Best Fantasy Advice: Week 11

The fantasy season is coming to an end soon. Studying and analyzing matchups get more important each week as the season dwindles down. Take a look below to find advice on who to start and who to avoid in Week 11.

Quarterbacks

Must Starts: 

• Justin Herbert (vs NYJ) The real question is, “Can the rookie keep his hot streak going with the new haircut?” With or without his luscious, long hair, put him in your starting lineups this week. The Jets have given up the fourth most fantasy points to his position this season, and he has fallen short of 20 fantasy points just once in his rookie year (week 2). 

• Jameis Winston (at ATL) Winston will make his first start of the 2020 season replacing future Hall of Famer, Drew Brees. Lucky for Jameis, he will lead the New Orleans’ offense against arguably the worst secondary in the league. Atlanta has allowed the MOST fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2020. In their last performance, they allowed Drew Lock to produce 30.22 fantasy points (his career high). 

Other Notables: Ben Roethlisberger (at JAX), Patrick Mahomes (at LV)

Must Avoids:

• Tom Brady (vs LAR) If you haven’t noticed by now, Brady torches bad defenses and puts up a ton of fantasy points. On the other hand, when he plays a top-10 defense, he struggles mightily. The “Golden Boy” has fallen short of 15 fantasy points four times this season, and expect a similar outcome this week. Los Angeles comes in hot after holding Russell Wilson to just 248 yards passing, zero touchdowns, two interceptions and 11.92 fantasy points. Sit Brady this week, but he won’t serve as a permanent bench player. 

• Ryan Tannehill (at BAL) The last time Tannehill started against Baltimore, he and his team shocked the world by eliminating the top-seeded Ravens in the second round of last year’s playoffs. Expect a revenge-type of game from Baltimore’s secondary. The Titans’ signal-caller has been cold as of late. He hasn’t reached at least 20 fantasy points since week six. Playing against one of the best secondaries in the league this week, Tannehill should be a “must avoid.”

Other Notables: Jared Goff (at TB), Carson Wentz (at CLE)

Running Backs

Must Starts: 

• Salvon Ahmed (at DEN) This is strictly a spot-start. Ahmed took care of business last week as Miami was without Myles Gaskin (IR), Matt Breida (sore hamstring) and Jordan Howard (placed on waivers). He received 21 carries for 85 yards, one touchdown while hauling in one reception for five yards (16 PPR points). All signs show that Ahmed will be the work-horse in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos. Just last week, Denver allowed two running backs to score over 20 PPR points apiece: Josh Jacobs (29.6) and Devontae Booker (21.3). 

• Nyheim Hines (vs GB) Hines has shown a ton of inconsistencies this season, but it might be time to keep him in your lineups each and every week from here on out. His versatility as a rusher and a pass-catcher make him an impressive RB2 in PPR leagues. It helps that Jonathan Taylor has slowly seen less touches each week. Hines is coming off his best performance of the season last week (28.5 PPR points). This week, he takes on a Green Bay defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to running backs this season. Easy call here. 

Other Notables: Mike Davis (vs DET), Damien Harris (at HOU)

Must Avoids: 

• Kareem Hunt (vs PHI) It’s hard to say someone is worth benching after posting a 16.2 point-performance a week ago, but Hunt should definitely stay out of your starting lineups this week. First of all, Philadelphia has allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Second, Nick Chubb will take on the bulk of Cleveland’s carries now that he has a healthy week under his belt. Expect Hunt to go back to his pass-catching role, but don’t expect a lot out of him this week. The Eagles have allowed a combined 274 receiving yards from running backs this season (30.4 average) and no receiving touchdowns. 

• Todd Gurley (at NO) Gurley has been a consistently solid starting running back this season, but he has only rushed for at least 100 yards just once this year. His fantasy stock has been high this season because he is tied for third in the league in rushing touchdowns (9). Don’t expect a lot out of him this week against a Saints defensive line that keeps shutting down the opposing team’s running backs. Last week, they held Jerick McKinnon to 33 rushing yards on 18 attempts (1.8 average). The week prior, they held Tampa Bay to a combined eight rushing yards as a team. Gurley is a “must avoid” this week. 

