Fantasy Football Week 11: Running Backs Set to Explode

Each week the fantasy football gods give you matchups that you just stand back and admire. It’s almost an awestruck feeling as you begin to fantasize about the fantasy numbers you imagine piling up against your opponent.

Then it happens and the damage is never as big as you’d hoped. That’s usually true because of the lofty expectations we set. However, the conditions are set for some big matchups this weekend that will undoubtedly return favorable results.

Here are a few standout backs that are going to put up some huge numbers this weekend and carry your fantasy rosters. Be sure to keep these guys in your starting lineup this week at all cost.

Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Employ Arian Foster in every fantasy format this weekend. This may go without saying but it’s going to be a huge game for the league’s second-ranked fantasy rusher. Jacksonville (1-8) is giving up a near league-worst 21 fantasy points per game.

Foster put up 110 yards and one score in Week 2 against the Jags (20 fantasy points). That may pale in comparison to what he’s going to do on an even more demoralized and Maurice Jones-Drew-less Jaguars team in Week 11.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers

Martin totaled just 10 points in Week 10 and 11 points in the Bucs’ Week 1 matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Since then, the Bucs offense has been on a tear thanks to the development of its star rookie running back.

His 95-yard performance against the Panthers in that Week 1 matchup shows the Bucs have the ability to take advantage of the weak rush defense of Carolina. The Panthers are giving up 17 fantasy points per game to running backs.

This will be another breakout game for Doug “Don’t call me Muscle Hamster” Martin.

 

Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills

Bush was benched last week after fumbling against the Tennessee Titans, who are surprisingly much improved against the run. He’ll continue to share backfield duties with Daniel Thomas who has come on strong recently after getting healthy.

What better team to get back on track against than AFC East rival Buffalo? The Bills are the worst of the worst when it comes to getting gouged by opposing running backs. They’re last in the NFL, giving up 25 fantasy points per game.

Even a timeshare between Thomas and Bush could yield extremely positive dividends for fantasy owners in Week 11.

Felix Jones/DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns

The Browns will travel to Cowboys Stadium in Texas to take on a Cowboys team that is still in the hunt for the NFC East crown. That’s where Felix Jones steps in. Jones has the ability to break big runs on any play and will gash the Browns throughout the afternoon with his speed.

The Browns are allowing 17 fantasy points per game to running backs and are the league’s sixth-worst rush defense. They’ve done a decent job of keeping backs out of the end zone while getting gashed for big yardage to keep that number down.

It’s uncertain if DeMarco Murray will play this week, but he said there’s “a chance” it could happen, according to an AP report (via WashingtonPost.com).

Monitor this situation and feel free to deploy either/or against the Browns this weekend.

Mike Hoag Jr. is a Breaking News Team writer and NFL featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter:

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