Week 11 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Reviewing Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters
NFL teams that haven't lived up to expectations yet still have time to turn things around.
That same luxury isn't afforded to fantasy football managers.
While NFL teams have eight weeks remaining to stockpile wins and secure or improve their playoff spots, most fantasy managers have half that time. The stretch run is here in the fantasy realm, which makes maximizing every last inch of your roster an absolute must.
To help ensure that happens, we're navigating the roster fringes with a couple of our top start and sit recommendations for Week 11.
Start: Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Baltimore Ravens)
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The list of quarterbacks averaging more fantasy points than Russell Wilson only runs six players long, per FantasyPros. His biggest "dud" to date was an outing in which he completed 20-of-28 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown.
It's too early to say the veteran has returned to the elite fantasy ranks, but it's right on time to suggest he warrants weekly starting consideration—and should be a no-brainer with a favorable matchup.
That's exactly what he'll draw this week against a Baltimore defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position, per Yahoo. In four of the last six weeks, the Ravens have allowed an opposing quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards with three-plus touchdowns.
Sit: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (at Los Angeles Chargers)
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The idea of sitting Joe Burrow probably sounds absurd. He's been objectively awesome his last two times out, throwing for a combined 679 yards and nine touchdowns.
That's as good as it gets, but those numbers should come with a slight caveat. They were compiled against the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders, two of the most fantasy-friendly defenses for the quarterback position.
When he's had tougher matchups, he's been prone to some quiet performances. Over the three games prior to this run, he managed just three total touchdowns with one interception.
The Chargers are a tricky draw. Not only are they stingy against quarterbacks—10th-fewest fantasy points allowed—but they also often limit possessions by running the ball early and often. Burrow's floor for this matchup sits way too low to trust him.
Start: Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns (at New Orleans Saints)
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Nick Chubb has looked predictably rusty in his first three games back from a gruesome knee injury. What might be most relevant for fantasy managers, though, is that the Browns continue to believe in him.
The 28-year-old has run the ball 42 times in three games. He's had another six targets, too. He isn't getting eased back into the action at all. This is close to an all-systems-go kind of workload, and there's a real chance it could increase with Cleveland coming off of a bye.
Now, Chubb's opportunities haven't amounted to much so far (119 scrimmage yards and a single touchdown), but a date with New Orleans defense might change that.
The Saints have allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs on the season, and they've let three different RBs score multiple touchdowns over their last four games (Javonte Williams, Chuba Hubbard and Bijan Robinson).
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Sit: Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
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Remember when the Titans were treating Tony Pollard like a featured back? That might be out the window now Tyjae Spears is back from the hamstring injury that cost him three games.
During Spears' absence, Pollard averaged 24 touches and 112 scrimmage yards. During Spears' Week 10 return, Pollard's numbers dipped to 13 and 63, respectively. Meanwhile, Spears handled 10 touches of his own and turned them into 51 scrimmage yards.
If that wasn't ominous enough, this also happens to be a nightmare matchup. Minnesota's rush defense is among the league's stingiest, as the Vikings have allowed the second-fewest yards per game (79) and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (four).
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