Week 11 NFL Matchup Preview Part One
Be sure to check out Part Two of our Week 11 NFL Matchup Previews.
-The Fantasy Footballers Week 11 Rankings
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – November 17, 2016
8:25 PM EST
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
-The Fantasy Footballers Matchup Preview on YouTube
SAINTS
QB Drew Brees: If Brees was able to post 303 yards and 3 TDs against the Denver Broncos, it is scary to think what he could do to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11. I would not be surprised if Brees is the best QB this week. Play him as an elite QB1.
RB Mark Ingram & Tim Hightower: Mark Ingram is the RB to own in this backfield. Hightower has earned more carries and should be owned as well. Both did not have great games last week against a tough Broncos defense. This week consider Ingram a low-end RB2 and Hightower an RB3/flex against the challenging Carolina defense.
WR Brandin Cooks, Michael Thomas & Willie Snead: Part of an offense that spreads the ball around. It can be anyone’s game on any even week. This week, however, I would play any of these 3 if you have them against the Panther’s defense that has given up the 3rd most fantasy points to WRs.
TE Coby Fleener: Very hard to trust Fleener has an option at TE with his lack of production in the past 4 weeks, averaging less than 3 receptions per game.
PANTHERS
QB Cam Newton: Hasn’t been the Cam Newton we all witnessed last season but a must play against a mediocre Saints secondary. Look for Cam to have one of his best games of the season with both his arm and on the ground.
RB Jonathan Stewart: Will bounce back this week against a defense that has given up the 4th most points to RBs this season. A solid RB as he normally is.
WR Kelvin Benjamin: One of the most consistent WRs with 70 or more yards in 7 of 9 games but has not scored since week 4. He is 1 TD away from WR1 status every week. He is a must-start every week. The TDs will come, hopefully in time for the fantasy playoffs.
TE Greg Olsen: Had his worst week of the season last week with just 39 yards but was still targeted 8 times. He is an every-week TE1 and he will have a much better game this week against the Saints.
SUNDAY – November 20, 2016
1:00 PM EST
Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals
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BILLS
QB Tyrod Taylor: Not a great NFL quarterback but finds ways to make his fantasy owners happy. This week should be no different as he faces the Bengals defense that has given up the 5th most fantasy points to the QB position.
RB LeSean McCoy: Looked solid against a tough Seattle defense Week 9 returning from an injury. McCoy should have no problem going over 100 rushing yards against a middle of the road run defense. McCoy is an RB1.
WR Robert Woods: Had a monster game last week and the targets will continue to go his way but don’t expect Woods to repeat his performance. The Bengals are very tough against WRs. As Tyrod’s top target he remains a low-end WR2.
BENGALS
QB Andy Dalton: Has a difficult matchup but will look to have a much better game than he did last week. With arguably the best WR in the league and a healthy Tyler Eifert, Dalton should find a way to put together a solid high-end QB2 performance against the Bills.
RB Jeremy Hill & Gio Bernard: Jeremy Hill will look to take advantage of the Bills run defense as they rank 17th against the run. Consider Hill a solid RB2 with RB1 upside this week. Leave Bernard on the bench.
WR A.J. Green: Elite WR1. Expect him to have yet another stellar fantasy week against the Bills.
TE Tyler Eifert: This TE1 is back and has been very effective since. Another TE1 performance should be in the cards for Eifert against a defense that is hot and cold against tight ends.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns
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STEELERS
QB Ben Roethlisberger: Typically much better at home than on the road but Big Ben gets an easy opponent in Cleveland this week. He will put up QB1 numbers this week.
RB Le’Veon Bell: Has not rushed for over 100 yards since his return in Week 4. Expect Bell to carry the ball a ton in this game and eclipse 100 yards for the second time this season. He is very easily an RB1 this week.
WR Antonio Brown & Eli Rogers: Brown will have another WR1 performance against the Cleveland Browns. Eli Rodgers has been very productive the past two games and it should continue against the Browns terrible defense. The injuries to Markus Wheaton and Sammie Coates have increased the fantasy value of Rogers heading into this week. Play him safely as a WR2 with some upside given the WR situation in Pittsburgh.
TE Jesse James & Ladarius Green: Both TEs are great streaming options this week vs the defense that has given up the most fantasy points to the TE position.
BROWNS
QB Cody Kessler: Not a great matchup for a QB that is a non-fantasy factor every week. Leave him on the waivers.
