Let’s dive into some news and notes around the league, my top fantasy plays and favorite picks for Week 11.
Notes:
• Ravens fans are glad they don’t have to see Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase again this season. Chase scorched the Baltimore defense in two games, racking up 21 receptions for 457 yards and five touchdowns. Burrow threw for 820 yards and nine touchdowns against the Ravens. If the Bengals somehow play the Ravens again in the playoffs, they will be a confident bunch against Baltimore.
• Chuba Hubbard was one of my favorite late-round draft picks this summer, but even I did not see this type of success coming. Just days after being rewarded a contract extension, Hubbard rushed for 158 yards on 28 carries against the Giants. Both marks are career highs. Many assumed — myself included — that Jonathan Brooks would take over this backfield when healthy. Brooks could make his debut in Week 12, but Hubbard is the clear choice to lead the Panthers’ backfield.
• I have been a strong supporter of Jared Goff all year. He’s the leader of one of the NFL’s best offenses. It’s also time to admit he’s unreliable in fantasy. Goff’s best finish in the first three weeks of the year was QB18. He finished as QB4, QB4 and QB10 the next three weeks. That’s the guy I was expecting. Since then, he’s been QB20, QB27 and QB15. The Jaguars are up next, so it’s tough to bench him this week. But if he doesn’t have a good game against Jacksonville, it’s definitely time to move on.
• It’s crunch time for fantasy owners. We are a little more than a month away from the end of the fantasy regular season. Depending on your league settings, there are just five or six weeks left to make a playoff run, and trade deadlines are around the corner for fantasy owners. Now is the time to fortify your roster by any means necessary. If you are in a strong position to make the postseason, start looking at the best matchups for those weeks. If you are currently outside of the playoffs, you have a lot of work to do to sneak in.
• The next two weeks are going to be fun to navigate with 10 teams on bye. There are not many fantasy-relevant players with the Buccaneers, Cardinals, Giants and Panthers off this week, but next week is a doozy with six teams on bye. Don’t forget another six are off in Week 14 as well. If you are streaming any position, pick them up this week because you will not be the only person in that position for the next few weeks.
Thursday Night Game: Commanders vs. Eagles
Sunday Night Game: Bengals vs. Chargers
Monday Night Game: Texans vs. Cowboys
Start ‘Em:
Quarterback: Jared Goff
Running Back: Jaylen Warren
Wide Receiver: Quentin Johnston
Tight End: Dallas Goedert
Defense: Browns
Sit ‘Em:
Quarterback: Caleb Williams
Running Back: Javonte Williams
Wide Receiver: Rome Odunze
Tight End: Cole Kmet
Defense: Steelers
Sleepers:
Quarterback: Russell Wilson
Running Back: Audric Estime
Wide Receiver: Alec Pierce
Tight End: Will Dissly
Defense: Titans
NFL Picks for Week 11
Weekly Pick ‘Em (Season Record: 94-58)
Eagles (vs. Commanders)
Packers (vs. Bears)
Saints (vs. Browns)
Rams (vs. Patriots)
Ravens (vs. Steelers)
Dolphins (vs. Raiders)
Lions (vs. Jaguars)
Vikings (vs. Titans)
Jets (vs. Colts)
49ers (vs. Seahawks)
Falcons (vs. Broncos)
Bills (vs. Chiefs)
Chargers (vs. Bengals)
Texans (vs. Cowboys)
Five Against the Spread Picks (Season Record: 28-22)
Saints -1 vs. Browns
Colts +3.5 vs. Jets
Falcons +2.5 vs. Broncos
Chargers -1 vs. Bengals
Texans -7 vs. Cowboys
Five Over-Under Totals (Season Record: 27-22-1)
Commanders-Eagles under 49
Rams-Patriots under 43
Raiders-Dolphins under 44.5
Vikings-Titans over 39.5
Chiefs-Bills over 45.5
One Bold Prediction for the Week
Week 1: Jayden Daniels finishes as a top-five fantasy QB against the Buccaneers. (Off to a good start!)
Week 2: Greg Dortch finishes as a top-25 wide receiver against the Rams. (WR89 — yikes!)
Week 3: Derek Carr makes it three straight weeks as a top-five fantasy QB against the Eagles. (Major miss)
Week 4: Malik Nabers remains WR1 after scoring two touchdowns against division rival Dallas Cowboys. (Still WR1, but no TDs)
Week 5: A running back will finish with more than 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards for the first time this season. (Not even close)
Week 6: A tight end — a position that has been AWFUL to this point — leads all position players in scoring this week. (Close! Cole Kmet finished No. 6)
Week 7: The four rookie QBs — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix — combine for more fantasy points than the top four quarterbacks drafted this summer — Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. (Miss)
Week 8: Courtland Sutton finishes as a WR2 or better after failing to earn a single target last week. (JUST missed. WR25!)
Week 9: Tight ends keep rolling, with four tight ends scoring 20-plus points. (Tight end struggles continue)
Week 10: A receiver, back or tight end will account for more than 200 yards of offense. (Ja’Marr Chase did it on Thursday night)
Week 11: The running backs finish with more touchdowns than the quarterbacks in the Chiefs-Bills matchup.
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