Week 11 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Review for Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters

The 2025 NFL campaign keeps chugging along, and while there are still two months left in the regular season, the fantasy football playoffs are rapidly approaching.

Making a strong final push will require managers to navigate injuries, overcome injuries and avoid those week-ruining matchups. That last part can be especially tricky when the list of matchup-proof players is extremely short.

Here, we'll dive into some of the best and worst matchups for fringe starters in Week 11 based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring. As a reminder, the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are on bye.

Start: Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

The Houston Texans are coming off a thrilling comeback win over the rival Jacksonville Jaguars. The fact that Davis Mills engineered the comeback should make managers feel good about Houston stars in fantasy, even with C.J. Stoud still in concussion protocol.

Wideout Nico Collins is a must-start, of course, but rookie running back Woody Marks has become an intriguing matchup-based fringe starter.

Marks has logged double-digit carries in four straight games and is coming off a strong performance with two catches, 81 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He has topped 10 fantasy points in three of his last four outings.

This week, Houston will battle a Tennessee Titans team that has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Other fringe starters to consider this week include:

1. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

Sit: Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is in a contract year, and it sure feels like Seattle is trying to phase him out of the offense. While Walker still gets plenty of early-down carries and a few targets in the passing game, Zach Charbonnet is the preferred back whenever the Seahawks are in scoring range.

Charbonnet has twice as many rushing touchdowns as Walker on 26 fewer carries this season. With Charbonnet circling as the ultimate touchdown vulture, Walker's PPR floor is simply too low to trust.

Walker has failed to reach 10 fantasy points in five straight games.

This week, the Seahawks have a showdown with the rival Los Angeles Rams, who boast one of the league's better defenses. In fact, no team has surrendered fewer fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Other RBs to avoid this week include:

1. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
2. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
3. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

Start: Tyler Lockett, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Wide receiver Tyler Lockett has played just two games with the Las Vegas Raiders since signing in-season, but he saw a significant role increase in Game No. 2.

The Raiders traded away Jakobi Meyers at the deadline, which opened the door for Lockett—who has plenty of experience playing under head coach Pete Carroll and with quarterback Geno Smith. Against the Denver Broncos last Thursday, the 33-year-old caught five of six targets for 44 yards.

While those aren't overly impressive numbers, it's worth noting that Las Vegas was on the road against one of the top defenses in the NFL. This week, the Raiders will be at home against one of the league's worst units.

The Dallas Cowboys have surrendered more fantasy points to opposing wide receivers than any other team.

Other fringe receivers to consider this week include:

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

Sit: Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

While the Broncos have one of the NFL's top defenses, they're about to face one that isn't too far below theirs. The Kansas City Chiefs rank seventh in passing yards allowed and have surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.

That's a big problem for a Broncos passing attack that has been extremely inconsistent. It's an even bigger problem for Courtland Sutton, who is supposed to be Denver's No. 1 receiver but hasn't been treated like it in recent weeks.

Troy Franklin has emerged as Bo Nix's new go-to target, while Sutton has seen six or fewer targets in each of his last three games. A touchdown grab in Week 9 wasn't enough to get Sutton to 11 fantasy points, a mark he's failed to reach in three straight contests and in four of his last five.

Other receivers to avoid in Week 11 include:

1. Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
2. Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.