Fantasy Football Week 11 Recap: It's only Brock 'n roll, but I like it

Did Brock Osweiler fix everything that was wrong with the Broncos' offense in one week? Chris Towers takes a look at those Week 11 results and more.

We can't talk about Week 11 in the NFL without talking about the Broncos. Short of the Packers -- who have their own, harder to pin down, issues -- the Broncos were expected to be the easiest source of Fantasy production in the league. To say that hasn't been the case is a major understatement.

Led by a Hall-of-Famer at quarterback and stacked with talent all around the skill positions, the Broncos have instead been a mess on offense. That Hall-of-Famer has been one of the five worst quarterbacks in the league, the running game has struggled to get going at times and the receiving duo of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders has easily fallen short of expectations as a result of the chaos surrounding them. The question on everyone's minds going into Week 11 was this: Could the promotion of Brock Osweiler to the starting lineup for an injured Peyton Manning really fix everything that was wrong with the Broncos?

Well, first we have to acknowledge that we're grading on a curve. The Bears are not exactly a tough test for even the least-seasoned quarterbacks. On the other hand, Osweiler was playing without Sanders, a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver, so any potential struggles could have been partially attributed to that. For his part, however, Osweiler mostly acquitted himself well, passing for 250 yards on 20 of 27 passing and a pair of scores. That he managed to avoid any interceptions is another good sign, though it is worth noting that neither touchdown was exactly a vintage Manning strike. One was a 10-yarder to Cody Latimer and the other saw Thomas do much of the heavy lifting on a 48-yard screen pass to the house in what was essentially his only real impact on the game.

Still, Osweiler did well, avoiding mistakes and leaning on two dependable targets in the middle of the field in Owen Daniels and Vernon Davis. Davis failed to make much of an impact in Manning's offense, but was targeted six times by Osweiler and caught all six for 68 yards while Daniels added four receptions for 69 yards. Many inexperienced quarterbacks tend to lean on their tight ends, opting for higher percentage throws in the flats and across the middle, so Osweiler's preference for Davis and Daniels isn't particularly surprising.

What will be key to watch next week -- assuming Manning is basically out for good -- is how the Broncos handle Osweiler further. Will he look away from the tight ends and more to Sanders and Thomas, who are much more dynamic options? After a solid test drive, will the Broncos be willing to take the training wheels off a bit and have him take a few more shots deep down the field? He's got the arm for it, and after watching Manning sail wobbly lobs 8 yards past Thomas' head, it would be nice to see Thomas hit in stride for a long, easy touchdown one of these days.

In the end, did Osweiler fix everything? Of course not. The Broncos were efficient and safe against a team they could afford to do that against. Osweiler avoided mistakes, Thomas made a big play out of nowhere, and C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman combined for 33 carries and 161 yards as they helped slow the game down. For this Broncos' team, that is a winning formula against this Bears team.

Changing the fortunes of this offense overnight was an unrealistic expectation for anyone to put on Osweiler, whose track record, limited though it was, hardly suggested superstardom was in his future. However, given how much Manning was seemingly leaving on the field, Fantasy players had already rightly recalibrated their expectations for the Broncos; they didn't have to be last year's team, they just needed to show signs of improvement. There is too much talent on this team, and too much invested in their roster for Fantasy, for them to keep playing as poorly as they have.

Osweiler really just needs to be competent to represent an improvement on Manning and in his only start so far, he was that. Thomas, C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman owners have to be thrilled, and things should only get better with Sanders likely to return next week.

With this many weapons around him, Osweiler very well may be a viable starting Fantasy option from this point on, however his next test is going to be one of the toughest possible. The Patriots loom on the schedule in Week 12 in a primetime matchup that was originally supposed to be the continuation of the long-running Manning-Tom Brady rivalry. That matchup loses some of its luster with Osweiler replacing Brady, and Osweiler could be in for a long day against Chandler Jones if he has to chase points all night.

Even if they'll likely never reach the levels we were expecting, there is finally hope with the Broncos' offense. That's as good a start to the Osweiler era as we could have hoped for.

Quarterbacks

Player on the rise

Remember when Jameis Winston couldn't stop throwing interceptions and looked like a complete bust for Fantasy purposes? Well, he bounced back from a two-pick game in Week 10 with the best performance of his career, as he carved up the Eagles for five touchdowns while completing 19 of 29 passes. With Vincent Jackson back and Austin Seferian-Jenkins' return looming, Winston could close the season out strong.

