Week 11 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Projected Stats for Top 10 Players at Every Position

With injuries ravaging a lot of fantasy rosters and more byes to critical teams rolling in, Week 11 presents yet another tough challenge for owners eyeing a run to the playoffs.

Simply running down the list of projected top-10 performers at each position sometimes isn't enough, so let's follow that up with an installment of start 'em, sit 'em advice for Week 11.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player (Team)	Opp.	Projection
1	Cam Newton (CAR)	WAS	21.4
2	Tom Brady (NE)	BUF	21.0
3	Aaron Rodgers (GB)	MIN	19.0
4	Derek Carr (OAK)	DET	18.5
5	Carson Palmer (ARI)	CIN	18.2
6	Matt Ryan (ATL)	IND	17.9
7	Matthew Stafford (DET)	OAK	17.5
8	Tyrod Taylor (BUF)	NE	17.4
9	Russell Wilson (SEA)	SF	17.3
10	Andy Dalton (CIN)	ARI	17.0

Start: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

A brutal start to the schedule—and to the season—for the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford has subsided and made way for greener pastures, beginning with the Oakland Raiders in Week 11.

After playing his way off fantasy rosters earlier in 2015, Stafford has turned it around quite well. Playing at home Sunday against Oakland, against whom he's averaged nearly 300 yards, two touchdowns and over 36 pass attempts, he should gash a Raiders defense that gives up the third-most points to quarterbacks of teams playing this week.

Sit: Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Brad Penner/Associated Press

With a lot of good quarterbacks on byes or injured this weekend, some folks will look to ride Ryan Tannehill in relief this weekend. Don't be one of them.

The Dallas Cowboys defense has given up some big outings in recent memory but is proving stout against the pass this season. Aside from a poor three-week stretch against Matt Ryan, Tom Brady and Drew Brees, Dallas has given up less than 10 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Running Backs

Rank	Player (Team)	Opp.	Projection
1	Devonta Freeman (ATL)	IND	17.7
2	Adrian Peterson (MIN)	GB	16.3
3	Charcandrick West (KC)	SD	15.1
4	Todd Gurley (STL)	BAL	15.0
5	Darren McFadden (DAL)	MIA	14.9
6	Marshawn Lynch (SEA)	SF	14.0
7	DeMarco Murray (PHI)	TB	14.0
8	Lamar Miller (MIA)	DAL	13.7
9	Chris Ivory (NYJ)	HOU	13.3
10	Jeremy Langford (CHI)	DEN	12.9

Start: Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Coming off a poor Week 11 performance and seeing the return of quarterback Tony Romo, some Darren McFadden owners might panic. But if anything, Romo's return will open up running lanes even more for DMC.

No longer will the defense be able to load the box and force the quarterback to beat it, because Romo and Dez Byrant will make the Dolphins pay if they do that. Plus, Dallas' offense will be intent on not putting too much on Romo's plate in his first game back.

Oh, and Miami ranks second-to-worst in terms of points per game to opposing running backs.

Sit: Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

At this point, considering the season he's had, you're probably only starting Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill in fantasy if you absolutely have to (yes, I'm talking about myself here).

The potential is always there after seeing what he did as a rookie and how Cincinnati keeps winning—and keeps giving him touches. But he's just not producing. Without a rushing score since Week 4 and going up against the Arizona Cardinals, you're bound to get burned if you start Hill.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player (Team)	Opp.	Projection
1	Julio Jones (ATL)	IND	15.1
2	DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)	NYJ	12.4
3	Dez Bryant (DAL)	MIA	12.4
4	Mike Evans (TB)	PHI	12.1
5	Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)	CIN	12.0
6	Calvin Johnson (DET)	OAK	11.8
7	Amari Cooper (OAK)	DET	11.7
8	A.J. Green (CIN)	ARI	11.6
9	Demaryius Thomas (DEN)	CHI	11.5
10	T.Y. Hilton (IND)	ATL	11.0

Start: Michael Crabtree, Oakland Raiders

Beck Diefenbach/Associated Press

The consistently dominant season of Michael Crabtree took a big step back in Week 10 when he posted his worst total of the year against the Minnesota Vikings. But his Raiders face a considerable step down in secondary talent facing the Lions on Sunday.

Detroit isn't horrible against opposing wideouts but did just lose two important secondary players to season-ending injuries. As long as Derek Carr keeps dealing, Crabtree will be on the receiving end. 

Sit: DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins

Those who've waited all season for DeSean Jackson to make his return from injury haven't been rewarded in his two games back, and there doesn't figure to be a breakthrough come Sunday.

Even in a blowout win over New Orleans, Jackson only caught two passes for 44 yards last week. Going up against the boisterous Carolina Panthers defense and likely lining up opposite Josh Norman, Jackson shouldn't put up much of anything Sunday.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player (Team)	Opp.	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski (NE)	BUF	12.6
2	Greg Olsen (CAR)	WAS	10.3
3	Antonio Gates (SD)	KC	9.1
4	Tyler Eifert (CIN)	ARI	9.1
5	Jimmy Graham (SEA)	SF	9.0
6	Travis Kelce (KC)	SD	8.6
7	Jordan Reed (WAS)	CAR	7.8
8	Jason Witten (DAL)	MIA	7.8
9	Martellus Bennett (CHI)	DEN	7.5
10	Eric Ebron (DET)	OAK	7.5

Start: Crockett Gillmore, Baltimore Ravens

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens offense have been desperate to find playmakers in the passing game since Steve Smith's injury, and the tight end play has been a main benefactor from that effort.

Crockett Gillmore leads the way, proving a factor in the red zone and a consistent security blanket for Flacco. The St. Louis Rams defense is pretty dominant up front, but it's merely average against tight ends, fantasy-wise, ranking in the middle of the pack.

Sit: Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills

From a fantasy perspective, Charles Clay has been disappointing virtually all season, which doesn't promise to change in Week 11 against the mighty New England Patriots.

Clay hasn't caught a touchdown pass since Week 3, and the Pats—who already rank in the top 10 in limiting fantasy tight ends—get linebacker Jamie Collins back to shadow Clay in the middle.

Projections courtesy of FantasyPros.com

Fantasy points-against stats courtesy of ESPN.com