RB Isaiah Crowell: Has only 56 rushing yards over the last 3 games but a matchup that he can bounce back from. The Steelers have given up the 3rd most fantasy points to RBs this season. The Browns will struggle in the pass game and may have to give Crowell more carries than usual to get things going. Crowell is an RB2 this week vs Pittsburgh.
WR Terrelle Pryor & Corey Coleman: The Browns refuse to get Pryor more involved. He is very limited lately and is a TD-reliant WR2 at best against the Steelers. Corey Coleman has 6 receptions in the past 2 games and has done very little with them. He has a tough matchup this week and is unreliable. Keep him benched as the Browns are horrible all around.
TE Gary Barnidge: Very hard to trust. He is nothing more than a desperate streamer this week.
Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys
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RAVENS
QB Joe Flacco: Flacco had a decent game last week but that was against the Browns after he threw for 2 INTs. He is highly unreliable as a fantasy QB this year. Flacco is nothing more than a desperate bye week streamer against Dallas this week.
RB Terrance West & Kenneth Dixon: West received 21 carries last week but his workload should decrease vs the Dallas defense that has allowed the 4th fewest fantasy points to RBs this season. Consider West a low-end RB2 at best. Dixon will continue to eat into West’s value but is not worth a start just yet. Stash Dixon as he could overtake the backfield in the upcoming weeks.
WR Steve Smith Sr. & Mike Wallace: Both WRs are equally targeted by Flacco and will have a decent matchup against a pedestrian Dallas Cowboys secondary. I consider both solid WR2 with WR1 upside this week.
TE Dennis Pitta: The Cowboys have given up the 10th most fantasy points to TEs this year but Pitta hasn’t done anything since Week 2 to grant him any consideration for a start.
COWBOYS
QB Dak Prescott:On a roll and has officially earned the starting job over veteran, Tony Romo. Dak has been a very consistent fantasy option at QB and has not failed to produce more than 20 fantasy points per game since Week 1 vs the New York Giants. He has a difficult matchup this week but that hasn’t stopped his production before. Insert him confidently this week against the Ravens as he sits somewhere between a QB1/QB2 option.
RB Ezekiel Elliott: He will have arguably his toughest matchup of the season this week vs the Baltimore Ravens. Regardless, he is the best back in the league and is unsittable. He is still an RB1 heading into this game.
WR Dez Bryant & Cole Beasley: The Ravens rank right in the middle of the pack against the WR position this year. Look for Dez Bryant’s targets to continue as the dangerous Dak-Dez combo is very difficult for defenses to defend. Keep Dez in as your WR1 this week as it is possible the run game may have to take a back seat in this one. Cole Beasley is consistent and is good for 50 yards per game but lacks the big play ability that Dez gives you. Beasley is a TD-dependent WR2.
TE Jason Witten: Has a very tough matchup against the Ravens who have allowed the 3rd fewest fantasy points to TEs. Even with Dez and Beasley on the field, Witten continues to get targets. He is a shaky TE2 this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Detroit Lions
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JAGUARS
QB Blake Bortles: Over the past 3 games, Blake Bortles has thrown for an impressive 854 yards, 7 TDs and 2 INTs. He should have no problem continuing this hot streak as he faces the Lions’ defense that has given up the most fantasy points to QBs this season. Get him off waivers if he is there and insert him into your lineups. It is not out the realm of possibility that he reaches QB1 status this week. Garbage time could very well play a factor.
RB T.J. Yeldon & Chris Ivory: Both are not reliable this week in a tough matchup. For what Detroit lacks against the pass they make up for in their run defense. They are not fantasy options weekly as it is.
WR Allen Robinson & Allen Hurns: Robinson has over 70 yards receiving in each of his last 3 games and 2 TDs. Bortles will target Robinson early and often in this one. Robinson is a WR1 this week. Hurns is not trustworthy lately and should remain on the bench unless you are desperate. Marqise Lee should see an increase in targets again as he continues to outperform Hurns.
TE Julius Thomas: A great matchup for any tight end as the Detroit Lions have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to the position. That said, Julius Thomas cannot be trusted as he has failed to top 28 receiving yards since week 2.
LIONS
QB Matthew Stafford: Stafford has not been too impressive the last 3 weeks but will have a chance to up his game against a Jaguars defense that hover in the middle of the rankings vs QBs. Consider Stafford a QB2 heading into Week 11.
