We are to Week 11 in a fantasy football season that seems to be going in slow motion, and it provides a little more of a challenge with injuries continuing to mount and four teams on bye.
Fortunately for fantasy gamers, two of the teams on bye are two of the worst offenses in the league: the Panthers and Giants.
It will be difficult to set a lineup you are confident in three of the next four weeks since Weeks 12 and 14 have six teams on bye.
Every manager is in the same position, and every point becomes more crucial.
Week 11 Fantasy Football Starts:
| Week 11 Starts | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Wilson | QB | Steelers |
| Nick Chubb | RB | Browns |
| Calvin Ridley | WR | Titans |
| Kyle Pitts | TE | Falcons |
Week 11 Fantasy Football Sits:
| Week 11 Sits | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Love | QB | Packers |
| Tony Pollard | RB | Titans |
| Jordan Addison | WR | Vikings |
| Jake Ferguson | TE | Cowboys |
Quarterback Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start Russell Wilson in Week 11
Wilson has been putting in long hours with Arthur Smith, and that extra preparation should have the Steelers prepared for the pass funnel Ravens, making Wilson a streaming start option in Week 11.
As a result of having an efficient offense and elite run defense, the Ravens are forcing teams to throw early and often, resulting in allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
The Ravens are facing 44.7 pass attempts per game, setting Wilson up for favorable passing volume to provide a solid fantasy floor.
A pass heavy game plan in a game with shootout potential makes Wilson an intriguing option in Week 11.
Honorable Mention: Bo Nix
Drake Maye is the superior quarterback and the better long-term fantasy buy, but Nix has a great matchup against a Falcons defense that does not generate pressure.
The Falcons have allowed a top-12 scorer to the quarterback position in four straight games including last week to Derek Carr without any of the wide receivers who were starters at the beginning of the season.
The Falcons rank 30th in rushing yards allowed to opposing quarterbacks, providing Nix a potential rushing floor. He averages 29 rushing yards per game while adding 0.4 rushing touchdowns per game.
Sit Jordan Love in Week 11
Love has returned to the explosive play or bust quarterback that he was early in 2023, making him a sit candidate against the Chicago Bears in Week 11.
The Bears are a run funnel defense that allows the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Love does not provide a rushing floor and lives on a well above average touchdown rate, which may see regression against the Bears.
The Bears are allowing a league-low 0.67 passing touchdowns per game and under 200 passing yards per game, providing a difficult task for Love to meet fantasy point expectations.
As touchdown favorites, the Packers are likely to be playing from ahead, limiting Love’s passing volume.
Low passing volume and likely decreased efficiency make it easier to keep Love on the fantasy bench this week.
Running back Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start Nick Chubb in Week 11
As one of the better comeback stories in 2024, Chubb has not lit up the box scores since his return. A battered Saints defense coming off a huge win provides a great opportunity for Chubb to have his most efficient game of the season, and he is a start option in Week 11.
The Saints have allowed multiple rushing touchdowns in five of their past six games while allowing an average of 170 rushing yards over that span including two games giving up over 225 yards.
The Browns are underdogs, but that will likely change before kickoff as the Saints' win last week was a statistical anomaly. The Falcons dominated the game in down-to-down efficiency.
Chubb has faced two of the better run defenses in the Chargers and Ravens, as this matchup provides an opportunity for improved efficiency as well as touchdown upside.
Week 11 should provide managers with Chubb’s best fantasy contribution on the season.
Honorable Mention: Audric Estime
The Sean Payton coach speak came to fruition, possibly by accident, but Payton was a man of his word in Week 10 after mentioning multiple different times that Estime would receive more playing time.
Although he wasn’t involved until the third drive of the game, Estime racked up 14 carries down the stretch in a one-score game against the undefeated Chiefs.
The positive for Estime is that his 53 rushing yards were the second most by any running back against the Chiefs all season.
The negative for Estime is that, true to his college profile, he lacks receiving upside for fantasy football. He has not earned a target this season.
Trusting Estime in this spot is difficult as last year Payton pulled the rug out from rookie Marvin Mims after productive games that should have earned more playing time.
Estime provides a potential double digit carry floor with touchdown upside, similar to the role of Gus Edwards early in the season, which doesn’t provide a high ceiling but provides some touches for fantasy teams with thin running back rooms.
Sit Tony Pollard in Week 11
A decreased workload share and a difficult matchup against the Vikings make Pollard a sit option in Week 11.
