Fantasy Football Week 11: Wes Welker and Risky Prime-Time Starts

Losing Russian Roulette and a fantasy football game don’t have the same consequences.  That doesn’t mean you should be any less careful setting your starting lineup, though.

The following players could put up solid numbers in Week 11, but it’s more likely that they do absolutely nothing.  Their matchups have the potential to cause nightmares for the players’ owners.  Here are three prime time performers you should keep your bench warm with unless you’re out of options:

3. Vince Young

Believe it or not, many owners are starting Vince Young this week with the anticipation that he could put up Michael Vick-like numbers.  Young will fail to live up to expectations…again.  The former Tennessee Titan has had success against the New York Giants in the past, but it’d be a miracle if he could reenact such magic.

While the Giants field a secondary of players that entered the season as nothing but depth, their pass rush is elite.  Jason Pierre-Paul and company lead the NFL in sacks with 30 on the season.  Young will be under pressure all day long and his inconsistent offensive line won’t give him much help.

2. Wes Welker

After starting the season off as hot as any other wide receiver in the league, Welker has failed to surpass the 50-yard receiving mark in three out of the last four contests.  In only one out of the last five games has Welker brought down more than six passes.  Against the Kansas City Chiefs’ pair of talented cornerbacks, Welker will have another down day.

Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr have combined for six interceptions and 21 passes defended this year.  In just three games this season has a wide out recorded 100-receiving yards on Kansas City.  Rob Gronkowski will also continue to steal Welker’s red zone targets. 

1. DeSean Jackson

If Chris Johnson breaks out of his slump for good, DeSean Jackson will steal his title as the biggest disappointment in the league.  Jackson has only recorded a pair of touchdowns and 100-yard-receiving games this year.  This past week against the Arizona Cardinals, the Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff benched Jackson for sleeping through and missing a special teams meeting.

Michael Vick is out Sunday night against the New York Giants.  Not that he’s ever had a legitimate wide out to throw to, but no receiver has ever put up big numbers with Vince Young under center.  And Jackson’s favorite route, the fly, won’t be an option against the Giants’ explosive pass rush.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.  Follow him on Twitter.