Player on the decline

"You like that? You like that?" Sorry, I had to. Coming off his massive 36-point game against the Saints, some wondered if Cousins had turned the corner for Washington. An interception, 6.9 yards per attempt and two lost fumbles just won't get it done, and Cousins' decision-making continues to hurt him against good defenses. As an injury or bye-week replacement, Cousins has some value against the right matchups, and Week 12 against the Giants might count as that. However, with no byes and with stars like Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger back, Cousins might be best left on the wire.

Quarterback injuries: Joe Flacco (Knee), Case Keenum (Concussion)
Quarterback waivers: Jameis Winston (54 percent), Ryan Fitzpatrick (53 percent) Brock Osweiler (38 percent), T.J. Yates (19 percent)
Of note:

• Tony Romo made a few bad throws in less-than-optimal weather conditions, but didn't look too rusty in his return to action. He averaged 8.1 yards per attempt and brought Terrance Williams and Dez Bryant back to Fantasy relevance -- each hauled in a touchdown in the game. The Cowboys play on a short week with their Thanksgiving matchup against the Panthers in Week 12, so you probably want to look for a better option in that one. However, Week 13's game against the Redskins is an excellent opportunity for Romo to give great production.
• Baltimore isn't a city known for precipitation, but when it comes to injuries this season, when it rains it pours for the Ravens. Already without Steve Smith, the Ravens lost quarterback Joe Flacco for the season -- not to mention running back Justin Forsett to an arm injury. Flacco was hardly a Fantasy stud this season, and the Ravens were a bunch you were almost best off ignoring most weeks if you could afford it. Now, with Matt Schaub likely to step into the starting lineup, borderline Fantasy relevant players like Kamar Aiken and Crockett Gillmore will see their value take yet another hit. The Ravens might be the type of team you target when looking for DST streaming options down the stretch.
• Well, we figured Mark Sanchez was going to take his chances -- if he brings anything to the table, it is that. Unfortunately, he didn't get much out of those risks, completing 63.4 percent of his passes but tossing three interceptions and averaging just 6.4 yards per attempt. And his two touchdowns featured plenty of after-the-catch action by Josh Huff and Darren Sproles. Sam Bradford wasn't getting much done with the Eagles offense, but there isn't much reason to think Sanchez will either.
• If you can't look good throwing 15 times to Julio Jones, it might be time to ask whether you are worth the hype. Matt Ryan was fine for Fantasy purposes, scoring 23 points, but he was intercepted three times and completed under 55 percent of his passes for 6.1 yards per attempt. Ryan throws the ball enough -- at least 38 attempts in each of his last six games -- that he'll be a decent Fantasy option, but he isn't someone you can just pencil into your starting lineup week in and week out. Looking ahead at his schedule, he might only be a must-start player in Week 13 against the Buccaneers among his next three games.

Running backs

Player on the rise

Forsett's injury will keep him out for the rest of the season, which should give the Ravens an extended look at rookie Javorius Allen. Allen carried the ball 22 times after Forsett's injury, and was targeted six times in the passing game as well, and should have a big role moving forward. We don't have a ton of evidence he is a great player, but like Charcandrick West and Jeremy Langford have shown us, the opportunity is the most important thing in Fantasy when it comes to these unproven players. He should be the most-added running back heading into Week 12.

Player on the decline

Chris Ivory was a battering ram at the start of the season, imposing his will on opposing defenses to the tun of 460 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the first four games. In his last five, however, Ivory has just 229 yards and a 2.82 YPC average. There doesn't seem to be much risk of Ivory losing his role, however the return of Bilal Powell from an injury did coincide with Ivory's smallest role of the season, which is certainly something to keep an eye on. Ivory looked like a no-doubt, must-start Fantasy RB at the start of the season, but has to be discounted at this point.

Running back injuries: Devonta Freeman (Concussion), Justin Forsett (Arm), Alfred Morris (Ribs), Ka'Deem Carey (Concussion), Marshawn Lynch (Abdomen), Charcandrick West (Hamstring)
Running back waivers: Thomas Rawls (55 percent), Tevin Coleman (44 percent), Javorius Allen (13 percent), Spencer Ware (0 percent)

Of note:

