Week 11 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em is here to highlight a few players at each position that we would like to sit or start (where possible).
This series will avoid the “obvious” answers. So, just because I don’t tell you to start the RB1 in the week doesn’t mean you should sit him. It means I just felt it was a no-brainer and didn’t need to be discussed. Also, consider these suggestions in the context of your lineup. When I say to sit a player, there are obviously going to be situations where you have no choice but to play them. Bye weeks and injuries can cause us to start players with whom we are uncomfortable. Examine your squad’s situation before blindly following this column.
Week 11 Quarterback Starts Of The Week:
JJ McCarthy, MIN vs. CHI
If you look at JJ McCarthy’s stats from last week, it was not great overall. The inexperienced quarterback completed less than 50% of his passes, threw two interceptions, and only averaged 5.9 yards per attempt. What you need to look at is other stats that make him relevant for fantasy. He threw the ball a season-high 42 times, a season-best 248 yards, and a season-best 48 yards rushing. Despite only having one touchdown, he still managed to finish as QB14 for the week. Facing a terrible Bears defense, he should improve, but I’m expecting him to have a multi-touchdown game and have his first top-10 finish of the season.
Joe Flacco, CIN @ PIT
In his first 4 games of the season with Cleveland, Joe Flacco’s best finish was QB19. Since he’s been with Cincinnati, he’s been a top-7 quarterback in 3 of the 4 games, with his worst finish as QB15. The last time he played the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was QB6 for the week and threw over 340 yards. With how bad both pass defenses are, this is going to be another shootout, and Flacco might surpass 300 yards again. I have him pegged as having another top-10 finish.
Week 11 Quarterback Sits Of The Week:
Trevor Lawrence, JAX vs. LAC
Of quarterbacks with more than 200 pass attempts on the year, Trevor Lawrence has the worst accuracy of all of them. He’s completed only 59.5% of his passes, which is on pace to be a career-worst. This weekend’s opponent is the Los Angeles Chargers, who have only allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 59.7% of their passes. With Travis Hunter now out for the year and Brian Thomas Jr likely to sit out, Lawrence is going to be a massive bust this week.
Bo Nix, DEN @ KC
Through the first 8 weeks of the season, Bo Nix was QB5 on the year, averaging nearly 21 fantasy points per game. Over the last 2 weeks, he’s QB24, averaging under 14 points per game. Last week, he had his worst performance of the season against one of the worst teams in the league, which had many questioning how the Broncos are 8-2 on the year. The Broncos will have a real test, and if Bo Nix can pull off the win, it’ll be big for Bo & the Broncos. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. Bo Nix might play better than he did last week, but the bar is very low; he’s not going to break 20 points if that’s what you’re expecting.
Week 11 Running Backs Starts Of The Week
Rico Dowdle, CAR vs. ATL
The Atlanta Falcons just let Jonathan Taylor run for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns. I don’t care if nobody else comes close to Jonathan Taylor; if that’s the way their defense just played, I’d start almost any back against them this upcoming week. This week, the Carolina Panthers play the Falcons. The last time these two teams faced, the Atlanta Falcons lost 30-0 and gave up 110 yards on the ground. This game is in Carolina, and Rico Dowdle is now the sole lead back for the Panthers. He’s been on a tear lately and will continue his touchdown streak and put up another 100+ yard performance.
Jaylen Warren, PIT vs. CIN
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren only has one game this year with 100+ yards, and that was against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals once again, this time in the Steel City. I love Jaylen Warren this week and am hopeful he can surpass his performance a few weeks ago.
Week 11 Running Back Sits Of The Week
Kenneth Walker III, SEA @ LAR
It’s been nearly 2 months since Kenneth Walker III scored a touchdown. In that time span, fellow running back Zach Charbonnet has scored 5 touchdowns. Charbonnet has gotten nearly double the carries that Walker III has gotten inside the 10, which is where all 6 of his touchdowns have come from. Walker III started off much more productive than Charbonnet, but has lost his touch a bit as his average yards per carry dropped from nearly 5 in the first 5 weeks, to 4 over the last 5 weeks. Heading into a game against the 2nd-best run defense in the NFL, in the Los Angeles Rams, I’m avoiding KW3 and expect him to have under 4 yards per carry and no touchdowns.
