Who To Start And Sit For Your Week 11 Fantasy Lineup: Quarterbacks And Tight Ends

We’re nearing the end of the bye week madness that’s been plaguing squads over the last month of the fantasy football season, now we head into Week 11, which kicks off the final three games of the fantasy football season. This is what it all comes down to — lock in your playoff spot or die trying. Remember: not all is lost. There are a few squads out there that are on the outside looking in, ready to give up, not set lineups, and coast into a month full of holiday parties and regret. Don’t do it. Set your lineup. Win.

There are four teams on bye: Carolina, Indianapolis, New York Jets, and San Francisco.

Start/Sit

QUARTERBACK STARTS

Alex Smith: The New York Football Giants are, at this point, one of the worst defenses in the league and it’s translating to bookoo points for opposing offenses. Alex Smith has faded out of his massive point totals from earlier in the season, but if there’s one week to expect one of those Tyreek Hill or Kareem Hunt plays, this is it. Smith should coast into the top five in Week 11.

Derek Carr: He’s an obvious start to some, but Carr is on most 10-12 team rosters typically as a committee QB, especially after his injury. In Week 11 he has the Patriots, and he might be the start of the week. Only the Colts are giving up more passing yards to opposing quarterbacks. Chances for a perfect game script are likely.

Never forget:

Jay Cutler: Purely for the DFS crowd in a week when there really aren’t many needs in leagues that aren’t of the 12-16 team size variety, why not give Smokin’ Jay a shot against a Bucs defense that needed Josh McCown to look good. Realistically, you’ll never need this play, but I might feel more confident in Cutler over Jared Goff against Minnesota. Week 11 fun times!

Dak Prescott: The guy went from Russell Wilson Lite to Russell Wilson Heavy in the span of 12 months, officially becoming a real, top ten QB that everyone should start. But in his one game without Zeke Elliott, and more importantly Tyron Smith, their offensive lineman out with a groin injury. Dakwassacked eight times and was only blitzed by the Falcons on 12 percent of dropbacks. It may be worth staying away from Dak if you have other options, and it may be a good idea to stay away from him in daily. The Cowboys and Eagles might put up a big amount of points, but there’s a chance only Jason Witten comes away from this game as a confident fantasy football start.

Philip Rivers: The Bills are still one of the better passing defenses in the league, and even though the Chargers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against a tough Jacksonville squad, it doesn’t mean they won’t lay an egg again. Rivers is about to enter a sweet stretch of good matchups, but this isn’t one of them, especially if the Bills follow the gameplan the Saints just laid out. The Bills are giving up massive yards on the ground since trading Marcell Dareus and the Chargers could lean heavily on Melvin Gordon. If the Chargers put up big points through the air on the Bills, feel comfy starting QBs against them again. If they don’t, maintain and just roll out RBs.

Andy Dalton: The Broncos are clearly not the defense we thought they were, or think they should be, getting 41 and 51 points dropped on them over the last two weeks by the Eagles and the Patriots respectively. The Bengals aren’t those offenses, and while Cinci might score a touchdown or two, why play with fire? Just in case something weird happens, I’d play Dalton in a daily fantasy tournament or something.

TIGHT END STARTS

Jason Witten: Hopefully we see a wild shootout when the Eagles take on the Cowboys, and in that shootout, Jason Witten will thrive. This past week, Witten saw seven targets with the run game unable to really produce and the offensive line not protecting Dak Prescott. That translated to check downs, and Witten could see a high volume of targets as the Cowboys try to keep drives alive without Ezekiel Elliott eating up chunks of yards.
Jared Cook: Oakland’s tight end has been quietly having one of the better years of his career in 2017, and Derek Carr trusts him. Now Oakland will be playing New England in one many pundits are calling “a potential shootout.” It’s possible that they’re correct, and Cook will keep up his average target count of seven over the last three weeks. This week could look a lot like Week 9:

Evan Engram: He’s here mostly out of respect. By this point, you probably know that Evan Engram is a must-start, but here he is just in case you didn’t realize he’s a top-5 option every week from here on out. Thank you.

TIGHT END SITS

Kyle Rudolph: Stefon Diggs is back and looks good. and that’s going to affect Minnesota’s underwhelming tight end. Rudolph saw his third game in a row with seven targets, but he only caught five passes for 37 yards. He hasn’t seen a 50-yard game this season! He’s touchdown dependent, and shouldn’t be used in non-PPR leagues against a Rams defense that’s held almost all opposing ends to, you guessed it, 48 yards or fewer this season (stat via Yahoo).
Hunter Henry: Every week he’s ranked in the top twelve, and he’s finished the 30th overall TE in PPR leagues. Stay away. No one knows what you’re going to get out of Henry any given week. If you’re going to roll the dice, do it with Cameron Brate, or hopefully, Evan Engram.

Charles Clay: One of the better, undervalued options from earlier this season (remember those nice and easy days?) is back, but it’s clear he’s still getting into the swing of things, seeing only 3 targets in his return against New Orleans on Sunday. At this point, pick up Clay and stash him, but don’t playhim against the Chargers. With Kelvin Benjamin in the mix, we just don’t know what his workload is going to be like, yet.

• Check out the Waiver Wire column here!