• The Eddie Lacy we've been waiting for arrived in Week 11 -- far too late for those of us who took him No. 1 overall this season, of course. Still, after well-earned questions about his playing shape and health, the first 100-yard game of the season for Lacy didn't come a moment too soon. It is unfortunate for anyone who was hoping James Starks could be a key piece down the stretch, but the possibility of a full-strength Lacy is definitely an enticing one; don't forget, Lacy was considered a disappointment last season before totaling 697 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns in the team's final six games last season.
• If one disappointing running back finally started to live up to expectations, another's frustrations continued in Week 11 as Marshawn Lynch's abdominal injury kept him off the field. Thomas Rawls continued to build on his extremely impressive rookie season, as he rushed for 209 yards on 30 carries and added 46 yards on three receptions -- with a touchdown in each phase of the game. While Lynch has struggled to get going even when healthy, Rawls has made an impact everytime he has had the chance, recording double digit Fantasy points in three of the four games he has received at least 15 carries. He now has 604 yards on 101 carries on the season, and is a must-own player even if Lynch comes back healthy. This kind of potential can't sit on the waiver wire, even if you don't know what his role is. And with Lynch traveling to visit a sports hernia specialist, Rawls might be looking at an opportunity to start in Week 12 (vs. Pittsburgh), Week 13 (at Minnesota) and Week 13 (at Baltimore.) That isn't the most appetizing schedule, but Rawls would likely be worth starting in each game if Lynch is out.
• Doug Martin became just the 10th player since the merger to rush for 200-plus yards in a game without scoring a touchdown, and his 235 yards in Week 12 are the second-highest total for a player who didn't also score that week. The touchdown would have been nice, but after three subpar weeks in a row, it was nice to see Martin re-establish himself. He may never be a consistent RB1 -- and his season-long numbers may overstate his Fantasy impact -- but Martin probably needs to be in your lineup every week against all but the toughest matchups. That includes upcoming games against the Colts (Week 12), Falcons (Week 13) and Saints (Week 14) leading up to the Fantasy playoffs.
• For a couple of weeks there early in the season, it looked like Tevin Coleman was the running back to own; then Devonta Freeman happened. Freeman looked to be on his way to another stellar showing in Week 11, rushing for 43 yards on his first three carries, but he took a shot to the head that left him with a concussion and in the locker room for the rest of the game. Coleman came in and took on the No. 1 RB role, but really couldn't do anything with it. He rushed for just 48 yards on 17 carries, didn't have a catch and failed on his attempts at the goal line. If Freeman's concussion lingers through the week, Coleman should be a must-add waiver-wire target, but he won't be as valuable as Freeman, who has been outstanding in the passing game and near the end zone.
• Even before his injury, Charcandrick West wasn't looking much like the Fantasy superstar we got a glimpse of last week. He rushed for just 16 yards on 11 carries, while making up for those struggled somewhat with two receptions for 48 yards. Backup Spencer Ware came in and rushed for 96 yards on just 11 carries, and even maintained a solid 4.4 yards per carry when you take out his longest run, a 52-yarder. Given how Andy Reid as used West since Jamaal Charles' injury, Ware would be a must-add player if West's injury is a serious one.
• Frank Gore got most of the work in Week 10 and came away with 80 all-purpose yards, a decent showing in what could have been a tough matchup. The day could have gone so much better for him if not for the presence of Ahmad Bradshaw, who rushed the ball nine times for 32 yards and, most crucially, scored a pair of touchdowns within the 10-yard-line from Matt Hasselbeck. Bradshaw had a nose for the end zone last season, and has now scored three touchdowns in his last two games. He looked like a good bet to touch the ball 6-10 times and might be a flex option in PPR leagues for Week 12 against the Buccaneers.
• Matt Jones led the Redskins in carries in Week 11, which isn't saying much since he had zero yards on those five carries. He added a pair of similarly ineffective receptions, a more disappointment note given the way the game went for Washington, as you figure Cousins would be willing to lean on him a bit more when behind. With Morris suffering a rib injury, Jones could get the bulk of the workload in Week 12 against the Giants, so he could be worth starting, but the inconsistent role and production should make you wary.
• Jeremy Langford was losing carries to Ka'Deem Carey this week, which isn't a great sign given the impending return of Matt Forte. This is a tough matchup for any running back, but things won't exactly get easier in Week 12 as the Bears head to Green Bay on a short week. If Forte doesn't play, Langford is still worth starting in all formats, but he edges toward PPR-only Flex territory if Forte is active.
• Week 10 aside, C.J. Anderson isn't going away, as he rushed the ball 12 times for 59 yards this week. Ronnie Hillman is still clearly the No. 1 back, but Anderson will get his work when the Broncos get the chance to commit to the running game.
• Jeremy Hill averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in Week 11, which actually managed to improve on his season total. Luckily, he scored twice in the game to make up for another lackluster effort, but the fact that Hill hasn't really had a good game without scoring is illustrative of his struggles. Giovani Bernard has been the better, more dynamic back, but made no impact in the rushing game in Week 11. He did haul in eight passes for 128 yards, and was huge as the Bengals made their comeback attempt. If they hadn't needed to throw as much down the stretch, he might have been a disappointment. This timeshare remains frustrating on a week-to-week basis.
• The Dolphins got Lamar Miller just nine touches in this game, his lowest total since Week 4. Are we sure Joe Philbin wasn't wearing a Dan Campbell costume on the sidelines this week?

