Week 11 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
If cheaters never prosper, they never read Dave Richard's Cheat Sheet. Fantasy owners pushing for the playoffs shouldn't miss his take on over 150 players heading into Week 11.
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Each week, the Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet will combine analysis, data and game predictions with a confidence scale to help owners get a definitive answer on who to start in their leagues.
Nice. But what about those numbers all over the place? That's our confidence scale. It slides from 10.0 for an amazing start to 5.0 for an average rating to a 1.0 for a nauseous rating.
Is the confidence scale based on a specific scoring system? It is based on standard leagues but is (mostly) applicable to PPR leagues. You should probably consult our PPR-specific rankings for more detail.
Who is listed below? Everyone that matters, but anyone already starting in 90 percent or more of CBSSports.com leagues is considered an obvious must-start. We're not going to waste your time trying to convince you to start Tom Brady.
What if someone isn't listed below? If someone's missing, it's not an accident. Anyone missing is a definitive must sit, if not a must-cut player. Or they're on bye.
What's the best way to find a specific player on this page? Use your personal search function -- CTRL-F on PCs and Command-F on MACs. If neither of those are options, or if you're on a mobile device, you can search by game. Games are listed by starting times.
But what if I am still unsure who to start or sit after reading this? Ask me! Shoot me a note on Twitter (@daverichard) (I'll keep an eye out for the #CBSFCS hashtag). You can also always consult our rankings, which constantly reflect our feelings on players around the league. They're pretty much updated every day.
Enough with the yap-yap, we've got playoff spots to clinch ...
Titans at Jaguars, Thu., 8:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota (6.5): The numbers say to start him -- four consecutive quarterbacks have posted 20-plus Fantasy points against Jacksonville. He will end up throwing a good among but it's hard to trust Mariota when his receiving corps is headlined by Delanie Walker, Dorial Green-Beckham and Harry Douglas. He's great as a bye-week replacement, but that's about it.
Blake Bortles (8.1): Three straight quarterbacks have posted over 20 points on Tennessee with eight total touchdowns, one turnover and 8.4 yards per pass attempt. Bortles hasn't been a monster, even letting us down with 19 points last week, but the combination of playing at home on a short week and working with a below-average run game should press him into throwing a lot and eclipsing 20 Fantasy points (though not much more).
Running backs
Antonio Andrews (4.9): The Jaguars should still have enough on defense to slow down Andrews. He might do damage at the goal line, particularly with the Jaguars D-line losing another starter (Sen'Derrick Marks). Would you believe the Jaguars have held opposing running backs to 3.0 yards per carry over their last four games?
Dexter McCluster (4.2): McCluster's spot as a passing downs back is safe, and he should come in handy against the Jaguars. The Jaguars have allowed 10.7 yards per catch to running backs in their last five games with two touchdowns. If you're starting him it better be in PPR formats, where he's had at least 10 points in three of his last five.
T.J. Yeldon (5.7): It looks like Yeldon will play against a Titans run defense that started to show some signs of falling off against the Panthers in Week 10. The issue isn't the matchup as much as it is Yeldon's own play. In 7 of 8 games this year when he's had 15-plus touches, Yeldon has delivered 100 total yards and/or a touchdown in three of them. The combination of playing at home on a short week helps him out but don't expect a huge game.
Wide receivers
Dorial Green-Beckham (4.6): The Titans' receiving cupboard is getting thin, meaning that Green-Beckham could (finally) be in line for a lot of targets. Over the past four weeks, the Jaguars have allowed seven touchdowns and 12.1 yards per catch to receivers. He's a big-time risk, but the matchup is right.
Allen Robinson (9.3): Robinson has become an incredible Fantasy receiver, giving at least 11 Fantasy points (16 in PPR) over each of his past five games. The Titans secondary is nowhere near as good as the Panthers made them look last week -- they're giving up 14.7 yards per catch to wideouts on the year.
Allen Hurns (8.3): He's banged up but still has scored in seven straight games. In a game where consistency is rare, there shouldn't be a second thought to starting Hurns, particularly since he should chew up the Titans defensive coverage, be it zone or man-to-man.
Tight ends
Delanie Walker (5.8): The lack of targets in Week 10 after being a stat machine in Week 9 makes Walker a little scary, but the matchup's not bad. Nearly every quality pass-catching tight end to play the Jaguars since Week 2 has walked away with quality Fantasy points. That even includes Crockett Gillmore (and Maxx Williams) last week. Expect Walker to have a decent shot at scoring.
Julius Thomas (4.2): With three touchdowns allowed to tight ends over the last two weeks, the Titans are the kind of matchup that would suit Thomas just fine. But Thomas has been a ridiculous disappointment over his last three games, totaling 41 yards on six catches despite 18 targets. Use Thomas at your own risk.
Defense/Special teams
Titans (4.8): Would you believe the Titans have 12 sacks over their past three games including five against the Panthers? It's true. Pair that with Bortles' propensity for turning the ball over and there's a slim hope the Titans end up exceeding 10 Fantasy points for the first time since Week 5. Each of the last five DSTs to play the Jaguars have posted at least nine Fantasy points. If you're in a pinch, start them.
Jaguars (4.4): All but two DSTs have posted 12-plus points against the Titans this season. The two that didn't were the Buccaneers and Saints, not exactly great units. The Jaguars aren't a great unit either.
Redskins at Panthers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins (3.5): Last week's monster game for Cousins was mostly because of his opponent. The Panthers are a much better defense, allowing 11 passing touchdowns in nine games. Only two quarterbacks have had 20 or more points against them.