Although he hasn’t missed a game, Pollard has been nursing a toe injury for the past couple of weeks, and Brian Callahan has expressed his wishes to decrease Pollard’s usage.
Last week, Pollard was limited to 9 rush attempts after averaging 20.6 attempts over the previous five games as Tyjae Spears returned to the lineup.
Spears cut into Pollard’s receiving workload as both running backs ran 15 routes last week, which limits both the fantasy floor and ceiling especially in a game in which the Titans are 6-point underdogs.
For fantasy managers with multiple options at running back, Pollard could be the odd man out for fantasy lineups this week.
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Wide Receiver Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start Calvin Ridley in Week 11
Regardless of matchup and quarterback play, Ridley is quietly becoming one of the league's most targeted wide receivers, making him a weekly start option despite the matchup against Brian Flores and the Vikings.
In 2024, Ridley has been targeted on 29.7% of routes without DeAndre Hopkins on the field and has had at least 8 targets in five straight games.
Ridley is not only racking up a high target share, but he’s also earning downfield targets. He has 50% of the Titans' air yards.
There will be volatility due to quarterback play, as witnessed in a game with 0 receptions on eight targets, but the spike week potential exists weekly.
Last week, Ridley hauled in 2 touchdowns, making the variance worth the squeeze.
A difficult matchup on paper should provide plenty of opportunity as the Vikings face the second-most wide receiver targets this season, averaging 23.3 per game.
Week 11 provides a great opportunity to embrace the wave of volatility with Will Levis and Ridley.
Honorable Mention: Kayshon Boutte
Part wish casting and part confirmation bias as my high stakes fantasy football teams will rely heavily on the sophomore receiver — injuries and byes made Boutte an attractive waiver pickup for a spot start in Week 11.
Boutte first flashed with a 40-yard touchdown against the Texans this season and has seen his workload increase since.
He’s possibly due for a bigger game in the score sheet as he has run a route on over 85% of the dropbacks in the past four weeks including back-to-back 100% route rates in the past two weeks.
Sit Jordan Addison in Week 11
Addison has been a touchdown-or-bust fantasy wide receiver this season. He has 3 or fewer receptions in six of his seven starts this season.
It is highly unlikely for Addison to receive a lot of volume against the Titans, who are quick to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
Addison has been targeted on 14.1% of dropbacks in which Sam Darnold has thrown the ball within 2.5 seconds.
The Titans allow an average of 112 yards to opposing wide receivers, which is the third fewest in the league.
Addison likely remains a disappointing player for the draft capital spent this week and should remain on fantasy benches until a better matchup.
Tight End Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start Kyle Pitts in Week 11
The days of waiting for Pitts to become a generational pass-catching tight end may be over — the fantasy journey with Pitts could be a turbulent ride — but Week 11 provides an opportunity for a spike week, making Pitts a volatile start candidate.
Pitts has been targeted on 20% of his routes or more in four of the last five games, but due to playing fewer snaps, he has hit 20% of the team targets only once all season.
The Broncos rank sixth with opponents targeting tight ends on 23.1% of pass attempts.
With one of Drake London or Darnell Mooney being blanketed by Patrick Surtain, Pitts should have an opportunity to provide a usable fantasy week with touchdown upside.
Honorable Mention: Will Dissly
Dissly earned Rich Hribar’s “Trust” label in the Worksheet as the first-year Charger continues to be one of Justin Herbert’s most consistent targets.
After their bye, the Chargers have passed above expectation, and Dissly has averaged 4.8 receptions per game over those five weeks.
Dissly has been targeted on 28 % of his routes, which is the second highest among starting tight ends.
The Bengals defense allows a 78.4% catch rate, providing a solid floor and ceiling in an indoor game featuring Herbert and Joe Burrow.
Sit Jake Ferguson in Week 11
Last week’s slander of Sam LaPorta blew up in my face as he scored a touchdown on a season-high 66 receiving yards against the Texans.
I will use the same arguments this week, which are strengthened by the fact that the Cowboys have inferior quarterback play and play calling than the Detroit Lions, making Ferguson a sit candidate in Week 11.
Despite LaPorta’s big game, the Texans have allowed a league-low 24.7 passing yards per game and a 52.9% completion rate to opposing tight ends.
Ferguson has not scored a touchdown this season and no Cowboys tight end has ever scored a touchdown against the Texans. Both trends are likely to continue this week.
With Cooper Rush under center, it's probably wise to sit Jake Ferguson in Week 11.