Wide receivers

Player on the rise

Panthers rookie Devin Funchess has been showing some signs of life in recent weeks, and came up big in his first career start against the Redskins Sunday. He only came up with four of the eight passes Cam Newton threw his way, but he racked up 64 yards and a touchdown in the game, giving him double digits in Fantasy points in two of his last three games after failing to reach that mark in the first seven games of the season. Funchess remains a raw product, but he represents the only real upside in the passing attack for the Panthers, which means he should continue to get the chance to build on this in Week 12 against the Cowboys.

Player on the decline

Allen Hurns has been playing a dangerous game with his Fantasy owners in recent weeks, and they finally saw the worst-case scenario in Week 11. After bailing them out with a few late touchdowns during his seven-game scoring streak, Hurns burned owners Thursday with a pitiful 19-yard performance. His production has been solid this season even without taking into the touchdowns, however he has failed to top 65 receiving yards in four of his last five games, and might not be quite as much of a sure thing as he has seemed over the last few months.

Wide receiver injuries: Jeremy Maclin (Concussion), Doug Baldwin (Foot/Ankle)
Wide receiver waivers: Leonard Hankerson (39 percent), Devin Funchess (18 percent), Tyler Lockett (12 percent), Marquess Wilson (7 percent), Cody Latimer (2 percent)
Of note:

• Rishard Matthews' run of solid production came to an end, as he hauled in just one of three passes thrown his way for 15 yards. Matthews' expanded role in the offense has come as something of a surprise this season, and it would be disappointing to see him fade down the stretch in his breakout season. Jarvis Landry was the only wide receiver to be targeted more often than Matthews, so it isn't like he was jumped in the depth chart somehow.
• Terrance Williams and Dez Bryant combined for eight receptions for 124 yards, plus a touchdown each, and they have to be thrilled about the return of Tony Romo. We're still waiting for Bryant to really look like his pre-injury self, but the potential for that makes him impossible to sit either way.
• I wouldn't overreact to or panic about T.Y. Hilton's quiet game with Matt Hasselbeck under center, as Hilton had 155 yards on 12 receptions in their two games together earlier in the season. The matchup in Week 12 against the Jaguars should provide a much better opportunity for Hilton to get going, even if his ceiling is obviously lower with Hasselbeck playing in Andrew Luck's place.
• Kamar Aiken found the end zone for the first time in more than a month, and ended up with his first double-digit standard Fantasy point game as a result. He has at least five receptions and 50 yards in his last three games, however Flacco's injury obviously raises questions about his chances to keep this up.
• We're going to see what Amari Cooper is made of, as the Rookie of the Year candidate was a marginal part of the offense for the time time. He was targeted just four times and hauled in only one of those passes for 4 yards in by far the worst performance of his young career. This was a matchup we really though the Raiders would exploit, so we'll see how they do in Week 12 against the Titans, another game that should provide plenty of chances to succeed.
• Kirk Cousins did manage to make his easiest throw of the week, as DeSean Jackson streaked past a defender in the first half for a 56-yard touchdown, his first score of the season. He now has receptions of 42 and 56 yards since declaring himself fully healed from the hamstring injury that cost him seven games, and Week 11 was a nice reminder of what he is capable of when not limited. You'll never get consistent production from him, but Jackson's upside in any given game -- especially Week 12 against the Giants -- makes him hard to bench in any format.
• What should you do with the Cardinals' passing game? What can you possibly hope to do? Michael Floyd, who emerged as a huge part of the passing game with four straight games with a touchdown, was inactive in Week 11. No matter. They just got a huge performance from fifth-round pick J.J. Nelson, who caught four passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, after having just three receptions in four appearances prior. And, of course, John Brown, who was held without a catch last week, got back to the end zone, scoring on one of his three catches. Larry Fitzgerald was still a big part of the game plan, hauling in eight passes, but it was two other little-used role players, David Johnson and Darren Feels, who scored half of Carson Palmer's four touchdowns. The Cardinals' depth has been challenged with injuries to Brown and Floyd, but it also just hasn't mattered. Palmer is playing at such a high level, you can feel pretty confident the Cardinals are going to put up numbers. However, they have so many weapons, it's hard to know who to trust on a weekly basis beyond Fitzgerald. Just ask Brown's owners.
• One week after having 21 passes thrown his way, Davante Adams was targeted just four times in Week 11. He was much more successful at catching those passes, but still finished the game with just three receptions for 36 yards, confirming that he just isn't a reliable Fantasy option. Randall Cobb escaped a bad game with his touchdown, but still caught just two of the nine passes thrown his way, dropping his catch rate to 54.6 percent; it was 72.2 percent last season. He and Aaron Rodgers just often don't look to be on the same page.
• One player who definitely will be hurt by any long-term change from Sam Bradford to Mark Sanchez is Jordan Matthews. Sanchez rarely looked his way in his relief of Bradford in Week 10, and things weren't much better with a full week of practice under their belts. Sanchez targeted Matthews just four times, resulting in four catches for 13 yards. Sanchez didn't have much success throwing to anyone else, but he has rendered Matthews an afterthought in the offense -- a bold strategy given their dearth of other options. The matchup is appetizing, but Matthews is a huge risk for Week 12 against the Lions.

