Fantasy Football Week 11 Predictions

We have some potential monumental matchups of elite offenses that can keep the huge fantasy numbers coming in Week 11. If you are looking to jump on shootouts for some potential fantasy sleepers, you have to home in on the Denver Broncos against anyone (this time at the St. Louis Rams), the New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts and, our favorite here, the Philadelphia Eagles at the Green Bay Packers.

We cannot find a fantasy option for that latter one we wouldn't consider in Week 11.

These are Bleacher Report's Week 11 predictions, where we outline MVPs, breakouts, busts, bounce-back players, the top matchup plays by position and waiver-wire options.

MVP

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (at Green Bay Packers)

Projected stat line: 120 yards rushing, three catches for 25 yards and three combined touchdowns

We are going back to the well here on the preseason No. 1 overall pick, per FantasyPros.com's average draft position (ADP). We predicted the 2013 NFL rushing leader would be the MVP for Week 10. He rushed for a mere 19 yards on 12 carries. Ouch.

The good news is McCoy cracked the end zone with his first TD in almost two months. Also, the Eagles now head to Green Bay to face the Packers, who have the NFL's third-worst run defense. That ranking is only a slight improvement over the dead-last ranking the Packers have held for most of the season.

Sure, it's easy to keep projecting a player as talented as McCoy as an MVP week to week, but it is a testament to there being nothing wrong with him amid a disappointing season to date. He is going to rip someone eventually.

McCoy should be headed for one of those knockout days that made him a favorite among running backs. We project the three-TD day his fantasy owners have long waited for. Having Mark Sanchez at quarterback should help force the ball into McCoy's hands, particularly since the Packers have proved capable against the pass as a top-10 pass defense to date (based on passing yards allowed per game).

The Eagles-Packers matchup also has the second-highest total on the Las Vegas board, per OddsShark.com. This game is a great bet to play loose, with two dynamic offenses squaring off against defenses used to playing high-scoring affairs.

Honorable Mention

• QB Aaron Rodgers/RB Eddie Lacy/WR Jordy Nelson/WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
• WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (at Arizona Cardinals)
• TE Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (at Indianapolis Colts)

Biggest Breakout Star

Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Projected stat line: 300 passing yards and two touchdowns with 35 rushing yards and a TD

RG3 hasn't established himself as a fantasy starter yet this season, but he proved healthy in a Week 9 return, throwing for 251 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. Now, he draws the Bucs at home, a team that has been in the bottom eight against fantasy quarterbacks, per FFToday.com. 

That is a modest showing for a defense ranked second-to-last in the NFL against the pass. We love RG3 to put up a monster line here.

You have to love starting all of his primary weapons in all fantasy leagues this week, including DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and even tight end Jordan Reed. The Bucs are dead last in fantasy against wide receivers, per FFToday.com.

The supporting cast is crucial to RG3's success if he is to take his rightful place as one of the best, young quarterbacks in the NFL under head coach Jay Gruden's regime. RG3 told The Washington Times' Tom Schad his teammates, namely Jackson, are putting to rest reports of dissension:

"

What [Jackson] said was just addressing the group, addressing a few out of the group. Who those guys are, we don't really care. The thing that he stressed, and that we're stressing, is that we're focused on winning, focused on Tampa Bay. We need everybody focused on doing their job to the best of their ability. Look the man in the mirror and say, 'What can I do to help this team win?' That will help us not only win games, but it'll help us change the culture around here.

You like everybody you work with? It's really not even about that. I think for us as a team, what we are focusing on and what D-Jac did stress...is that we can’t let anybody try to tear us apart from the outside in. It's been pushed and pushed and pushed and everybody thinks it's coming from the inside-out, but we're strong in that locker room. And we feel like we can't let any of these reports or anything divide us.

 That’s what teammates do. That's what a family is. I think we're getting closer as a family on this team.

"

It also helps to win, and that suspect Bucs defense should assist Griffin's fantasy owners nicely this week.

Honorable Mention

• QB Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Washington Redskins)
• RB Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers (at New York Giants)
• RB Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings (at Chicago Bears)
• TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Seattle Seahawks) 

Biggest Bust

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Projected stat line: 65 yards rushing and no touchdowns

Lynch is coming off a career-best four touchdowns last week against the New York Giants, a team that has dropped to dead last in the NFL against the run. Now, the Seahawks head from a loud home environment to an equally loud road stadium.

