping at 24 receiving yards on two receptions). The potential for an explosion is there, but you need to 1) trust Gabriel not putting on a dud and 2) believe in <span>Trubisky</span> somehow having back-to-back “good” games. Get me off this track, please.</p>
<h2 id="vtsiiU">Week 11 moderately-safe plays</h2>
<p id="u0lVkF"><em>These players have standard deviations from their averages between 5 and 9 fantasy points. This is where most of the rostered players and those that are part of your weekly lineup fall. They can have up and downs in their outcomes, but they mostly produce to their true talent.</em></p>
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<h3 id="wsLcPN">RB <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20838791/leonard-fournette-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Leonard Fournette</a>, JAX (at IND)</h3>
<p id="iVlkWr">Welcome to the utter weird Lenny’s World. Do you know how many running backs have racked up more than 1125 scrimmage yards in a season and scored one or fewer touchdowns (both on the ground or through the air)? Three. Three freaking guys in the whole history of football, and <span>Fournette</span> is one of them. Even with his ridiculously bad scoring-luck, <span>Fournette</span> still is the RB9 of the season. Had he scored something like three or four more touchdowns we would be talking about a league winner. But football Gods are not siding with him. All in all, though, and after a kinda bad start to the season, Lenny is back on the fast lane. He is averaging 17.6 points per game and other than his last outing (12.2 points) he had completed five games in a row scoring more than 16.5 FP and reaching a season-high mark of 26.5 in Week 4. If we consider <span>Fournette</span>’s points variation by looking at his average, then he is not an ultra-safe play (his last week explains why: 72 yards from scrimmage for 12.2 points compared to his 17.6 average) but he’s still one of the most reliable guys out there to give you a nice high floor weekly.</p>
<h3 id="wiEkwP">RB <span>Josh Jacobs</span>, OAK (vs CIN)</h3>
<p id="fy7T2Q">Jacobs started the year with a massive 113-yard, two-touchdown, 24.3-point performance. Then he smashed the reality wall and couldn’t score again until Week 5. But from that point on he has scored five times and he’s looking like the offensive rookie of the year by a country mile. Jacobs’ (little) volatility comes mostly from his early weeks in the league, but that doesn’t mean he can’t come back to those ways next. The good thing about playing him against Cincinnati this weekend is that the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> are being run all over and that Jacobs only have one 10-point performance in his last five games (all of the others yielded 16-plus points). Josh Jacobs is a little riskier than <span>Fournette</span> (more volatile in FP) and has a little lower FP/G average, but the better matchup this weekend should make for that gap if you’re debating who to start.</p>
<h3 id="oxbrOP">WR <span>John Brown</span>, BUF (at MIA)</h3>
<p id="NzBZOo">They call a man simple for picking against the Dolphins. But hey, have you look at Miami’s last two games? They’ve won two in a row and have their eyes locked into the playoff-race! Well, not so much, I got a little over-excited there. But this is not an anti-Dolphins pick. It is a pick based on both John Brown and Fake Teams-favorite <span>Josh Allen</span>. In case this is your first time here, <span>Josh Allen</span> is the only player averaging 18-plus points (21.1 actually) with a volatility under five points. That means his performances are as solid as hell, as he has given his owners between 19 and 24 points in seven of his eight games. Then there is John Brown. Brown has only one game under 10 fantasy points and all of the rest except two (19.3 and 25.3) have finished with him scoring between 10 and 14 points. You can bank on him giving you a solid 12-point average weekly while hoping for a ceiling of 20-plus points popping out of nowhere. He’s showed it a couple of times, so it’s in him. And Miami might help him reach it.</p>
<h2 id="wDl7bQ">Week 11 ultra-safe plays</h2>
<p id="sy9zwJ"><em>These players have standard deviations from their averages between 0 and 5 fantasy points. Most players fall inside this group as most players either are good, or bad. You know what you’re getting from these players, as they operate as robots on the field putting on heavily consistent performances weekly.</em></p>
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<h3 id="57Gn40">QB <span>Mason Rudolph</span>, PIT (at CLE)</h3>
<p id="hegn9N">You won’t believe this, but Rudolph is the safest play (lowest volatility, 3.4 points) among the top-82 fantasy players this season to have played at least seven games. First of, 82 is no slouch. Sure, his average of 15 FP/G ranks just 72nd overall, and his 104.8 points in the season are only 91st, but you definitely know what you’re getting if you play him. And that is what we’re here for. If you’re looking for an ultra-safe play, someone you can bet one without worrying about potential egg-drops—although knowing you won’t cash big time by playing him—then Rudolph is your man at the quarterback position. Four of his seven games have finished with him scoring between 16 and 19 points, and his last three have gone for 18.6, 12.1, and 16.0. So yes, consider Rudolph a 12-point floor player with little upside but good chances of reaching 16 points without much trouble. </p>