Cam Newton (9.1): Washington's pass defense has actually played well the past two weeks, picking off Tom Brady once and Drew Brees twice while holding the pair to a combined 7.6 yards per attempt. However, the Skins still allowed multiple touchdowns to both of them as well as to the two quarterbacks previous. Cam has one game this season below 21 Fantasy points at home -- and three at 30 or more. He's also had multiple scores in eight straight.
Running backs
Matt Jones (4.8) & Alfred Morris (3.1): Last week was awesome, but this week is a real challenge as the Panthers run defense has remained mostly strong. There could be hope for Jones, who seemingly regained his coaches' trust last week and could punch one in. But if he doesn't, neither of these guys will have a good shot at even 80 total yards since they'll take work away from each other.
Jonathan Stewart (8.6): There are a number of ways to quantify just how bad the Redskins run defense is, but this should summarize it all nicely: Washington has allowed at least 16 Fantasy points to four of the last five starting running backs its faced. Stewart should shine.
Wide receivers
Jamison Crowder (4.2): Crowder's a sneaky play as the Redskins' slot receiver. That's where the best matchup is for receivers against the Panthers -- he'll have a shot at another game with 60 or 70 yards or so, and that might make him the best Redskins receiver.
DeSean Jackson (3.4) & Pierre Garcon (3.2): In a game where Kirk Cousins threw for 324 yards and four touchdowns against a pitiful Saints defense, Jackson and Garcon combined for 54 yards. It's hard to expect them to produce much better than that against a Carolina defense that has given up five touchdowns to receivers this season.
Devin Funchess (4.35) & Ted Ginn (3.8): The matchup is fantastic -- the Redskins have allowed seven touchdowns and 15.1 yards per catch to receivers over its last four games. But trusting either Funchess or Ginn is a leap of faith you shouldn't be prepared to make. Funchess' size makes him a good red-zone threat, and Ginn's speed could always end up paying off (provided he holds on to the ball). Also, Corey Brown won't play, so these two should see a lot of work.
Tight ends
Jordan Reed (7.6): Pretty much the only safe Redskins player to start, Reed has five touchdowns in his past three games. The Panthers have allowed big games to Jimmy Graham, Coby Fleener and Richard Rodgers recently, providing more reason for optimism.
Greg Olsen (7.9): Obvious must-start, though it should be noted that Washington has allowed nine Fantasy points or less to every tight end its faced this season, including Rob Gronkowski (4-47-0) in Week 9.
Defense/Special teams
Redskins (3.0): For the last eight weeks the most any DST has posted against the Panthers has been nine points. Washington's defense isn't as bad as you might think but it's far from reliable.
Panthers (8.7): Four of the last five DSTs to play the Redskins have managed at least nine Fantasy points and earned as many as 17. The one that didn't? The Saints last week. Carolina is among the best options this week.
Broncos at Bears, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Brock Osweiler (3.9): Don't expect big changes from the Denver offense. Osweiler is good enough to throw accurate passes in short range, but not if he has to deal with a pass rush. The Bears' familiarity with Denver's personnel (John Fox and Adam Gase both coached in Denver last year) will give them an advantage over Osweiler, who they drafted. He'll only have a big game if his receivers make incredible plays, which, admittedly, is possible.
Jay Cutler (5.7): Cutler thrived in a tough matchup last week, but it was a little skewed. Two completions totaled 170 of Cutler's 258 yards and two of his three touchdowns, and both were short passes the pass catchers excelled with. He'll need that kind of incredible luck against Denver, which has allowed just one passer all season to get more than 17 Fantasy points.
Running backs
Ronnie Hillman (5.6) & C.J. Anderson (4.0): Expect the Broncos to lean on their run game as the Bears run defense has been good but not great. Since the bye, they've allowed 10-plus Fantasy points to each primary back they've faced, giving up averages of 4.7 yards per rush and 8.7 yards per catch. Hillman dominated touches last week but didn't quite have a big leg up on snaps. Still, he's the one to start of the duo.
Jeremy Langford (7.7): Provided Matt Forte is still sidelined, Langford should continue to eat up touches for the Bears. Last week Charcandrick West found room for a long catch-and-run and also scored from inside the 5. Langford will need those kinds of chances in order to be a hit for Fantasy owners. Landing around 20 touches should go a long way against Denver.
Wide receivers
Demaryius Thomas (7.9): In roughly two quarters worth of play last week, Thomas attracted eight of Osweiler's targets for six grabs and 54 yards. He shouldn't be considered anything more than a solid No. 2 receiver, maybe a bit higher in PPR formats. He'll have to break a tackle or shed coverage in order to deliver a huge game. Fortunately, the Bears pass defense isn't as good as it looked the last two weeks.
Emmanuel Sanders (6.9): Sanders has 10-plus Fantasy points in four of the five games he has 10-plus targets. The targets he'll get will depend on his health. Sanders is beat up -- an ankle injury slowed him last week, a possible concussion cost him some playing time and a finger problem took him out of the game. If he plays, you have to like him for his potential but there's more downside to him than anyone would like to admit.
Alshon Jeffery (4.65): The last No. 1 receiver to go off on the Broncos was Travis Benjamin. He was one of two receivers to rack up 10-plus Fantasy points on Denver this season. Figure that the Denver secondary schemes well to try to take Jeffery, who is banged up and might not even play, away from Cutler. If he's out then the Broncos' focus will shift toward containing the Bears tight ends with one cornerback likely assigned to Marquess Wilson on every play -- and it might be Chris Harris.
Tight ends
Vernon Davis (3.0): It was hard to not notice Davis' bump in playing time last week, especially late in the game with Osweiler. It's also hard to start Davis since he has a grand total of 19 yards on two catches in two games with the Broncos. Chicago has defended tight ends well this season.
