Most fantasy players can agree that the most difficult part of managing your fantasy team is optimizing your lineup each week. When setting your lineup, it’s essential to take into account injuries, matchups, and probable game scripts. Before we take a look at this week’s best start/sit options, let’s see how accurate my predictions were from Week 10:
Best Start of Week 9: Allen Robinson (WR2)
Worst Start of Week 9: Kenyan Drake (RB44)
Best Sit of Week 9: Andy Dalton (QB26)
Worst Sit of Week 9: Corey Davis (WR5)
Now, let’s take a look at this week’s top starts and sits:
Quarterbacks
Must Start:
Josh Rosen (ARI v OAK) Josh Rosen at times this season has looked unsure and uncomfortable in the Cardinals offense. Each week however, he has seemed to improve and gain more confidence, especially after Mike McCoy was fired and Byron Leftwich took over as the offensive play caller. The appealing part about this Week 11 matchup is the Raiders defense that has given up the 3rd most touchdown passes (21) and has given up an average of 258 passing yards a game. In Week 9, the Raiders allowed Nick Mullens to pass for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns, so I expect Rosen to have similar success. With talent surrounding him in the Cardinals offense, there should be nothing holding him back from seeing what should be his best game of the season against the Raiders.
Honorable Mentions:
Dak Prescott (DAL @ ATL)
Eli Manning (NYG v TB)
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT @ JAC)
Carson Wentz (PHI @ NO)
Must Sit:
Derek Carr (OAK @ ARI) The Raiders will be without their season starting running back, (Lynch) and their 3 starting receivers (Cooper, Nelson, Bryant) this week. Jon Gruden has made the Raiders into a losing team, most likely trying to get the number 1 pick in the upcoming draft. With the Raiders very thin at receiver and seemingly not desperate for a win so they can secure the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Derek Carr is a must sit for Week 11.
Honorable Mentions:
Alex Smith (WAS v HOU)
Matthew Stafford (DET v CAR)
Andy Dalton (CIN @ BAL)
Case Keenum (DEN @ LAC)
Running Backs
Must Start:
Alex Collins (BAL v CIN) Joe Flacco is “doubtful” to play in Week 11, making the Ravens turn to either former heisman trophy winner Lamar Jackson or RG3 to start at quarterback. Regardless of who ends up starting, you would have to imagine the Ravens wil go run heavy with a lot of read option looks. I’m expecting Collins to get at least 18 rushing attempts against the Bengals’ 2nd worst run defense that has allowed 141.2 rushing yards a game through the season and allowed 244 rushing yards in Week 10 to that Saints.
Honorable Mentions:
Theo Riddick (DET v CAR)
Mark Ingram (NO v PHI)
Tevin Coleman (ATL v DAL)
Dion Lewis (TEN @ IND)
Must Sit:
Joe Mixon (CIN @ BAL) AJ Green is set to miss another game with his injured toe, and with Joe Mixon being the next best guy on the team, he should be the focal point for the Ravens stingy defense. The last time the Bengals played the Ravens was in Week 2 where Mixon ran 21 times for 84 yards. Unfortunately, he went down with an injury in that matchup and missed the next 2 games. The Ravens also had their hands full with AJ Green as he caught 3 touchdown passes. Last week against the Saints, Mixon had 11 carries for 61 yards, but the Bengals were playing from behind. In this week’s matchup, I expect the Ravens to try to stop the run first and see what happens in the passing game.
Honorable Mentions:
Royce Freeman (DEN @ LAC)
Peyton Barber (TB @ NYG)
Corey Clement (PHI @ NO)
T.J. Yeldon (JAX v PIT)
Wide Receiver
Must Start:
Kenny Golladay (DET v CAR) Marvin Jones is officially inactive for Lions Week 11 game against the Panthers, and with Golden Tate being traded to the Eagles during the trade deadline, that leaves Kenny Golladay as the receiver most likely to see a large target increase. Golladay has put together a nice 2nd season so far, averaging 15.4 yards a catch with 4 touchdowns and 601 receiving yards. He’ll have to continue his strong 2nd season being the Lions’ only threat at receiver. With a nice matchup against the Panthers defense that allowed 328 yards passing and 5 touchdown passses in Week 10 against the Steelers, Golladay should be a must start for Week 11.
Honorable Mentions:
Amari Cooper (DAL @ ATL)
Larry Fitzgerald (ARI v OAK)
Corey Davis (TEN @ IND)
Demaryius Thomas (HOU @ WAS)
Must Sit:
Alshon Jeffery (PHI @ NO) The Eagles will be facing the Saints D in Week 11 who allowed just 14 points a week ago to the Bengals. The two times Jeffery has faced a cornerback like Marshon Lattimore (Xavier Rhodes and Jalen Ramsey) he has struggled. Against the Vikings defense, Alshon was held to 2 catches for 39 yards. In his matchup against the Jaguars’ defense, Jeffery only managed to corral 4 balls for 35 yards. I expect Jeffery to get similar treatment from Lattimore and the Saints which would make Jeffery a tough sit for Week 11.
Honorable Mentions:
Michael Crabtree (ATL v CLE)
Courtland Sutton (DEN @ LAC)
Devin Funchess (CAR @ DET)
DeSean Jackson (TB @ NYG)
Tight End
Must Start:
Jared Cook (OAK @ ARI) The Raiders will be without their top 3 receivers that started the season for them (Cooper, Nelson, Bryant), leaving just Jared Cook as Derek Carr’s most reliable pass catcher. Cook should be heavily involved in the Raiders’ passing game with Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant both unable to go in Week 11, making Cook a must start.
Honorable Mentions:
Trey Burton (CHI v MIN)
Ricky Seals-Jones (ARI v OAK)
Evan Engram (NYG v TB)
Must Sit:
Kyle Rudolph (MIN @ CHI): Rudolph has had an underwhelming season at this point in the year, catching just 34 passes and only 2 touchdowns. Rudolph has yet to go for more than 75 receiving yards in a game, and his last 3 games had catch totals of 1, 4 and 2. I believe the trend continues as the Vikings have a tough matchup against Chicago in Week 11, making Rudolph a must sit until he manages to turn things around.
Honorable Mentions:
Vance McDonald (PIT @ JAX)
Jordan Reed (WAS v HOU)
Cameron Brate (TB @ NYG)
Thank you for reading and be sure to follow me on Twitter for more fantasy football advice throughout the week @LonskiWilliam