Tight ends

Player on the rise

Kyle Rudolph entered Week 11 with two or fewer catches in each of his previous seven games, with just 99 yards in that span. He had just 182 yards on the season, and hadn't been targeted more than four times since Oct. 18. The Vikings must have seen something in the matchup against the Packers to exploit with Rudolph, however, as he was more involved in the passing game than any previous game, finishing with six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, his fourth of the season. The Vikings' passing game isn't exactly the most dynamic in the league, so opportunities for this kind of showing might be few and far between for the veteran. However, he has been a solid Fantasy option down the stretch, and his emergence could be big for Teddy Bridgewater, which makes him worth a flier on waivers.

Player on the decline

If we're elevating one touchdown-dependent tight end, we might as well make sure the ledger is balanced by knocking another one down. On the strength of three scores in two weeks, owners in 54 percent of CBSSports.com leagues owned Richard Rodgers this week, and 32 percent even started him. That didn't work out so well, and it wasn't exactly hard to predict. Sure, most tight ends are touchdown dependent, but few with that kind of exposure across thousands of leagues are quite so dependent on getting into the end zone to provide any value. Rodgers had just one game this season with more than 3 Fantasy points without getting into the end zone, a six-catch, 45-yard effort back in Week 5. His targets have been up of late, but the fact he only had 51 yards on 10 receptions in Weeks 9 and 10 were a good clue of why he is someone you shouldn't trust. That Rodgers came away from Week 11 with just 7 yards on three catches should come as no surprise -- that's who he is.

Tight end injuries: Zach Ertz (Concussion)
Tight end waivers: Crocket Gillmore (50 percent), Kyle Rudolph (37 percent), Vernon Davis (64 percent)/Owen Daniels (18 percent), Brent Celek (3 percent)

Of note:

• Okay, so Zach Miller couldn't possibly repeat last week's huge showing, we all knew that. However, he was targeted just as often as Martellus Bennett (six times) in Week 11, and finished as the better Fantasy option, with three catches for 47 yards to Bennett's two and 26. Miller's track record screams "IGNORE," but his inclusion in the offensive game plan for the second straight game says something else. I'm not sure it says "Add me," but it's worth watching.
• Going against the league's worst defense at covering tight ends had Eric Ebron starting in 52 percent of CBSSports.com leagues in Week 11, and that might be the last time that ever happens. Ebron's trouble with the drops continued, and the key one came on 2nd and 11 in the first quarter, when he dropped a sure-fire touchdown pass. Matthew Stafford looked his way just once more, and Fantasy owners just can't rely on the obviously talented second-year man to make good on his promise yet.
• The Eagles made a concerted effort to get their tight ends more involved in the offense last week, and it continued in Week 11 as Brent Celek was Mark Sanchez's most-targeted player with 10 passes. He caught seven of them for 79 yards, bringing his running two week totals to 11 catches for 213 yards. Ertz is still the tight end to own here, but if his injury keeps him out for Week 12 against the Lions, Celek should be the hottest name on the waiver wire.
• If Tyler Eifert is going to keep averaging a touchdown per game, you won't have anything to complain about with his play. He scored two more Sunday night, which makes it a lot easier to stomach that he failed to record more than 53 yards for the fifth straight game. He has more than 53 yards just three times in 10 games, but his 10 touchdowns have more than made up for that. This is somewhat nitpicking the second-best tight end in Fantasy.