The crowd will be rough on the defending Super Bowl champs. The Chiefs defense, No. 4 in fantasy against running backs, per FFToday.com, will be rough on Lynch and company, too.

The Chiefs are the only team in the NFL yet to give up either a rushing or receiving touchdown to a running back. That is four fewer than Lynch produced last week alone. This has the makings of a potential upset—something Lynch's fantasy owners will wind up being Sunday.

Dishonorable Mention

• QB Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
• RB Reggie Bush/RB Joique Bell, Detroit Lions (at Arizona Cardinals)
• RB Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
• WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Detroit Lions)
• WR T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (vs. New England Patriots)

Biggest Bounce-Back Player

QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (vs. Oakland Raiders) 

Projected stat line: 340 yards passing and three touchdowns

Rivers is coming off one of the worst performances in his career from Week 9 at the Miami Dolphins. His team was blown out 37-0, and he was limited to 138 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.

Rivers performed like a rookie quarterback there and had the entire bye week to stew over that stinker. Heck, maybe the Chargers just checked into the bye week early. They certainly looked like they did.

The elixir for a struggling team and quarterback is an ideal matchup against the shaky Raiders. The Chargers are back at home and have extra time—not that it was needed—to prepare for this division rival.

Along with Rivers, you have to love Antonio Gates and maligned sophomore wide receiver Keenan Allen to have big days. The return of Ryan Mathews (knee) won't hurt either. U-T San Diego's Michael Gehlken reports Mathews will return to the starting lineup and is projected to get 15 touches.

Honorable Mention

• QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
• RB LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (at Green Bay Packers)
• QB Shaun Hill, St. Louis Rams (vs. Denver Broncos)
• QB Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns (vs. Houston Texans)
• QB Andy Dalton/WR A.J. Green/WR Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati Bengals (at New Orleans Saints)
• WR Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles (at Green Bay Packers)

Top QB Matchup Plays

Here are the bottom eight teams versus fantasy QBs, per FFToday.com:

1. Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (at Green Bay Packers)
3. New York Jets (bye)
4. Carolina Panthers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
5. New York Giants (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
6. Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
7. Denver Broncos (at St. Louis Rams)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Washington Redskins)

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)

Projected stat line: 340 yards passing and three touchdowns

Ryan has cooled after a scorching start to the season, but this one lines up to be squarely in his favor. It also helps that his wide receivers are as healthy as they have been collectively in years. 

The Panthers defense is in the bottom 10 against the pass and the bottom four against fantasy quarterbacks. Only the New York Jets (25) and Chicago Bears (23) have given up more TD passes than the Panthers (19).

We expect to see Ryan break away from his fantasy matchup-play stigma and take his rightful place among the elite fantasy quarterbacks again in this one.

Honorable Mention

• Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (vs. Oakland Raiders)
• Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (at New York Giants)
• Mark Sanchez, Philadelphia Eagles (at Green Bay Packers)
• Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (at New Orleans Saints)

Top RB Matchup Plays

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Here are the bottom eight teams versus fantasy RBs, per FFToday.com:

1. Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)
2. New York Giants (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
3. Oakland Raiders (at San Diego Chargers)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (at New Orleans Saints)
5. New England Patriots (at Indianapolis Colts)
6. Carolina Panthers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
7. Tennessee Titans (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
8. Minnesota Vikings (at Chicago Bears)

RB Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (vs. New England Patriots)

Projected stat line: 80 yards rushing, three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown

Richardson is still battling to get out of the fantasy doghouse, particularly since Ahmad Bradshaw has emerged as a superior starting option, but we like the prospects of both of the Colts backs in this matchup. The Patriots are a bottom-five team against fantasy running backs (above), and teams generally plan to play keep-away from the Pats offense.

When you have your quarterback facing Pats corners Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, handing off to the backs—or checking down to Bradshaw—looks like a much better plan than throwing downfield.

The Colts' Andrew Luck can throw on anyone, but the Pats figure to force him to score on the ground or with the checkdown passes to the backs. The Pats have allowed the most receiving touchdowns to backs thus far this season (six).

Honorable Mention

• Frank Gore/RB Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers (at New York Giants)
• Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)
• Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
• Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (at New Orleans Saints)

Top WR Matchup Plays

Here are the bottom eight teams versus fantasy WRs, per FFToday.com:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Washington Redskins)
2. Houston Texans (at Cleveland Browns)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (at Green Bay Packers)
4. Baltimore Ravens (bye)
5. New Orleans Saints (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
6. St. Louis Rams (vs. Denver Broncos)
7. Carolina Panthers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
8. Arizona Cardinals (vs. Detroit Lions)

WR Pierre Garcon, Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Projected stat line: Five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown

His production was supposed to increase with Robert Griffin III under center. It didn't work out in Week 9, when Garcon was limited to three catches for 15 yards.

