Week 11 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Willis McGahee and Others You Must Bench

Running backs are the focus of this list of players you should keep on your fantasy football bench in Week 11, with injuries, fickle head coaches and bad matchups affecting their respective values in negative ways. Find alternatives and give them a start if you can, because these backs won't be helping your team this week.

Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos (vs. New York Jets)

If the New York Jets run defense wasn't enough to make you wary of starting McGahee this week, then his hamstring injury in concert with the tough matchup should make for a convincing argument.

Despite assuring the media throughout the week that he would be ready and able to play this week after suffering a mild hamstring injury in last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, he remains a game-time decision, with his comfort level during pregame warmups determining his ultimate status.

While McGahee's owners might hear that he's good to go and be willing to start him, the tough Jets defense, combined with the kind of unpredictable injury he has, doesn't bode well for his chances to be very productive, regardless of the Broncos' reliance on the run game.

There's also the possibility that McGahee could re-injure his hamstring; his leaving the game early would serve your fantasy team no benefit. If you have an adequate replacement, give him the start instead.

Roy Helu/Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

The Shanahanigans continue, as the Redskins head coach cannot commit to either a starting quarterback nor a starting running back. My recommendation is to avoid starting either Roy Helu or Ryan Torain for the foreseeable future, as their performances week to week do not seem to inform who ends up ultimately starting.

Whether Shanahan is doing this specifically to frustrate fantasy owners or because he's bad at decision-making is unknown. However, what is known is that whichever of the two you choose to start, it will be the other who gets the majority of the carries and yards on the day.

While the Cowboys defense is weaker against the run than the pass, there is too much inherent risk in starting either Torain or Helu, and I suggest benching both of them until Shanahan's intentions become clearer—if that's even possible.

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals (at Baltimore Ravens)

The Ravens are the No. 2 defense in defending the run and Benson, while the clear starting back for Cincinnati, doesn't have the power to gain yardage.

His yards-per-carry average is just 3.9, and though he's not in danger of losing his starting job to Bernard Scott, Scott's higher average does show that Benson is indeed having a down year, with just 593 yards and two scores to his name this season.

Benson's struggles will only continue this week against the vaunted Ravens defense. It's a terrible matchup for the slumping back, and he should sit on your bench if you have a viable alternative or can grab someone useful off of the waiver wire.