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Welcome back RotoBallers! As we head into Week 11 of the NFL season, we are now into the second half of the season and the playoff push is underway
It's more critical than ever to make the right lineup decisions and start the right players to put out your optimal lineups, as we are getting into the point in the season where managers need to string some wins together to get in the postseason.
Listed below will be some players who could be in for a disappointing performance relative to their overall expectations. No matter how bad of a matchup some of these players may have, fantasy managers likely aren't in a position to leave them on their bench. Having said that, there are a couple of guys who are by no means a must-start in Week 11.
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Who Should You Bench or Sit in Week 11?
QB - Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Cousins has been impressive this season and has put up 20+ fantasy points in five out of his nine starts, but the 33-year-old is in for a tough matchup against the Packers defense that has turned it up a couple of notches over the past few games. The pst three quarterbacks they have faced have put up three straight duds, as Russell Wilson finished as the QB26 in Week 10, Patrick Mahomes finished as the QB22 in Week 9, and Kyler Murray finished as the QB29 in Week 8. Wilson, Mahomes, and Murray combined were held to 601 yards, one total touchdown, and four interceptions while completing 62-of-110 passes.
Cousins has managed to take care of the ball over his past four starts, turning it over just one time. His last interception came all the way back in Week 5 against the Detroit Lions, and he has just two interceptions so far this season. Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak has made it known that he wants a healthy dose of Dalvin Cook in the Minnesota offense, so Cousins’ passing volume could take a hit in this game. From what the Packers defense has been able to accomplish over the past three games, it would not be a surprise to see a run-heavy approach to try and keep Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and company off the field on Sunday. Not to mention, we all know what happened the last time Cook faced the Packers. He went for 226 total yards and four touchdowns. Cousins has thrown for under 200 yards in two of his past three games, so it is best to look elsewhere for a starting quarterback this week.
The Packers defense have faced Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray in the last 3 games.
They have 4 interceptions and allowed only 1 touchdown. pic.twitter.com/Jxt7xtVDJv
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 15, 2021
Is Saquon Barkley A Risky Start in Week 11?
Barkley, who has been a disappointment to fantasy managers for the second consecutive year, is on track to return to action on Monday night against the elite-run defense of Tampa Bay. The former second overall pick has averaged 3.61 yards per carry this season behind an offensive line that has had their struggles, so the matchup with a run defense that has allowed the second-fewest yards per carry is a match made in hell.
Barkley's fantasy managers are all too familiar with some of his duds in the past, which includes 15 carries for six yards against the Steelers last year, and 13 carries for one yard against the Jets in 2019. These stat lines almost seem impossible to obtain, but behind that Giants offensive line, nothing should surprise us. There has been a long wait for Barkley’s return to the lineup, so fantasy managers likely can’t afford to bench him if he is active again. An encouraging sign from his last full game against the Saints was that he was able to still be productive against a solid run defense through his work in the passing game. He likely needs to find the end zone and catch a few passes to have a solid day, so Barkley can be valued as a higher-end RB2 in Week 11.
Should You Start Zack Moss in Week 11?
Moss is coming off a limited workload in Week 10 after dealing with a concussion throughout the week, as he carried the ball seven times for 27 yards and a touchdown. Moss faces a solid run defense in Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts, who have given up the fewest rushing touchdowns this season with just four. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, most of his value comes from his touchdown upside in the Bills' high-powered offense when they get in close to the goal line. Since Week 5, Moss has not eclipsed 40 rushing yards and has carried the ball just 26 times in his past four games.
With a limited role in the passing game, Moss has an extremely low floor in this game when you consider his touchdown dependency and his lack of efficiency. He should only be started in deeper formats and is at best a lower-end flex play with Devin Singletary and Matt Breida potentially taking away opportunities from him.
Is Terry McLaurin A Risky Start in Week 11?
McLaurin is in for a tough matchup against the stingy Carolina Panthers defense in Week 11, who have added shutdown corner, Stephon Gilmore, to the mix. Unfortunately, the third-year receiver has been a complete boom-or-bust option for fantasy managers this season. If he doesn't score a touchdown, he has not produced any sort of notable numbers, which is extremely concerning considering his draft price.
He has surpassed 100 receiving yards on three separate occasions, which happen to be the only three games he has scored a touchdown in. When you take away these performances, he is averaging four receptions for just 46 receiving yards. Considering how inconsistent he has been this season, McLaurin may no longer be a must-start option in shallower formats. Still, fantasy managers likely can’t afford to sit one of their top receivers, so if this is the case then expectations should be tempered quite a bit in this one. At best, McLaurin is a mid-range WR2 with a low floor in this game.
Is Michael Pittman Jr. A Risky Start in Week 11?
Pittman, who has been one of the biggest steals of fantasy drafts, is in for a tough matchup against the Bills’ No.1 ranked pass defense in Week 11. This is simply a nightmare matchup for opposing wide receivers, as the Buffalo defense has given up the fewest passing yards, the fewest passing touchdowns, the fewest yards per reception, and the fewest 20+ yard receptions through 10 weeks of the season. The only way to offset the lack of efficiency would be a ton of volume, which Pittman has been capable of getting on multiple occasions.
However, in five out of 10 games so far this season, the sophomore has been targeted under 7 times. Tre’Davious White. who will likely see a ton of snaps covering Pittman, is fresh off a huge game in Week 10 as he allowed zero catches and came up with an interception. Unless Pittman finds the end zone in this game, which seems rather unlikely when you look at the Bills’ defensive stats against the pass, he is probably in for a dud performance for fantasy managers. Considering his draft price, there are likely better options this week.
Not sure the league will ever truly appreciate Tre because he’s never going to be a double digit INT guy but he is as elite as elite can be. https://t.co/p72FuDu6ka
— Nate Geary (@NateGearySports) November 16, 2021
Should You Start DeVonta Smith in Week 11?
The rookie sensation is coming off a huge performance against his old college teammate Patrick Surtain II, as the Heisman Trophy winner tallied 66 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10. Smith will face his toughest challenge yet this week against the New Orleans Saints, as Marshon Lattimore comes to town. When you look at the defensive stats of the Saints against the pass, the matchup may look juicy on the surface. But, that is simply not the case if you are a No. 1 wide receiver being shadowed by Lattimore.
Just ask A.J. Brown, who caught all of one pass for 16 yards on four targets against Lattimore in Week 10. Since the Eagles went to an extremely run-heavy from Week 8 up to this point, Smith hasn't got a ton of volume in their new offensive approach. He has seen just 15 targets in the past three games but made the most of them against the Chargers and Broncos. The lack of volume and the matchup against one of the league’s best cornerbacks is simply a recipe for a disaster. Smith is a risky play who should be valued as a FLEX option at best.
Should You Start Tyler Conklin in Week 11?
At a very thin position, fantasy managers may go out chasing points based on Conklin’s two-touchdown performance last week against the Chargers. Up until last week, he found the end zone just one time. Considering the roles of Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen, Conklin could be in for a tough game against the solid Packers defense unless he makes the most of limited opportunities. As mentioned before, the Vikings could take a run-heavy approach against a pass defense that has been on fire recently.
If Conklin is to find the end zone in this one, it will likely be extremely close to the goal line. Minnesota has surprisingly not been shy to throw the ball close to the end zone, as Cook has only scored three times this year. Cook has been stopped at the 1-yard line a league-leading five times and has not scored a touchdown on any of those occasions, so the Vikings star running back could be in for some positive touchdown regression in this one, which likely means that Conklin fails to find the end zone. The 26-year-old is by no means a must-sit option, but proceed with caution.
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