Fantasy Football Week 11: Big Board and Advice for 'Monday Night Football'
With Thanksgiving upon us, what better way to get warmed up than an AFC East showdown featuring one of the two remaining undefeated teams?
The last time the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots met, it was a fantasy football explosion.
However, this will be the Patriots' first game without star wide receiver Julian Edelman.
In Week 10, Bills head coach Rex Ryan made his return to New Jersey and took down his former team, the New York Jets.
If you watched the game, you would have noticed that Ryan was visibly pumped up and even referred to his old team as his ex-girlfriend in his postgame press conference.
A part of me wants to see the Bills win just to see Ryan's reaction.
However, that's not happening.
I'm taking the Patriots 34-24.
Big Board
1 of 9
Here's the Monday night big board:
| Rank | Name | Pos. | Team |
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | TE | New England Patriots |
| 2 | Tom Brady | QB | New England Patriots |
| 3 | Danny Amendola | WR | New England Patriots |
| 4 | Sammy Watkins | WR | Buffalo Bills |
| 5 | Robert Woods | WR | Buffalo Bills |
| 6 | Karlos Williams | RB | Buffalo Bills |
| 7 | Tyrod Taylor | QB | Buffalo Bills |
| 8 | LeGarrette Blount | RB | New England Patriots |
| 9 | LeSean McCoy | RB | Buffalo Bills |
| 10 | Brandon LaFell | WR | New England Patriots |
Injury Report
2 of 9
Buffalo Bills
- Karlos Wiliams, RB, Questionable (Illness)
- Leodis McKelvin, CB, Questionable (Illness)
- Kyle Williams, DT, Questionable (Knee)
New England Patriots
- Jamie Collins, LB, Out (Illness)
- Keshawn Martin, WR, Questionable (Hamstring)
- Chandler Jones, DE, Probable (Abdomen)
- Aaron Dobson, WR, Questionable (Back)
Injury reports courtesy of ESPN.com.
Quarterbacks
3 of 9
Buffalo Bills: Tyrod Taylor
Last week, Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was just the QB21.
In Week 2, Taylor had four combined touchdowns against these Patriots. However, he has thrown more than 30 times just once this season. Also, over his past four games, he has just a single touchdown in each of them.
Taylor does, however, run the ball often, ranking third in rush attempts by quarterbacks this season.
Despite not throwing for over 200 yards since Week 4, Taylor should reach that number but have his share of turnovers.
Projections: 200 passing yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs; 35 rushing yards.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leads the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and he is the clear QB1.
Enough said.
Projections: 350 passing yards, 3 TDs.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Running Backs
4 of 9
Buffalo Bills: LeSean McCoy
The New England Patriots are the third-toughest team in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.
Opposing teams need to pass in order to keep up with them.
In Week 10, McCoy caught five passes, and he could see more dump-offs from quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
McCoy will be a serviceable play in Week 11 but will remain under 60 rushing yards.
Projections: 50 rushing yards; 3 receptions, 30 receiving yards.
Buffalo Bills: Karlos Williams
After not writing about him in the Thursday Night Football piece in Week 10, of course Buffalo Bills running back Karlos Williams' lone reception went for a 26-yard touchdown.
What can I say? Six games, seven touchdowns. Williams has a touchdown in every game he's played this season, and that streak will continue when Williams vultures a touchdown from McCoy.
Projections: 35 rushing yards, 1 TD; 3 receptions, 25 receiving yards.
New England Patriots: LeGarrette Blount
With the absence of fellow running back Dion Lewis, New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount is the man in New England.
Over the last three weeks, Blount is averaging over 21 carries per game. He's also scored a touchdown in his last two games.
Blount isn't one to rush for a ton of yards, as he has just one 100-yard game this season.
However, Blount will find the end zone this week.
Projections: 70 rushing yards, 1 TD.
Wide Receivers
5 of 9
Buffalo Bills: Sammy Watkins
In Week 10, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins was dreadful, credited with two drops.
However, he was just one misplaced jump away from a long touchdown.
Watkins is the main target for Buffalo, and going up against a New England Patriots secondary that allows over 195 receiving yards to opposing wide receivers, Watkins should finally find the end zone again.
Projections: 5 receptions, 65 receiving yards, 1 TD.
Buffalo Bills: Robert Woods
Bills wide receiver Robert Woods has been unusable lately.
However, the Patriots give up their fair share of yards to wide receivers per game.
Woods has just two touchdowns on the season, but let's make that three in Week 11.
Projections: 4 receptions, 45 receiving yards, 1 TD.
New England Patriots: Danny Amendola
Expected to take over the role of fellow New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola will be an excellent points-per-reception option moving forward.
With quarterback Tom Brady throwing him the ball, expect great things.
Projections: 9 receptions, 95 receiving yards, 1 TD.
New England Patriots: Brandon LaFell
The Bills have given up even more receptions and touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season than the Patriots.
Coming off of injured reserve in Week 7, LaFell has yet to catch a touchdown in a game.
He should be in line for some good yardage, but he'll remain touchdown-less.
Projections: 5 receptions, 70 receiving yards.
Tight Ends
6 of 9
Buffalo Bills: Charles Clay
The New England Patriots give up right around 40 yards receiving per game to opposing tight ends and have surrendered just three receiving touchdowns on the season to the position.
Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay saw five targets in Week 10, which was the most he's seen since Week 6.
Also, Clay has not caught a touchdown since Week 4.
Another week, another touchdown-less performance for Clay.
Projections: 4 receptions, 40 receiving yards.
New England Patriots: Rob Gronkowski
Earlier this week, I spoke with King Kong. He said he wouldn't be making an appearance this game, leaving Bills head coach Rex Ryan with some bowel issues—if you know what I mean.
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is a man among boys when he steps on the field.
He's going off because...why not?
Projections: 11 receptions, 140 receiving yards, 2 TDs.
Defense/Special Teams
7 of 9
Buffalo Bills Defense/Special Teams
Projected to give up 34 points and force zero turnovers.
I'm going to say no to this play.
Projections: 34 points allowed, 2 sacks.
New England Patriots Defense/Special Teams
Although I said that the Bills will score 24 points, the three interceptions and potential for one of those possibly being brought back for six make the Patriots defense an interesting option this week.
Projections: 24 points allowed, 3 INTS, 1 FF, 4 sacks.
Best Sleeper Add
8 of 9
Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo Bills (owned in 11.6 percent of ESPN Leagues)
With the New England Patriots giving up nearly 200 receiving yards to opposing wide receivers per game, Buffalo Bills No. 2 wide receiver Robert Woods makes for an interesting play if you're desperate.
Hope for a touchdown!
Start or Sit?
9 of 9
Karlos Williams, RB, Buffalo Bills
In the weeks he has played, Buffalo Bills running back Karlos Williams is the RB5 in points-per-reception leagues.
It is impossible to sit him at this point.
Verdict: Start.
All advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Fantasy numbers courtesy of ESPN.com.
Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")