Week 11 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: DeMarco Murray and Others to Start

When you've got a proven stud on your fantasy football roster, it's clear as day to start him.

Whether that means Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice or New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker, none of them warrant benching unless it's their respective bye weeks.

But when it comes to some of the more obscure fantasy options out there, it's hard to tell when it's the best time to give them the start. If you don't have a plethora of every-week starters, then you need to take to poring over the matchups to find something that will benefit you.

Here are three players you should start in Week 11, for their matchups present great opportunities for you to score big points and, hopefully, win your week.

RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (at Washington Redskins)

Fellow Cowboys running back Felix Jones will return for this week's game against the Redskins, but don't let that give you pause, owners of DeMarco Murray. Murray will remain the team's starting back, with Jones getting (at most) 12 touches on Sunday.

Murray has more than earned the starting role in the four games he's played as Jones' substitute, rushing for 601 yards and two scores and picking up 81 receiving yards during that time.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it best: "One thing that comes to my mind is that Murray looks like the more he carries, the more effective he gets," and he's right.

The Redskins defense ranks just 17th against the run and are falling every week—with Dallas coming to town, they'll appear even weaker. Murray appears almost unstoppable, and now he's the Cowboys uncontested starter.

He should be yours, too.

WR Victor Cruz, New York Giants (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is Eli Manning's go-to target in clutch situations, and Cruz has responded well to the role, with 40 catches on the year for 672 yards and four touchdowns.

He had six receptions for 84 yards in last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers and should have similar if not greater success against an Eagles defense that has proven not so hard to throw against, despite their trio of talented cornerbacks. 

Manning has been on fire this year, boasting his best passer rating of his career. He's on pace to throw for more yards than ever before, and this has much to do with the emergence of Cruz as one of his most reliable receivers.

Even in two wide receiver leagues, Cruz deserves a start this week.

RB Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs (at New England Patriots)

With Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel injured (and perhaps out for the season), backup Tyler Palko will be taking over the already-struggling Kansas City offense. That means that hybrid back Dexter McCluster will have an even more prominent role, and if you're in a PPR league, that means he's an excellent option as a fantasy starter this week.

The Patriots defense, despite looking improved against the Jets in Week 10, still has yet to prove they can maintain it. While the Chiefs offense isn't much of a threat when it comes to New England's chance of winning this Sunday, that shaky defense provides an opening for those looking for a spot-start this week.

McCluster has 63 rushes for 291 yards and 29 receptions for 143 yards so far this season, with eight carries for 45 yards and six catches for 48 in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos.

With Palko under center, look for McCluster to match or beat these numbers this week. If you've got a need at running back or in the flex spot, toss McCluster into the mix in Week 11.