Week 11 Fantasy Football Matchup Winners

Every week, I do the dirty work for you and dig into every Sunday matchup to determine who is the player from each team to spotlight. This involves looking at Fantasy Points Per Game (PPG) and yardage allowed by defenses, along with looking at player usage and performances. I will always have hits and misses, but I will also always have detailed reasoning behind the points I am making. Below are some hits that had huge weeks or simply out-produced their expectations in Week 10.

• TJ Hockenson – 30.4 Fantasy Points
• Mike Evans – 26.3 Fantasy Points
• Geno Smith – 24.1 Fantasy Points
• Chris Olave – 21.4 Fantasy Points
• Jared Goff – 21.1 Fantasy Points
• Najee Harris – 18.6 Fantasy Points
• Bijan Robinson – 17.6 Fantasy Points
• Michael Pittman Jr. – 16.4 Fantasy Points
• Quentin Johnston – 13.4 Fantasy Points
• Dalton Schultz – 11.1 Fantasy Points

Some notable misses include players like Jahan Dotson, Breece Hall, Tony Pollard, and DeAndre Hopkins. I feel great at this point for my positive hit-to-miss ratio on the year for this specific article series.

Keep in mind the Falcons, Colts, Patriots, and Saints are all on a BYE this week. Let’s keep cooking, and win you your Fantasy Football matchups and maybe even some DFS cash. Below are my player highlights for Week 11 – let’s get it!

Week 11 Fantasy Football Matchup Winners

Steelers vs. Browns

• George Pickens: Cleveland is a rough matchup for Fantasy Football in general, but in Week 2 George Pickens finished with 127 receiving yards and a touchdown on just four receptions. Pickens was the WR11 in that last Browns matchup, and although he finished with just four catches he was targeted 10 times. Diontae Johnson missed Wednesday’s practice with a thumb injury, so this is something to monitor that could have an impact on Pickens receiving a bump in target volume. Pickens is a true boom-or-bust play, who has finished three weeks with over 100 receiving yards and two weeks over 22 Fantasy Points but also five weeks under 10 Fantasy Points.
• Jerome Ford: Pittsburgh allows the 10th most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the eighth most rushing yards per game this season. Back in Week 2, Nick Chubb rushed 10 times for 64 yards against the Steelers before sustaining his season-ending knee injury. This meant Jerome Ford stepping into the lead running back role, which he thrived in against the Steelers, as he rushed 16 times for 106 yards and also scored a receiving touchdown. Ford finished as the RB6 against the Steelers in Week 2; finished as the RB7 the very next week; and also the RB10 in Week 7. Ford was previously dealing with injuries that meant an uptick in Kareem Hunt usage, but has played 64% of the snaps the last two weeks now, catching five passes in Week 9 and then rushing for 107 yards in Week 10. 25 then 18 touches in the last two weeks makes it clear the job is Ford’s over Hunt’s.

Raiders vs. Dolphins

• Davante Adams: Miami allows the 12th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Davante Adams has been simply awful for Fantasy Football this season, as evidenced by his streak of Fantasy finishes: WR29, WR17, WR2, WR19, WR45, WR70, WR25, WR100, WR45, WR21. Some not-so-terrible performances in there, but the season as a whole looks like a Fantasy bust when we compare where he stands for the position vs. where he was drafted.  Last week’s performance was a hopeful sign for better days to come, with Adams catching six of his 13 targets for 86 yards. Adams should be hyper-targeted in Week 11 in an attempt to keep up with the Dolphins’ powerful offense. I still believe in the talent of Davante Adams, the situation just has not been great. Volume is king in Fantasy Football, and I have a feeling we can see heavy targets in this game.
• Raheem Mostert: The Raiders allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the fourth most rushing yards per game this season. Raheem Mostert has been limited at practice with ankle/knee issues, and rookie De’Von Achane should be back in the lineup, but if healthy Mostert is a smash play this week. Mostert has scored 13 total touchdowns, finished as a top-five running back three times and has rushed for 115+ yards twice this season. I doubt Achane comes back and is forced into a ton of touches, so as long as Mostert is healthy I like him to capitalize on this plus matchup.

