Week 11 Rankings

Updated 11/22 at 3:05 PM ET. Removed Marshawn Lynch.

Updated 11/22 at 12:00 PM ET. Removed Alshon Jeffery and Emmanuel Sanders. Moved Michael Floyd down.

“I don’t like you, and you don’t like me.” This is how a conversation between fantasy owners and Darren McFadden may have started two months ago. Few players have provided more fantasy heartbreak than “DMC.” McFadden followed his breakout 2010 with an injury-riddled 2011, and closed out his Raiders career averaging 3.34 yards per carry from 2012-14.

It wasn’t a guarantee that McFadden would even get a job for 2015, let alone be fantasy relevant. But the former No. 4 overall pick bided his time as Joseph Randle flamed out and Christine Michael faded away. Thrust into workhorse duty for an offense missing its quarterback, McFadden has now handled the ball at least 20 times in four straight games, averaging 26.3 touches since supplanting Randle.

He’s hardly gone gangbusters, averaging 3.8 yards per carry on the year, and 3.92 over the past month. What he has done in stay healthy, and provide some semblance of order to a backfield that had been a chaotic committee. With Tony Romo returning for Week 11, one might assume that McFadden’s time as a bell-cow is through, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. OC Scott Linehan is as committed to the run as anyone in football, while Romo’s presence should enhance McFadden’s numbers rather than harm them. Defenses can no longer key in on the Cowboys’ back, with Romo providing softer fronts and wider rushing lanes.

McFadden should continue to see 20-25 touches per game, and in Week 11 they’ll be coming against a defense coughing up the second most rushing yards in the league, as well as the second most fantasy points. McFadden remains stiff and upright, while his once prodigious athleticism has diminished. But he has the right role at the right time, and will be an every-week RB1 for as long as he can stay on the field.

Week 11 Quarterbacks

QB Notes: Tom Brady has lost his No. 2 and 3 weapons in back-to-back weeks, but has produced at least two touchdowns in all nine of his starts. With Rob Gronkowski playing at an MVP level and Danny Amendola an able Julian Edelman replacement, Brady won’t be leaving his perch any time soon. … Playing easily the best football of his career, Cam Newton is averaging 26.1 fantasy points per game, putting him behind only Brady. Newton hasn’t averaged that many points since his rookie year. The Redskins don’t have the personnel to slow him down, especially in Carolina. … Derek Carr finally had a “bad” game, but still managed 302 yards and two scores. The Lions had surprising success against Aaron Rodgers in Week 10, but they’re unlikely to repeat it against the league’s most improved sophomore. … Carson Palmer’s Week 11 ranking could ultimately depend on the health of Michael Floyd (hamstring) and John Brown (hamstrings), but only Brady has thrown for more touchdowns. Palmer is fresh off shredding the Legion of Boom in Seattle, so the Bengals aren’t an overly imposing home matchup, especially since they’ll be traveling 1,800 miles on a short week.

In the midst of the most baffling stretch of his career, Aaron Rodgers heads on the road for a tough matchup with the Vikings. Thankfully for owners, Rodgers’ struggles have still produced plenty of fantasy points, but neither his floor nor ceiling is overly reliable at the moment. … Philip Rivers has lost some weapons, but he’s also had a week to game plan. The Chiefs’ shaky pass defense has improved dramatically in recent weeks, but Rivers will be throwing all day at home. Perhaps there will be some mistakes, but there will definitely be plenty of points. … Matt Ryan is 20th in the league in touchdowns, sandwiched between Marcus Mariota and Josh McCown. He has a highly-appealing matchup in the Colts, but Ryan has boomed more than he’s busted this season, albeit while keeping a reasonable floor. … Blake Bortles has produced multiple scores in five straight starts, but is coming off a brutally-inefficient performance against a Ravens defense that had been struggling. The Titans are a better unit, though beset by injuries. Bortles’ weapons and fantasy numbers keep him in the top 10, but don’t be surprised if the second half of his season isn’t nearly as productive as the first.