Zach Miller (4.4) & Martellus Bennett (3.8): It looks like the Bears will lean on a two-tight end set so long as Eddie Royal is out. Miller has done nothing but earn playing time over the past two weeks, snatching each of seven targets for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Bennett has caught 11 of his past 12 targets for 75 yards and one touchdown, much of it coming in Week 9. Relying on either one is risky since the Broncos have been mostly great against tight ends, but they should both play a lot and have a decent amount of targets.
Defense/Special teams
Broncos (6.8): Despite the Bears' stunning win over St. Louis last week, they're still an offense that needs a little luck. The 37 points they had last week was their season-high. In seven of their other eight games they've posted 23 points or less. Denver is allowing 18.7 points per game. Roll with the DST.
Bears (5.8): Could the injury to Peyton Manning hurt the Bears DST? Maybe a little -- Osweiler doesn't figure to throw as many errant passes as Manning. But he's still inexperienced and should be good for a turnover or two. John Fox and Adam Gase's experience with the Broncos before heading to Chicago should pay off and make the Bears DST a very interesting sleeper for Week 11. Getting Pernell McPhee back would help a lot.
Colts at Falcons, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Matt Hasselbeck (4.8): Four of the past five quarterbacks to play against the Falcons have not been able to land 20 or more points in Fantasy. To be fair, it has included a lot of mediocre quarterbacks, but it's not like Hasselbeck is a dangerous passer. If you expect around 17 Fantasy points you should be all right.
Matt Ryan (7.7): To have a shot at 19-plus Fantasy points, Ryan needs multiple touchdowns. Well, six of the past eight quarterbacks to play the Colts have thrown multiple touchdowns against them, and all of them had at least 19 Fantasy points. Ryan has disappointed for much of the season, but he should be good for 19, if not a few more, points.
Running backs
Frank Gore (6.9): It's significant that Gore had a season-high 28 carries in his first game with new Colts offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. In it, he amassed 83 rushing yards and a score. The Colts want to build the offense around and through Gore. The Falcons haven't allowed a back to score in three straight, but it's not like they've taken on great run offenses. Gore should be an OK start as a No. 2 option.
Devonta Freeman (9.0): Obvious must-start.
Wide receivers
T.Y. Hilton (7.0): The deep ball hasn't been a big part of Hilton's game this season and it's sure to stay that way with Hasselbeck under center. His matchup against Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant will be a challenge. Treat him like a No. 2 receiver.
Donte Moncrief (4.8) & Andre Johnson (3.1): Wideouts have scored three touchdowns against the Falcons this year, including one over their last five games. Only one non-No. 1 receiver has scored on Atlanta in 2015. Pair that with Hasselbeck taking over at quarterback and neither receiver makes for an appealing start.
Julio Jones (9.4): Obvious must-start.
Leonard Hankerson (4.25): There was talk this week about Roddy White taking on a bigger role but Hankerson's return will take targets away. He's a desperation starter even though he should finish second on the team in targets. The Colts have given up at least one passing touchdown to a receiver in eight of nine games this season.
Tight ends
Coby Fleener (5.7): Expect the Colts to concentrate on this matchup against the Falcons. Atlanta has been among the worst in the league at defending tight ends, allowing seven touchdowns on the year to the position including one in five of its last six games. Fleener is a sneaky play in daily leagues as well as seasonal.
Jacob Tamme (5.5): Tamme has a phenomenal matchup against a Colts pass defense that has given up a touchdown to a tight end in four straight games. But with Leonard Hankerson playing, Tamme's snaps and targets could be limited. He is a low-end starting choice.
Defense/Special teams
Colts (3.6): While four of the last five DSTs to play the Falcons have posted at least 10 Fantasy points, the Colts DST has nailed down 10-plus Fantasy points twice on the season. Don't expect a third time in Week 11.
Falcons (6.6): There's a chance here for the Falcons to do well against a Hasselbeck-led Colts offense. Each of the last three DSTs to play the Colts scored at least nine Fantasy points, and that was with Andrew Luck under center. Additionally, the Falcons have three starters coming back (defensive backs Robert Alford and William Moore with linebacker Justin Durant).
Buccaneers at Eagles, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston (5.3): Winston should have to throw a lot and make plays, just as he has in each of his past two games. That doesn't equate to big Fantasy totals -- he has yet to register over 30 pass attempts and score 20-plus Fantasy points. Figure the Eagles pick him off once and otherwise make things hard on him.
Mark Sanchez (5.9): Sanchez's experience in the Eagles offense should give him a boost in what is otherwise a good matchup. The Buccaneers pass defense allowed multiple touchdowns to five of the last six quarterbacks. The key is Sanchez making the most of a receiving corps that isn't as talented as the one he played with last season. He's a decent bye-week quarterback but that's about it.
Running backs
Doug Martin (7.2): The matchup isn't an issue -- ever since Week 7, the Eagles run defense has allowed each of the three starting rushers it's faced to tally at least 11 Fantasy points. Martin picked up more work last week (18 carries, four catches) and totaled over 100 yards, proof he's not in a dreaded 50-50 split with Sims. He's a solid No. 2 rusher this week.
Charles Sims (4.3): Sims' touches totals since the bye: 12, 9, 9, 7. That's not going in the right direction. Maybe he picks up a few extra catches since the Bucs figure to play from behind, but he's no better than a low-end bye-week replacement.
DeMarco Murray (7.6): Obvious must-start, even if the Bucs haven't allowed a rushing score to a running back since Week 3.
Darren Sproles (3.4): You'd have to be pretty desperate to start Sproles, but with Ryan Mathews out, he'll see an uptick in touches (maybe 10?). Tampa Bay has allowed 6.6 yards per catch and three receiving scores to running backs this season, so it's not exactly a dandy of a matchup.