<h3 id="w7LBPG">WR <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841639/mike-williams-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Mike Williams</a>, LAC (vs KC)</h3>
<p id="SZQThg">If you’ve read Fournette’s blurb above you know I’m all in for history weirdness. And if Lenny is the weirdo of running backs, then Mike is the weirdo of receivers. Do you know how many players in history have been able to rack up 585-plus yards through 10 weeks while not scoring a single touchdown? Five, that is, and <span>Williams</span> is one of them. There is no way this keeps going for much longer, but even if it does <span>Williams</span> is still a rock-solid weekly play. So far this season, <span>Williams</span> is averaging 10 fantasy points. He’s had six games of 50-plus receiving yards (and two of 45 and 47), he’s always caught two or more passes (he has caught three or more in seven games), and he’s been targeted by <span>Philip Rivers</span> five or more times in six of his nine games. Sure, he’s had low weeks of around five fantasy points and others higher reaching up to 14.3 points, but overall his slim volatility of 3.1 points makes him a sure bet if you need some low-but-sure points any given weekend.</p>
<h3 id="AOSGmv">TE <span>Jason Witten</span>, DAL (at DET)</h3>
<p id="Dtzygo">Has there ever been a smoother transition from the field to the booth and back to the field than Witten’s? I’m serious, I don’t have any idea. Witten has featured prominently for the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> since he came back and is undoubtedly the team’s TE1. And knowing the state of the tight end position this season, his 9.1 points per game might look bad but at least they have been there almost all year long. Sure, Witten is barely a TE1 in the league, but all of his games except one have seen him finish in between 5.9 and 13.8 fantasy points. The upside is not there, sure, but you can consider Witten a weekly streaming option if you want to forget about the position as he will probably get you his nine points no matter what. He’s had seven 25-yard games and has reached 50 or more in four. His targets have yet to drop from four and he’s averaging four receptions per game. Nothing otherworldly, but definitely consistent on a weekly basis.</p>
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https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20962648/fantasy-football-risky-safe-starts-cooper-kupp-christian-kirk-leonard-fournettechapulana2019-11-13T13:30:00-05:002019-11-13T13:30:00-05:00Running back rankings for Week 11
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<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Who to start in the Pats at Eagles Sunday afternoon tilt?</p> <p id="IUWqCg"><a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/8/20955621/melvin-gordon-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Melvin Gordon</a> III has returned to elite running back status and is set to wreck box scores in Week 11 against the <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Chiefs</a>. Josh Jacobs looks to solidify his status as an RB1, coming in as the overall RB7, preparing to demolish the hapless <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a>. Despite <span>Devin Singletary</span>’s poor Week 10 box score results, he rose in the rankings? <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>’ RB <span>Brian Hill</span> and Cincinnati Bengals RB <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/11/11/20959324/joe-mixon-fantasy-football-injury-trade-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Joe Mixon</a> are suddenly high-end RB2s. The <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> and <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> are set to square in Philly. Which of their respective committee backfields are the best start in Week 11? <span>James White</span> and <span>Miles Sanders</span>.</p>
<p id="LAw6XD"><em>Teams on bye: </em><a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/"><em><strong>Green Bay Packers</strong></em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/"><em><strong>New York Giants</strong></em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/"><em><strong>Seattle Seahawks</strong></em></a><em>, and the </em><a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/"><em><strong>Tennessee Titans</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></p>
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<h5 id="kcQXyG">Source links: Devin Singletary’s <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/buffalo-bills-cleveland-browns-20191110005/">Week 10 usage</a>, The <a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a><a href="https://twitter.com/adamlevitan/status/1194316165860020226"> run-funnel defense</a> per <a href="https://twitter.com/adamlevitan">Adam Levitan</a>, and <span>Joe Mixon</span>’s <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nbc-sports/rotoworld-football-podcast/e/65188905">Week 10 usage via the Rotoworld Football Podcast</a>.</h5>
https://www.faketeams.com/2019/11/13/20963137/2019-fantasy-football-rankings-running-backs-for-week-11NHB