Here are the guys you should smash(start) in your lineups and the guys you should be passing on(sitting) for week 11! These aren't guys you 100% have to start or 100% have to bench, they're just guys we believe are going to exceed expectations this week or fall short of what they're expected to do. Also, if any fantasy points are mentioned, we use PPR as our primary scoring marker and 6 point passing TDs for QBs.
Quarterbacks:
Smash
Shawn - Jameis Winston vs ATL: Jameis Winston is now quarterbacking the NO saints. Drew Brees without pushing the ball down the field was a rock-solid fantasy asset for more than a month before getting injured. With Winston, he can push the ball down the field a bit more to their bucket of playmakers like Thomas, Sanders, Smith, and Cook. He also gets Atlanta in his first start. Lock him in if you have Josh Allen on a bye or need QB help.
Q - Tom Brady vs LAR: The weapons are mostly healthy and Brady is thriving. After the flukey game vs the Saints, Brady bounced-back in a big way. I know the Rams defense is pretty good, but Brady should be fine with all of these weapons around him. Don't overthink it, start Tom Brady again this week.
Matty P - Cam Newton @ HOU: Cam is slowly getting back to normal and back into that startable QB territory. A bounce-back game against the Jets two weeks ago and he threw a TD pass this past week for the first time since week 3. Cam is startable in favorable matchups and the Texans are definitely favorable. They are a bottom 8 defense against opposing QBs so Cam is definitely an option to start this week if you need a QB.
Tgods - Justin Herbert vs NYJ: It's Justin Herbert. At least 2 TDs in every game except one this season. You don't think he's going to get at LEAST 2 touchdowns against the Jets? Stop it. Start Herbert with the most confidence, he has been super solid if you found him on waivers. Keep starting him.
Pass
Shawn - Matthew Stafford @ CAR: Doubling down on my Matt Stafford pass from last week. I know he looked good last week and maybe getting Golladay back. However, another injury came up this past week and he still has been too inconsistent to trust this season. I'm still avoiding him this week. Swift also may miss this game, I just don't see much success to be had. Avoid Stafford again this week.
Q - Joe Burrow @ WSH: Smashed Burrow last week and he let me down, now I'm passing on him. Another down game for Burrow vs a good d-line. Against good pass-rushing teams, Burrow struggles and so does the Bengals offensive line. He's struggled against the Steelers, Ravens, and Colts this season. I just don't trust him yet as he has only scored more than 24 fantasy points against the Browns. Avoid Burrow again, Chase young will be chasing him all game.
Matty P - Ryan Tannehill @ BAL: This one is self-explanatory at this point, but just in case you are thinking about this... STOP. 4 straight games with 22 or fewer points, including 18 and 11 in the last 2 games. He is struggling against these upper-tier defenses and the Ravens are a solid defense. Avoid Tannehill again this week if you want to win.
Tgods - Carson Wentz @ CLE: When I have passed on Carson earlier this season, he looked good, so take that for what it's worth. However, I just can't trust him right now. Wentz has 2 games above 30 fantasy points this season and 3 games with 11 or less. 2 of those 3 games were each of the last 2 weeks in favorable matchups. The Eagles offense has hit a wall and until I see something change, I'm benching Wentz.
Running Backs:
Smash
Shawn - Carlos Hyde vs ARI: Hyde will have all of the opportunities on Thursday to prove his worth. Carson will be out, Homer is out. It is just him and Deejay Dallas. Deejay struggled this past week and I think Hyde is going to get a lot of work. Plug Hyde in with confidence I think he finds the endzone for Seattle this week in a bounce-back game all around for the Seahawks.
Q - Kalen Ballage vs NYJ: The Ballage barrage is here to stay. Anthony Lynn is putting a lot of confidence in him and he's going to get a lot of work this upcoming week against the Jets. Somewhat of a revenge game as well so plug him in if you were able to grab him on waivers. The Jets are a bad run defense and Ballage is looking like the starter. Don't overthink this.
Matty P - Nyheim Hines vs GB: Nyheim Hines? He has 3 big games this season and 2 of them are in the last 3 weeks. However, he got the most carries in a game this past week against the Packers with 12. He outpaced Wilkins and Taylor and is looking to play more snaps as Rivers' safety valve. Plug him in again this week against a putrid Packers run defense.
Tgods - Kalen Ballage vs NYJ: Was Q's explanation not enough for you? The Jets are an AWFUL run defense. Now to be fair, they have been a bit better recently, but I'm not buying it. Ballage is going to be able to get down the field with ease in this game so start him if you have him.
Pass
Shawn - Rams Backfield @ TB: The Bucs have been a very good run defense this season. They have not allowed a team to rush for over 100 yards yet this entire season. I think one of these backs may find the endzone, but are you willing to take that risk? Probably not. Avoid all of them again this week as the carousel continues.
Q - Mike Davis vs DET: Davis has not had more than 11 points since week 5. I'm just nervous about the usage of Curtis Samuel. Samuel has been stealing some red-zone looks and Davis just has not been that efficient. The Lions' run defense is bad, so you may be stuck with him, but I am tempering expectations again this week for Davis.
Matty P - Todd Gurley @ NO: Todd Gurley on a Pass list? How could this be? Maybe because the Saints are currently the #1 team against opposing running backs. Gurley is a TD dependent play this week against a team that has not allowed an RB touchdown since week 4. Avoid Gurley if you can, but you may be stuck with him with a lack of options.