Bears vs. Lions

• Justin Fields: The Lions allow the ninth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season. #1 is back, of course, the week after I go to the only Bears game I will attend this year. Similar to last season, it took Justin Fields a few weeks to show us his Fantasy upside but he definitely did just that in Week 4 and Week 5. 335 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in Week 4, followed by another four passing touchdowns in Week 5 for 282 yards. Fields finished as a top-three Fantasy quarterback in those two weeks, before exiting Week 6 with an injury that kept him out of the lineup for the following four games. Fields led all quarterbacks last season with 1,143 rushing yards, so we know that upside he has had, but what was scary was seeing the upside through the air this season as well. Look for Fields to step right back into form, and re-establish that great connection with both DJ Moore and Cole Kmet in Week 11.
• Sam LaPorta: The Bears allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and the seventh most passing yards per game this season. Sam LaPorta has been one of the biggest surprises of the season as a second-round rookie, ranking fourth in targets and receptions, fifth in receiving yards, tied for third in receiving touchdowns, and fourth in total Fantasy Points. LaPorta has been targeted 10+ times in three games and should see plenty of looks in this plus matchup to get back on track after a down Week 10. LaPorta has been a top-five Fantasy tight end in three weeks this season, a top-10 tight end six times, and has only been outside the top 12 three times this year. Great matchup for LaPorta to continue to impress on his rookie campaign.

Titans vs. Jaguars

• Will Levis: The Jaguars allow the sixth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the third most passing yards per game this season. After a hot start to his career and finishing as the QB6 for Fantasy Football in Week 8, Will Levis finished as the QB21 and QB26 the next two weeks. Levis finished with 238 passing yards and four touchdowns in Week 8, but failed to throw a touchdown in the two games after and ended up with an interception in both matchups. The 39 passing attempts the last two games in a row are encouraging and shows Tennessee is allowing their rookie quarterback to sling it. More passing attempts mean more opportunities to generate yards, touchdowns, and Fantasy Points. Levis presents a streaming option for the position against Jacksonville in Week 11.
• Calvin Ridley: The Titans allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Christian Kirk finished with six receptions on 11 targets for 104 receiving yards just last week and seems to be the much safer wide receiver play in Jacksonville, but I want to shoot for upside with a Calvin Ridley call again. Ridley failed me last week in that 49ers blowout loss, but I cannot help but feel Week 11 will be the bounce-back game. Ridley has had Fantasy weeks finishing as the WR6 (Week 1) and WR9 (Week 5) this season with both games over 100 receiving yards, both games with a touchdown and both games over 20 Fantasy Points. The issue has been the consistency in volume, with six weeks of seven or more targets but also three weeks of under five targets. The Jaguars looked down for the most part in a 34-3 loss last week, but I like Ridley to step back up in Week 11.

Chargers vs. Packers

• Austin Ekeler: The Packers allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. Austin Ekeler has been disappointing for a chunk of this season due to missing three games, then returning with finishes of the RB25 (Week 6) and RB40 (Week 8), but he is right back to his elite Fantasy form. Ekeler opened up the season with an RB2 finish, then finished as the RB6, RB4, and RB4 Weeks 8-10. Ekeler has rushed for three touchdowns in the last two weeks and has four on the season. The receiving volume we so tightly tied to Ekeler’s skillset has been on full display the last three games, with eight, seven, and seven receptions in them. Look for Ekeler to see heavy volume against the Packers, and continue to operate as a top-five Fantasy running back.
• Jordan Love: The Chargers allow the second most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the most passing yards per game this season. Jordan Love passed for a season-high 289 passing yards last week, which marked his fifth top 12 Fantasy finish on the year. Love has finished four weeks with multiple touchdowns, and opened up the year hot with back-to-back weeks thrown three. Great matchup to repeat as a top-12 quarterback in Week 11.

