Week 11 Rankings

Updated 11/16 at 12:05 PM ET. So much for it being unusually quiet. Shuffled Browns RBs based on the news that Isaiah Crowell will apparently get the start.

Updated 11/16 at 11:55 AM ET. Unusually quiet week. Ticked Charles Sims down.

It wasn’t a state secret that Mike Evans was going to be good. Evans began his college career as a modest three-star recruit, but ended it by terrorizing the SEC for 151 catches, 2,499 yards and 17 touchdowns in just two seasons. He was a big part of the reason Johnny Manziel became Johnny Football.

But damn, this guy has been good. Bouncing between a veteran retread and sophomore slug at quarterback, Evans is on pace for a 73/1,097/9 line through his first eight NFL contests. That’s despite missing Week 5 with a groin injury, and managing just 14 catches for 138 scoreless yards through his first three games. Evans is fantasy’s No. 15 receiver on the season, and No. 6 over the past five weeks. He’s averaging 15.5 weekly points since returning from his groin issue in Week 6. That would rank No. 3 on the year, and No. 2 if you exclude recent upstart Martavis Bryant.

Evans is getting his numbers by doing what he did in college. He uses his mammoth 6-foot-5, 231-pound frame to box out smaller defensive backs, and plucks passes out of the air at their highest point. Skying in the end zone, Evans literally took the ball off of 5-foot-10 Robert Alford’s head for his Week 10 touchdown.

Despite 4.53 speed, Evans hasn’t been running like a true burner, but he is so quick. Evans has shown an exquisite sense of when to separate. He’ll essentially run down a DB’s throat before peeling back toward the ball on a dime at the last second. In his draft evaluation, Rotoworld’s Josh Norris noted Evans’ inherent good sense to work back toward the quarterback, and it’s definitely shown up on Evans’ NFL film. He does it both by design and when he’s freelancing. Evans times his routes perfectly, then cuts back for passes he knows will be there. It’s impressive craftsmanship and awareness for a player who could dominate by sheer virtue of his pterodactyl frame alone for years before having to become a tactician. The fact that Evans is already doing both is scary, and why his hype is appearing justified. None of that is to mention his vise-like hands. By Pro Football Focus’ count, Evans has muffed only 2-of-41 catchable balls.

There will be more growing pains. Evans is on a bad team with bad quarterbacks. Rookies make mistakes. But he is an elite raw talent progressing at a prodigious rate. Evans was a preseason WR3. Now he’s sitting as a high-end WR2. WR1 status is not out of reach. That’s not the most-likely outcome, but the fact that it can’t be laughed off as a possibility is a testament to the way Evans has come on. Expect him to keep doing so against the Redskins, who have allowed an 18:3 TD:INT ratio against as a pass defense.

Week 11 Quarterbacks

QB Notes: Aaron Rodgers’ problem? He keeps putting his opponents away too early. That shouldn’t be an issue against the Eagles, who are one of the few teams that can match Green Bay for points. The owner of a 20:2 TD:INT ratio, 9.77 YPA and 70.3 completion percentage over his past six starts, Rodgers should get every opportunity to pour points — both fake and “real” — on a team allowing the fourth most to opposing quarterbacks. … Peyton Manning has been held below 25.0 fantasy points just once in his past six starts (23.9 in Week 6). Surgical, cerebral quarterbacks routinely rip apart Jeff Fisher’s defense. It could be a short, but productive, day for Manning at the Edward Jones Dome. … Averaging a league-leading 31.4 fantasy points on the year, that number jumps to 31.7 over the past five weeks for Andrew Luck. The Pats have been Luck’s kryptonite in an extremely limited, two-game sample size, but Sunday’s game takes place in the friendly confines of Lucas Oil Stadium. The first two meetings came in Foxboro. Luck is a good bet to breeze by 30.

Fantasy’s No. 1 quarterback over the past five weeks? Tom Brady. Raise your hand if you saw that coming as Brady got demolished by the Chiefs in Week 4. Only five teams are allowing more weekly passing yards than the Colts’ 264. … Fantasy’s No. 5 quarterback on the season, Drew Brees is No. 6 over the past five weeks. Owners were obviously expecting top-three numbers, but for all the hand-wringing, Brees remains an asset as opposed to a liability. The Bengals are better against the pass than run, but have one of the league’s weakest pass rushes. Brees should atone and then some for last week’s nightmare finish. … When last we left Philip Rivers, he was getting pulverized in South Beach. Thankfully, he’s had two weeks to rest up, and is fresh for a home date with the Raiders, a team he roasted for 313 yards and three touchdowns in Week 6. Rivers has tossed at least two scores in 7-of-9 starts this season. Shake off his disastrous Week 9 and start him against a defense allowing a 67.0 completion percentage. The Raiders are the only team in the league with fewer than 10 sacks (eight).

A quiet No. 12 in average fantasy points, Matthew Stafford is on pace for “just” 4,437 yards and 23 touchdowns. He finally has Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate rocking and rolling at the same time, however, and has an exploitable Week 11 matchup in the Cardinals. Bruce Arians’ defense has done an admirable job of bending but not breaking, but is coughing up a weekly 274 yards through the air. Patrick Peterson won’t be able to slow Megatron, while a fog could be hanging over a team that just lost its quarterback. Stafford has yet to pay top-10 dividends, but that should start changing on Sunday. … The Titans quietly have one of the league’s stingier pass defenses, but are unlikely to make it back-to-back slow games for Ben Roethlisberger coming off his historic Weeks 8-9. … It’s all about the matchup for Robert Griffin III, who has averaged a meager 16.3 fantasy points in his two complete games. The Bucs, who are allowing an unseemly 277 passing yards per game and 7.9 yards per attempt, should help change that.

Don’t fight it. Mark Sanchez is averaging 9.05 yards per attempt, and has thrown for four touchdowns in 59 passes. Sanchez being a QB1 isn’t any crazier than Nick Foles being a QB1. Even if Sanchez makes some of his patented mistakes against a Packers pass defense that’s stepped up this season, the numbers should be there at the end of the day, just like they were for Foles. … The Panthers are an excellent matchup for Matt Ryan, but matchups haven’t mattered much of late for Matty Ice, who’s averaging just 17.4 fantasy points over his past four starts. He’s laid duds in inviting fixtures with the Bears and Bucs. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Ryan get going against crumbling Carolina, but his bounce back has reached “believe it when you see it” territory. … Amazingly, Jay Cutler is still fantasy’s No. 8 quarterback by average points, but that ranking falls to No. 19 over the past five weeks. The Vikings have strong air defenses, but at some point, Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are going to have a rebound game. Don’t be surprised if this is it.

No team is allowing more passing yards than Atlanta, but few quarterbacks have been struggling more than Cam Newton. Something has to give on Sunday. … Colin Kaepernick has topped 20.0 fantasy points once in his past five starts. Even against the Giants, bouncing back in a 1ET road game will be a tall order. … Russell Wilson has five total touchdowns in four games since the Seahawks traded Percy Harvin. Wilson’s running ability gives him a high weekly ceiling, but his floor is suddenly scary. The Chiefs have yet to allow a rushing score. … At less than 100 percent on a short week against a tough defense, Ryan Tannehill is a poor daily-league option. … Coming off a 300-yard game, Josh McCown is a nice QB2 dart throw against a Redskins secondary with an 18:3 TD:INT ratio. … Shaun Hill isn’t any more enticing than Austin Davis was. … Drew Stanton can complete a deep ball, but his overall numbers have been extremely mediocre this season. He should get a rude welcoming back to his starting gig by the Lions’ league-best defense. … Ryan Mallett is this generation’s Zach Mettenberger.

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Week 11 Running Backs

RB Notes: Arian Foster will be Week 11’s top fantasy back if he can give it a healthy go against a Browns team allowing 4.7 yards per carry, but the fact that his groin issue held him out of Wednesday’s practice is a poor sign coming off the Texans’ Week 10 bye. Foster is a candidate for a major tumble. … Week 10 snapped Matt Forte’s streak of 100-yard efforts (from scrimmage) at five. He should easily get back on track against a Vikings defense allowing the eighth most fantasy points to running backs. The Vikes have allowed 55 receptions to rival runners, more than all but five teams. … No. 2 may seem aggressive for Marshawn Lynch, as 40.2 percent of his fantasy points have come in the past two weeks. Just think of it as Beast Mode making up for lost time. Lynch has put the struggling Seahawks’ offense on his back. The Chiefs have yet to allow a rushing score, but are permitting 4.7 yards per carry. Beast Mode will be taking handoffs all day at Arrowhead Stadium.