Wide receivers
Mike Evans (9.0): Obvious must-start.
Jordan Matthews (7.1): Matthews has some appeal with Sanchez under center -- he really took off last season once Sanchez started games for Philly. Also, the Bucs' pass defense is a sieve, allowing at least one touchdown to a receiver in all but one game this season (how did Dez not score last week?!). Matthews is a sneaky starter.
Tight ends
Zach Ertz (4.0) & Brent Celek (2.5): Figure Sanchez to lean on both of these guys since the rest of Philadelphia's receiving corps has underwhelmed. Celek had a big catch last week to buoy his stats and Ertz had a touchdown called back. Tampa Bay isn't awful against tight ends but a dose of targets to these guys could lead to some better-than-expected numbers. Ertz has the edge in bye-week replacement desirability.
Defense/Special teams
Buccaneers (5.4): Tampa Bay has at least one interception in three straight and should come up with another one of Sanchez. But they're unlikely to hold the Eagles to six points or 216 total yards as they did the Cowboys in Week 10. As a bye-week replacement, they're all right.
Eagles (7.9): The DST has posted nine or more Fantasy points in five straight and take on a Bucs offense that has allowed opponents to register 12-plus Fantasy points in two straight. They're a safe start.
Raiders at Lions, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr (8.5): There's no reason to bench the red-hot Carr against the Lions, who have allowed 21-plus Fantasy points to all but one quarterback they've faced this year.
Matthew Stafford (7.9): Not only does Stafford land a plum matchup against a Raiders defense that's given up over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns to three of the last four passers its faced, but he'll get them in their first game without pass rusher Aldon Smith. With a stalled run game in Motown, this should be one of Stafford's better games of the year.
Running backs
Latavius Murray (7.5): Murray has hit a skid, failing to score over the past three games despite having at least 17 touches per game. The good news is he has maintained an awesome 5.2 yard per rush average and should continue to see a lot of work against a Lions run defense that isn't as good as the Packers made them look last week. Getting Rodney Hudson back on the O-line helps.
Joique Bell (4.4), Theo Riddick (3.9) & Ameer Abdullah (3.7): The last two weeks has sent the numbers of the Raiders run defense into the gutter after DeAngelo Williams and Adrian Peterson pulverized them for over 200 total yards each. There is no one in Detroit capable of doing that to them, and who knows how hard the Lions will try to use the ground game against Oakland. Bell led the Lions in touches last week (16) but averaged a yuckola 1.2 yards per rush. None of these guys carry much appeal.
Wide receivers
Amari Cooper (8.6): A trend to like: Cooper hasn't had back-to-back games without a touchdown, and last week he didn't have one. A matchup to like: The Lions have allowed at least one score to a receiver in all but two games this season including all non-divisional matchups. Cooper should be hot.
Michael Crabtree (7.7): Crabtree's targets shrunk last week and his stats followed. Theoretically he should rebound, but the Lions have done well against non-No. 1 receivers all year (only two have exceeded 10 Fantasy points in standard formats). With so many receivers on bye and a number of others facing tough matchups, Crabtree remains a good starting choice.
Calvin Johnson (9.2): Calvin is due for a big game and this should be it. The Raiders pass defense statistically has evened out after a cold start, but nearly every quality receiver its faced has posted a minimum of nine points. Johnson should be in line for his third big game at home in as many tries.
Lance Moore (4.3) & Golden Tate (4.0): Moore has a score in four of his last five games and Tate has ... well, not a lot. Neither guy can be counted on for a big stat line but in a matchup where the Lions should end up throwing a bunch they both have mild appeal.
Tight ends
Clive Walford (4.8): You'd have to be pretty desperate to start a dude who has a real good day if he lands 6 or 7 Fantasy points. That said, he should have a good crack at it against the Lions, who have allowed four scores to tight ends in their last three games.
Eric Ebron (6.7): Ebron has the matchup Fantasy owners still chase because the Raiders have allowed a league-worst 10 touchdowns to tight ends including one in four straight games. Hopefully Ebron's the one who catches it for the Lions and not Brandon stinkin' Pettigrew.
Defense/Special teams
Raiders (3.4): Oakland's DST has scored nine Fantasy points or less in every game since their Week 6 bye and lost pass rusher Aldon Smith to a suspension this week. Don't expect fancy numbers.
Lions (3.2): It's been five straight weeks of poor stats for the Lions DST. There's nothing to suggest the Raiders offense will falter and end the skid for Detroit.
Jets at Texans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick (7.0): Call me crazy, but I'm not buying the Texans secondary as a shut-down unit just yet. They hung in there against Cincy last week but a lot of self-inflicted problems short-circuited the Bengals, not particularly anything the Texans did. Excluding the game he got hurt in, Fitzpatrick has thrown multiple touchdowns in four straight and should have had 20 Fantasy points for the fourth time in four full games if not for a bobbled pass that was intercepted. He should be considered a safe starter who will deliver at least 20 Fantasy points against his former team.
T.J. Yates (2.9): Yeah, the Jets secondary hasn't been great, but this still isn't a matchup worth trusting Yates in.
Running backs
Chris Ivory (8.5): With 10-plus Fantasy points in five of his last six games, it's real hard to sit Ivory. The Texans have cooled off the run games of the Jaguars, Titans and Bengals recently but that matchup at Miami still sticks out like a sore thumb. Ivory should be fine.
Jonathan Grimes (2.7) & Alfred Blue (2.0): At this point, Grimes might be the best back for the Texans. He has the most versatility of their crew and looked the best last week. Ultimately anyone running the ball for the Texans shouldn't be near active Fantasy lineups.