Making his first start since Week 2, Tony Romo gets a Dolphins defense that played well in Week 10, but is nevertheless vulnerable at every level. Miami has an under-sized secondary, and Romo is no doubt itching to get Dez Bryant going. Returning to a full cupboard of weapons and a ground game that’s gotten going in recent weeks, Romo should immediately reassume QB1 status. … Both Andy Dalton and Russell Wilson are in something of a slump, but Dalton has produced twice as many scores this season, including two rushing touchdowns to Wilson’s zero. Wilson has a nice home matchup in the 49ers, though Eric Mangini’s unit has allowed only 73 yards on 26 QB rushes (2.81 YPC). Dalton’s overall body of work gives him the edge. … Matthew Stafford has been all over the place, but has produced at least two scores in 3-of-4 starts since getting benched against the Cardinals. For Week 11, he gets a Raiders team allowing the second most passing yards in football. … Tyrod Taylor has only four aerial scores over his past four starts. Although he has a sky-high ceiling, he’s established a basement-level floor. Working in his favor for Week 11 is likely comeback mode/garbage time in New England.

Marcus Mariota has 28 fewer rushing attempts than Andy Dalton. That’s something that has to change down the stretch. Although it comes on a short week, Mariota has a plus matchup in a Jaguars defense allowing the sixth most fantasy points to rival signal callers. … The Cowboys’ defense doesn’t create many sacks or interceptions, but has been solid against the pass. Expect Ryan Tannehill to come in near his season average of 20.8 fantasy points. … Mark Sanchez averaged 21.6 fantasy points in 2014, but will be dealing with a supporting cast that’s gotten worse. He also displayed a low ceiling last season, never tallying more than two scores. The Bucs are a good matchup, but there’s little reason to expect Sanchez to go off. … Ryan Fitzpatrick is recovering from (non-throwing) thumb surgery, but will be good to go against the Texans. He’s apparently still chapped that coach Bill O’Brien sent him packing. “FitzMagic” has thrown for two touchdowns in 7-of-8 healthy starts. … Jay Cutler is playing genuinely great football, but even No. 18 is probably a stretch against the Broncos’ elite defense.

The Chargers are a great matchup for Alex Smith, but there’s only so much a quarterback with two multi-score performances can do. … The Rams got toasted by Jay Cutler in Week 11, but Joe Flacco simply doesn’t have the weapons to take advantage of St. Louis’ overly-aggressive unit the way Cutler did. … On the one hand, Brock Osweiler can’t be any worse than Peyton Manning. On the other, he’s a total unknown, and one with plenty of red flags. Osweiler has some nice weapons at his disposal, but it’s far from a guarantee that he Wally Pipps his future Hall-of-Fame teammate. … The turnover-causing Eagles are not a good matchup for Jameis Winston, even though Winston has taken to buttressing his floor with ground scores. … Like Brock Osweiler, Matt Hasselbeck has some nice weapons at his disposal, but Hasselbeck should be considered more likely to go off the rails than repeat his solid Weeks 4 and 5. … Irrespective of game plans, Teddy Bridgewater having only seven passing touchdowns in nine games is embarrassing. … Case Keenum makes big plays … for both the offense and defense. He might go off once or twice, but it’s not worth predicting when.

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Week 11 Running Backs

RB Notes: Devonta Freeman returns from the Falcons’ bye averaging a league-leading 127 yards from scrimmage. He also has a league-leading 11 touchdowns. Freeman’s case remains uncomplicated. … Freeman may lead in yards from scrimmage, but Adrian Peterson has piled up 227 more yards on the ground than any other back. He’s averaging 4.92 yards per carry, which would be the third most of his career. Allowing 116 rushing yards per game, the Packers are an appetizing matchup. … Todd Gurley is coming off his worst two starts of the season, but still managed to find the end zone both times. The Ravens aren’t a great matchup, but Gurley is an even worse matchup for them. … The No. 4 running back by average points over the past five weeks, Charcandrick West goes from a nightmare matchup in the Broncos — where he totaled 161 yards and two scores — to a dream one in the Chargers. The Chargers are allowing 123 rushing yards per game, and silver plattering 4.85 yards every time an opposing runner touches the ball. Averaging 25 touches over his past three games, West is as close to a “can’t miss” as there can be in fantasy.