Another week, another tough matchup for Jamaal Charles. Not that it should matter. Squaring off with the Jets and Bills’ top-10 run units the past two weeks, Charles took the rock 35 times for 176 yards (5.02 YPC) and two scores. Charles is the living embodiment of “matchup proof.” … Le'Veon Bell has just 127 yards from scrimmage over the past two weeks, but gets a Titans team allowing the fifth most fantasy points to enemy runners. With six games to go, Bell’s 55 receptions are already a Steelers team record for running backs. … The Bengals’ run defense has been getting smoked week in and week out. On the docket for Week 11? Mark Ingram, who has rushed 81 times for 392 yards (4.84 YPC) and three touchdowns over his past three games. It’s usage — and effectiveness — that calls to mind DeMarco Murray. Ingram will keep racking up monster workloads for however long Khiry Robinson (arm) is sidelined. … Few players were more disappointing in Week 10 than LeSean McCoy, though the Packers and their 4.6 YPC against represent an excellent bounce-back opportunity. Shady is averaging 4.66 yards over his past 79 totes.

Unsurprisingly, Alfred Morris’ season has gotten back on track with the return of Robert Griffin III. With RGIII under center for Washington’s past two games, Morris has rushed 37 times for 165 yards (4.46 YPC) and three touchdowns. Morris entered Week 8 with three total scores. The Bucs are a juicy matchup. … Eddie Lacy’s numbers have rarely popped off the page this season, but he’s fantasy’s No. 13 back, and No. 10 over the past five weeks. … Ahmad Bradshaw is averaging nine weekly carries, and four weekly catches. That’s the recipe he’s followed toward No. 9 overall status. Someone who should copy it this weekend? Shane Vereen, who always gets his heaviest usage when the Pats go uptempo in shootouts. Points will be raining down in domed Indy this weekend. … Andre Ellington is in line for even more work following Carson Palmer’s season-ending injury, but coming off an 18-23-1 Week 10, he’ll need all the volume he can get against Detroit’s elite run defense. … With Lamar Miller (shoulder) at less than 100 percent on a short week, he’s someone you’d ideally bench following his mysterious Week 10 usage.

Frank Gore has a dream matchup in the Giants’ blown-apart run defense, but is averaging 3.03 yards per carry over his past four games. Gore got the rock 24 times in Week 10, but managed only 25 yards on his final 10 touches. It could be a week the 49ers decide to mix in some extra Carlos Hyde. The rookie power back is an intriguing low-dollar option on FanDuel after sparking the 49ers in overtime against the Saints. … Rashad Jennings was averaging 22.5 touches before injuring his knee in Week 5. That’s RB2 volume, no matter the opponent. … The Bengals probably wish they could get their Week 10 game plan back. With Giovani Bernard (hip) appearing likely to miss his third-straight contest, Jeremy Hill, and not Andy Dalton, could be Hue Jackson’s centerpiece in New Orleans. … The Browns have entered a full-blown “hot-hand” timeshare. Terrance West has the highest floor, Isaiah Crowell has the highest ceiling and Ben Tate has the firmest middle ground. The only player I’d feel comfortable taking a shot with in daily leagues is Crowell, though it could obviously be a zero waiting to happen.

