The NFL season is back for another week of action, and fantasy football managers are ready for a full slate of games to flood their TVs this weekend. As not all matchups or roles are equal, we’re breaking down our top fantasy football start/sit Week 11 plays.
Week 11 Fantasy Football Start ’ems
Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants
It’s not always pretty, but Daniel Jones sits as the QB14 in points per game, and he’s also topped 18 points in two of his last three matchups. Jones finished as a QB1 last week, scoring 18.3 fantasy points with nearly 200 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 24 rushing yards.
Jones rushed for 20 yards in all but one game this year but sits fourth in yards, fourth in red-zone carries, and fifth in rushing touchdowns amongst QBs. He also has a good matchup against the Lions in Week 11. Detroit allows more points to the position than anyone else (23.0) and is 27th in yards per game and 30th in EPA per dropback. Jones is a low-end QB1 in Week 11.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers
It’s amazing how so much has changed, but some things haven’t. One of those being that regardless of how well Jimmy Garoppolo plays this year, there’s a good chance, barring health, Trey Lance is under center next year. But that’s a topic for a different day as Garoppolo gets set to take on the Arizona Cardinals this week.
MORE: Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer Week 11
He scored nearly 16 points against the Chargers and has finished as the QB9 in three of his last four starts. He’s never a ceiling play, but Garoppolo has scored between 16 and 19 fantasy points in all but two games this year (Weeks 3 and 4). Arizona has allowed the sixth most points to the position over the last month, and given the uncertainty surrounding who will play quarterback for the Cardinals, Garoppolo is a high-end QB2.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Although Isiah Pacheco scored just 6.2 PPR points thanks to a lost fumble, his 82 yards on 16 carries is a clear positive for fantasy. Pacheco is the clear lead back on early downs for the Chiefs.
Unfortunately, he’s pretty much a goose egg in the passing game with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon (15.3% target share in week 10) also involved, but Pacheco brings the most upside in Week 11. Los Angeles is 30th in rushing yards allowed, 30th in EPA, 24th in points allowed, and 17th in rush DVOA. I’d start him as an RB2 for your fantasy team in Week 11.
Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson, RB, Washington Commanders
I don’t usually list two players at the same time in start/sits, but the matchup is too good for Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. against Houston.
Robinson rushed 26 times for 86 yards with a touchdown last week. Although he hasn’t recorded a target in four of the last six games, he has seen 17 or more carries in three of his last five games. He’s also cracked the top 20 twice and has three finishes inside the top 30.
Gibson has been great as well without J.D. McKissick. Gibson is averaging 53% of the snaps and 15 touches per game, plus he sits 15th in points scored amongst running backs over the last five weeks. His nine carries inside the 5-yard line are the fifth most amongst RBs.
We’re just playing the matchup here. Houston has allowed more points to running backs than anyone else this year, and their mark of 156 rushing yards per game allowed is 23 yards more than the next closest team. Houston is also 30th in EPA, 31st in DVOA, and dead last in explosive rate. If you’ve got Gibson or Robinson, start them against Houston.
Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills
I don’t know about you, but I am disappointed we’re not getting the Snowmageddon game. I wanted to see a bunch of NFL players on a snow-covered field and Bills Mafia having a party in the stands. But, I completely understand why the NFL moved the game, as the resources spent putting on a game, especially emergency services, are better served for the Buffalo community.
Even though the location changed, the reasons for starting Devin Singletary remained. Singletary is coming off a two-touchdown performance against the Minnesota Vikings, and, despite the addition of Nyheim Hines, is in firm control of this backfield. Over the last two weeks, Singleterry has played on 73% of snaps while averaging 13 touches.
It is a top-tier matchup against the Cleveland Browns, whose defense sits 23rd in yards allowed, 31st in EPA, and 32nd in rush DVOA. He needs a touchdown to hit his ceiling, but that shouldn’t be an issue inside the climate-controlled conditions of Ford Field in Detroit.
Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
I had so much hope for Courtland Sutton to be the big wide receiver winner of the offseason cycle, but that hasn’t been the case. He’s 40th in points per game and has just 41 receptions (T-29th) on 73 targets for 533 yards in a touchdown.
Sutton posted a decent game last week with six receptions on 11 targets for 66 yards but hasn’t found the end zone since Week 4. Coincidentally, that was also against the Raiders. But that doesn’t mean we should gloss over the last four games where Sutton has finished as the WR68, WR67, WR76, and WR32.
With Jerry Jeudy out, Sutton saw a 24.4% target share and should see plenty of work again on Sunday against a Raiders defense that is 31st in EPA per dropback and last in success rate. While he hasn’t been the player you drafted, start Sutton as a mid-WR2.
Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears
Justin Fields has been sensational as of late, much to the delight of Darnell Mooney, who has averaged 62.4 yards in his last seven games. Since Week 4, Mooney is the WR36 in PPR/game with a 28.9% target and 37.7% air yard share.
Chase Claypool has seen his snaps drop compared to his time in Pittsburgh, and Mooney has seen an increase in red-zone utilization with four red-zone targets in the last three games. Atlanta’s passing defense has been riddled with injuries and underperformance. They have allowed the most points per game to the position at 43.93 PPR and sit 27th in EPA and 29th in DVOA. Start Mooney in a fantastic matchup in Week 11.
Kadarius, Toney, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
If you won out on the Kadarius Toney lottery a few weeks ago, congratulations, as it was well worth it. Toney caught four of his five passes last week for 57 yards and a touchdown and added 33 yards on the ground on two carries.
Unfortunately, it took two injuries for this to happen. First, Mecole Hardman was out due to an abdominal issue. Second, JuJu Smith-Schuster took a devastating hit to the head, which knocked him out of the game.
MORE: Friday WR Injury Report Week 11
With that said, there are two keys to every single fantasy football start/sit decision: a player’s opportunity measured against their talent. No one is questioning the talent of Toney, and he’s never had a better opportunity than right now.
Smith-Schuster has already been ruled out, Hardman was placed on IR, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling missed practice this week due to an illness and will not be 100% for the game. That means it will be the Travis Kelce and Toney show for the passing game as Patrick Mahomes’ top targets.
Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
Cole Kmet breaking out has been one of the best moments for me this season. For one, I genuinely think he’s a good player, and also, there haven’t been a lot of good fantasy moments this year. Over the last four weeks, Kmet is the TE1 in points per game at just under 15 an outing. His five targets in the end zone are the fourth most amongst TEs, and since Week 5, Kmet has an 18% target share (23.1% in zone target share).
You would think that when having a defense that is so good at surrendering production to the position, Atlanta would figure out how to get Kyle Pitts involved, but that’s not the case. Atlanta allows the 10th-highest catch rate and the ninth-most points. Start Kmet in Week 11 as a TE1 against the Falcons.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys
I’d be lying if I said I’m not a little upset over this one, as I can’t help but think what could’ve been for Dalton Schultz. He came into the year as the TE4 in rankings just behind the Big Three, but injuries to himself and Dak Prescott quickly diminished his opportunities. But now we’re seeing what could’ve been earlier in the year.
Schultz caught six of his eight targets for 54 yards in a touchdown last week, and since Prescott’s return, Schultz has a 21.7% target share (5.7 per game) and a 73% route run rate last week. Over the last two weeks, Schultz has finished as the TE6 and TE3 overall, plus he averages 12.2 PPR points per game with Prescott under center. This is what we were supposed to get all season.
Minnesota sits inside the bottom ten in catch rate, yards per reception, and touchdowns allowed. They are 21st in points per game and are 19th against the position in DVOA. Schultz is a no-matter-what starter for the rest of the year.
Greg Dulcich, TE, Denver Broncos
After scoring over 11 PPR points in his first three games, Greg Dulcich had his first disappointing game last week, catching just one ball for 11 yards on four targets.
I’m not concerned. It was his first time finishing outside the top 12, and Dulcich is still carrying a 15.6% target share and is top ten in YPRR. The Raiders have surrendered the fourth most receiving touchdowns to TEs, the fifth most points, and are 20th in DVOA. With Jeudy out, Dulcich is a TE1 in Week 11.
Week 10 Fantasy Football Sit ’ems
Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
2022 hasn’t been the season Derek Carr wanted, but he had a decent bounce back last week, throwing for 248 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts and finishing Week 10 with 17.9 PPR points.
That’s all well and good, but Week 11 is a different story against the Denver Broncos. Carr has yet to reach 20 points this season and faces a passing defense that limited him to 188 passing yards, no touchdowns, and 11.5 fantasy points back in Week 4.
They sit second in points allowed on the year (10.1) and have allowed the fewest over the past month (7.4). I’m not trusting Carr this week, and I would sit him if possible.
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
The way Jared Goff started off the season was one of the best storylines, but that’s not the case anymore. Since Week 5, Goff has finished as the QB19 or better just once (Week 8), which was also the only time since Week 4 he has passed for over 240 yards.
While New York sits middle of the pack in passing yards (18th) and EPA (17th), Goff doesn’t bring enough upside, as the Lions are more than happy running the ball. He is a low-upside, low-end QB2.