Wide receivers
Eric Decker (8.8): Decker has at least nine Fantasy points in every game this season (11 in PPR). After playing well over the past two weeks, expect the Texans secondary -- allowing 13.2 yards per catch this season -- to come back down to earth.
Brandon Marshall (8.5): The last four weeks have been a little troubling for Marshall. Even though he has scored in each of his last two and has over 100 yards in another, he hasn't topped 10 Fantasy points in a game since Week 7. It seems like he's playing through some injuries and might not be quite as effective as he was earlier this year. Still, the expectations are solid, so keep him active.
DeAndre Hopkins (8.7): Obvious must-start. The matchup with Revis should be interesting.
Nate Washington (4.9): The track record of non-No. 1 receivers against the Jets is pretty good -- six touchdowns have been scored by them over the Jets' last four games. But is Washington the Texans' de facto No. 2 receiver or is it Cecil Shorts? You'd need a combination of guts and need for a PPR flex to turn to Washington, even with the appealing matchup.
Defense/Special teams
Jets (8.5): In two games since the Texans lost Foster they've averaged 15.0 points and 263.0 total yards per game. That should bode well for the Jets DST, who need a big game after scoring eight points or less in three of their last four. Potentially playing without Sheldon Richardson stings a little bit.
Texans (6.2): This might surprise you -- the Texans DST has posted at least 17 Fantasy points in three of their last four. Favorable matchups have helped, struggling opponents have helped and a surge in sacks has also helped. One problem: the Jets have allowed just 10 sacks this season. If you pencil in the Texans for 9 or 10 Fantasy points, you should be all right.
Cowboys at Dolphins, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Tony Romo (7.1): Romo should hit the ground running after practicing with the starting offense for several weeks already. Everyone's sort of underrating the Dolphins defense, one that has seven sacks in its past two games while allowing just two touchdowns. But the reality is that the Cowboys O-line should do a great job in protecting Romo and allowing him the time to make the most out of all of his targets. He should be a good starter.
Ryan Tannehill (5.1): For the past four weeks, no quarterback has posted more than 17 Fantasy points against the Cowboys. That includes guys like Eli Manning and Russell Wilson. Despite getting 20 Fantasy points last week, the hunch is his offensive line remains a problem the Cowboys will attempt to exploit. That could spell trouble for Tannehill.
Running backs
Darren McFadden (8.1): Figure McFadden gets a good dose of work (unlike last week) and uses that volume to post well over 10 Fantasy points. Five of seven running backs with at least 18 touches against the Dolphins have posted 11 or more Fantasy points.
Lamar Miller (8.3): Since the bye, Miller has posted 15 or more Fantasy points in four of five games. He should be in line for a number like that against a Cowboys defense that has allowed the third-most Fantasy points to running backs this season. Note: Dallas' linebackers are healthy, so it won't be as easy for Miller as it would have been last week.
Wide receivers
Dez Bryant (9.1): Obvious must-start.
Terrance Williams (4.4) & Cole Beasley (2.6): Their stock gets a nudge up with Romo back under center. Pair that with a struggling Dolphins pass defense (allowing 13.6 yards per catch this season) that might overcompensate for Dez, and we could see Williams score and Beasley rack up some easy catches underneath.
Jarvis Landry (6.6): Landry's touchdown catch last week was as fluky as they come, coming down with a ball that got tipped sky high in the end zone. Without it, he would have had his third straight game with 7 or fewer Fantasy points (14 or fewer in PPR). While that might have been the expectation beforehand, the Cowboys will be short at cornerback and could open up a favorable matchup for Landry on the inside of the field. Another touchdown? That seems unlikely -- the Dallas defense that has allowed just one touchdown to a receiver in its last four games.
Rishard Matthews (5.7): Matthews has become as popular as meatloaf on Thanksgiving, but he has been a decent third receiver for Fantasy owners through much of the year. The matchup gets a little bit harder for Matthews with Morris Claiborne not expected to play (his replacement, Byron Jones, has actually played better).
Tight ends
Jason Witten (5.3): Now that Romo's back, Witten should get back on the board statistically. It helps he's facing a Dolphins defense that gave up over 200 yards to Eagles tight ends last week. Witten should be a safe bet for 70 total yards, and by the way, he's eight catches shy of 1,000 for his career.
Defense/Special teams
Cowboys (4.2): Lamar Miller is going to get his numbers, just as he has over his last five games. But that hasn't slowed down opposing DSTs -- each of the last three have posted 10-plus points on the Dolphins as Tannehill continues to get attacked behind a sub par O-line.
Dolphins (4.0): Each of the past five DSTs to play the Cowboys have posted big games against them, but that's without Romo playing (and two of them are without Dez playing). Miami's not a recommended option.
Rams at Ravens, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Case Keenum (3.7): In a two-QB league, Keenum has some appeal as a bye-week option, but no one should use him in a standard format. He does have three career games with multiple touchdowns in 10 career starts along with a 55.2 completion percentage. Maybe in a stronger situation he'd be worth a sniff, but with the Rams, who have a tattered offensive line, not even the matchup can help him.
Joe Flacco (6.1): Yes, the Rams allowed a quarterback to post well over 20 Fantasy points for the first time this season. But it came because of two broken plays that the Ravens, quite frankly, can't pull off. Only two quarterbacks all year have notched multiple touchdowns against the Rams. This is a good defense and a tough matchup for Flacco.
Running backs
Todd Gurley (8.2): Obvious must-start, though he could have a teeny bit of trouble this week given the state of his offensive line.
Justin Forsett (5.5): Maybe one of the most frustrating players in Fantasy lately, Forsett has had a steady diet of touches (at least 18 in five of his last six games) but has not broken through for a big game since Week 5. Tough matchups have definitely played a role and here comes another one. Because Forsett seems unlikely to score, he's not touted beyond a low-end No. 2 running back.
