Usable RBs on Bye
Welcome to Start Sit Week 11. Every week of the NFL season, fantasy gamers juggle players to insert into lineups at each position. Are you questioning which players face easy matchups and which players face tougher paths to production? You are in the right place! In Week 11, the four teams on bye are the Falcons, Colts, Patriots, and Saints. Key players like Bijan Robinson, Michael Pittman, Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and more are out. At least four running backs considered RB2’s or higher will be missing from an ever-chaotic fantasy RB landscape. For seasonal leagues, DFS, and more, this week’s must start and sit picks give you guidance on setting your lineups. Good luck!
Quarterback
Start: Jordan Love
Jordan Love has been a fun (is that the right word?) start-sit debate this season, averaging 17.8 (No. 15) Fantasy Points Per Game. He has two top-10 fantasy finishes under his belt, with one game under 13 fantasy points. In a young offense, Love has been a serviceable QB2 this season. For Week 11, he faces a weak Chargers defense that is allowing over 300 passing yards per game. The Chargers cannot get a stop and have given up 14 passing touchdowns to six interceptions this season. The Packers offense isn’t high-powered, but it does have a few weapons for Love to utilize. Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Aaron Jones will be enough for Love to put together usable fantasy output against the Chargers.
Sit: Baker Mayfield
Pleasantly surprising as the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield is averaging 17.1 (No. 17) Fantasy Points Per Game. He hasn’t been the most accurate, with a 5.7 (No. 32) Accuracy Rating, but completes deeper targets to Mike Evans, who is averaging 17.1 (No. 8) Yards Per Reception.
While Mayfield has brought stable QB2 production to fantasy managers, his Week 11 matchup is a 49ers defense allowing under 240 passing yards per game this season. The Niners intercept more passes than they allow passing touchdowns per game. Facing a defense that just shut down Trevor Lawrence (last week’s QB sit), Mayfield has a tough game waiting for him. QBs like the aforementioned Jordan Love or Matthew Stafford would be better upside streaming plays in 1QB leagues.
Running Back
Start: Tyjae Spears
Rookie Tyjae Spears has carved out a sizeable role next to Derrick Henry in the Titans offense. He has four games of four receptions this season, and has earned a 50.9-percent (No. 30) Snap Share. Spears’ 13.3-percent (No. 10) Target Share has propelled his fantasy value to upside-flex status.
Derrick Henry’s 43% snap share was his lowest since Week 3.
He has now been out-snapped by Tyjae Spears in more than half of Tennessee’s games#Titans
— Alex Johnson (@a_johnsonFF) November 14, 2023
For Week 11, Spears faces off against the Jaguars, who are allowing the seventh-most receiving fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. They have given up at least eight receptions to opposing backs in four straight games. Spears has caught 11 passes in three Will Levis starts, operating as a good outlet back for the rookie. Facing a defense susceptible to receiving backs, Spears is a good start this week.
Sit: D’Onta Foreman
With Khalil Herbert out, D’Onta Foreman has gotten at least 15 carries in four out of five games. He has been the Bears’ downhill rusher, gashing opponents over the middle of the field. However, he has not gotten much passing-game usage. Foreman’s season-high in receptions is three, occurring in a 33-point Week 7 performance. Roschon Johnson and Darrynton Evans have taken many of those pass-game opportunities. In Week 11, Foreman faces the Lions. They have allowed just over 3.6 yards per carry this season, yielding just one opponent to over 100 yards rushing. Khalil Herbert is also nearing a return, taking opportunities away from Foreman if he plays in Week 11. In a game where the Bears will be facing a passing game script, Foreman is a sit this week.
Wide Receiver
Start: Terry McLaurin
Low-hanging fruit is the easiest to pick and the Giants have never been lower. In a brutal drubbing by the Cowboys, the Giants gave up 435 yards to the Dallas wide receivers. This week, Terry McLaurin goes up against the porous Giants secondary.
McLaurin has a 100.0-percent (No. 1) Route Participation this season, running as the Commanders’ No. 1 receiver. He has been just outside the top-24 WRs this season, a bit disappointing given his ADP prior to the season. However, he has had his share of good fantasy games, including 15 fantasy points against the Giants in Week 7, good for a top-20 finish that week. The Giants defense is susceptible to big receiver games while the offense grows stale behind Tommy DeVito. Fire up McLaurin this week.
Sit: Jaylen Waddle
After being drafted in the fantasy WR2 range prior to the season, Jaylen Waddle has averaged 13.2 (No. 24) Fantasy Points Per Game. He is right at the back end of WR2 range, a bit lower than expectations at the beginning of the season. Waddle is seeing 9.8-yard (No. 65) Average Target Distance, ceding deep balls to Tyreek Hill.
Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and Tee Higgins may be the most frustrating trio in fantasy.
High ADP, high value largely based on perfect situations from 2022. The ceiling just disappears if everything is not exactly right despite being in high value offensive situations.
— Jeff Bell (@4WhomJBellTolls) October 17, 2023
This week, the Dolphins face the Raiders secondary. Vegas has limited opposing receivers to just over 130 receiving yards per game, allowing just one WR touchdown since Week 5. Some of that defensive limitation comes from the Raiders’ offensive struggles, leading to opponents running the ball and not needing their receiving corps as much. Waddle is the clear WR2 behind Hill and in a game where the Dolphins will be up and their RBs are in line for big days. Waddle is a sit.
Tight End
Start: Chigoziem Okonkwo
The second Titan appearing on the list, Chig Okonkwo is in a good spot against the Jaguars. The Jags have allowed three games of at least seven receptions to opposing tight ends, in addition to two games of over 100 yards receiving. They have given up the fifth-most receiving fantasy points to opponents this season, including the 10th-most tight end points. This week, managers of Kyle Pitts, Taysom Hill, and – believe it or not – Jonnu Smith will be looking for streaming options. Okonkwo has struggled to produce for fantasy this season, with 8.3 fantasy points being his season-best. However, his 2.22-yard (No. 8) Target Separation shows he can get open over the middle of the field. With Will Levis at QB, he has seen 16 targets in three games. Fire up Okonkwo in a good matchup this week.
Sit: David Njoku
Stringing together some nice games, Njoku has five top-12 finishes this season. With 9.5 (No. 14) Fantasy Points Per Game, he is right on the edge of weekly start status. This week, Njoku gets a tough Steelers matchup. Pittsburgh is allowing the 25th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
The Steelers defense has suffered major injuries to its linebacking corps, but the way to attack them has still been via wide receivers, who average just under 200 yards per game against them. Tight ends average just over 40 yards per game. Expect heavy Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore utilization this game, with some of Njoku sprinkled in. Just not enough to make Njoku a confident play this week
Handcuffs Roaring
This season, several handcuff running backs have become useful fantasy assets. Jaylen Warren, Gus Edwards, and Jerome Ford have been useful, while guys like Zach Charbonnet and Tyjae Spears are teeming with potential as well. With injuries and bye weeks piling up, paying attention to running back situations can help with your weekly lineup decisions.
