Week 11 Start Em Sit Em: Sleepers to Trust, Bench During Run to Fantasy Playoffs

Regardless of how late in the season it is, making decisions about who to start and sit are always difficult. At this point, several owners are hoping to make a push for the playoffs and are in desperate need of making the right choices.

Just three weeks stand between now and the postseason for most leagues. It's just a matter of whether teams will be playing for the ultimate prize or the Toilet Bowl at the end of the year.

Bye weeks for teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys leave holes at several positions. In need of a replacement for Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray or Justin Forsett, some owners will need to look to sleepers to fill the void.

Prior to the official start of Week 11 on Thursday night, here's a look at some of the top sleepers to start and sit.

Position	Start 'Em	Reason	Sit 'Em	Reason
Quarterback	Teddy Bridgewater	The Bears haven't been able to stop anyone lately. Bridgewater isn't Aaron Rodgers, but he'll post good numbers in Chicago.	Drew Stanton	See Below
Running Back	Terrance West	See Below	C.J. Anderson	Should split touches with Montee Ball and the Rams have been surprisingly good against RBs.
Running Back	Jeremy Hill	If Gio Bernard misses another game, Hill will get touches. Going against the Saints, double-digit points look likely	Tre Mason	He's been solid, but Mason runs into a Denver defense that's allowing just 9.10 points to RBs in the last four weeks.
Wide Receiver	Jordan Matthews	See Below	Brandin Cooks	See Below
Wide Receiver	Brandon LaFell	Over the last four weeks, the Colts have allowed 33.33 points to WRs. Oh, and LaFell has Tom Brady throwing him the rock.	Doug Baldwin	Chiefs have limited WRs all season and Russell Wilson should have more issues in Arrowhead.
Tight End	Coby Fleener	Going against a New England offense that has allowed nearly 14 points to TEs the last four weeks, there should be plenty of passes to go around.	Charles Clay	Buffalo has allowed 2.57 points to TEs in the last month. Two. Point. Five. Seven. Enough said.

Start 'Em: Terrance West, RB, Cleveland Browns

One week is a break through. Two times is a trend. But if Terrance West puts together three straight weeks of double-digit points, it's time to trust him.

In eight games that West has played in this season, he's tallied at least 10 or more points in five of them. But with the return of Ben Tate to the lineup a few weeks ago, some had questions about West holding up.

He's answered those questions loud and clear with two straight weeks weeks with a touchdown and 94 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine backed his decision to start West against the Bengals, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Browns backfield may still be a three-headed monster with West, Tate and Isaiah Crowell, but it's West who's getting the most carries. In Week 10, he received 26 touches while Tate and Crowell combined for 24.

On top of all of that, the Houston Texans have allowed a total of 20.49 fantasy points to tailbacks this season. For owners in need of a replacement at the flex spot or even an RB2, West looks like a dependable start.

Sit 'Em: Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The reemergence of Brandin Cooks has been fun to watch over the last three weeks. But with his inconsistent production, he needs to be benched in Week 11 against the Bengals.

Cincinnati's defense has been ravaged by several teams and nearly every position in recent weeks. However, the Bengals simply don't allow points to receivers, surrendering just 16.92 per week this season—the lowest in the league.

One caveat that Field Yates of ESPN notes is that Cooks is much better at home:

The rookie may look like a starter for that reason alone, but let's look at those matchups. During those games, the Saints played the Minnesota Vikings, Tamba Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers—where he was matched up with fellow rookie Jimmie Ward.

He's been much better at home this season but hasn't faced a team that shuts down wide receivers. The Bengals will give him that test on Sunday, potentially leading to a dud from Cooks in Week 11.

Start 'Em: Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

In his last seven games, Jordan Matthews has five touchdowns. While some might believe Mark Sanchez is the reason for his breakout in Week 10, it has a lot more to do with the talent of Matthews.

Granted, that Week 10 performance came against a Carolina Panthers defense that has been gashed by multiple passing offenses this season. Following his first 100-yard game on Monday Night Football, Matthews made a comparison to a current teammate, via the Eagles' official Twitter account:

He might not be Jeremy Maclin just yet, but Matthews is slowly becoming the No. 2 receiver to own in Philly. Sorry, Riley Cooper.

The Green Bay Packers haven't allowed a lot of points to receivers this season with just 22.64 on average. But with the reliable receiver that Matthews has become for Sanchez, expect him to see a wealth of targets in Lambeau.

Sit 'Em: Drew Stanton, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

Carson Palmer went down for the season with an ACL injury, so Drew Stanton might be a good waiver-wire pickup in deep leagues. What he is not, however, is a good start this week against the Detroit Lions.

Detroit's explosiveness on offense is back with Calvin Johnson, but the defense has been the story for much of the season. In fantasy, the defense has allowed a league-low 12.09 fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Stanton was able to exploit the San Francisco 49ers for two touchdowns and 260 total yards. In the other two starts this season, the former Michigan State quarterback has averaged just 5.6 points with no touchdowns.

Let's just say he doesn't have a great chance of producing against the Lions.

All fantasy stats courtesy of NFL.com.

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