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris is coming off his best rushing performance of the season with 99 yards on 20 carries but has yet to crack triple digits this year. Making matters worse is his lack of involvement through the air. Harris isn’t efficient this year. He’s finished as an RB2 or better in just three games and sits as the RB29 in points per game and 39th in yards after contact per attempt.
He’s also dealing with knee stiffness, which is why we should probably expect a little more Jaylen Warren on Sunday. Unfortunately, it’s not even a bad starting opportunity against Cincinnati. Their run defense has fallen off a bit, as they remain 29th in EPA and 27th in yards per game allowed since Week 5.
This is just a matter of trust for me. And right now, Harris doesn’t have it. He’s a high-end RB3 that I don’t want in my starting lineup right now, which is a shame.
Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Los Angeles Rams
This team is a mess. Cooper Kupp was the only good thing we had coming from Los Angeles, and now that’s even gone. We talk about touchdowns being everything, and last week, Darrell Henderson Jr. proved that once again.
Although he played on 57% of the snaps, Henderson had just 21 yards on six carries and caught his lone target for 11 yards. That’s it. Finding the end zone was the only reason Henderson managed to crack double digits.
Kyren Williams is active and involved, plus Cam Akers hasn’t completely disappeared. Henderson has scored single digits in five of the last seven. The Saints are 27th in EPA and 22nd in yards allowed since Week 5, but I don’t have enough faith in this offense to justify Henderson for Week 11. I would sit him in favor of someone else.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Diontae Johnson’s career has been one where his volume has masked his inefficiency. That’s not the case this year. With Kenny Pickett under center, Johnson has a 23.3% target share but has averaged just 4.4 catches and 35 yards per game with the rookie.
Johnson’s 10.3 points last week snapped a three-game streak of single-digit outings, and he’s only finished as a WR3 or higher once in his last five games. He’s seeing red-zone targets, but at this point, you’re banking on touchdown regression to save his day.
He’s a low-end WR3 against a Bengals defense that is allowing the sixth-fewest points per game to receivers this season. I think I’m staying away from this one.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants
Wan’Dale Robinson has been limited due to a hamstring injury, but I’m not sure that would’ve changed much for his fantasy outlook. Since Week 5, Darius Slay has had a 20.3% target share. Meanwhile, Robinson had just two catches for 20 yards last week.
He had three or fewer targets in each of his last two games and has taken a significant backseat in this offense. I don’t think that’s necessarily going to change on Sunday, as the Giants will build their game plan around Saquon Barkley.
Barkley is in the top three across the board in whatever stat you want to look at and is averaging 25.2 touches and 125.3 total yards per game. Meanwhile, Detroit is giving up the sixth-most points per game to running backs and is 27th in DVOA and 29th and EPA.
They’re a plus matchup however you want to attack them, but odds are New York does it on the ground. Therefore, Robinson doesn’t bring a ton of upside in Week 11. I would sit him in favor of someone else.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman Jr. has been a disappointment in 2022. I can’t even fully pin it on him, but it’s just the utilization. He’s got a 23.1% target share and 27.9% air yard share but has only seen one deep target on the season and is being used more like Jakobi Myers, which is a shame.
He’s finished as a WR3 or better in four of the seven games with Ryan and caught seven of his nine targets last week, but for only 53 yards.
MORE: Friday RB Injury Report Week 11
You won’t find success against Philadelphia through the air. Darius Slay and James Bradberry make up the best, if not the best, cornerback duo in the NFL, and the Eagles sit either on top or in the top three across the board against the pass. You run the ball if you want to keep the game close against them.
Luckily enough, the Indianapolis Colts have Jonathan Taylor. I would not be surprised if Parris Campbell has a better day than Pittman because he should have a somewhat easier matchup. Regardless, I would like to stay away from Pittman in Week 11 if I can, but at least drop him outside the top 24.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots
Coming into the year, we knew what Hunter Henry was. He’s a touchdown-dependent tight end that lacks a ceiling when he doesn’t score. He had a decent stretch at the start of the year but has six catches for 84 yards on seven targets over his last three games combined.
The Jets are middle of the pack against TEs, but the last time these teams played, Henry had just one catch for 22 yards. I would stay away from him, as I don’t find enough upside to justify the potential dud with the fantasy playoffs quickly approaching.
Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints
OK, we had our fun, but it’s time we step away from gawking over Taysom Hill. Since his three-touchdown performance back in Week 5, Hill is 27th in points per game and has just four rushes over the last two weeks.
On the other hand, Juwan Johnson has four touchdowns in his last four games, including going five for 44 on seven targets against the Steelers last week. Of the two, Johnson is the preferred option. Hill should not be started or rostered right now.