Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 11: Latest Advice Before 'Thursday Night Football'

They say time flies when one has fun, but it hits a different level of flight for owners attempting to keep up with fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em decisions going into Week 11.  

With just two down days before Thursday Night Football between the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars, owners had to track new matchups, trends, injuries and more and then make the right decisions.

That contest itself features some incredible value on both sides of the ball thanks to Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles, his weapons and Tennessee running back Antonio Andrews.

Alas, let's look at Week 11 as a whole and help owners get up to speed with value comparisons for each position and notable players to start or sit.

QB 

Matchup	Verdict
Tom Brady (vs. BUF) vs. Philip Rivers (vs. KC)	Tom Brady
Aaron Rodgers (at MIN) vs. Andy Dalton (at ARI)	Aaron Rodgers
Cam Newton (vs. WAS) vs. Derek Carr (at DET)	Derek Carr
Carson Palmer (vs. CIN) vs. Blake Bortles (vs. TEN)	Carson Palmer
Tyrod Taylor (at NE) vs. Jay Cutler (vs. DEN)	Tyrod Taylor

Start: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs. OAK)

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn't been the greatest play all season while at times dealing with questionable coaching decisions and miserable play from the offensive line.

Owners have to look past his season-wide inconsistency, though, and focus on the good, which is five double-digit outings. Stafford should be able to make it six this weekend against an Oakland Raiders defense letting up the sixth most points to quarterbacks.

This one comes at home for Stafford against a team traveling from the West Coast for the contest, so look for him to post what could be his first trip above 20 points.

Sit: Kirk Cousins, Washington (at CAR)

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

The ride's over, folks.

Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins exploded last week for 28 points just a few weeks after a 29-point outburst. The common thread? Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints feature some of the worst pass defenses in the league.

In other words, Cousins is the definition of a matchup-based play, a doomsday fact as he heads into a road encounter with the Carolina Panthers. Luke Kuechly's defense has surrendered the fifth-fewest points to quarterbacks this year and has allowed more than two touchdowns to the position just once—to Aaron Rodgers.

What else needs said?

RB 

Matchup	Verdict
Devonta Freeman (vs. IND) vs. Doug Martin (at PHI)	Devonta Freeman
Adrian Peterson (vs. GB) vs. Chris Ivory (at HOU)	Adrian Peterson
Lamar Miller (vs. DAL) vs. Todd Gurley (at BAL)	Todd Gurley
Danny Woodhead (vs. KC) vs. Chris Johnson (vs. CIN)	Danny Woodhead
DeMarco Murray (vs. TB) vs. LeGarrette Blount (vs. BUF)	DeMarco Murray

Start: Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders (at DET)

On the other side of the Oakland-Detroit matchup is quite the value in Raider Latavius Murray.

It might not look like it at face value considering Murray hasn't hit double digits in either of his past two outings. But he's yet to escape the matchup-based play label, so such up-and-down play isn't a surprise.

Murray should bounce back to form in a big way on the road against Detroit, though, as the Lions allow the sixth most points to running backs this year. The Raiders will look to run it early and often on the road in an effort to keep Stafford and Co. on the sideline.

The team's result doesn't matter—Murray will see plenty of chances on the ground and through the air, meaning reliable, strong fantasy production.

Sit: Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (at ARI)

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

It's tough for owners to let go of Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill, as one can glean from his 96.4 ownership percentage.

There hasn't been anything to suggest that Hill will turn things around and suddenly handle the majority of the workload in the Cincinnati backfield, though, as he continues to split snaps with Giovani Bernard and has just three double-digit outings to show for it.

Even if Hill wound up taking the full workload against the Arizona Cardinals this weekend, it wouldn't be wise to give him the nod considering the elite defense surrenders the fifth-fewest points to the position.

Just three backs have mustered a touchdown against the unit this year, and it's hard to imagine Hill will be the fourth on the road.

WR

Matchup	Verdict
Julio Jones (vs. IND) vs. Allen Robinson (vs. TEN)	Julio Jones
DeAndre Hopkins (vs. NYJ) vs. Larry Fitzgerald (vs. CIN)	DeAndre Hopkins
Brandon Marshall (at HOU) vs. A.J. Green (at ARI)	Brandon Marshall
Allen Hurns (vs. TEN) vs. Michael Crabtree (at DET)	Michael Crabtree
Tavon Austin (at BAL) vs. T.Y. Hilton (at ATL)	Tavon Austin

Start: Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills (at NE)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Buffalo Bills wideout Sammy Watkins burned owners last week with just a single point and has done so at random times during the season. 

Owners have to keep a firm hold on emotions when it comes to decisions, though, because Watkins sits in one of the week's best matchups against the New England Patriots.

Those Patriots allow the fifth most points to wide receivers because teams must take to the air in an effort to keep up with Tom Brady. Opposing sets of wideouts have managed 22 or more points six times against the unit this year.

One of those occurrences came back in Week 2, when Watkins caught six passes for 60 yards and a score, good for 12 points. A similar floor with a huge ceiling exists in the rematch.

Sit: Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears (vs. DEN)

It's a tough pill to swallow, but owners must consider benching Chicago Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery this week as he takes on the Denver Broncos.

Jeffery might have 15 or more points in three of his last four outings, but the Broncos surrender the fewest points to wideouts this year and have given up just one touchdown to the position. 

To make matters even worse for Jeffery from a fantasy standpoint, he's going against a Denver team that will be without starting quarterback Peyton Manning, meaning it's going to be a low-scoring affair, and Chicago won't have to throw often in an effort to keep up.

Jeffery managed just two points against the St. Louis Rams last week, a defense allowing the second-fewest points to the position. Now he faces an even better unit. 

TE

Matchup	Verdict
Rob Gronkowski (vs. BUF) vs. Jordan Reed (at CAR)	Rob Gronkowski
Tyler Eifert (at ARI) vs. Greg Olsen (vs. WAS)	Tyler Eifert
Travis Kelce (at SD) vs. Delanie Walker (at JAC)	Delanie Walker
Jimmy Graham (vs. SF) vs. Martellus Bennett (vs DEN)	Jimmy Graham
Jason Witten (at MIA) vs. Jacob Tamme (vs. IND)	Jason Witten

Start: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (at SD)

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

Despite big-name recognition, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has been anything but reliable this season.

In fact, Kelce has been a dud since his 22-point outburst in Week 1, posting a maximum of 10 points in a contest just two times since.

A third is on the way, though.

Kelce gets the San Diego Chargers next, a team allowing the eighth most points to his position. Not only have the Chargers let up five double-digit outings to the position, but they have allowed four touchdowns over their last three games, including two before a Week 10 bye.

No doubt Kansas City will work hard to exploit this weakness, with Kelce benefiting the most.

Sit: Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks (vs. SF)

It's been a similar story for Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, who has just three showings of 11 or more points on the season as he continues to be an odd fit in the offense.

The similarities end there. Graham's in a brutal matchup this week against the San Francisco 49ers. For all their faults, the 49ers do a great job of containing tight ends, having let up double digits just once and three touchdowns. 

Those 49ers held Graham in check in Week 7, when he managed just two catches for 31 yards. In a run-first affair, it's best to expect another dud of a performance from Graham.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats as of Nov. 18. Statistics courtesy of ESPN. Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers on bye.