Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: NFL Week 11 fantasy tips on players to start, sit, stream
The ESPN+ cheat sheet provides a rundown of the best tips from all of our fantasy football content. You’ll find answers to the biggest start/sit questions of the week, along with NFL injury updates, matchup advantages and wild-card plays from Matthew Berry, Eric Karabell, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Matt Bowen, Field Yates, Seth Walder, Al Zeidenfeld and myself. It’s all the best advice in one handy article.
Here’s what our experts are saying about Week 11 in the NFL:
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans (vs. Texans)
“Tannehill has a rushing touchdown in four of his past five games and the same number of goal-to-go carries on the season as Lamar Jackson,” writes Berry in this week’s fantasy football Love/Hate. “So it seems Tennessee’s Derrick Henry replacement was … Ryan Tannehill? Who knew? We need him to start throwing passes to himself now to replace Julio Jones, too. But honestly, regardless of which player Tannehill throws to on Sunday, he should put up nice numbers against a Texans team allowing the third-most yards per pass attempt, the third-most yards per completion and the seventh-highest touchdown rate.” Over its past five games, Houston has allowed Jacoby Brissett, Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz and Mac Jones to average 19.46 fantasy points per game. With his rushing ability, Tannehill could exceed that.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (at Raiders)
“The Raiders found out the hard way Sunday night that Patrick Mahomes is still good at throwing footballs,” Berry wrote. “Over the past four weeks, Vegas is allowing touchdown passes at the second-highest rate. After a slow start where Cincy ran the ball and protected Burrow, the Bengals have been aggressive in letting him throw lately, with more than 250 passing yards in six straight. Considering Burrow has multiple touchdown passes in eight of nine games this season and the third-highest touchdown rate among qualified quarterbacks this season, there’s every reason to expect he’ll have the biggest day for a Bengal in Vegas since Siegfried & Roy.” As long as Cincinnati’s pass protection is as good as it needs to be, the Bengals’ offensive line ranks 29th in pass block win rate; the team has too many offensive playmakers to stop.
Green Bay’s running game
“What a soft, soft landing spot for AJ Dillon as he takes over for an injured Aaron Jones,” writes Walder in his lineplay-based quarterback and running back upgrades/downgrades. “The Vikings are mighty friendly to opposing running backs, with the worst run stop win rate in the league and an average of 4.6 yards per designed carry allowed, the seventh highest in the league.” Minnesota’s defense allows the fifth-most rushing yards (130.6) per game, and Dillon is physically capable of handling a heavy workload. While playing for Boston College from 2017 to 2019, Dillon rushed for 1,000 yards or more in each season. Throughout his collegiate career, he rushed for 150 or more yards in 14 games, and he exceeded 200 yards rushing in four games. Among his Boston College records are rushing yards and touchdowns. With 845 rushing attempts during his college career, Dillon missed just two games. Dillon is poised for a big fantasy day.
Myles Gaskin, RB, Miami Dolphins (at Jets)
“The Jets’ defense has utterly collapsed of late, but especially so against running backs,” writes Cockcroft in his superb Week 11 matchups map. “In merely the past four weeks, the Jets have seen seven different running backs score 15-plus PPR fantasy points against them, and in seven of their nine games so far, their opponents’ combined backfields have scored 30-plus points. To compare, two defenses haven’t seen a single opponent total 30 points from its running backs all year (Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans), and only one other team has seen opponents do so in even half of their games (the Philadelphia Eagles, who have had it done to them in five of 10 contests).” Running lanes should be no problem for Gaskin, as the Dolphins’ offensive line ranks seventh in run block win rate. He has averaged 19.2 opportunities over the past four games (rushing attempts plus targets) and is well positioned to have a monster game.
Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (at Raiders)
The Bengals should be able to move the ball on the Raiders on Sunday, specifically in the run game. Cincinnati’s offensive line has the sixth-highest run block win rate, while Las Vegas’ defense allows the sixth-most rushing yards per game (129.1). “The Raiders have allowed at least 19 fantasy points to every backfield they’ve faced,” writes Berry. “Now they take on a rested Mixon off a bye. The same Mixon who has handled 72% of the Cincinnati running back touches this season. The same Mixon who has 25-plus points in three of his past four games.”
A.J. Brown and Marcus Johnson, WRs, Tennessee Titans (vs. Texans)
“Houston is back from its bye week, but it’s hard to imagine that major improvements were made to a pass defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to perimeter receivers this season, including the most over the past month,” writes Clay in his detailed best and worst WR/CB matchups. “Houston is middle of the pack in overall fantasy points to the position, but has been worse as of late, allowing the second most over the past month. Perimeter corner play has been the major problem area, as Tavierre Thomas and Desmond King (who has been benched multiple times) have struggled.”
Jaylen Waddle, Preston Williams and Albert Wilson, WRs, Miami Dolphins (at Jets)
“Following a better-than-expected start to the season, the wheels have fallen off the Jets’ pass defense,” writes Clay. “New York has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers over the past month (second most over expected), as well as the third most to the perimeter and 12th most to the slot. [Bryce] Hall and [Javelin] Guidry (who is filling in for injured starter Brandin Echols) will man the perimeter, leaving fifth-round rookie [Michael] Carter to handle the slot. The inexperience … has been a problem in recent weeks and will be to the benefit of Miami’s wideouts this week. Waddle has worked from the slot on 64% of his routes this season and can be upgraded against Carter. Wilson is the de facto No. 2 wide receiver with Will Fuller V and DeVante Parker still out and makes for a deep-league sleeper. Williams is too risky to play in most formats, but he nonetheless is in a good spot.” Over the past five weeks, Stefon Diggs, Michael Pittman, Tyler Boyd, Kendrick Bourne and Tajae Sharpe have all had strong games against the Jets as their team’s top fantasy wide receivers. The group averaged 7.2 targets, 5.2 catches, 83.2 receiving yards and 18.63 points per game. This is the caliber of fantasy performance we can expect from Waddle.
Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens (at Bears)
Bateman is one of just three viable receivers in a Ravens offense that averages 414.1 total yards per game. He has run good routes, looked explosive and made difficult catches. Due to the rain forecast in Chicago this weekend, it is likely that the Bears will put safety help on Marquise Brown early and often, since it only takes one defensive slip-up for him to take the football in the house. Consequently, Bateman will get less attention. The Chicago Bears allow the fifth-most points per game to wide receivers.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (at Raiders)
“This week, I really like the matchup for the Bengals wide receiver versus a very defined and zone-heavy Raiders defense under Gus Bradley,” writes Bowen in his Film Room column. “In his past three games, Higgins has seen a total of 17 targets, and he has scored more than 13 PPR points in each of those matchups. I think we see a boost in production from Higgins in this one against Vegas, because we know how the Bengals scheme for three-deep, zone coverage. Now, this isn’t anything new in terms of the pass-game structure. We are talking about base concepts here, the stuff I see as a high school coach at IC Catholic Prep in the Chicago area. Move (or occupy) the underneath defender and create a throwing window for quarterback Joe Burrow. That’s where Higgins can see his target volume on in-breakers, deep comebacks and crossers.”
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Chargers)
Last week, Eric Ebron returned for the Steelers against the Detroit Lions, but the good news is that Freiermuth is still actively involved in the offense. He caught five of nine targets for 31 yards. During his past four games, Freiermuth has averaged 12.7 points per game, and he has a favorable matchup this week against a Chargers defense that allows the sixth-most points per game to tight ends.
Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Bengals)
“The Bengals rank bottom 10 in completion percentage against and QB contact rate,” writes Zeidenfeld in his Week 11 DFS Best Buys. “As such, Carr should be able to throw uninterrupted from a clean pocket. With multiple TD passes in seven of his nine games this year and a career-high 8.1 yards per passing attempt in 2021, Carr has provided an ample floor without the benefit of being a running quarterback.” This season, he has averaged 21.2 points per game.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins (at Jets)
According to ESPN NFL Nation Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, head coach Brian Flores expects Tagovailoa (finger) to start Sunday’s game against the Jets. He has been sidelined by two separate injuries that caused him to miss multiple games this season, and he has dealt with persistent rumors that Miami is in the market for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Tagovailoa averaged 23.8 fantasy points per game in Weeks 6-8, and the New York Jets allow the 11th-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
D’Onta Foreman, RB, Tennessee Titans (vs. Texans)
Foreman isn’t a future first-ballot Hall of Famer like Adrian Peterson, but he has worked his way up to first-string running back in Tennessee, leading the Titans’ backfield in snaps, touches and yards last week, writes Berry. “He also saw three of the team’s four red zone carries. That workload — along with Jeremy McNichols potentially missing this game while in the concussion protocol — bodes well against a Texans defense allowing the highest yards per carry and the second-most rushing yards per game to opposing running backs.”
Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys (at Chiefs)
“The Chiefs allow a league-high 31.7 yards per deep completion, and 12.5% of deep passes against them have resulted in touchdowns,” writes Zeidenfeld. “Last week, in his first game back from injury since Week 1, Gallup led the Cowboys in aDOT.” Gallup immediately resumed a starter’s workload. Last season, he also had the most receiving air yards (1,243) among Cowboys receivers.
Quarterbacks: Questionable but expected to play
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Quarterbacks: Questionable but likely game-day decision
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Zach Wilson, New York Jets (Joe Flacco will draw the start)
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Running backs: Questionable but expected to play
Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Carlos Hyde, Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Devontae Booker, New York Giants
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
Running backs: Questionable but likely game-day decision
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Alex Collins, Seattle Seahawks
Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans
Running backs: Ruled out
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Wide receivers: Questionable but expected to play
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wide receivers: Questionable but likely game-day decision
Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wide receivers: Ruled out
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
Tight ends: Questionable but expected to play
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tight ends: Questionable but likely game-day decision
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks
Ricky Seals-Jones, Washington Football Team
The Chiefs dominated the Raiders last week, so will they build on that victory?
The Chiefs finally played a complete game, with their offense, defense and special teams all having productive performances. Due to the chaos engulfing the AFC West, they finished the day with a victory that would place them atop their division after starting the day in last place. With his third career game of 400 passing yards and five passing touchdowns, Patrick Mahomes tied Peyton Manning, Dan Marino and Joe Montana for most in NFL history. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback leads the NFL in passing yards and is second in passing touchdowns this season. This is his first meeting with his favorite childhood team. Fantasy managers want to know if the Chiefs can avoid mistakes against the Cowboys’ defense. Multiple times this season, Kansas City’s offense has been stymied by turnovers and negative plays. In that regard, the Cowboys could be a difficult matchup, as few defenses are as effective at generating negative plays as Dallas. Among Week 11’s matchups, this is my pick for the one to watch.