Cardinals vs Texans

• Trey McBride: The Texans allow the third most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Trey McBride led the Cardinals in targets (nine) last week in Kyler Murray’s first start of this season, which is significant to note. McBride caught eight of those nine targets last week for a season-high 131 receiving yards and scored 21.1 Fantasy Points. Back in Week 8, McBride caught 10 of his 14 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown for 25.5 Fantasy Points. That is two monster performances across the last three weeks, with two different quarterbacks. Aka – he is #GoodAtFootball. Target volume paired with receiving yard upside implies McBride can be a great play rest of season for Fantasy Football, so in a plus matchup he is a smash start.
• Devin Singletary: The Cardinals allow the third most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the fifth most rushing yards per game this season. Dameon Pierce missed Weeks 9 and 10 and looks to be on track to missing yet another game as he did not practice on Thursday. Devin Singletary had a big day in Week 10, rushing 30 times for 150 yards and a touchdown. 31 touches last week was an extremely heavy volume, and Singletary made the most of it. The Cardinals present a positive opportunity for Singletary to stay hot.

Cowboys vs. Panthers

• Tony Pollard: The Panthers allow the second most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the seventh most rushing yards per game this season. This feels like a Fantasy do-or-die matchup for Tony Pollard after flopping yet again in a plus matchup last week – if he cannot have a solid week against Carolina then all hope is gone. Pollard has finished as the RB5, RB11, and RB11 in three weeks this season but has finished as the RB26 or worse in five games. Pollard has played 64%+ of the snaps in all but one game this year, had a 122-yard rushing day in Week 3, and has finished two weeks with six or more receptions. As the lead back in one of the better offenses in the NFL, in one of the best Fantasy matchups possible, it has to be this week… right?
• Adam Thielen: The Cowboys are an extremely rough matchup across the board for Fantasy Football, but if we are going to highlight someone in this Panther’s offense it has to be their 33-year-old veteran wide receiver. Adam Thielen has had weeks finishing as the WR3 (Week 3), WR4 (Week 5), and WR2 (Week 6) in weeks he scored over 27 Fantasy Points. Thielen has finished three weeks above 100 receiving yards and has had three weeks of 13 or more targets this season. Thielen has gone cold the last three weeks in a row, finishing as the WR24, WR42, and WR35 but the positive here is he still has been targeted double-digit times in two of these games. Definitely a rough matchup, but expect the opportunity to score Fantasy Points to be there for Thielen in a game where he should see double-digit targets.

Giants vs. Commanders

• Darius Slayton: The Commanders allow the second most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the fourth most passing yards per game this season. Tommy DeVito throwing for just 86 yards in Week 10 in a tough Dallas matchup, shows the potential state of the Giants. This Commanders matchup being the second best for wide receivers, and the best for quarterbacks when it comes to fantasy Football, presents some hope for…anything to happen. Darius Slayton has ranged from 79-99% of the snaps for five weeks, and finished with four receptions on seven targets for 59 yards back in Week 9. Slayton has a resume of receiving yard upside, so Week 11 is just hoping he can make a big play or two for a FLEX-worthy week.
• Terry McLaurin: The Giants allow the third most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and 12th most passing yards per game this season. WR47 for Fantasy Football in Week 10, bounce-back call in Week 11 here for Terry McLaurin. McLaurin has finished as a top 20 Fantasy wide receiver just three times this season, but what stands out to me is the target volume in the last seven weeks. During this span of games, McLaurin has been targeted eight or more times in six of them, and 10 or more times in three of them. The volume is there. Scary Terry has finished games with 86, 81, 90, 63, and 73 receiving yards this season, and could be lined up for one of his best days in Week 11.

Buccaneers vs. 49ers

• Mike Evans: The 49ers allow the ninth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. After cooling off Weeks 8-9, Mike Evans finished as a top-five Fantasy wide receiver in Week 10, catching six of his 10 targets for 143 receiving yards and a touchdown. Week 10 marked Evans’ fifth week scoring 17+ Fantasy Points, and third week scoring over 20. Evans has earned 10 targets in four games, finished Week 2 with 171 receiving yards, and has scored six touchdowns this season. Evans will be leaned on through the air against a tough 6-3 49ers.
• Brock Purdy: Tampa Bay allows the fifth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the second most passing yards per game this season. Brocky Purdy has finished as a top-12 quarterback in back-to-back weeks, and five times this season. Purdy is coming off of his best Fantasy week, throwing 19/26 for 296 yards and three touchdowns. Purdy threw 365 yards back in Week 8, has thrown a 70%+ completion percentage in five games, and has thrown multiple touchdowns in four games this season. Smash matchup for a quarterback hot right now with everyone healthy in San Fran.