Chris Ivory finally shook his three-game slump in Week 10, and has things set up nicely for Week 11. While Ivory will be operating on 10 days' rest, a Texans defense allowing the 10th most fantasy points to running backs will be playing on a short week. A pure power back, Ivory has a lower floor than someone of his RB1 compatriots, but his high ceiling is well established. … Still just 22nd in the league in rushing (451) yards, DeMarco Murray has posted a Green-Ellisian 3.52 yards per carry. Nevertheless, he’s averaging 25 carries over his past five games, and is up to RB12 status by average points on the year. Making matters rosier for Week 11 is the fact that Ryan Mathews and his 8-10 weekly touches are likely to be sidelined with a concussion. … The good news: Marshawn Lynch’s best game of the season came against the 49ers in Week 7. The bad news: It was his only good game of the season. Beast Mode is just about out of the benefit of the doubt. … Jay Ajayi looms as a threat, but no back has more fantasy points than Lamar Miller over the past five weeks. He can be confidently employed as an RB1 against a Cowboys defense allowing the fourth most fantasy points to running backs.

LeGarrette Blount was a two-touch afterthought when the Patriots played the Bills in Week 2, but things have changed dramatically in the interim. The Bills are missing elite DT Kyle Williams, while the Pats are down Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman. Bill Belichick no longer has the luxury of making Blount’s usage game plan specific. He should get 20 carries more weeks than not. … The Redskins are the only team allowing more than five yards per carry. Jonathan Stewart has cleared 20 totes in five straight games, scoring four times in the process. … Coming off back-to-back 100-yard performances, LeSean McCoy will be on 10 days rest against the Patriots. Just three teams are allowing fewer fantasy points to running backs than New England, but McCoy is running too well not to be an RB1. … Behind McCoy is Karlos Williams, who can’t stop scoring touchdowns. Despite Williams’ nose for the end zone, however, he’s not getting enough touches to be anything more than a risk/reward RB3. … Latavius Murray has touched the ball at least 16 times in all nine games. He has both floor and ceiling against a Lions defense that’s allowed three more rushing touchdowns (14) than any other team.

The Colts tried to limit Frank Gore’s touches earlier in the year, but coming off their bye with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, Gore should be unleashed against a Falcons team allowing the seventh most fantasy points to running backs. No team has allowed more RB receptions than Atlanta, which both boosts Gore’s floor and puts Ahmad Bradshaw on the FLEX radar in PPR leagues. … Jeremy Langford’s status is entirely dependent on Matt Forte’s (knee). Even in a tough matchup with the Broncos, Langford would remain a volume-based RB2 were Forte to miss his third straight game. If Forte plays, he might actually slot in lower than Langford’s current 14th because the duo would likely form a committee. … Doug Martin is still getting the touches, but is averaging just 3.17 yards per carry over his past three games. The Eagles are a tough road matchup, severely limiting Martin’s upside. … The Rams’ run defense sprung leaks against Jeremy Langford last week, but Justin Forsett and his two total touchdowns can’t be trusted as an RB1. … Allowing 4.7 yards per carry, the Bengals aren’t as tough of a matchup for Chris Johnson as reputation may indicate. … T.J. Yeldon (foot) will play, but is all floor and no ceiling on a short week at less than 100 percent.

James Starks remains the Packers’ depth chart starter, but was woefully ineffective in Eddie Lacy’s (groin) place last week. The Vikings are a tough matchup, while Lacy is just a series away from regaining the “hot hand.” … From Rich Hribar’s must-read Worksheet: “Jeremy Hill has 4.0 yards per carry or less in eight games this year, tied with Isaiah Crowell for the most amongst running backs.” … Don’t be surprised if one of the Chargers’ bye week adjustments was letting Melvin Gordon loose. Either way, Danny Woodhead is the superior option in both standard and PPR until proven otherwise. … Ronnie Hillman appears safely ahead of C.J. Anderson despite diminished returns in recent weeks. … Matt Jones was an all-purpose machine against the Saints’ “defense” in Week 10, but will come crashing back down to earth against Carolina. He’s not a viable RB2. … With Brian Hoyer (concussion) sidelined, the Texans will have to lean on their running game more than ever, but even No. 30 is a stretch for Alfred Blue against the Jets’ elite run defense. … Shaun Draughn will lead the 49ers’ committee, but don’t expect any bills to be sent to the floor in Seattle. … The Lions’ website recognizes that Ameer Abdullah must be more involved, but there’s little reason to believe Jim Caldwell thinks the same.

Week 11 Receivers

WR Notes: Julio Jones/Antonio Brown is going to go down to the wire. With Brown on bye this week, Jones wins this round by default. … Tony Romo returning against a Dolphins defense that’s allowed a 17:7 TD:INT ratio and 7.9 yards per attempt? That equals get your popcorn ready for Dez Bryant. The time is finally now. … Even with his historic Week 9 drop-a-thon included, Mike Evans has three 8/125 performances in his past four games. The Eagles’ defense has been good this season, but with burnable cornerbacks, is still allowing the third most fantasy points to enemy wideouts. … Sixth in catches (65), fifth in yards (836) and fourth in touchdowns (seven), Larry Fitzgerald is not going away. He could be in for a 15-target afternoon if Michael Floyd and John Brown both miss Week 11 with hamstring issues. For now, it appears Floyd will sit. Brown will likely lace up, but at far less than 100 percent, he’s boom or bust on the WR3 borderline. … The WR3 by both average and total points, DeAndre Hopkins deserves a better Week 11 fate, but catching passes from T.J. Yates against Darrelle Revis would probably be too much for even Jerry Rice to overcome.

Calvin Johnson has cleared 80 yards in all four games since Matthew Stafford’s benching. He’s a good bet to make it 5-of-5 against the Raiders’ No. 31 (by yardage) pass defense. … The fairly bizarre part about Peyton Manning’s death spiral was that both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders were still getting their numbers. Only a ludicrously-low touchdown rate has been holding Thomas back. That makes Brock Osweiler’s job to get the Broncos going in the red zone. Thomas’ touchdown rate is sure to increase, but the same cannot be said for his catch and yardage totals. … Dealing with a variety of injuries, it’s quite possible Sanders gets the week off. … Brandon Marshall was getting a bit banged up before the Jets’ Week 10 Thursday night loss, but will have had 10 days to rest up for the Texans. Still the WR11 on the season, Marshall should close strong. … One spot behind Marshall in fantasy points? Eric Decker, who’s now scored in three straight games, and 7-of-8 on the year. Ryan Fitzpatrick has proven more than capable of feeding each of his top two wideouts.

Once again majorly banged up, Alshon Jeffery will have to deal with Chris Harris and Aqib Talib on Sunday. After last week’s limited performance against the Rams, Jeffery is hard to trust as a WR1 against the Broncos’ elite defense with his health up in the air. … Playing boom-or-bust ball, A.J. Green is a hard DFS sell on the road against Patrick Peterson. … Only three teams have allowed more wide receiver receptions than the Lions. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree both enter the Motor City with high Week 11 floors. … Another nugget from Rich Hribar’s Worksheet: Randall Cobb has eclipsed 60 yards just three times in nine games. That’s once fewer than Jacob Tamme. He can’t be considered a WR1 until the Packers shake their funk. … Something you wouldn’t guess? T.Y. Hilton is still somehow 15th in the league in receiving yardage (703). Yes, Matt Hasselbeck will be at quarterback against the Falcons’ underrated defense, but Hilton will be as healthy as he’s been all season after dealing with some nagging issues early on. Hilton caught 12 passes for 155 yards in Hasselbeck’s two starts earlier this season.

Jarvis Landry has caught at least six passes in 6-of-9 games. … Allen Hurns is playing through approximately 100 different injuries, but it’s yet to affect his production. Hurns has scored in seven straight games, and is averaging 17.0 yards per catch. Only Torrey Smith, James Jones, Martavis Bryant and Malcom Floyd are managing more yards per grab. … Brandon LaFell is now the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver, but don’t expect him to start averaging the 10.4 targets Julian Edelman was managing before going down. LaFell is now firmly on the WR2 side of the WR2/3 borderline, but won’t come close to Edelman’s WR1 value. … Which brings us to Danny Amendola. There’s been some noise that Keshawn Martin is Edelman’s real heir apparent, but there’s little doubt it will be Amendola who sees the biggest increase in targets. A crisp route runner who will sell his body out for a catch, Amendola is a legitimate WR3. … Stefon Diggs has had two straight disappointing efforts. The problem is Teddy Bridgewater, who isn’t delivering big throws, and isn’t trusted with volume by the coaching staff. Diggs’ playmaking ability is real, but owners are probably going to have to accept life in the 20-25 range.

