With bye weeks continuing and injuries decimating fantasy rosters, maximizing the potential of your players is as crucial as ever. This week is all about matchups and mismatches, so we broke down target shares, defensive rankings, and yards per attempt. The NFL season is moving too fast; we have reached Week 11, with many playoff implications on the line.
Lineup locks for Week 11:
Quarterbacks:
Jordan Love (vs. NYG):
In a weird contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jordan Love only threw for 176 yards and no touchdowns. He did add 28 yards on the ground, but this odd Monday Night Football game only gave him 7.84 fantasy points. This is his second straight game without throwing for a touchdown after losing superstar tight end Tucker Kraft for the season. Love should be able to turn his season around against a very below-average New York Giants secondary that allows 21.06 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks.
J.J. McCarthy (vs. CHI):
The tenth overall draft pick from last year, J.J. McCarthy, has had a tough start to his first season as a starter. He has thrown at least one interception in every game he has started, giving him six through four starts. McCarthy had an average fantasy game against the Baltimore Ravens, scoring 14.72 fantasy points, thanks to his best rushing performance of 48 yards. Going against a division rival, the Chicago Bears, who have allowed the seventh most fantasy points to quarterbacks with 20.72, McCarthy is a lineup lock this week, and could finish inside the top 10.
Running Backs:
Ashton Jeanty (vs. DAL):
The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t been anything special this season, sitting at 2-7, which is last in the powerful AFC West. Ashton Jeanty has been a bright spot as he sits 17th in the NFL in rushing yards, right behind players like Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffery. Jeanty has started to find a rhythm, having back-to-back games with a touchdown. Jeanty now faces the second-worst fantasy defense against running backs, the Dallas Cowboys, who allow 26.93 fantasy points to running backs. The sixth overall pick should have himself a day against a sloppy defense.
Woody Marks (vs. TEN):
Fantasy experts have been trying to find the next gem on the waiver wire, and Woody Marks could fit the mold. In his last four games, Mark has had three games of more than 12 fantasy points, as well as at least 10 touches. The Houston Texans take on the Tennessee Titans, who have surrendered around 26 fantasy points a game to running backs. Mark is the number one back in the Texans offense, and is a must start this week against a poor Titans defense.
Wide Receivers:
Tee Higgins (vs. PIT):
Coming off his best fantasy performance of the season, Tee Higgins is on pace to make his mark against a division rival that allows the most fantasy points to wide receivers with 40.64. The last time Higgins faced the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had 96 yards and a touchdown in a win, and he is looking to do the same in their next matchup. Higgins has caught a touchdown in his last three games, and he is a lineup lock this week against a division foe.
George Pickens. (vs. LV):
The Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver is fourth in receiving yards this season with 764, and is set to have a monster week against the Las Vegas Raiders, who rank sixth against wide receivers this season. Pickens’ target share has dropped noticeably to 21.82% after the return of superstar receiver Ceedee Lamb. This has limited Pickens from having big games, but this week against the Raiders, he is expected to have a big week, which is why he is a must-start.
Tight Ends:
Oronde Gadsden (vs. JAX):
The tight end position has been inferior this season, but Oronde Gadsden has been a bright spot. Since week six, Gadsden has led the Los Angeles Chargers in receiving yards with 377. After a rough game with only 13 receiving yards, Gadsden is in line for a massive game against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that allows the second-most points to tight ends. With that being said, Gadsden is a must-start, and could be the difference between winning and losing.
Lineup Flops:
Quarterbacks:
Baker Mayfield (vs. BUF):
The Buffalo Bills have been the fourth-best defense against quarterbacks this season, only allowing about 13 fantasy points a game to that position. The bills have been nasty defensively over the last four weeks, but this is a must-win game for both teams, which could mean a very defensive battle. Mayfield is a fringe quarterback starter this week, and should be on benches if managers have another option.
Runningbacks:
R.J. Harvey (vs. KC):
With J.K. Dobbins being out this week, R.J. Harvey is now the starting back in Denver. This comes at a cost, as the Broncos must face a rested Kansas City Chiefs team that is looking to retain the Lombardi Trophy this year. The Chiefs have only allowed five total touchdowns to running backs this season, and Harvey has obtained a majority of his points from scoring. Harvey is a fringe flex play this week, but should be left on the bench.
Wide Receivers:
Davante Adams (vs. SEA):
Going into a division matchup, Davante Adams has been an enormous piece of the Los Angeles Rams’ offense, but he will be tested against a stingy Seattle Seahawks defense. Adams has scored six touchdowns in his last three games and leads the league in receiving touchdowns with nine on the season. The Seahawks have only allowed seven touchdowns to the receivers, and with Adams not being 100% he should be in flex spots, or benched.
Tight Ends:
Sam Laporta (vs. PHI):
The Philadelphia Eagles are the third-best defense against tight ends this season, and the Detroit Lions might have a hard time getting him the football. Laporta has been on a tear recently, topping 50 receiving yards in four of his last five games. Laporta is a lineup flop because the Eagles’ defense has only allowed one touchdown to tight ends and only 284 yards in 11 games.
