As we move ever so closer to the end of the fantasy football regular season, making start ’em or sit ’em decisions begin to carry even more weight as teams separate themselves from the pack. With not all matchups being equal, here are our top start ’em and sit ’em plays for Week 11 of fantasy football.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 11: Quarterbacks
While the focus in the majority of fantasy leagues falls on skill positions, quarterbacks — in most cases — consistently bring the highest weekly total. Which QBs are must-starts, and who should remain on the bench in Week 11?
Start ‘Em | Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (@ LV)
Once Joe Burrow had his legs under him (literally), he’s been fantastic in Year 2. Burrow has posted 20+ points for six consecutive games and was the only QB to have thrown for multiple touchdowns in every game this season. That was until Week 9 when he and the Bengals scored just 1 touchdown against the Cleveland Browns.
The Bengals are coming off a bye week and should be in one of the better games of the slate against the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s not bad for fantasy, either. Three of the last four QBs against the Raiders have scored 23 points or more, including Patrick Mahomes, who dropped 406 yards and 5 TDs last week. Burrow is a low-end QB1 in Week 11.
Sit ‘Em | Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (@ BUF)
I want to like Carson Wentz this week as he’s been playing great football. Since Week 4, Wentz is completing 65% of his passes, averaging 240 yards, and has a 14:2 TD-to-INT ratio.
But he gets the Buffalo Bills this week, and outside of the elite QBs, this is a matchup you avoid for nearly every other QB. And spoiler alert, I don’t consider Wentz one of those elite QBs.
The Bills are first in points allowed to QBs (10.7), second in yards per game (201.2), and have surrendered the fewest passing TDs (6). Wentz is a low-end QB2 in Week 11 who I would avoid outside of 2QB and superflex fantasy formats.
Running Backs
While these RBs found themselves with adjusted roles following injuries to surrounding players and poor play from others, they are on opposite sides of start/sit debates for Week 11. Let’s look at the top start and sit plays from RB committees around the league.
Start ‘Em | AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers (@ MIN)
I get this is obvious. But sometimes, we shouldn’t make fantasy football more complicated than it has to be. With Aaron Jones (sprained MCL) out for at least this week, AJ Dillon becomes a must-start in Week 11 for fantasy,
In games where Dillon has seen 10+ opportunities (seven of 21 active games), he has averaged 14.3 carries for 69.1 yards and 0.6 TDs with 1.7 receptions for 25.1 receiving yards. And this is coming in games where Jones suited up as well. With 20-plus-touch upside in Week 11, Dillon could be set to go off against the Minnesota Vikings. He’s a low-end RB1 who will continue to have value as the season progresses.
Sit ‘Em | Alex Collins, Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI)
I maintain the stance I had on this backfield from the beginning. Unless it is Chris Carson, I want nothing to do with it. Over his last three games, Collins is averaging 5.2 PPR points and 40 yards.
Sure, two of those games were with Geno Smith under center. But even last week, Collins had just 40 yards on 10 carries with Russell Wilson back on the field. The matchup isn’t awful against the Cardinals (No. 17 in RB points), but I can’t trust the Seahawks’ backfield. Collins is a mid-to-low-end RB3 in Week 11.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 11: Wide Receivers
The WR position is the deepest in fantasy football, with a plethora of quality starting options to choose from every single week. As matchups can be the final deciding factor, here are some of the start ’em and sit ’em recommendations for Week 11.
Start ‘Em | Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (@ CHI)
I am once again here to recommend Rashod Bateman. At some point, I’ll stop doing this every chance I have. But today is not that day. Bateman has seen 6 or more targets in every game. Last week, he led the team in yards (80) and has seen 19.7% of the target share since making his debut in Week 6.
Chicago comes into Week 11 allowing the fifth-most fantasy points (39.76) and receiving yards per game (185.9). I’m all-in on Bateman again this week as a reliable WR3 who I believe will score his first career TD in Week 11.
Sit ‘Em | Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (@ LV)
Tyler Boyd continues to struggle as the third option behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Boyd has scored 8+ PPR points just once in his last five games and has just 1 touchdown since Week 3. While Boyd has seen plenty of targets (19.3%), he still comes in behind Higgins at (20.0%) and is in Chase’s shadow at 25.7%.
There is always the chance the Bengals used the bye week to find a way to get Boyd back involved in the offense. But I’ll wait until they show it before sliding Boyd into my starting lineup.
Tight Ends
It’s notoriously hard for fantasy managers to find consistent production from the tight end position. In Week 11, start ’em or sit ’em decisions could mean the difference between a win or a loss as the margins are razor-thin.
Start ‘Em | Dan Arnold, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. SF)
Since Week 5, Dan Arnold has been one of the highest-targeted TEs (38). Over this time, he is the TE12 in PPR scoring (8.2 points) and has seen 20% of the targets. He now has three games in a row with at least 7 targets and has scored at least 10 PPR points in four of his past five games.
The 49ers have been a troublesome matchup for tight ends (No. 9 in points allowed) but have allowed 3 touchdowns in their last four games. Given the volume Arnold is seeing, he is a must-start for fantasy in Week 11.
Sit ‘Em | Evan Engram, New York Giants (@ TB)
You would think after scoring in back-to-back games, we might be able to begin to trust Evan Engram. But I simply can’t do it. Engram is a touchdown-dependent tight end who has seen over 45 yards only once this season. Even in these last two games, he combined for 7 targets. The biggest issue for Engram is not the matchup but the Giants’ health.
For the first time, the Giants are nearly back to full strength. Saquon Barkley is practicing, and the only question is Sterling Shepard. Engram goes from the No. 2 option in some games to maybe the No. 5 now. He is a mid-to-low TE2 in Week 11.