Jeremy Maclin has been quiet for the better part of a month, but gets the Chargers’ crumbling pass defense for Week 11. Of course, San Diego still has a fairly strong track record against opposing No. 1s, so don’t go crazy in DFS. … The Ravens need to target Kamar Aiken at least 10-12 times per week. This is real life. Aiken is a WR4 who will see WR2 volume for the foreseeable future. … Jordan Matthews averaged six catches for 60 yards in Mark Sanchez’s seven starts last season. In other words, basically the same as his 2015 rates (5.6/61). Don’t expect drastic changes. … Stevie Johnson is the Chargers’ No. 1 receiver. Johnson offers limited ceiling, but more than enough floor to be an across-the-board WR3. … Starting opposite Johnson is Dontrelle Inman. He turned in a Week 9 clunker, but is basically guaranteed volume with Philip Rivers at the controls. He’s not a bad DFS punt play. … Davante Adams’ inefficiency has been remarkable, but so has his workload. He’s a legit WR3, headaches and all. … Donte Moncrief will continue to trend in the wrong direction with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback. … With A.J. Green facing Patrick Peterson and Tyler Eifert dealing with a lockdown tight end defense, it could be a Marvin Jones week.

Week 11 Tight Ends

TE Notes: Rob Gronkowski is averaging 16.4 yards per catch, which would be a new career best by 1.2. Gronk somehow gets better every year. … Playing eminently consistent football, Greg Olsen is also on pace for a new high-water mark in yards per catch. His 14.8 is a whopping 2.6 better than his previous personal best. … Tyler Eifert has a tough matchup in a Cardinals defense allowing the third fewest fantasy points to tight ends, but his upside is just so high. Eifert’s nine touchdown catches lead the NFL. … Antonio Gates doesn’t think he could dunk a basketball right now, but he’s been averaging five catches for 63 yards even as he plays through an MCL issue. No team is allowing fewer fantasy points to tight ends than Kansas City, but Gates’ connection with Philip Rivers is nearly impossible to game plan for.

Only four teams have allowed more tight end touchdowns than the Chargers. Is this finally the week Travis Kelce gets his TD rate on track? Averaging a weekly 5/64, he’s overdue for more scores. Kelce has caught at least five passes in 7-of-9 games this season. … Jordan Reed is the TE4 by average points, but has a tough Week 11 matchup in the Panthers, and is competing with a fully healthy Redskins skill corps for the first time all season. Either way, Reed’s six scores have already doubled his previous career best. … With Kendall Wright (knee) still sidelined, Delanie Walker will continue to operate as Marcus Mariota’s de facto No. 1 receiver. … A mid-range TE1. Jimmy Graham is what he is. … Eric Ebron has established a reasonable floor, and he’ll have a good chance to hit his ceiling against a Raiders defense allowing the second most fantasy points to tight ends.

The return of Tony Romo stabilizes Jason Witten’s already predictable floor, but won’t jack his ceiling up into the rafters. … Merely the TE16, Martellus Bennett will have a hard time getting his fantasy points if he doesn’t hit pay dirt against the Broncos’ league-best defense. He’s averaging 13 fewer yards than he did in 2014. … Jacob Tamme could fall back a spot or two if Leonard Hankerson is active, but the Colts are an appealing matchup. … Zach Ertz is averaging 5.2 catches over his past five games, but with zero scores on the year, he’s only the TE22 by average points. Mark Sanchez could provide a boost after the duo struck up a connection late last season. … Clive Walford and Mychal Rivera are bargain-basement DFS punt plays against a Lions defense that’s surrendered eight touchdowns to rival tight ends. … Already off to a slow start in Denver, Vernon Davis is off the radar until we see what we’ve got in Brock Osweiler.

Week 11 Kickers

Week 11 Defense/Special Teams