Week 11 continued a hot streak for me of declaring a player a sit and inspiring them to have one of their best days. You’re welcome. Anyway, this week features some engaging matchups and sees the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals on a bye. All that might leave you wondering who to start and who to avoid, so let this weekly advice be a suggestion of where I’m leaning. Before we move on to Week 12, it’s time for a bit of accountability on Week 11.
For transparency purposes, we’ll measure quarterbacks and tight ends against Top 12 finishes (QB1 and TE1), and we’ll measure running backs and wide receivers against Top 24 finishes (RB1-2, WR1-2). All finishes come from Fantasy Pros PPR scoring leaders lists found here.
Starts for Week 11
QB: Cam Newton, QB4 hit. I thought Newton would soar in return, and he provided three big TDs.
RB: A.J. Dillon, RB13 hit. I thought Dillon would do well replacing Aaron Jones, and he did. I missed Top 12, but he was a top play.
WR: Deebo Samuel, WR19 hit. Samuel did most of his damage as a rusher but still made the Top 24.
TE: George Kittle, TE7 hit. Kittle continued his hot streak with a touchdown in his third straight game.
Starts Record: 4-0
Sits for Week 11
QB: Tyrod Taylor, QB11 miss. Taylor wasn’t great as a passer, but his two rushing touchdowns put him over the top.
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB14 miss. I thought CEH would split carries in his return, and he did, but the touchdown was enough to bump him up.
WR: Mike Williams, WR10 miss. Williams went back to being a featured piece of the offense, snagging a touchdown to return to WR1 status.
TE: Dalton Schultz, TE11 miss. With Amari Cooper a scratch and CeeDee Lamb getting a concussion, Schultz did enough to return to the Top 12.
Sit Record: 0-4
Quarterbacks
Start: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
About: Cousins is a strong veteran quarterback with a great set of weapons in receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, running back Dalvin Cook, and tight end Tyler Conklin. In the past two weeks, he’s outdueled Justin Herbert and Aaron Rodgers to get crucial wins. This week he gets the San Francisco 49ers in a critical game. Cousins is QB8 on the season, and he’s a Top 12 option for me this week.
Sit: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
About: The Seahawks have been dreadful of late, and Wilson has been at the center of that. In the two games since he returned, Wilson is QB25. I have no confidence that changes in Week 12 as it appears the marriage between Wilson and the Seahawks is nearing its end.
Running Backs
Start: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
About: I get it; facing the Buccaneers’ rushing defense isn’t ideal. But Taylor is special. He’s the No. 1 overall running back in fantasy through 11 weeks, and he’s the heart of the Colts’ offensive attack. I’m starting him. The Buccaneers’ defense has been strong, but they allowed more than 100 total yards to the Bears, where Khalil Herbert got 100 yards individually, and to the Saints, where Alvin Kamara had 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground. I believe Taylor can get RB1 numbers, but at worst, it will be an RB2. He’s still in all my lineups.
Sit: The Tennessee Titans’ backfield
About: Derrick Henry is an incredible running back who was a no-brainer start. There hasn’t been a reliable option since he went out with an injury. In the three weeks without Henry, no Titans’ running back has cracked the Top 35. The highest-scoring option, Adrian Peterson at RB36, was released this week. That leaves D’Onta Foreman, Jeremy McNichols, and Dontrell Hilliard to fill the void. No thanks.
Wide Receivers
Start: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
About: Waddle has developed into a reliable top target for Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. He’s WR20 on the season, catching 68 passes for 622 yards and three touchdowns. He’s had fewer than six targets only twice all season and recorded nine or more targets five times in 11 weeks. He’s not the flashiest rookie wide receiver, but he’s one of the most reliable.
Sit: The New York Giants receivers
About: The Giants fired Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett this week and promoted Freddie Kitchens. While I’m interested to see what that does for the offense, this is a case of too many options and not enough reliability. Between injuries and inefficiency, it’s been a slog starting a Giants’ receiver. The team has a great group with Sterling Shepherd, Kadarius Toney, Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, and John Ross. Someone could hit big this week, but I’m tired of playing receiver roulette and trying to guess who it will be.
Tight Ends
Start: Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
About: Schultz is TE9 on the year and has had great chemistry with Dak Prescott. The Cowboys have an embarrassment of riches at receiver but are thin of late. The team will be without Amari Cooper again in Week 12, and likely won’t have CeeDee Lamb in the lineup, either. I like Schultz to be there to pick up the slack.
Sit: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
About: Kmet seemed to be developing rapport with Justin Fields before the Bears’ bye, but we didn’t see much of that in Week 11. Fields was injured, and Andy Dalton looked toward wide receivers. This week, the Bears play the Lions in what figures to be a low-scoring affair. Kmet has talent, but he’s TE25 on the season, averaging 5.9 points per game. That’s not reliable enough for me.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