Jets vs. Bills

• Breece Hall: The Bills allow the 11th most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. Breece Hall has cooled off the last two weeks, with RB23 and RB27 finishes after being on fire in all of his games played in Weeks 5-8. Since Week 5, Hall has ranged from 52-70% of the snaps played, coming off of that 70% just last week. Dalvin Cook is not very present, or a threat. Back in Week 5 Hall rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown. Hall finished Week 6 and Week 8 with five and six receptions for 54 and 76 receiving yards. Three weeks of 20+ Fantasy Points across the last five games highlight the combination of rushing and receiving Hall has been putting on display. Week 11 is the bounce-back game.
• James Cook: The Jets allow the 13th most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the second most rushing yards per game. James Cook has had concerning volume this entire season, with just four games of 16 or more touches. Latavius Murray finished Week 10 with just three fewer touches than Cook and scored his third touchdown of the season. Cook did rush efficiently in Week 11, carrying the ball 12 times for 109 yards and added two receptions. Week 11 was the second time Cook finished with over 100 yards rushing. Not sure the volume will be there for Cook in Week 11, but if the Bills can handle the Jets accordingly maybe his touches go up. Cook can be efficient in such a plus matchup on the ground with the yardage the Jets give up.

Seahawks vs. Rams

• DK Metcalf: The Rams are not necessarily a great matchup for wide receivers, but they are a decent one for quarterbacks (13th in PPG allowed) which could translate to DK Metcalf who has signs pointing in the right direction. DK has only finished as a top 20 wide receiver for Fantasy twice this season, once back in Week 3 guided by 112 receiving yards, and once just last week. DK caught seven of 12 targets in Week 10 for 98 receiving yards. 14 and 12 target games across the last three means that Geno Smith is really trying to feed DK, which is a solid volume-based opportunity. Should DK score in Week 11, I would bet it would mean a big week.
• Puka Nacua: The Seahawks are a middle-of-the-table team in Fantasy PPG allowed to wide receivers. Puka Nacua has finished as the WR61 and then the WR54 the last two weeks, in games his teammate Cooper Kupp also struggled in. What is reassuring for Puka is the consistent volume, even with Kupp back in action. Puka has earned 11, 7, 12, 7, and 7 targets in the last four games with Kupp back. Puka has also finished with over 20 Fantasy Points in two of these specific weeks, and five times this season. It is about time for both Kupp and Nacua to show us what we love about them in Week 11.

Vikings vs. Broncos (Sunday Night Football)

• Joshua Dobbs: The Broncos allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and 10th most passing yards per game this season. Joshua Dobbs has finished as the QB5 and the QB3 the last two weeks during his time as a Viking, after totaling three top 10 Fantasy finishes as a Cardinal in the weeks prior this season. Dobbs has rushed for 66 and 44 yards with a rushing touchdown in each game and is coming off of throwing 268 yards. Justin Jefferson is trending towards playing, which means Dobbs will have one of (if not THE) best wide receivers in the NFL on top of TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison at his disposal in a plus matchup.
• Jerry Jeudy: Each week I leave you with a hot take. Sometimes I completely strike out. Sometimes I am close. Sometimes I hit. Last week I mentioned Quentin Johnston would have his best week – and he did for Fantasy Football. This week I am saying the same about Jerry Jeudy. I was all in on Jerry Jeudy coming into this season, due to his red-hot final healthy seven-game stretch in 2022 along with my belief in his talent since he was a prospect. Jeudy has had a poor season, to say the least, finishing as the WR29 or worse in every game played. Jeudy has been targeted five or more times in all but one game (last week) this season and has flashed some receiving yard upside with two weeks over 16 yards per catch. Coming off of his lowest targeted week in Week 10, I feel Russell Wilson is going to try to get Jeudy going in a game that may mean Wilson pushing the ball more through the air. The Vikings allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Fingers crossed for all of my Jeudy shares.

Week 11 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty