Fantasy Football Week 11: Flex and PPR Rankings

After a lopsided Monday Night Football matchup between Philadelphia and Carolina ended the week of action, fantasy owners have already shifted gears to Week 11 and the final stretch of games leading to the fantasy playoffs.

With four teams on bye and several key injuries across the NFL, it is more important than ever to check the latest flex and point-per-reception rankings to ensure you walk out of this week’s matchup with a victory.

Here are the overall flex and PPR rankings for Week 11. When in doubt, start the higher-ranked player on each list.

Flex Rankings

Rank	Player
1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
3	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
4	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
5	Antonio Brown, PIT, WR
6	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
7	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
8	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
9	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
10	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
11	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
12	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
13	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
14	Le'Veon Bell, PIT, RB
15	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
16	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
17	Alfred Morris, WSH, RB
18	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
19	A.J. Green, CIN, WR
20	Julius Thomas, DEN, TE
21	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
22	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR, WR
23	Ronnie Hillman, DEN, RB
24	Mike Evans, TB, WR
25	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB
27	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
28	Brandin Cooks, NO, WR
29	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
30	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN, WR
31	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR
32	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
33	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND, RB
34	Mark Ingram, NO, RB
35	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
36	Roddy White, ATL, WR
37	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
38	Brandon LaFell, NE, WR
39	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
40	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
41	Terrance West, CLE, RB
42	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
43	Ben Tate, CLE, RB
44	Frank Gore, SF, RB
45	Sammy Watkins, BUF, WR
46	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
47	Martellus Bennett, CHI, TE
48	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
49	Fred Jackson, BUF, RB
50	Trent Richardson, IND, RB

Starting the right players this week could be the difference between making the fantasy playoffs and being forced to watch from the sidelines. If you have New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram or Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb on your roster, they must be started in Week 11 as your flex.

Fantasy owners have grown skeptical of Ingram and the inconsistency of the New Orleans rushing attack, but he has averaged 27 carries and 131 yards over the last three games as Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson recover from injuries.

When asked about the performance of Ingram as the team’s primary back, head coach Sean Payton told Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune, “I love the way he's playing. He's running hard. He's physical. He's been durable. I like what we're getting from him. He's prepared for this opportunity and he's doing a good job with it.”

Regardless of whether Thomas and Robinson play Sunday against Cincinnati’s 31st-ranked run defense (allowing 143 yards per game), the Saints realize the momentum Ingram is carrying and will continue to feed him the rock. Owners should expect 20 carries for 100 yards and one touchdown.

One of the breakout stars through the first half of the season has been Cobb. While his targets and receptions vary from week to week, he has become a touchdown machine, scoring 10 times through the first nine games.

With Jordy Nelson drawing the top cornerbacks from opposing defenses, Cobb has been given more opportunities to make big plays in man coverage. Against the lackluster secondary of the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11 (allowing 251.7 passing yards per game), Cobb should have a big statistical performance.

Owners should expect seven receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown from Cobb on Sunday.

PPR Rankings

Rank	Player
1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	Antonio Brown, PIT, WR
3	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
4	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
5	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
6	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
7	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
8	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
9	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
10	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
11	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
12	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
13	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
14	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
15	Mike Evans, TB, WR
16	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
17	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
18	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
19	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
20	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
21	Le'Veon Bell, PIT, RB
22	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
23	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
24	Ronnie Hillman, DEN, RB
25	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR, WR
27	Brandin Cooks, NO, WR
28	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
29	Alfred Morris, WSH, RB
30	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN, WR
31	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB
32	A.J. Green, CIN, WR
33	Julius Thomas, DEN, TE
34	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR
35	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
36	Brandon LaFell, NE, WR
37	Roddy White, ATL, WR
38	Sammy Watkins, BUF, WR
39	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
40	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
41	Mark Ingram, NO, RB
42	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
43	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
44	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR
45	DeSean Jackson, WSH
46	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND, RB
47	Terrance West, CLE, RB
48	Fred Jackson, BUF, RB
49	Martellus Bennett, CHI, TE
50	Michael Crabtree, SF, WR

There are several players worthy of starting this week in PPR leagues, but the two most popular names have been New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

For owners looking for a running back, Vereen is entering a favorable matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. While Vereen hasn’t been very effective on the ground, he is a major target through the air and will see the touches necessary to be a fantasy stud once again.

Through the first nine games of the season, Vereen has caught at least three passes seven times and had at least seven carries on six occasions. Add in his 556 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns, and it’s clear Vereen is a major cog in New England’s game plan.

Against an Indianapolis defense that has struggled throughout the season, Vereen should be able to rack up 80 all-purpose yards, four receptions and a goal-line touchdown.

If you need a receiver, Beckham has blossomed into a top fantasy star since the injury to No. 1 wideout Victor Cruz. While he hasn’t scored a touchdown over the last two weeks (he had three in the previous three weeks), Beckham has amassed an impressive 15 receptions for 264 yards and has become Eli Manning’s top target.

New York has a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11, but that’s good news for owners with Beckham. If the 49ers take an early lead, Manning and the Giants will be forced to air the ball out, and the rookie will be the beneficiary.

Beckham should be expected to catch seven passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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