The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 11
It is almost that time, the period of Fantasy Football when certain members of your league start to give up. They stop checking their lineups, never use the waiver wire, and don’t seem to care that the playoffs are just around the corner. Use this time! If there are people not being active, you should double your activity. Do not become complacent. Fight with every last breath in your fantasy body to get your team to be the best you can make it. That is what will separate the champions from everyone else in the league. That is where The Fantasy Footballers can be helpful. Andy, Mike, and Jason brought their Starts of the Week on Thursday’s episode to help you successfully launch into the week. For the full episode on Youtube, see below.
For more Fantasytastic info and fun, join our community at JointheFoot.com. Now, let’s get to the reason you read this article. Here are The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 11 and the breakdown of each selection.
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB- Justin Fields vs. ATL
Andy got jealous and stole Justin Fields from Mike. Fields should be in your lineup weekly because the Bears have unlocked the cheat code with Fields. He is averaging 17.1 rushing fantasy points per game, the same average as Saquon Barkley‘s entire fantasy points scored this season, including the passes Saquon has caught, meaning you get Saquon plus a quarterback just by playing Fields. He has the highest percentage of fantasy points on the ground for any quarterback ever. The success has started on the ground, but that has helped him be a better passer. On top of that, throw in that Atlanta is quite forgiving to quarterbacks. They rank last in passing yards allowed and pressure rate. Fields is from Atlanta, so in this homecoming game for him, he will want to put on a show. Make sure that show is in your lineup.
RB- Brian Robinson vs. HOU
Washington was committed to the run against the Eagles on Monday night. They ran the ball 49 times, and 26 carries went to Robinson. He had 86 yards and a score in that game. The formula should be copied and pasted against the Texans. This year, Houston allows the most rushing yards and fantasy points to the running back position. Robinson probably needs to score for you to be happy, but you play your running backs against Houston, and that is the matchup for Robinson this week.
WR- Kadarius Toney vs. LAC
Toney is the best weapon on the team outside of Kelce. Mahomes targeted Toney on 29% of his routes, which is excellent. He also had two rushing attempts. The Chiefs want to get the ball in his hands. That helped him to be the WR12 last week. He is too explosive and too important if Juju and Hardman both miss. As a Chief, Toney has eight total touches so far. That has led to 102 yards and a score. He should get five to eight touches in this game, and you will be delighted with what he can do with those kinds of opportunities.
TE- Dalton Schultz vs. MIN
Tight ends are rough right now. Schultz could be the locked-in TE3 for the rest of the season behind Kelce and Andrews. In four games with Dak, it has been great. Those games look like seven catches for 62 yards, five for 49 yards, six for 74 yards, and six for 54 yards and a touchdown. That consistency will do when it comes to the fantasy tight end. The Cowboys will want to throw the ball against the Vikings, and Schultz should benefit from that.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB- Dak Prescott vs. MIN
For fantasy quarterbacks, two areas are the keys to success. What kind of red zone success do they have, and do they connect on big plays? The Vikings have allowed the second-highest red zone touchdown rate in the league and the highest rate of 15+ yard pass plays. Since the beginning of 2021, Dak has averaged 41 pass attempts per game on the road. The volume plus the matchup says Dak can finish as a top-five QB this week.
RB- Jamaal Williams vs. NYG
The Giants are the seventh-best matchup against the run. It looks like a bad matchup, but that isn’t the actual situation. The Giants allow the most yards before contact and the second-highest yards per carry in the NFL. The last few guys to face the Giants: Dameon Pierce had 94 yards, Travis Etienne had 114 yards and a score, Kenyan Drake had 119 yards and a score, and Zeke/Pollard had 178 yards. The Lions’ offensive line is a strength of the team, and Williams has been good. That should continue, so play him with some confidence.
Jason is a little worried because Williams missed practice with an illness. If he plays, you play Williams, but if he were to miss, Jason wants you to have a backup plan. His would be Isaiah Pacheco. The Lions are a run funnel defense that ranks 30th in rushing yards per game and 30th in expected points per rush attempt. Pacheco had 16 carries for 82 yards last week. He is not the main start option, but he is someone to switch to should that be necessary.
WR- Josh Palmer vs. KC
Jason doesn’t see a world where both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are active for this game. If one of them, or both of them, are gone, then Palmer has to be in your lineup. He has at least eight targets in five of his past six games played. That includes when they played Kansas City in Week 2, where he caught four passes for 30 yards and his lone touchdown of the season. The Chiefs rank 28th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. He will be necessary, so he should have a good week for you this week.
TE- George Kittle vs. ARI
It’s scary, but you play your tight ends against Arizona. Trust the process. The Cardinals are 31st in fantasy points allowed to the tight end. Last week Tyler Higbee resurrected with a backup quarterback going eight catches for 73 yards. Arizona has given up double-digit points to the tight end in every game except Tommy Tremble of the Carolina Panthers. Since 2018, Kittle has averaged five catches for 76 yards against the Cardinals. He was born for prime-time games in Mexico City. Kittle should be a great play this week.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB- Daniel Jones vs. DET
He was a stream of the week for Mike as well. The plus matchup against Detroit has been one to target each week. Detroit is allowing the most yards per game and points per game. They have allowed the second most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to the quarterback position. Don’t watch the game, but everything is there for Jones to have a solid week.
RB- Cordarrelle Patterson vs. CHI
This game has the highest over/under of the week. Patterson scores touchdowns in bunches, which could happen in this game. Patterson ranks second among all running backs with completing a first down or touchdown on carries, at 30.3%. The Bears are 29th in red zone touchdown rate. The Bears will be able to score, so Atlanta will have to try and keep up. Patterson is their best option in that arena.
WR- Darnell Mooney vs. ATL
Back in the highest over/under game. Mooney is the go-to guy for Justin Fields. Mooney is averaging a 30% target share since Week 3 but hasn’t had a 100-yard game. That big explosion could be coming this week as the Falcons rank dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. He is averaging seven targets a game. With that kind of usage, you will be happy if he scores.
TE- Foster Moreau vs. DEN
Mike couldn’t go a week without one steel underpants player in his starts. Moreau could be a good spot-start this week if you need him. The only crack in the Denver defense is the tight end position. In the past five weeks, they have been the 26th-best matchup. Moreau is the king of 40 yards. So you won’t get goosed. He should also have a chance for another touchdown, and a touchdown plus 40 yards makes for a good tight end week.
Comments
Pacheco doesn’t play the Lions