The matchup with the worst defense against fantasy receivers stands to change the outcome. The Bucs have given up a league-worst 14 touchdown passes to wideouts, and DeSean Jackson has earned the respect of defensive coordinators more of late.

Garcon should wind up being the Redskins No. 1 target down the stretch, and that run starts now. Get him active in all leagues.

Honorable Mention

• Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns (vs. Houston Texans)
• Golden Tate, Detroit Lions (at Arizona Cardinals)
• Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati Bengals (at New Orleans Saints)
• Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos (at St. Louis Rams)

Top TE Matchup Plays

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Here are the bottom eight teams versus fantasy TEs, per FFToday.com:

1. Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
2. New York Jets (bye)
3. Dallas Cowboys (bye)
4. Seattle Seahawks (at Kansas City Chiefs)
5. New York Giants (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
6. Denver Broncos (at St. Louis Rams)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (at New Orleans Saints)
8. Indianapolis Colts (vs. New England Patriots)

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Seattle Seahawks) 

Projected stat line: Five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown

We cannot strategically explain the Legion of Boom's struggles against tight ends, other than opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks would rather hit the seam instead of challenging the Seahawks corners or safeties down the sideline or over the top.

Alex Smith doesn't have the zip to go to those places anyway, so expect him to chip away underneath with his running backs and tight end. This matchup positions Kelce as a must-start option.

The Seahawks have given up the second-most touchdown receptions to tight ends this season (10), and only the New York Jets are worse with 11. Kelce gets into the end zone at least once here.

Honorable Mention

• Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (at Chicago Bears)
• Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (at New York Giants)
• Tim Wright, New England Patriots (at Indianapolis Colts)
• Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams (vs. Denver Broncos)

Top D/ST Matchup Plays

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Here are the bottom eight teams versus fantasy D/STs, per FFToday.com:

1. St. Louis Rams (vs. Denver Broncos)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (bye)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Washington Redskins)
4. Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
5. Carolina Panthers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
6. New York Jets (bye)
7. San Francisco 49ers (at N.Y. Giants)
8. Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Denver Broncos (at St. Louis Rams) 

Projected stat line: Four sacks, three turnovers and a touchdown

A struggling offense against the NFL's No. 1 run defense? Look out. This has the makings of a home blowout, regardless of the fact Peyton Manning can do that to anyone, anywhere.

The Rams will become one-dimensional here, even if Shaun Hill gets opportunities in garbage time. The Broncos pass rush can pin its ears back and force some big mistakes and score touchdowns. The Broncos are a must-start unit even on the road in this one.

Honorable Mention

• San Francisco 49ers (at New York Giants)
• Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
• Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (at Tennessee Titans)

Top Waiver-Wire Options

We have already gone in-depth on some of the waiver-wire favorites in Bleacher Report's Insider Notebook for Week 10. Here is how CBSSports.com's top 10 most-added players turned out Wednesday morning:

1. RB C.J. Anderson, Denver Broncos
2. WR Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles
3. K Nick Novak, San Diego Chargers
4. QB Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals
5. RB Matt Asiata, Minnesota Vikings
6. WR John Brown, Arizona Cardinals
7. TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. TE Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts
9. QB Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10. QB Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

In case this list doesn't go deep enough or you already missed out on the best of the above, here are three options at each position—owned in less than 60 percent of CBS Sports leagues—we like this week based on their matchup or other circumstances.

Quarterbacks

1. Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2. Shaun Hill, St. Louis Rams
3. Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns

Running Backs

1. Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers
2. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
3. Jonas Gray, New England Patriots

Wide Receivers

1. Greg Jennings, Minnesota Vikings
2. John Brown, Arizona Cardinals 
3. Markus Wheaton, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight Ends

1. Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts
2. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
3. Tim Wright, New England Patriots

Defense/Special Teams

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Chicago Bears
3. Washington Redskins 

Kickers

1. Matt Prater, Detroit Lions
2. Matt Bryant, Atlanta Falcons
3. Caleb Sturgis, Miami Dolphins

Follow @EricMackFantasy

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.