Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 11 Matchups to Consider
As the fantasy regular season begins to wind down, fantasy managers are faced with the most crucial decisions they’ll make all season. Getting a lineup set just right this week could be the difference in taking a team that’s circling the drain and putting it right back into the middle of the playoff hunt! To best help get those lineups set just right, I’m here to take a look through each position and highlight a few matchups ahead of Week 11!
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love (GB) at Chicago
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| QB10 | QB10 | QB7 |
QB13 |
After a breakout campaign in 2023 finishing as the QB5, the first half of the season has been a struggle for Jordan Love. Love finished as a top-12 QB in four of his first five games this season, throwing all 15 of his TDs in that stretch. However, in the two weeks before the Packers’ bye last week, Love finished with a combined 16.6 fantasy points. While Love’s top-12 stretch to start the year may look nice on paper, he’s only scored more than 20 fantasy points twice this season, and each time he needed four passing TDs to get there. The Green Bay offense is definitely one that fantasy managers want to have pieces in, but Love may not be the biggest piece for fantasy that is needed in lineups.
If Love is going to start the back half of the season off on a better foot, getting the Bears’ defense might not be the best matchup to do so. For all the struggles that Chicago has had, their defense has been one of the more consistent units in the league. On the year, the Bears have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards and have allowed a league-low six passing TDs on the year. For fantasy, Chicago has been a really tough matchup for QBs, only allowing two top-12 QB finishes on the season and having only allowed one QB to throw for two or more TDs in a game. There’s a chance that Love and the Packers could get things moving in the right direction this week, but fantasy managers should let him get right on their bench before trusting him with a start.
Kurt would prefer to play: Jayden Daniels (WASH) at Philadelphia
Bo Nix (DEN) vs. Atlanta
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| QB11 | QB12 | QB12 |
QB12 |
Perhaps the forgotten final first-round QB of the 2024 draft class, Bo Nix has shown he belongs in the NFL as a starting option. Nix had a slow start to the year but has really found his groove in the Broncos’ offense over the last month and a half, finishing as a top-12 QB in four of his last six games. One element to Nix’s fantasy success has been his ability to run the ball where he’s averaging 29 yards per game this season and has already scored four TDs—the same as fellow rookie Jayden Daniels. Nix has progressed in the passing game as well, throwing for 200+ yards in all but three games this season. The game script for the Broncos hinges on their defense keeping them in games, and Nix is at his best for fantasy when Denver stays close or is playing with a lead.
For Nix to continue his stretch of fantasy relevance and “stream-ability,” he’s got an intriguing matchup with Atlanta in Week 11. The Falcons are allowing a league-high 70.4% of passes to be completed against them while allowing 17 passing TDs on the year. For fantasy, it’s been hit or miss at the QB position against this unit, only allowing five top-12 QB finishes on the season. Interestingly enough in those five top-12 finishes, the QBs are averaging 34 rushing yards against the Falcons, which could be where Nix is able to provide a safe floor for fantasy managers needing a streaming candidate this week and going forward with a strong schedule to end the year.
Kurt would play Nix over: Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) vs. Las Vegas
Running Backs
Travis Etienne Jr. (JAX) at Detroit
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB29 | RB28 | RB32 |
RB29 |
It’s been quite the change from season to season for Travis Etienne in Jacksonville. After finishing as the RB3 overall in 2023, Etienne has struggled massively this season only finishing inside the top-24 RBs twice so far. The emergence of Tank Bigsby in the Jaguars’ offense has only complicated matters for fantasy managers who invested in Etienne this season muddying the waters in this offense as to which RB can contribute to fantasy rosters. The saving grace for Etienne may be his work in the passing game compared to Bigsby. Etienne has seen three targets per game this season compared to Bigsby’s five total targets. Even if the timeshare in the Jacksonville backfield continues, Etienne’s consistent work in the passing game may be enough to keep him as a flex option most weeks.
Even if Etienne has the backfield to himself this week with Bigsby’s status up in the air due to injury, at first glance a matchup against the Lions isn’t one fantasy managers should be chasing. Detroit’s defense has allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards, though they have given up nine rushing TDs on the season. For fantasy though, the Lions have been susceptible to opposing RBs, allowing a top-24 RB finish in five of their last six games. The decision for fantasy managers to make is whether or not he is worth the risk against a tough defense. My bet would be to have him on the bench until fantasy managers see more of the 2023 version of Etienne again.