Other Notables: Melvin Gordon III (vs MIA), Ronald Jones II (vs LAR)

Wide Receivers

Must Starts: 

• Keenan Allen (vs NYJ) Allen has been a target machine this season. He’s averaging 9.3 targets per game, and he should see a lot of action this week as well. He and his Chargers take on the winless Jets team in New York. Don’t be surprised if Herbert and Allen surpass 25 fantasy points apiece. 

• Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson (vs DAL) Both receivers are coming off of 20-point performances from a week ago. They did so against a solid Bears defense. This week, they take on a Dallas secondary that has allowed the fifth most fantasy points to wide receivers this year. Expect near 20-point performances from each of them again this week. 

Other Notables: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Schuster (at JAX), Jakobi Meyers (at HOU)

Must Avoids: 

• Antonio Brown (vs LAR) Brown is just getting back to the feel of the NFL game. He is coming off a decent performance from last week (seven catches for 69 yards), but he will have Jalen Ramsey lined up across from him most of the game. Last week, Ramsey held D.K. Metcalf to two receptions for 28 yards. Sit the former All-Pro receiver for now. 

• A.J. Brown (at BAL) Another Brown made the “must avoid” list this week. [A.J.] Brown is coming off his worst performance of the season where he only caught one pass for 21 yards last week. He should have a tough time this week as well. Baltimore has allowed the fifth fewest wide receiver fantasy points, and they have only surrendered four receiving touchdowns to wide-outs this season. 

Other Notables: Marqeuz Valdes-Scantling (at IND), A.J. Green (at WAS)

Tight Ends

Must Starts: 

• Hayden Hurst (at NO) New Orleans has a really good defense, but for some reason, they do not defend tight ends well this year. As a team, they have allowed six receiving touchdowns and the sixth most fantasy points to the tight end position this season. It helps that Hurst has been on a roll lately. In his last four games, he has topped double-digit fantasy points in each and every one of them. 

• Mark Andrews (vs TEN) Andrews is coming off his best performance of the season. Last week, he tied his season-high in targets (nine), and he also set season-highs in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (61). Maybe it’s time for Andrews to mold back into his 2019 form. He has a decent matchup this week against the Tennessee Titans, who have lost three out of their last four games. 

Other Notables: Logan Thomas (vs CIN), Hunter Henry (vs NYJ)

Must Avoids: 

• Robert Tonyan (at IND) Since week four, Tonyan has caught zero touchdowns, and he is averaging 3.6 targets, 2.8 receptions, 34.8 receiving yards and 6.28 PPR points per game. Yet, he is still rostered in 47 percent of Yahoo Leagues. Sit Tonyan this week not only because he doesn’t produce good numbers, but because he is taking on a Colts defense that has allowed the third fewest fantasy points to tight ends this year. 

• Noah Fant (vs MIA) Talk about a tight end who doesn’t produce. Fant has been one of the biggest tight end disappointments this season. He has yet to find the end zone since week two, and he is averaging a modest 8.15 PPR points since then as well. Miami defends the tight end position well. Sit Fant until he proves he can play like the guy we saw in weeks one and two. 

Other Notables: Mike Gesicki (at DEN), Trey Burton (vs GB)

Defenses

Must Starts: 

• Miami Dolphins (at DEN) Miami’s defense has been on fire lately. They have forced at least one turnover in every game this season, and they rank fourth in the league in total fantasy points. Expect a good outing this week as Denver gives up the MOST fantasy points to team defenses this season. 

• Los Angeles Chargers (vs NYJ) Rule of thumb: it doesn’t hurt to start the defense playing the winless Jets. You know they won’t play bad enough to lose the game. 

Other Notables: Cleveland Browns (vs PHI), Pittsburgh Steelers (at JAX)

Must Avoids: 

• Indianapolis Colts (vs GB) Yes, the Colts’ defense has scored the most fantasy points among all defenses this season. But they are taking on one of the most explosive offenses in the league this week. Green Bay is averaging 30.8 points per game, and Rodgers has only thrown three interceptions all season. 

• Kansas City Chiefs (at LV) The last time Kansas City took on the Las Vegas Raiders, their defense finished the day with negative points (-1). 

Other Notables: Las Vegas Raiders (vs KC), Los Angeles Rams (at TB)