The Broncos’ running back corps isn’t as messy as it seems. Montee Ball (groin) isn’t going to be in for a feature role after missing six games and struggling before he got hurt, while Ronnie Hillman (foot) is out. Juwan Thompson has been used for little more than short-yardage dives. That leaves C.J. Anderson, who is coming off a 163-yard effort against the Raiders. A team allowing .5 more yards per carry than Oakland? St. Louis. Anderson’s status beyond Week 11 is unclear, but all signs point toward RB2 against the Rams. … The Union-Tribune San Diego expects Ryan Mathews to see roughly 15 touches in his return from a knee injury. That should be all he needs to make an impact against a Raiders defense allowing the third most fantasy points to running backs. … Fred Jackson should be in for a bigger workload than he was in Sunday’s surprise return (Update: If he plays.), but he’s a low-ceiling option against Miami’s stingy run defense. … With Dexter McCluster banged up and Shonn Greene in the doghouse, perhaps Bishop Sankey will finally have a notable game. … Tre Mason has a really rough matchup. … Charles Sims is startable, but don’t contrive reasons to do so.

Week 11 Receivers

WR Notes: Patrick Peterson is drawing raves for his Week 10 pocket-picking of since-benched Austin Davis, but he’s still just 70-of-106 in Pro Football Focus’ cornerback ratings. Translation: He won’t be slowing Calvin Johnson, who is averaging 6.5/111/0.75 across his four healthy games. … Pro Football Focus calculates “WR Rating,” which is the passer rating quarterbacks have targeting specific receivers. Nos. 1 and 2? Randall Cobb at 147.9, and Jordy Nelson at 131.6. The duo has combined for an astounding 18 touchdowns, and seven 100-yard games. Both are easy top-six WR1s against an Eagles defense allowing the third most fantasy points to enemy wideouts. … Demaryius Thomas’ 52 catches for 861 yards and five touchdowns since Week 4 would rank 15th, sixth and 20th on the season, respectively. … Antonio Brown’s 74 yards in Week 10 were a season-low. That’s all you need to know about how dominant he’s been in 2014. … Healthy and motivated after the Falcons’ Week 9 bye, look for Julio Jones to keep building on his 8/119 day against the Panthers.

Emmanuel Sanders is fantasy’s No. 1 receiver over the past three weeks. … Jordan Matthews may have the early chemistry with Mark Sanchez, but it would be a mistake to expect Jeremy Maclin to fade from WR1 status. … Regardless of how swollen Keenan Lewis’ knee is, A.J. Green is a good bet to get his season headed in the right direction on the Superdome’s fast track. Green will have played two games in 41 days by the time Sunday rolls around. He’s ready to be unleashed. … The Pats famously try to eliminate their opposition’s No. 1 weapon, but T.Y. Hilton is so good at creating his own space that no matchup should be considered a deal breaker. … Brandon Marshall (left ankle) missed Wednesday’s practice, but is expected to be ready for Sunday’s game against the Vikings. It was Marshall’s right ankle that sidelined him earlier this season. If this ailment proves to be lingering, it could prove to be a lost year for the Bears’ No. 1 wideout.

The good, the bad and the Kelvin Benjamin. Kelvin is a weekly avalanche of mistakes — and fantasy points. The latter should be in supply against a Falcons defense surrendering the eighth most points to rival wideouts. As Mike Clay points out, Benjamin leads the league in red-zone targets. … This gem from Evan Silva: Roddy White has secured 20-of-27 targets over his past three games, good for a 74.1 percent catch rate. His catch rate in Weeks 1-6 was a miserable 51.4. … DeSean Jackson is leading the league in yards per catch (21.8). He has five 100-yard efforts across his past seven games despite catching passes from three different quarterbacks. Rare is it that a player of D-Jax’s highlight-reel ability is underrated, but that’s somehow the case here. No team is allowing more fantasy points to opposing receivers than Tampa Bay. … At less than 100 percent against Brent Grimes, don’t expect any WR1 miracles from Sammy Watkins (groin). … Mike Wallace is 29th in yards (519) and tied for 37th in catches (40). So how is he No. 22 in average fantasy points? His six touchdowns.

Will Joe Haden shadow DeAndre Hopkins or Andre Johnson? Or will he shadow anyone at all? All three players have moved all over the formation this season, leaving Sunday’s showdown a guessing game. What isn’t a guessing game is Hopkins’ recent dominance. Finally being targeted like a high-end WR1/2, Hopkins has turned 31 looks over his past three games into 17/318/1. Of course, that was with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. The big-armed, but inaccurate, Ryan Mallett will be making his first NFL start Sunday. … Odell Beckham is fantasy’s No. 16 receiver over the past five weeks, and No. 14 over the past three. … Brandon LaFell has five touchdowns over his past six games, and played better than the statline indicated against the Broncos’ strong secondary in Week 9. … Martavis Bryant needed garbage time to keep rolling in Week 10. Allowing just 232 yards per game through the air, the Titans are a tougher matchup than their record would indicate. They’re a respectable No. 21 in fantasy points allowed to wideouts. … Keenan Allen is averaging 10.6 targets over his past three starts. Do with that information what you will.

The Cardinals’ muddled receiver corps had clarified in recent weeks. Now it’s back to square one with Carson Palmer (knee) lost for the season. Drew Stanton has made three 2014 starts. He found Larry Fitzgerald 12 times for 142 yards and zero scores. Michael Floyd went 7/140/0, and John Brown 9/87/2. Confusing, though Fitzgerald has really come on in recent weeks as Floyd has badly faded. Brown has remained largely the same as a boom-or-bust deep threat. The owner of a 37/461/2 line over his past five games, Fitz is by far the safest bet despite his earlier issues with Stanton. Quietly, Fitz is fourth amongst receivers in dodged tackles (11), and 10th in yards after the catch (283). He’s making plays. … You might feel like you’re chasing points with Jordan Matthews, but he’s clearly the apple of Mark Sanchez’s eye, and is fantasy’s No. 20 receiver over the past five weeks. … Coming off an historically ineffective Week 10, James Jones is the only receiver to fumble three times this season. … Amongst qualified receivers, Mohamed Sanu has the worst drop rate by Pro Football Focus’ count.

Week 11 Tight Ends

TE Notes: Having surged to the top of the tight-end line (12.7 weekly fantasy points), Rob Gronkowski gets a Colts defense allowing the eighth most points to rival tight ends. … Tied with Gronk is Julius Thomas, who has three touchdowns over the past two weeks after going scoreless in Weeks 7-8. Those remain Thomas’ only games without finding the end zone. … Thomas is behind Jimmy Graham for Week 11, however. Graham has reasserted himself, surging to a 22/218/4 line across his past three games. Now he gets the Bengals, who are allowing the seventh most fantasy points to tight ends. With three of New Orleans’ next four games coming at home, Graham is going to help his owners sew up playoff spots. … It’s rematch time for Antonio Gates and the Raiders. Gates won the first battle, getting the Silver and Black for 3/27/1 in Week 6. Gates has six scores over his past five games.

Fantasy’s No. 7 tight end, Dwayne Allen gets a Pats defense that’s vulnerable to tight ends in a game that has the highest over/under of 2014. Fire him up, despite his touchdown dependency. … The destitute man’s Allen, Coby Fleener’s matchup and scoring outlook makes him an acceptable dart throw in daily-league tournaments. … Martellus Bennett’s rib injury may limit his upside, but he’s been a rare consistent option at tight end this season. … One of the only things the Falcons’ defense does well is defend tight ends. It dampens Greg Olsen’s outlook after he racked up some nice garbage-time stats against the Eagles on Monday. … With Anthony Fasano (knee) looking shaky for Week 11, the Chiefs might finally be left with no choice but to unleash Travis Kelce. The timing could scarcely be better, as the Seahawks’ main defensive vulnerability is tight ends. Only three teams are allowing more fantasy points to rival seam stretchers.

Mychal Rivera has drawn 28 targets over his past three starts, turning them into 21 catches for 185 yards and three touchdowns. The Chargers are relatively stingy against tight ends, but Rivera has settled in as struggling quarterback Derek Carr’s primary checkdown option/safety valve. There’s enough floor here to keep streaming Rivera as a TE1. … Kyle Rudolph (groin) will likely be on a snap count if he returns for Sunday's game against the Bears, but the matchup literally couldn’t be better, as no team is allowing more fantasy points to tight ends than Chicago. Fire Rudolph up if you’ve been stashing him. … Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been up and down, but his snap counts and touchdown potential are keeping him in the mid-range TE2 conversation. … It could be a Tim Wright kind of week with the Patriots headed into a guaranteed shootout in Indy.

Week 11 Kickers

Week 11 Defense/Special Teams