Wide receivers
Tavon Austin (3.5): Last week was frustrating as he lost a touchdown and roughly 30 yards of offense because of O-line penalties. Even in a favorable matchup, Austin is unlikely to deliver big numbers away from the comforts of the dome.
Kamar Aiken (3.9) & Chris Givens (2.8): They blew their chance at big numbers last week (and that's with Givens even scoring). Even though the Bears scored 37 points at St. Louis last week their receivers totaled 24 yards and did not score. It's impossible to believe Aiken and Givens will have big games.
Tight ends
Crockett Gillmore (5.4): It's pretty evident that Gillmore's role is here to stay unless the Ravens develop some incredible downfield threats. It's also evident he'll share targets with other tight ends. He's worth thinking about as a low-end starter considering how the Rams have fared against prominently featured tight ends.
Defense/Special teams
Rams (6.4): You might expect a bounce-back game from the Rams, but they've allowed at least 21 points and 293 total yards to every offense they've played on the road this season. This could be the game where they hold off on those numbers since the Ravens offense has plenty of warts and the Rams defense should show some resiliency (not to mention get defensive end Chris Long back).
Ravens (5.6): The Ravens will be a popular pick because of the Rams quarterback change. With Nick Foles, the Rams averaged 18.4 points and 309.6 total yards per game. It's hard to imagine them being much better with Keenum under center. Baltimore should be up to the task of containing Todd Gurley and should come through with good pass defense as well.
Chiefs at Chargers, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Alex Smith (4.9): Many quarterbacks have done well against San Diego, but the Chargers are coming out of the bye with some starters back. All of Smith's best games have come away from Kansas City but only two games total have involved him totaling multiple touchdowns. He's too risky to use in typical Fantasy fashion.
Philip Rivers (7.2): The good: Rivers will get two of his starting offensive linemen back, both on the left side. The bad: Not only is one of his starting linemen (D.J. Fluker) expected to be out following a concussion, but Rivers' receiving corps is incredibly banged up, leaving the quarterback with Gates, Stevie Johnson, Woodhead and ... Dontrelle Inman. The ugly: Kansas City's pass defense has improved, allowing no more than one touchdown and picking off no less than two passes in each of its past four games. There's no guarantee Rivers has a monster game -- it might be more like a good game (20ish points).
Running backs
Charcandrick West (8.7): We'll all start West because the Chargers run defense has been awful, but they are getting healthy. Defensive tackle Corey Liuget and linebacker Manti Te'o should both return. It'll help, but West's workload and upside make him a no-brainer to start.
Danny Woodhead (6.8): With at least five catches in four of his past five games and no improvement from the Chargers passing attack, you have to figure Woodhead will play a significant role for the Bolts moving forward, potentially to the tune of 12 touches per week. Woody's already notching 4.0 yards per carry and 11.3 yards per catch, so giving him a floor of 80 total yards per week doesn't seem unreasonable ... unless the Chargers try to wedge Gordon into the offense again.
Melvin Gordon (4.5): Reminder: 4, 9, 5, 3, 7, 0, 2, 5, 5. That's not my phone number. That's the Fantasy point totals for Gordon this season. Friends don't let friends start Gordon (unless you're looking for five or six Fantasy points, that is).
Wide receivers
Jeremy Maclin (5.9): Maclin has been off the radar lately. He has one touchdown and one game with over 100 yards in his last five games. It's not inconceivable that both skids stretch another week with the Chargers more than likely assigning cornerback Jason Verrett to him (and Alex Smith no lock to throw a ton).
Steve Johnson (7.4): Here's your No. 1 receiver for the Chargers until further notice. Johnson should move around the formation a bunch and be a matchup problem for the Chiefs secondary. He's especially an intriguing red-zone threat for the Chargers, and that keeps him in discussion as a borderline No. 2/No. 3 receiver. It helps that even though the Chiefs have improved defensively, they still have allowed at least one score to a wideout in all but one game this season.
Dontrelle Inman (4.5): The one-time preseason deep sleeper will get a shot at meaningful playing time with the Bolts. He has good speed and actually has four games with at least seven Fantasy points in eight tries. The opportunity is great, his quarterback is great and the matchup isn't half bad. You seriously could do worse with a bye-week replacement.
Tight ends
Travis Kelce (8.0): This better be a big week for Kelce -- the Chargers pass defense against tight ends has been miserable all season long. Anything less than eight Fantasy points would be an utter disappointment.
Antonio Gates (5.65): Most folks will start Gates no matter what, but his matchups with Eric Berry haven't all been easy, and this year Berry has been outstanding in coverage. Gates, meanwhile, has not put up good numbers since he got hurt.
Defense/Special teams
Chiefs (7.1): They sure seems like a no-brainer. Kansas City has scored at least 10 Fantasy points in five straight and seven of nine games this season. A depleted Chargers offense shouldn't scare them too much.
Chargers (2.8): They finally landed a game with over 10 Fantasy points in Week 9 against Chicago. Yay! It's tough to expect another one against the Chiefs, who have allowed two DSTs to land 10-plus points against them all season.
Packers at Vikings, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers (8.6): Don't be scared to start him -- three of the last four quarterbacks to play the Vikings posted 21 or 22 Fantasy points (and the one who didn't got benched this week).
Teddy Bridgewater (4.6): Bridgewater has 13 or fewer Fantasy points in all but one of five games since his bye week. Maybe he fares a little bit better than that but don't expect much -- the Packers have at least one interception in eight of nine games this year and are allowing 1.3 passing touchdowns per game on average.