Tgods - Broncos Backfield vs MIA: Melvin Gordon and Philip Lindsay have struggled mightily. Lindsay has been a bit better lately but is not garnering enough work to make a dent. Melvin Gordon's passing game involvement has diminished as well. The Broncos' backfield is really bad right now and I am avoiding both of them if possible for your team.
Wide Receivers:
Smash
Shawn - Rashard Higgins vs PHI: Darius Slay will be shadowing Jarvis Landry all day with OBJ out for the season. That's gonna leave Rashard Higgins and Austin Hooper a ton of looks from Baker Mayfield. I think the Eagles will be competitive in this one and cause the Browns to have to throw and Higgins should have a solid game. He's my breakout this week and I think he finds the endzone. If you need a flex, take a shot on Higgins.
Q - Travis Fulgham @ CLE: Barring some crazy weather, Fulgham should easily bounce back against this poor secondary. Fulgham has been an anomaly and a down game was coming, but I think the talent is legit. Fulgham should be fine against a poor Browns secondary this week. Plug Fulgham back in your lineup again and watch the points go up.
Matty P - Juju Smith-Schuster @ JAX: Juju is by no means locked in as the #1 WR on this team. Claypool and Diontae have both also been impressive. However, Juju has been a rock-solid WR2 option the past 4 weeks and I believe he is past that slump. Whether he is doing TikTok dances or not, I think you have to start him with a lot of confidence vs the bad Jags secondary.
Tgods - Curtis Samuel vs DET: Curtis Samuel disappeared last week vs the Bucs, but the only one who really showed up was DJ Moore. I think Samuel bounces back against the worst rushing defense and a mediocre pass defense. CMC is out again and Mike Davis is playing with a dislocated finger, I think Samuel will get some looks and is a solid flex this week.
Pass
Shawn - Marquise Brown vs TEN: Hollywood no more! Not only has he been bad in fantasy, but he's also struggled in real life. Despite all of his speed, he can't get separation. I do not trust Hollywood. He may be a big play waiting to happen, but we've been waiting all season. He has been very frustrating this season and I don't see that changing this week.
Q - Robert Woods @ TB: Robert Woods on a hate list? You're probably still starting him, but if you have a better option, don't be scared to make a change. Woods has less than 10 points in 2 of the last 3 weeks and Goff has not played all that well. Add that into a pretty good Bucs pass defense, it makes me nervous. I'm avoiding Woods if I can this week.
Matty P - Jarvis Landry vs PHI: Jarvis Landry gets the Darius Slay treatment this week as Shawn mentioned earlier. He did let one play get away from him this past week, but Slay has been nothing short of spectacular this season. So much so that opposing QBs are pretty much avoiding targeting him altogether. Landry has had a down year and I don't think his breakout game is this week.
Tgods - Devante Parker @ DEN: Devante Parker has less than 10 points in 3 of his last 4 games. He has not found a groove with Tua just yet and it's making me nervous. You want to see him get more involved, but it has not happened yet. I'm avoiding Dpark if I can until I see some more consistency.
Tight Ends:
Smash
Shawn - Logan Thomas vs CIN: Logan Thomas has been on our waiver column and smash list multiple times over the past few weeks. Logan Thomas is pushing the top 10 TE tier and is a safety valve for Alex Smith. In a world with struggling tight ends he is getting consistent targets and has 10+ points in 3 of the last 4. If he's still out there on waivers in your league, pick him up. By the way, he plays the Bengals this week, second-worst team against tight ends in fantasy.
Q - Hayden Hurst @ NO: Hayden Hurst has been one of the most consistent tight ends over the past few weeks. 7+ targets in 3 straight games and 10+ points in 4 straight games. Keep rolling Hurst out there and don't overthink it. The Saints' defense may be scary for running backs, but not tight ends. They are bottom 6, so start Hurst again!
Matty P - Hunter Henry vs NYJ: Hunter Henry finally found the endzone last week and I think he does again. The Chargers are going to blow out the Jets and Hunter Henry should find the endzone pretty easily. He's got 4 catches in each of the last 3 games so he's got a decent floor as well. Lock him in.
Tgods - Jared Cook vs ATL: In a world where all tight ends are struggling if you are not named Travis Kelce, Cook has been able to find the endzone a lot. With Winston at the helm, I think Cook should be able to get open down the field and has a good chance at scoring. With all the uncertainty, Cook is worth the risk.
Pass
Shawn - Jonnu Smith @ BAL: Jonnu has been struggling a bit and if you started him last week, you got lucky with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. I'm avoiding Jonnu this week and next week. Until the Titans have a better matchup, I'm nervous about this passing game as a whole.
Q - Robert Tonyan @ IND: Tonyan is a true TD dependent tight end and has not found the endzone since week 4. Aside from a long catch against the Vikings he has all but disappeared on this offense. He's not playing enough snaps to be startable right now. Also, the Colts are top 2 against tight ends.
Matty P - Jonnu Smith @ BAL: As Shawn said, the Colts are the second-best defense against tight ends this season. They have not allowed a tight end to score a TD this entire season. Jonnu is pretty TD dependent because he is not getting the volume right now. Avoid him if you can!
Tgods - Noah Fant vs MIA: Noah Fant is still getting the volume, but the injuries are nagging him. He is coming into every game banged up and questionable. I am a bit nervous about him going forward as my TE option and would avoid him this week if I had someone else.