Fantasy Football Week 11: Rankings Audit & Podcast Highlights
The playoff window is slowly closing on teams across fantasy football leagues. If you’re 2-3 games below .500, it’s time to take that last-ditch swing for the fences. If you’re just above the Mendoza line, don’t rest on laurels. Those of you at the top, it’s time to lock in those playoff matchups and solidify your bench. Take a look at the weeks ahead and get ready now.
For Week 11, let’s check out some of the players who have a large variance between the Ballers rankings and some insight as to why they might be there.
Quarterback Rankings
Drew Brees is coming off a stinker week, but finds himself with at least one #1 QB ranking for Week 11, heading into a dream matchup against the Buccaneers. The Bucs “defense” is getting torched this year, allowing the second-most points to opposing QBs, while also allowing the second-fewest points to opposing RBs, indicating a strong passing performance for Brees and the Saints pass catchers.
Tom Brady finds himself with a ranking outside the top 10 by one Baller. Brady faces an Eagles team that has, until recently, been a pass-funnel defense to target. It’s safe to expect Brady to give you a nice solid floor performance and has QB1 overall upside in a game that could turn into a shoot-out, much like the last time these two teams met.
Unless you’re in a two-QB/SuperFlex league, it’s unlikely you have the trust necessary to start Mitch Trubisky. But there is one Baller who has Trubisky ranked 8-10 spots higher than his co-hosts, which puts him in the borderline starter level.
Runningback Rankings
As mentioned above, the Buccaneers’ defense has been pretty stingy to opposing RBs, allowing the second fewest points to them. But can they contain Alvin Kamara? I was surprised to find him ranked as low as RB11 heading into the weekend.
After a blazing hot start to the season with monster games in Weeks 1 and 3, Mark Ingram has been rather quiet since then, with three games under 10 PPR points and no over 15. While he’s still getting a good workload, facing a tough Texans defense doesn’t instill RB1 expectations.
Getty Images / Icon Sportswire
Ronald Jones has been getting a much more consistent workload since the Buccaneers bye, especially (and shockingly) in the passing game. Heading into the bye Week 7, Jones had three of six games with under 10 carries (two with only four carries ) and just six targets. After the bye, he’s seen 11, 18, and 11 carries, scored twice and racked up 13 targets, including 8 in Week 10. Coach Arians has also made it clear he’s building confidence in the sophomore and will continue to use him in all phases.
Wide Receiver Rankings
The WR rankings are pretty consistent, so the players highlighted here are in interesting matchups.
There is a bit of a theme here; The Saints vs Buccaneers game has the makings of a shootout. I’ve already talked about Brees, Kamara, and Jones, so I can’t leave out the WRs. Michael Thomas is the clear-cut WR1 for the week, and both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are inside the top 6.
D.J. Moore is Andy’s start of the week in a great matchup against the Falcons, who allows the 8th most points to opposing WRs. All three Ballers have him inside the top 10 for Week 11.
John Brown is one of just two WRs (Michael Thomas is the other) to record at least 4 receptions and over 50 yards in every game this year. Brown’s been very consistent in the 5 reception,70-yard range all year. With only two TDs, he’s not having the “boom” week necessary to become a weekly starter, but if you need a solid floor play in the flex, Brown is your guy.
Tight End Rankings
Another player to remember in that Saints vs Buccaneers game is Saints TE Jared Cook. Returning from injury and the bye week, Cook was targeted 10 times. The Buccaneers defense has been a TE streaming target all year, making this a great opportunity for Cook to have a great week.
Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle are both inside the top 12 TE rankings with a decent matchup against the Jaguars and serving as the top pass catching options for the depleted Colts receivers.
Biggest Takeaways from the Week 11 Podcasts
Monday – Week 10 Studs & Stinkers + Weekly Rewind, Kupp Kupp Goose
Monday Punday opens the show with a lot of names around some stinky performances, such as No Coop for You and Kupp, Kupp, Goose! The Weekly Rewind starts at 5:04 and luckily for most owners, there is minimal injury news for fantasy owners, outside of Devonta Freeman. Fantasy Studmuffins can be found at 11:24, and it was a great week for young QBs. The Stinkers of the Week segment starts at 30:17 and is lead by some veteran QBs who dragged down their supporting casts and fantasy owners alike.
Tuesday – Week 11 Waivers + Full Stream Ahead, Greasy Stallions
The Ballers discuss the exciting Overtime Monday Night Football Game. The News and Notes segment at 9:55 and opens with two player losses for the Falcons. This week’s Waivers segment opens at 14:52. This week’s bye week teams are the Packers, Giants, Seahawks, Titans. Full Stream Ahead segment is found at the 46:06 mark.
Wednesday – Week 11 Buy or Sell + Vetoes, Trade Phones, TNF Preview
Fantasy Buy or Sell at 3:16 is all about the AFC West players heading into Week 11. The News and Notes segment opens at 11:29. The Ballers’ open up the MAAAAAIIIIILBAG! Yeah! at 20:20, and the Footclan is desperate to find out what to do with David Johnson and A.J. Green. That’s followed by a great discussion on trade vetoes. The Thursday Night Preview of the Steelers at Browns game is at 40:38.
Icon Sportswire/ Getty Images
Thursday – Starts of the Week + Week 11 Breakdown, Heartfelt Apologies
The show opens with the Ballers each apologizing to one player for their pre-season analysis. A short and sweet News and Notes segment at 10:53 before diving into the Fantasy Forecasts 16:38 discussing the following matchups:
Cowboys @ Lions
Jaguars @ Colts
Broncos @ Vikings
Texans @ Ravens
Jets @ Redskins
Falcons @ Panthers
The Ballers’ Starts of the Week can be found at 56:54. If you are still playing in a league with Kickers, Jason’s Ironclad, Locked & Loaded, 100% Guaranteed, Boom Boom Kicker of the Week can be found at 1:11:04.
Friday – Week 11 Matchups + In-or-Out, Magic Eye Jealousy
The Thursday Night Football game ended on a sour note for all Football fans and the Ballers open the show discussing their feelings about it. The In-Or-Out segment starts at 10:49. If your match up was not on the Thursday show, you can listen to the second half of the Fantasy Forecasts at 14:26. The 55:03 mark closes out the show with the Ballers on a Budget segment.
Fantasy Previews:
Bills @ Dolphins
Saints @ Buccaneers
Cardinals @ 49ers
Patriots @ Eagles
Bengals @ Raiders
Bears @ Rams
Chiefs @ Chargers
As we head into the fall, the weather will start to play a role in some of the games. Make sure you check back every Sunday for Eric Ludwig’s Weekly Weather Conditions article.
Weekly Articles:
Rob Wilson’s Ten Things We Learned from the weekend.
Jeff Greenwood’s Trade Targets and Ammo
Matthew Betz’s Injury Recap
Aaron Larson’s Target Report
Ryan Weisse’s Snap Count Observations
Lauren Carpenter’s Waiver Wire
Ryan Weisse’s Defense/Special Teams Strategy
Much of the DFS content begins to drop on Thursday’s. There are a lot of DFS focused articles, so check them all out here: https://www.thefantasyfootballers.com/dfs/
Kyle Yates’ Dynasty Report
Kyle Borgognoni’s Predicting the Top-12 QBs
Sunday –Eric Ludwig’s Weekly Weather Conditions
Have a great weekend and best of luck in Week 11!