It’s time for Week 11 of the NFL regular season, and we’re getting into the final stretch of the regular season in most fantasy leagues. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to make the right moves. It could mean the difference between making and missing the playoffs and a shot at a championship.
We’ll be without players from the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as all four teams are on a bye. Fantasy managers won’t feel a giant sting with that collection of teams being off, but there are some definite studs missing.
There are three divisional games on tap, and a titanic matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, which will be super entertaining, with plenty of fantasy implications all around.
The primetime games Sunday and Monday don’t jump off of the page, but we do have some stars. Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase try to solve the suffocating defense of the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud hopes to have WR Nico Collins back on Monday night, as they look to boot the Dallas Cowboys while they’re down.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 11:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Although last week Jacksonville did a pretty good job against Sam Darnold and the Vikings, it will be a different story at raucous Ford Field in Detroit. Goff and the Lions should get going early against a Jaguars pass defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys: Stroud has taken a little bit of a step back this season, but the dip hasn’t been too substantial. The quality of offensive line play has been down, and he has been sacked 34 times in 10 games, as opposed to 38 times across 15 outings in his rookie season. He also has been without WR Nico Collins for the past five games due to a hamstring injury. Collins is expected to return Monday, and that should get Stroud back to performing more like a QB1 in most fantasy leagues.
Sit ‘Em
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers: We aren’t necessarily saying to sit Jackson if you don’t have better alternatives, just tamp down expectations substantially. The Steelers’ pass D allows the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Yes, Jackson isn’t your average QB, but Pittsburgh has allowed only eight passing touchdowns this season, and that’s pretty resistant against the run, too. Jackson will get his, but it won’t be his usual giant stat line.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears: Chicago fans hate it, as rival Green Bay has dominated this series in the past decade or so. However, Love is a risky play heading down to the Windy City this weekend, as the Chicago defense allows the fewest fantasy points to opposing signal callers. In fact, Chicago has yielded an NFL-low six touchdown passes and only 1,876 passing yards while forcing eight interceptions.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints: Might this be the week Chubb finally breaks out? Facing the leaky New Orleans rush defense could really help get him going. The Saints have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points, with 12 rushing scores allowed, which is second-most in the NFL. Chubb is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on 42 attempts through three games since returning from a gruesome knee injury. This should be his finest game of 2024.
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills: Hunt is going to be a vital part of the Kansas City offense if it hopes to leave Western New York with a still unblemished record. Hunt fell back to Earth last week against Denver, averaging a mere 2.5 yards per attempt, so fantasy managers might be wringing their hands a little. He still has five rushing scores in the past five games, and that number is likely to grow against a Buffalo run defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing tailbacks.
Sit ‘Em
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers: Brown should be downgraded to RB3 or flex fantasy status for this weekend’s bout against the Bolts. LA allows the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tailbacks, and it has permitted just a single rushing touchdown in 2024. Whatever Brown earns is going to take a lot of work, and Cincinnati would be better off going to the air instead.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs: On the flip side, we don’t expect James to “Cook” against the Chiefs in this titanic AFC battle. The KC rush defense has been extraordinary in 2024, allowing the fewest fantasy points to the opposing run game, including only three rushing touchdowns. It is going to be a grind for Cook on the ground, although he could still have a nice day catching the ball out of the backfield, where the Chiefs are more susceptible to the big play.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Pickens had a pretty strong showing last week at Washington, going for five grabs, 91 yards, and a touchdown. He has managed 74 or more yards in each of the past three games, jelling nicely with QB Russell Wilson. The Baltimore defense has not been it’s usual dominant self, allowing the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2024. Pickens has WR2 fantasy ability this weekend.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons: Sutton has racked up six or more receptions and at least 70 receiving yards in each of his past three games. While his 100-yard game streak was snapped at two games last week, he found the end zone for the first time in four outings. Sutton has really developed a nice rapport with rookie QB Bo Nix, and this pass-catch combination has been very effective since the aspens started to turn in the Rocky Mountains.
Sit ‘Em
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets: Downs is going to struggle against the Jets for a multitude of reasons. First off, the suffocating Jets pass defense allows the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. As if that isn’t enough, the erratic QB Anthony Richardson is back, and Downs really hasn’t jelled as well with the second-year signal caller. Gang Green should limit Downs and the Colts offense in a lower-scoring affair.
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos: The Atlanta pass offense is going to have its work cut out against the lockdown Broncos. Denver allows the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, including just six receiving touchdowns. Mooney has posted some low-end WR1 caliber numbers recently, going for four or more scores and 86 or more yards in each of the past three games while finding the end zone twice. Mooney could be in line for his worst production since Week 1, however.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers don’t surrender much, especially on the ground, but the Bolts have allowed plenty of production to opposing tight ends. The Chargers have yielded the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including 74 receptions and 598 yards. Gesicki was limited to just 30 yards last week in Baltimore, but he had five grabs, 100 yards, and two Griddy celebrations two weeks ago versus Las Vegas. WR Tee Higgins is back, though, so this one isn’t as automatic as it should be.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins vs. Las Vegas Raiders: As mentioned above, Gesicki shredded the Raiders’ pass defense two weeks ago. Now, it’s Smith’s turn. He has managed at least three receptions in five straight games, which is decent production for those in PPR leagues. In a two-game span in October, Smith had 12 grabs for 158 yards and a touchdown with 15 targets. Expect that type of production against the Silver and Black. He should be a tremendous low-end TE1 in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams.
Sit ‘Em
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions: There are a few things working against Engram, who normally can be a top-tier fantasy option. However, QB Trevor Lawrence is sidelined again due to a left shoulder injury, so working with the struggling QB Mac Jones already hurts Engram’s outlook. But, the Lions allow the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends, too. Engram would do well just to post low-end TE1 caliber numbers. That is not expected, however.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans: On Monday night, the wait will not be worth it. Ferguson was likely going to struggle against a Houston Texans‘ pass defense which allows the fewest fantasy points in the NFL to opposing tight ends even if he had his starting quarterback. But, QB Dak Prescott is done for the season, and Ferguson will be making his way with QB Cooper Rush under center. That’s bad news, and he should be downgraded to low-end TE2 status in most formats.
