Fantasy Overview - Week 11

The season is 10 weeks old, and for the most part, you've learned who the mainstays are in your lineup. However, here are a few under-the-radar players that I like this week who might be worthy of finding your starting roster, especially in deeper leagues. Take a look at the matchups and learn which defenses have been struggling lately. Is there an opportunity to catch lightning in a bottle with a non-traditional starter? It's easy to insert Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Tyreek Hill, and Justin Jefferson into your lineup, but the diamonds in the rough can win your week. Here's a look at a few from each position that I like, especially for this week.

QUARTERBACK

1. Dak Prescott, DAL (at MIN) - In their last four games, the Vikings have allowed eight touchdown passes and three 300-yard quarterbacks. Prescott has five touchdown passes in his last two games and will face a Vikings team fresh off a statement win. This game feels like another back-and-forth battle which is usually good for fantasy production.
   
   
2. Daniel Jones, NYG (vs DET) - The Lions allow a league-high 29.3 points per game, and only the Texans have a worse run defense. This is a Saquon Barkley game if there ever was one, but there may be some meat on the bone for Jones to score a few touchdowns. If you're looking for a bye-week filler, you could do worse than Jones. Since Week 6, opposing quarterbacks have averaged 262 yards passing with 1.8 touchdown passes.
   
   
3. Justin Herbert, LAC (vs KC) - Herbert is far from a quarterback you can find on the bench, but his matchup is a good one that shouldn't be ignored. The Chiefs have allowed multiple touchdown passes in eight of their nine games played this season. Los Angeles may be getting Keenan Allen (hamstring) and/or Mike Williams (ankle) back for this game and it couldn't come soon enough. Could this be the game that sets up Herbert for a second-half run?
   
   
4. Jimmy Garoppolo, SF (at ARI) - The 49ers look like a run-heavy offense with the combination of Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell handling the ground game, but that doesn't necessarily mean the passing game will be forgotten. The 49ers have multiple touchdown passes in four of their last five games, and Arizona has allowed nine touchdown passes in their last four games, which includes last week against the hapless Rams, who were without Matthew Stafford. Garoppolo is a decent fill-in for your bye week.

RUNNING BACK

1. Washington backfield (at HOU) - In the weekly game of "who plays Houston?", the Commanders win the prize this week. The Texans allow the most points to fantasy running backs 34.8 PPR Pts/gm since Week 6, which includes an average of 185 yards rushing and 2.0 rushing touchdowns. Houston has allowed a back to rush for 93 yards or more in six of their nine games. Both Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson should flourish in what should be a heavy ground attack.
   
   
2. Broncos backs (vs LSV) - Denver's offense has been far from productive this season, scoring an NFL-low 14.6 points per game. However, they will face a Raiders team that is struggling in their right. In the battle of the doldrums, Denver may get the upper hand facing the Raiders, who have allowed the second-most points to fantasy backs since Week 6. They have given up six touchdowns to running backs in their last three games, including two straight 100-yard rushers in Travis Etienne and Jonathan Taylor. This is good news for Melvin Gordon, Latavius Murray, and perhaps Chase Edmonds this week. The presence of the committee backfield makes things cloudy but the matchup may be too good to pass up.
   
   
3. Isiah Pacheco, KC (at LAC) - The Chargers have been a team to exploit against the run all season. They have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns (all since Week 3), including five in the last three games. Pacheco is seeing more usage as the Chiefs' primary rushing threat. He has speed, elusiveness, and an offense that favors a ground attack. This is a great matchup for Pacheco to flex his muscle and show the league what he is capable of doing.
   
   
4. Falcons backs (vs Chicago) - If you like games with plenty of rushing, this one is for you. Chicago, Atlanta (and New York Giants) all have more rushing yards than passing yards this season. This week we get to see two of those teams face each other. Cordarrelle Patterson is the main driver of the Falcons' ground game, who will face a Bears run defense that has allowed a rushing touchdown to a running back in six straight games and eight of ten this season. Patterson figures to be heavily involved, but don't rule out Marcus Mariota getting some action, as well as Tyler Allgeier.

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Michael Gallup, DAL (at MIN) - The Cowboys will travel to Minnesota in Week 11 and face a Vikings team who are giving up the most PPR points to wide receivers since Week 6. In that time, wide receivers have averaged 18 catches and 245 yards receiving with 1.3 touchdowns per game against Minnesota. CeeDee Lamb is a fantastic start this week, but this is also a good matchup for Michael Gallup, who could see 5-6 receptions on his own.
   
   
2. Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE (at BUF) - Peoples-Jones has been on an impressive streak recently, with six straight games of 50+ yards receiving that includes five games of at least 70 yards. During that stretch, he has not caught a touchdown pass, but he is quietly putting up solid numbers nonetheless. This week's matchup is at Buffalo, which sounds like a challenge, but the Bills have struggled against wide receivers lately, allowing five touchdowns to five different receivers in the last four games. Also, in that same span, three receivers had 90 yards or more against them. This is a good time to start Peoples-Jones if you're not doing so already.
   
   
3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney, KC (at LAC) - This play isn't so much a matchup situation but a depth chart situation. Kansas City might be without JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) and Mecole Hardman (abdomen) this week. As a result, it opens the door for Kadarius Toney and Valdes-Scantling to see more targets.
   
   
4. Packers wide receivers vs TEN - Christian Watson is a no-brainer this week based on last week's coming out party of three touchdowns, but also because the wide receiver room in Green Bay is thin. It's him and Allen Lazard holding down the fort. This week they will face a Titans team who have given up 11 receiving touchdowns to wide receivers this season compared to one rushing touchdown by a running back. The matchup and boost of confidence in Watson is a good blend of ingredients that could yield promising results.

TIGHT END

1. Daniel Bellinger, NYG (vs DET) - Daniel Bellinger (eye surgery) may be returning to action this week, and the Giants have a great matchup against Detroit. The Lions have allowed seven touchdowns to tight end this season, including six since Week 4. If Bellinger is active, consider playing him as a bye-week filler.
   
   
2. Hayden Hurst, CIN (at PIT) - In a year where the fantasy tight end position is lacking depth, we have to look hard to find good value, matchups, or talent. Since Ja'Marr Chase has been sidelined with a hip injury, Hurst has stepped up his game leading to a 17% target share in his last game. In the last three games, Hurst has 15 catches for 125 yards. The Steelers have recently allowed 6 and 7 catches to tight ends over the last two games, including a touchdown. Consider Hurst this week as a bye-week fill-in.

Good luck. Go earn that playoff spot this week.

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