Breece Hall, NYJ @ NE
It’s been an up-and-down season for New York Jets running back Breece Hall. He’s had three 100+ yard games, and he’s had three games where he’s failed to break 40 yards. The last two weeks, he’s done very well, and these last 2 games, the New York Jets have also won. When we look at those two games, it was against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns, who have a combined 5 wins between the two of them. This week, the Jets face the New England Patriots, who not only have 8 wins, but are tied for the best record in the NFL. New England also boasts the #1 rush defense in the NFL. For a team like the Jets, who like to run the ball, this is going to be a very long game for them, and they can very well see another under-40-yard performance for Breece Hall.
Week 11 Wide Receiver Starts Of The Week
Tyler Lockett, LV vs. DAL
Against one of the top defenses in the NFL, the Denver Broncos, Tyler Lockett was the lead receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders in only his 2nd game with the team. He had 5 receptions for 44 yards, on 6 targets, both season-highs. Lockett was unrosterable up until now, but he’s worth rostering and potentially starting in deeper formats. I’m trying to start him this weekend against the 2nd-worst defense in the league, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys can make any team look like they have a legitimate offense, even the Raiders.
Deebo Samuel, WAS @ MIA
With the injuries that are piling up for Washington, Deebo Samuel continues to grow a bigger role for the Commanders. The Commanders already ruled out Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown is still on the IR, and now the Commanders just lost Treylon Burks, who won’t even travel with the team to Madrid. Outside of Zach Ertz & Treylon Burks, Deebo Samuel was the only receiver with more than one reception last week. The role alone is already worth starting Deebo, but the rushing upside against a Dolphins run defense that ranks in the bottom 10 in rushing yards allowed.
Week 11 Wide Receiver Sits Of The Week
Jerry Jeudy, CLE vs. BAL
It took until week 10 for Jerry Jeudy to get his first touchdown of the season. He also set season-highs in receptions, targets, and yards in week 10 as well. His previous best performance was back in week 1 when he had 11.6 PPR points. Don’t let this one week fool you that Jeudy is back to being someone you can start again. Jeudy is a must-sit, regardless of the matchup. It was a fluke game for Jeudy and the Browns’ pass game.
Courtland Sutton, DEN @ KC
Along with Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton is another player on the Denver Broncos that I’m fading. Sutton has been declining over the last month after a hot start to the year. He’s only finished as a top-20 WR once over the last 5 weeks and is losing targets to his teammate Troy Franklin. Franklin is slowly becoming the top weapon for Bo Nix. If one of the two is to succeed this weekend, it’s going to be Franklin.
Week 11 Tight End Starts Of The Week:
Zach Ertz, WAS @ MIA
Zach Ertz is someone I’ve been fading without Jayden Daniels under center, but this is one of the few weeks that I’d consider starting him with Marcus Mariota. This is only because Washington is playing Miami, who give up the 3rd most fantasy points to the position. It doesn’t matter if Miami wins or loses; they give up more than 10+ points to the position per week. In 2 of their 3 wins, they gave up double-digits at the position. Ertz should have similar production, especially if Terry McLaurin remains sidelined.
Theo Johnson, NYG @ GB
In 3 of the last 4 games, Theo Johnson has quietly had three top-12 finishes, all with double-digit points. He’s TE12 on the year and has built rapport with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart will be out this week with a concussion, and Jameis Winston will get the start. With Winston under center, it should be an even heavier pass scheme, and Johnson should continue to see the target opportunities. Johnson is worth the start if you’ve been streaming tight ends this year.
Week 11 Tight End Sits Of The Week
Cade Otton, TB @ BUF
It was exciting to see Cade Otton break out for 82 yards on 9 receptions, allowing him to have his first top-10 finish of the season. After that matchup, he’s going to follow it up with a big dud as he has the unfortunate luck of facing the Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo Bills give up the fewest points to the position, less than 4 points per week. The Bills are tight-end resistant, with Travis Kelce being the lone tight end to eclipse double-digits against them this season.
David Njoku, CLE @ BAL
When your quarterback throws the ball 32 times and you only get 2 of those targets, that’s when you’re irrelevant. That was the case for David Njoku last weekend, and he only posted a relevant fantasy line from one of those targets ending in a touchdown reception. Njoku is touchdown-dependent to succeed, and he’s been replaced as the #1 tight end in town.
For your final lineup decisions, check out the FSAN Rankings Page or check out our Sit & Start live show every Sunday before kickoff on Spilled Coffee.