Kurt would prefer to play: Gus Edwards (LAC) vs. Cincinnati
Kareem Hunt (KC) at Buffalo
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB16 | RB17 | RB17 |
RB13 |
It could be argued that Kareem Hunt was the waiver wire find of the season after his reemergence into the Kansas City offense. Hunt has provided fantasy managers with five-straight top-24 finishes since taking over the lead RB role for the Chiefs, thanks mainly to the 25 opportunities he’s averaged over that stretch. The worry for fantasy managers has to be the potential return of Isiah Pacheco whose window was opened to return from IR. While it may not be this week, Pacheco’s return will either completely eliminate Hunt from any fantasy relevance, or even worse, could put the pair into a shared backfield where nobody really benefits from what has been one of the best offenses to be a lead RB in.
For now, though, fantasy managers should continue feeling good about having Hunt as a solid RB2 in their lineups with another solid matchup against the Bills on the slate for Week 11. Buffalo is allowing 4.9 yards per carry which is third-highest in the league and they have given up the second-most rushes of 40+ yards. Opposing RBs in fantasy have either been feast or famine against the Bills. In their 10 games this season, the Bills have allowed seven top-12 RB finishes, but just two RB finishes between RB13-24. Even though it feels like a clock is counting down on Hunt’s fantasy relevance in Kansas City, fantasy managers should continue to play him until there are more tangible signs of Pacheco’s return.
Kurt would play Hunt over: Josh Jacobs (GB) at Chicago
Jaylen Warren (PIT) vs. Baltimore
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB32 | RB30 | RB31 |
RB31 |
It’s been a hot and cold season so far for Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh, but after recording his first top-24 RB finish of the season, there could be room for him to make more space for himself in the Steelers’ backfield. The changes that came to Pittsburgh this offseason with Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator gave many fantasy managers hope that there could be more of a two-back system implemented that could feature both Warren and Najee Harris, but it’s been Harris who’s been the bell cow of the offense so far this season seeing nearly nine more opportunities per game. What’s worse for Warren is that the one area where he’d been able to chip away at Harris’ workload in previous seasons was in the passing game, but he’s seen just 16 targets all season and hasn’t been much of a factor there either. The opportunity for fantasy comes due to Harris dealing with a knee injury that opened the door for Warren to see the largest amount of touches all season in the Steelers’ win last week. If Warren gets the backfield to himself, he goes from being a fringe flex play to a decent RB2 option very quickly.
The biggest problem with depending on Warren this week for fantasy managers is that even if he has the backfield to himself, the matchup is against the Ravens. Baltimore’s defense has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the league and allows the lowest yards per carry on the season. For fantasy though, the Ravens have been beatable with the right RB matchup. In their last six games, Baltimore has allowed a top-20 RB four times, mainly due to the work those RBs received in the passing game. The four RB20 or better finishes averaged five receptions for 46 receiving yards. If Warren can get back to being involved in the passing game like fantasy managers have seen in the past, there’s a chance he could provide solid flex value this week.
Kurt would play Warren over: Alexander Mattison (LV) at Miami
Wide Receivers
Jauan Jennings (SF) vs. Seattle
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR24 | WR26 | WR25 | WR17 |
Proving he wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan play earlier this season, Jauan Jennings made the most of the opportunity presented to him in San Francisco again last week with a WR17 finish on 11 targets and without a TD. Jennings has stepped into the role that would usually have been Brandon Aiyuk’s, playing 91% of snaps and seeing a 32% target share for the 49ers even with Christian McCaffrey back in the lineup. What’s exciting for Jennings is that even with both Deebo Samuel and CMC on the field, he led San Francisco in targets, receptions, and receiving yards so there could be a pretty high floor that’s being set into his role. Fantasy managers know the upside that Jennings has after his WR1 overall finish earlier this year, so unless something changes, he should be a consistent WR2 for the rest of the season at worst.
Jennings will have a great matchup this week to continue to build on against the Seahawks. Seattle’s defense has been solid against the pass for most of the season, but their most recent game before their Week 9 bye saw them allow 52.3 fantasy points to the Rams’ WRs. In fact, in five of their last six games, the Seahawks have allowed 30+ fantasy points to opposing teams’ WRs. Jennings seems to have a consistent role carved out in one of the best offenses in the league and should be considered a WR2 in most formats until something changes in the 49ers’ pecking order.
Kurt would play Jennings over: DeAndre Hopkins (KC) at Buffalo
Quentin Johnston (LAC) vs. Cincinnati
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR38 | WR38 | WR38 |
WR37 |
It’s been a redemption type of sophomore season for Quentin Johnston after having about as bad of a rookie campaign as a first-round NFL pick can have. The changing of the coaching staff and offensive scheme have been a big reason for Johnston’s turnaround in L.A. Quge has already more than doubled his rookie TD production and has reached the end zone in back-to-back weeks. While many fantasy managers may have thought the Chargers drafting Ladd McConkey would push Johnston into a lesser role for L.A., the pair are actually nearly identical in fantasy points per game this season. As Mike pointed out in this week’s Hungry for More, the Chargers have a great schedule for WRs down the stretch of the season so fantasy managers may be able to rely on Johnston as a flex option with WR2 upside heading into the playoffs.
