We’re entering the home stretch of the 2021 fantasy football regular season. With just five weeks remaining, making correct lineup decisions is more crucial than ever. Let’s take a look at the top start ’em and sit ’em plays for Week 11.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 11: Quarterbacks
Injuries and COVID-19 have caused numerous backup quarterbacks to be thrust into action. Which quarterbacks are starts and sits in Week 11?
Start ‘Em | Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (vs. HOU)
Normally, I’d fade Ryan Tannehill against the Texans because it would project to be one of those 30-carry Derrick Henry smash games. Without Henry, however, favorable matchups now give me more confidence in the passing game.
The Texans allow the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. The Titans keep scoring points and finding ways to avoid the letdown game. Perhaps their loss to the Jets motivated them to never want to experience that again. Whatever the reason, the Titans are rolling. They should score 3-4 touchdowns this week, and Adrian Peterson can’t fall into the end zone for all of them. Start Tannehill.
Sit ‘Em | Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (@ BUF)
Given how poorly Carson Wentz played last week, this feels like reverse point chasing. I wish Wentz had a better outing against the Jaguars because he would have been a sit this week, regardless.
The Bills have allowed the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Their loss to the Jaguars the week prior feels like it was a wake-up call. Don’t expect the Bills to get complacent after their dominant win last week. They are going to give Wentz a real difficult time. He is better left on benches.
Running Backs
The running back position can be very matchup-dependent. Which running backs should fantasy managers start, and who is better left on the bench this week?
Start ‘Em | Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys (@ KC)
For once, oh gracious fantasy gods, can we have our shootout? Please? I’ve been begging for shootouts for weeks now as top offenses face off against each other, and we get something like the 17-3 disaster we saw from the Packers and Seahawks last week.
This week, I’m hoping the Cowboys and Chiefs deliver. By no means should anyone expect a repeat of the 2018 classic Rams/Chiefs Monday Night Football game, but we should get some points in this one.
If both teams are scoring at least 28, everyone has a chance to get involved. That includes Tony Pollard, who’s recorded four weeks of RB3-or-better performances.
Against the Chiefs, 24% of targets go to running backs, and Pollard is coming off a 7-target game where the Cowboys won by 40. These teams should run a lot of plays, and we should get a lot of offense. Even with Ezekiel Elliott playing well, there should be enough for Pollard to reward fantasy managers with an RB3-or-better outing.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 11: Wide Receivers
Fantasy managers often struggle with which player to insert into that final WR3 or flex spot. Hopefully, these start ’em and sit ’em plays will help.
Start ‘Em | Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (@ LV)
The matchup isn’t great for Tee Higgins as the Raiders allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. However, you figure they are going to key in on stopping Ja’Marr Chase through the air and Joe Mixon on the ground.
Higgins has a great chance to continue building on the positives from the past couple of weeks. Over his past three games, Higgins has posted receiving totals of 78, 97, and 62. He’s seen 29 targets over that span — more than Chase. Higgins is an every-week WR3 with WR2 upside.
Sit ‘Em | Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. PIT)
I, like many of you, have been forced to continue starting Mike Williams these past several weeks. The reality is we’re only starting him because of namesake. Even that doesn’t make sense because we have four years of data suggesting Williams is not a reliable fantasy asset.
Williams started the season scorching hot and fooled many of us (myself included) into forgetting about the past four years of subpar play. Over the past five weeks, Williams has been the overall WR80. If not for his name, he’d have been on waivers a long time ago. The matchup against the Steelers is average — not necessarily one to avoid — but the player is. Sit Williams until further notice.
Tight Ends
The tight end position is a disaster in fantasy football. With seldom few reliable options, can we find start ’em-worthy TEs?
Start ‘Em | Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. LAC)
I’m going back to the well with Pat Freiermuth. Eric Ebron’s return certainly caps the Muth’s upside. Ebron steals snaps and routes.
Regardless, the Chargers allow the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends. In fact, 29.5% of receiving yards they’ve allowed has gone to the tight end position. Freiermuth is just too talented to be held back. Roll with him once again this week.