Running backs
James Starks (5.5): Minnesota is in the Top 10 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to running backs and should have all of its starting linebackers back on the field. Only Carlos Hyde in Week 1, Ronnie Hillman in Week 4 and Todd Gurley in Week 9 have punctured them for big games. Expecting any more points from Starks than what he delivered in Week 10 is a mistake.
Adrian Peterson (9.2): Obvious must-start.
Wide receivers
Randall Cobb (7.8): If the Packers offense is going to get going, Cobb has to be part of the plan. His versatility and willingness to line up in the slot should reveal some favorable matchups. He has too much potential from week to week to be called an outright sit.
Davante Adams (6.3): How in the heavens did Adams land 21 targets but get only 79 yards? That's 3.8 yards per target, people! You can't help but think the Packers noticed this and considered making a change among their receivers. The Vikings' outside corners have played well this season and should be able to hang with Adams. He's a risky start.
James Jones (3.7): Last week proved that it wasn't just tough matchups that have been shutting Jones down. Everyone thought he'd rip up the Lions but instead he had just two targets. Worse yet, Jones has five targets or less in five straight games. He has been a dud since the Packers bye and shouldn't be trusted against the Vikings.
Stefon Diggs (6.8): Regression has hit Diggs hard, and it has happened in two ways. Not only have defenses learned how to handle him, but Bridgewater isn't pelting him with targets. He averaged 10 per game during his hot streak and has wound up with seven total over his last two games. Because it's not a lock that the Vikings will play from ahead all game long, there's a chance Diggs does better against the Packers, who have had trouble with shifty receivers this year.
Tight ends
Richard Rodgers (5.6): His involvement in the Packers offense will make people consider him, but the reality is that he's a touchdown-dependent tight end who's happened to score three times in the last two weeks. On the plus side, he has been the most consistent red zone threat in the Packers offense.
Kyle Rudolph (4.6): The Packers have allowed a touchdown to a tight end in three of their last four games. Rudolph watched Rhett Ellison steal a score from him in a good matchup last week -- hopefully this week he reverses the trend. His ceiling figures to be about seven Fantasy points.
Defense/Special teams
Packers (5.2): Only two DSTs all season have found more than 10 Fantasy points against the Vikings this season, and neither came in Minneapolis. The Packers should be an easy sit considering they've been held to single digits in four straight games.
Vikings (6.0): This is an interesting matchup. The Vikings DST has been great, and the Packers have allowed at least three sacks and one forced fumble in four straight games. If the Vikings could keep the pressure on Rodgers, just as they did at home against him last year, they could be the third DST this season to notch 10-plus Fantasy points against the Packers. They're worth the risk.
49ers at Seahawks, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Blaine Gabbert (3.3): There's no way Gabbert can replicate his feats from two weeks ago in a game at Seattle, is there? Well ... even if he did, no one would start him in Fantasy to enjoy the rewards.
Russell Wilson (5.5): Fantasy owners have a big trust issue with Wilson. This seems like the kind of game where the Seahawks offense wakes up and pours it on their lowly opponent. But his track record against the 49ers isn't very good (exactly one touchdown in five straight), and his Fantasy numbers have been lame. It's easy to sit him at this point.
Running backs
Shaun Draughn (3.3): Here's the Niners' best running back in an impossible matchup against one of the league's top run defenses. Even 50 total yards might be asking for too much.
Marshawn Lynch (8.4): Obvious must-start. This should be a get-right game for him.
Wide receivers
Anquan Boldin (2.9): He'll go up against a defense that has routinely had his number. There's no way he should be trusted.
Doug Baldwin (3.6): Seattle's best receiver, Baldwin had a big game last week in part because the Seahawks had to throw to keep up with the Cardinals. That's not expected to be the case against the Niners.
Tight ends
Garrett Celek (3.4): Gabbert seemed to have some rapport with Celek in their last game. He's their top tight end now, and the Seahawks have struggled with tight ends in the past. If you're totally desperate and in a deep league, then Celek might do.
Jimmy Graham (5.9): One of these weeks, the Seahawks will find ways to get Graham some respectable stats. Maybe if the opportunity presents itself in the red zone they'll try to force a touchdown to Graham. But it's clear that if you're starting him it's because you remember Graham's capabilities from his days in New Orleans and are still holding out hope he can score.
Defense/Special teams
49ers (3.8): The Niners had five sacks and two interceptions of Russell Wilson when they played in Week 7, helping them produce a nice 13-point game for Fantasy owners. It's hard to imagine they'll be anywhere near that good this time around.
Seahawks (9.4): The Niners scored 17 points and had 318 yards the last time they played and they were ecstatic. Expect the Seahawks to hold them to under those totals (just as they did in Week 7) and end up as the top DST in Week 11.
Bengals at Cardinals, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton (6.6): Did it really take one bad game for Fantasy owners to get nervous about using Dalton? Probably not, but the matchup against a really strong Cardinals defense doesn't help. Only three quarterbacks have thrown multiple touchdowns on the Cardinals and only one has done it in Arizona. Dalton and his pass catchers would have to play flawlessly -- way better than what we saw on Monday -- for him to have a shot at over 20 Fantasy points. That might be too much to ask for.
Carson Palmer (9.2): Cincy hasn't allowed a quarterback to throw for multiple scores since Week 3, and they've only allowed two quarterbacks to exceed 20 Fantasy points this season. But they'll play this game banged up (no Michael Johnson rushing Palmer, no Adam Jones covering Palmer's receivers), and Palmer just decimated the Seahawks in Seattle and has at least 18 Fantasy points in every game and 22-plus points in all but two games. He should be locked into lineups.
Running backs
Giovani Bernard (6.7): Gio is the best running back in Cincinnati. His ability to run any play and make catches gives him a shot at over 100 total yards, even in this tough matchup. Expect the Bengals to draw up some plays for him and get him 15 touches.