That WR-friendly schedule for the Chargers starts this week with a matchup against the Bengals. Cincinnati’s defense has been one to target in the passing game, allowing 17 passing TDs on the season and the ninth-most passing yards. For fantasy, the Bengals have been a team to target with WRs where they’ve allowed a top-20 WR finish in all but two games this season. In three of those weeks, Cincinnati has allowed two top-20 WRs in the same game, so there’s room for both Johnston and McConkey to have big days. With another big set of byes in store, Johnston should be played in most formats with such a good matchup lined up.
Kurt would play Johnston over: Amari Cooper (BUF) vs. Kansas City
Jameson Williams (DET) at Jacksonville
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR30 | WR31 | WR27 |
WR30 |
It feels like fantasy managers were teased by Jameson Williams this season. After starting the year finishing as a top-24 WR in four of his first five games, Williams hasn’t finished higher than WR39 since Week 7, though that does include a two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. If there’s anything encouraging about the sour stretch that Williams has had, he’s still been on the field for at least 74% of snaps for Detroit and had a 21% target share last week against the Texans. What fantasy managers are looking for though is the week-winning level of performance that we’ve seen flashes of this season to really have Williams pay off for being in a lineup.
If there’s a team to “get right” against in the passing game, Jacksonville should be near the top of the list. The Jaguars have allowed the third-most passing yards and fourth-most passing TDs this season while giving up eight yards per completion. Only twice this season has Jacksonville not given up 20+ fantasy points to opposing teams’ WRs, though they only allowed the Vikings’ hot passing attack 13.7 points total. For Williams, there should be plenty of opportunity in this game to get back on track for fantasy managers, and if not, it may be time to look elsewhere down the stretch of the season.
Kurt would play Williams over: Tank Dell (HOU) at Dallas
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill (NO) vs. Cleveland
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| TE14 | TE10 | TE17 |
TE14 |
Somehow we haven’t talked about the utility TE Taysom Hill in this article series all season. Hill has still been a Swiss army knife of a player for the Saints this season, seeing just about seven opportunities per game that he’s turned into two top-five TE finishes in just six games played. What gets missed sometimes are the plays that don’t make the stat sheet, and Hill had one last week in an 80-yard TD that got called back due to a holding call. While only getting close doesn’t help fantasy managers in their matchup, it’s encouraging to see that New Orleans still seems interested in getting Hill the ball in a number of ways and that he’s got the ability to make plays when called upon.
For Hill to be back in the streaming TE category, he’s got a tough matchup against Cleveland this week. The Browns are one of the toughest plays for fantasy TEs this season, only allowing 6.6 fantasy points per game to opposing teams’ TEs. If you take out the huge week the Ravens’ TEs had two weeks ago, that number drops to 4.95 points per game. The best bet for Hill to be relevant this week would be for him to get more involved in the running game for New Orleans and fall into the end zone, but fantasy managers might need to let Hill perform on their bench before trusting him in their lineups.
Kurt would prefer to play: Will Dissly (LAC) vs. Cincinnati
Jonnu Smith (MIA) vs. Las Vegas
| Consensus | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| TE13 | TE15 | TE15 |
TE10 |
Sometimes what fantasy managers are looking for in a streaming TE is a player that just won’t give you a goose, and Jonnu Smith just might be that guy this season. Smith has been consistently involved in the Miami offense, seeing nearly five targets per game that he’s turned into just under 40 yards per week. While those aren’t week-winning numbers, Smith provides a nice floor with an upside of finishing as the TE1 like he did back in Week 7. The biggest gripe for Smith—and really every Dolphin player this season—is the lack of TD production. Smith only has one TD catch this season, though he has seen three red zone targets in the Dolphins’ last four games.
For most of the season, the Raiders have held the TE position in check for fantasy production, but in the last two weeks before their bye, things took a different turn. Las Vegas allowed a combined 66.5 fantasy points in their last two games to the Chiefs’ and Bengals’ TEs, resulting in three top-12 TE finishes during that stretch. If there’s a matchup to give Smith a start for the rest of the season, this might be the week to slide him into lineups if you need a spot start.
Kurt would play Smith over: Tucker Kraft (GB) at Chicago
Comments
Should I play Jennings over Deebo this Sunday