RB Theo Riddick: Riddick’s value lies in his involvement in both the run and pass game. Expect him to be heavily involved in the pass game this week making him a solid RB2, especially in PPR formats.
WR Golden Tate & Marvin Jones Jr: Golden Tate has re-inserted himself as the WR1 on the Lions’ offense. Expect his targets and production to continue this week. Tate is a solid WR2. Marvin Jones Jr has fallen off as a fantasy option as he has only produced 1 game over 37 yards in the last 5 weeks. Leave him on the bench.
TE Eric Ebron: Has 18 targets and 14 receptions in the last 2 games. Stafford has been utilizing Ebron as much as possible since his return. The Jaguars have not given up much to the tight end position and for that reason Ebron is a shaky TE2 at best this week.
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts
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TITANS
QB Marcus Mariota: Mariota has been a very productive quarterback this season. He is a QB1 against the Colts defense that has given up the 4th most fantasy points to QBs this year.
RB DeMarco Murray: Murray should have no problem with this Colts run defense on Sunday. Leave him in your lineup as your RB1 this week.
WR Rishard Matthews & Tajae Sharpe: Both receivers have stepped up in the past 2 weeks as solid contributors to the Titans’ offense. Matthews has shined a little brighter making him a solid WR2 this week and Sharpe a WR3/flex consideration.
TE Delanie Walker: Great matchup vs the Colts as Mariota’s favorite target. He is a TE1 as the Colts have given up the 5th most fantasy points to TEs this year.
COLTS
QB Andrew Luck: Look for Andrew Luck to bounce back from his shaky performance vs Green Bay before his bye week last week. He will be a QB1 vs the Titans.
RB Frank Gore: Gore has been a consistent back this season and will be a low-end RB2 in a tough matchup vs the Titans run defense.
WR T.Y. Hilton & Donte Moncrief: Both WRs will get plenty of opportunities Sunday against a defense that has given up the 10th most fantasy points to WRs. Hilton has the big play ability making him a WR1 candidate this week. Moncrief is back and has scored a TD in each of his 2 games since his injury. Consider Moncrief a WR2 with WR1 upside this week.
TE Jack Doyle: Has shown decent production in the past 4 weeks. Doyle is a TE2 this week against the Titans who have given up the 8th most fantasy points to the TE position.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Kansas City Chiefs
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BUCCANEERS
QB Jameis Winston: Has played very well the last 4 weeks but his matchups have been favorable and he has struggled against tough defenses. The Kansas City Chiefs are a tough defense and I expect them to give Winston a hard time this week making him no more than a low-end QB2.
RB Doug Martin: Struggled in his first game back last week but should improve against the average Chiefs run defense after shaking off the rust from his long awaited return. Expect Martin to post high-end RB2 numbers Week 11.
WR Mike Evans: Kansas City has given up the 9th most fantasy points to WRs this season. Evans leads the league in targets and is a top 5 fantasy option at WR. Play him as your WR1.
TE Cameron Brate: Has scored a touchdown in each of his last 3 games with his targets rising each week. Brate has a tough matchup as the Chiefs have only given up the 4th fewest points to TEs. Still, with Brate emerging as a reliable option for Winston, consider him a low-end TE2 this week.
CHIEFS
QB Alex Smith: Has never been a reliable fantasy QB even with his favorable matchup this week, Alex Smith is nothing more than a desperate streaming option.
RB Spencer Ware: returned from injury last week with 13 carries for 61 yards and added 3 receptions. Ware’s workload will increase in a great matchup for RBs as Tampa Bay has given up the 8th most fantasy points to the position this year. Ware can easily be an RB1 this week.
WR Jeremy Maclin & Tyreek Hill: Fantastic matchup for the Chiefs’ wideouts. Jeremy Maclin’s production has not been there for much of the season and he will enter this game not 100% making him very hard to trust this week. Tyreek Hill’s targets have increased and I expect it will continue given the current situation. Maclin is nothing more than a desperate WR3/flex and Hill is a low-end WR2 with some upside in a great matchup vs the Buccaneers.
TE Travis Kelce: Did not have a great game last week but enters Week 11 with a mediocre defense against the TE position. Alex Smith loves to target Kelce and let’s face it, Smith doesn’t have a bunch of weapons outside of Kelce anyway. Play Kelce as a low-end TE1 this week.