Jeremy Hill (4.1): It's over. Hill is only helpful when he scores. The Cardinals allowed two rushing touchdowns to Seahawks backs last week, but they've still given up just four on the season along with 3.7 yards per carry. Hill has been a bust and shouldn't be trusted this week.
Chris Johnson (7.1): Over the past two weeks, the Bengals have held opposing run games to 3.1 yards per carry. But that was against the lowly Texans and Browns running backs. In the four games before then, against good running teams, the Bengals gave up 6.1 yards per rush. Johnson could crack 20 touches and 100 yards against a defense playing on the road after losing on Monday.
Andre Ellington (4.6): Ellington is an appealing player to roll with in Fantasy, but only if you don't have a safer option. His playing time is slowly picking up, but he'll have to break a long run like he did last week in order to be a difference-maker for your Fantasy team.
Wide receivers
Marvin Jones (6.7): Dalton did his best to get Jones going last week, targeting him deep a bunch of times. Hopefully he sticks with him because the receivers who have done damage against the Cardinals this season have been non-No. 1 options like Jones. His matchups against defensive backs like Jerraud Powers, Justin Bethel and Tony Jefferson are all favorable. He's a very sneaky play as a No. 3 receiver or flex or sleeper in daily Fantasy.
A.J. Green (6.5): Bank on Patrick Peterson lining up against Green all night. That's a big problem for a receiver who hasn't been nearly as reliable as many people thought. Of the 11 touchdowns the Cardinals have allowed this year, zero have been given up by Peterson. Green seems destined for his seventh single-digit game this season in standard leagues (or 13 points or less in PPR).
Larry Fitzgerald (8.9): It won't be easy for Fitzgerald if he's lined up against Dre Kirkpatrick or Adam Jones, but he should still get a ton of looks from Palmer and work his way up to 10-plus Fantasy points. Playing without Michael Floyd would especially help him out.
John Brown (6.0): Coach Bruce Arians said he didn't have a problem playing Brown last week, but that Brown has been hesitant to truly test his banged-up hamstring. Brown added this week that he "don't feel like the same 'Smoke' right now." If he's playing at less than 100 percent then it's unlikely he'll meet his expectations. Call him a No. 3 receiver at best.
Jaron Brown (4.7): If Floyd is out then Brown figures to see a lot of playing time as the third option in the Cardinals offense. He has some speed and can make some plays, so he's not a bad low-end flex choice for Fantasy owners.
Tight ends
Tyler Eifert (7.0): The three drops cost Eifert close to 40 yards last week -- and he knows it. You might know the Cardinals have been excellent against tight ends this year, but Eifert is among the biggest and most productive they've faced. The sentiment is that he'll be a regular target of Dalton's as usual, including in the end zone. There's no promise Tyrann Mathieu will shut him down for four quarters.
Defense/Special teams
Bengals (4.6): This is a tough assignment for a banged-up Bengals defense that did a very nice job on Monday night but still have to play on the road against an explosive Cardinals offense six days later. You should be able to find a better option.
Cardinals (7.7): Don't expect to see the sloppy Bengals from Monday night against the Texans, but don't expect them to catch fire and put up a ton of points, either. Expect a couple of turnovers and sacks from the Cardinals.
Bills at Patriots, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor (6.3): If only because he's expected to pass a lot, Taylor is a good bye-week quarterback. He had 31 points against the Patriots back in Week 2, but we haven't seen Taylor produce big numbers since he hurt his knee.
Tom Brady (9.3): Obvious must-start.
Running backs
LeSean McCoy (7.3): McCoy should continue to see at least 18 touches, which has been his average since coming back from injury. Over its last seven games, New England has seen opposing running backs average 3.2 yards per carry and 7.2 yards per catch with two total touchdowns. Expect the game to be a bit of a grind for McCoy, who has had at least eight Fantasy points in every game.
Karlos Williams (5.8): With a touchdown, Williams will set an NFL record for most consecutive games with a score to begin a career (eight). He's also had at least nine Fantasy points per game thanks to those touchdowns. Sitting him would mean owning other backs with more upside than nine or 10 points (11 in a PPR).
LeGarrette Blount (8.0): The Bills run defense simply hasn't been the same since losing defensive tackle Kyle Williams to injury. Bank on the Patriots taking advantage, leaving Blount to have another solid game.
Wide receivers
Sammy Watkins (8.4): Watkins second-best game of the season came against the Patriots, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him have a monster stat line here. Most teams play from behind against New England, forcing them to throw. That's part of the reason why the Pats have allowed 10 touchdowns and 13.9 yards per catch to receivers in nine games. Watkins is a top 20 receiver this week.
Danny Amendola (7.6): Figure Amendola to pick up a lot of the targets left behind by Julian Edelman's injury. We're talking like 10 targets, which could mean eight or nine catches against a Bills defense that has not been great this season.
Brandon LaFell (7.5): LaFell should take advantage of the matchup against a Bills secondary that has allowed 12 touchdowns to receivers this year -- nine of them to guys who line up outside like LaFell.
Tight ends
Rob Gronkowski (10.0): Obvious must-start.
Defense/Special teams
Bills (5.0): Don't get swayed by the Patriots losing Edelman and thinking they won't put up many points. Instead of hanging 40 on the Bills like they did in Week 2, they'll probably get only 31 or 34. Keep the Bills DST benched.
Patriots (7.0): Expect the Bills to put up some points, but not as many as the 32 they had in Week 2. Also don't expect the Pats pass rush to sack Taylor eight times. We could see the Patriots come up with 10 or 12 points for Fantasy owners.
















