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Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week 11: Should You Start Jerome Ford, Aaron Jones, Adam Thielen?

Jeremy gives his take on some of Week 11’s toughest fantasy football start/sit decisions!

We had another great week of games in Week 10, which included eleven one-score games and a thrilling back-and-forth game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions. The Lions look like the team to beat in the NFC North this year. We also had the last of the international games with the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots playing a low-scoring, hard-to-watch defensive battle that just might have cost Mac Jones his starting job moving forward. Now that Week 10 is in the books, we can turn the page to Week 11 and look at who to start and sit this week.

The season can be a grind at times, from doing waiver claims to looking at rankings and then finally deciding who to start. It can seem difficult, but that is where the staff at DrRoto.com comes in to help you. We have everything you need to make the tough decisions here in one place. I will be writing this start/sit article each week to help you make the tough lineup decisions. You can also join our members-only Discord channel and ask us personalized questions anytime you want on there.

Keep in mind before I get into my starts and sits this week that certain players should always be in your starting lineup. Please don’t try to get cute and sit the likes of Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffrey or Patrick Mahomes. They are in your lineup regardless of matchups. The decisions I am here to help you with are for the players drafted in the middle to late rounds of your draft or added from waivers who you aren’t sure whether to trust.

Week 11 Quarterback Starts

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

I will start Jared Goff every time at home against a bottom-five defense. He has the offensive weapons to be a top-ten fantasy quarterback every week, especially when playing at home. Goff ranks as the QB12 so far this year, and the Chicago Bears’ defense is ranked 30th in passing yards allowed and 21st in total yards allowed so far this season. I believe this will be another big week for Goff.

Brock Purdy, San Fransico 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brock Purdy has a great matchup this week with a struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.  Purdy has played well this season, and he should be able to put up excellent numbers this week as the Bucs defense is 29th in passing yards allowed and 18th in total yards allowed this season. I think Purdy will throw for 250 yards and two touchdowns this week.

For more help setting your lineups, check out our Weekly Fantasy Football Rankings, updated daily by Chris Kennedy, one of FantasyPros’ Top 15 Football Rankers!

Week 11 Quarterback Sits

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks

Stafford injured his right thumb in Week 8, and I do not trust that it is fully healthy yet. It also does not help that he is going to face a tough Seattle Seahawks defense that has played much better than their ranking would suggest. Stafford is QB21 so far this season, and the Seahawks’ defense comes into the week ranked 17th in passing yards allowed and 19th in total yards allowed this season. I expect Stafford to struggle this week, and I hope his thumb does not get reinjured.

Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks vs. San Fransico 49ers

Geno Smith has been struggling for most of this season after a breakout year in 2022. Smith currently ranks as QB20 on the season, and he has to face a tough San Fransico 49ers defense this week that comes in ranked 14th in total yards allowed and ninth in passing yards allowed so far this season. I would sit Smith this week if you have a better option.

Week 11 Running Back Starts 

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

This is a revenge game for David Montgomery, as he played his first four NFL seasons in Chicago. He is coming off a massive game against the Chargers last week, in which he ran for 116 yards, including a long 75-yard touchdown run. Montgomery is currently ranked as the RB25 in PPR scoring despite missing three games this season, and he gets an excellent matchup this week against the Chicago Bears’ defense, which is ranked 21st in total yards allowed on the season. I am expecting a big game from Montgomery this week.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Chargers 

Aaron Jones is slowly starting to get healthy after his Week 1 hamstring injury. He is currently ranked as the RB35 in PPR scoring on the season. I have him as a start this week because he gets to face the L.A. Chargers run defense. The Chargers’ defense is ranked 28th in total yards allowed on the season, and they just let the Detroit Lions run for over 200 yards last week. I am not expecting a huge week from Jones, but a 100-yard week with a touchdown is certainly in play.

Week 11 Running Back Sits

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

I have Najee Harris as a sit this week primarily because he is facing the number-one defense in the NFL right now and he is still sharing a majority of the workload with Jaylen Warren. The Cleveland Browns defense ranks first in total yards allowed on the season, while Harris is currently ranked as the RB29 in PPR scoring on the season. I expect the Steelers’ offense to struggle and for him to be under 100 total yards this week.

Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

I like Jerome Ford, but he is in a timeshare now with Kareem Hunt. Ford is nursing an ankle injury, so maybe that is why there is a timeshare in Cleveland right now, but I would stay away from this backfield, if possible, in fantasy. Ford is currently the RB21 in PPR scoring, but he faces a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense in Week 11. The Steelers’ defense is tough to run against, so expect Ford to struggle in this game.

Week 11 Wide Receiver Starts

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles 

I know Kansas City likes to spread the ball around to a bunch of different receivers every game, but I think they are finally starting to see how good Rashee Rice is right now. He is currently ranked as the WR44 in PPR scoring and he gets to face an Eagles defense that is ranked 26th in passing yards allowed and 11th in total yards allowed on the season. I expect Rice to see a lot of targets this week, and it is possible that he could go over 100 receiving yards with a touchdown in Week 11.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals

Tank Dell is easily becoming one of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s favorite targets. Dell has been excellent since coming back from the concussion protocol. Dell is currently ranked as the WR26 in PPR scoring, and the Cardinals’ defense is ranked 28th in total yards allowed on the season. I believe Dell could have nine receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown this week.

Week 11 Wide Receiver Sits

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys

This was a tough call for me this week as I like Thielen but he gets a tough matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Thielen is currently ranked as the WR8 in PPR scoring, but the Cowboys’ defense is ranked second in both passing yards allowed and total yards allowed on the season. I expect the Panthers’ offense to struggle to get anything at all going this week, so if you have a solid option on your bench or waiver wire then I would sit Thielen.

Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

Gabe Davis is too up and down from week to week to be counted on as an every-week starter in your lineup. He is currently ranked as the WR29 in PPR scoring and he gets a tough matchup this week against a New York Jets defense that is ranked third in passing yards allowed and sixth in total yards allowed on the season. I would put Davis on my bench this week.

Week 11 Tight End Starts

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans

Trey McBride is coming on strong in his sophomore season. It appears McBride and quarterback Kyler Murray have a great rapport right now even though last week was Murray’s first game of the season. McBride is ranked as the TE15 in PPR scoring, and that is just going to continue to rise if he keeps making plays like he has since Zach Ertz headed to IR. The Houston Texans’ defense that he will match up with this week is ranked 20th in passing yards allowed and 13th in total yards allowed on the season. I expect McBride to have a big game this week.

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Luke Musgrave has the best tight end matchup of the week, in my opinion. The L.A. Chargers are one of the worst defenses in the NFL at covering the tight end. The Chargers’ defense is ranked 31st in passing yards allowed and 28th in total yards allowed so far this season. I believe Musgrave will be a top-10 tight end in PPR scoring leagues this week, and he has the potential to be in the top five.

Week 11 Tight End Sits

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

David Njoku is back on the sit list again this week because he has a tough matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. Njoku’s usage in the passing game has been very up and down this season, but he ranks as the TE14 in PPR scoring. He is facing a Steelers defense that is going to pressure the quarterback a lot and force quick throws, and Deshaun Watson being out doesn’t help. I would sit Njoku this week if you can find a better option.

Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants

Thomas has been building a nice rapport with Sam Howell so far this year, and he is turning into a go-to guy for Howell. He is currently ranked as the TE12 on the season. However, Thomas has a tough matchup this week against the New York Giants’ defense. They are bad, but they cover the tight end position relatively well, ranking seventh against it. With that in mind, Thomas should stay on your bench this week.

Week 11 Defense Starts

Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants

The Washington Commanders have not been a good defense so far this season, but this week, they have the best matchup on the schedule, so that makes them a startable fantasy football defense. This week, they get to face the New York Giants with rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito getting his second start of the season. I would start the Commanders’ defense in every league I can this week.

Buffalo Bills Defense vs. New York Jets

The Buffalo Bills’ defense has not been as strong this year as it has in the past couple of seasons, but this will be a great matchup for them against the New York Jets. The Jets’ offense has been inconsistent at best ever since Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1. I believe Zach Wilson will allow plenty of sacks and a few turnovers for the Bills’ defense. I would pick them up this week and start them.

Week 11 Defense Sits

Las Vegas Raiders Defense at Miami Dolphins

The Las Vegas Raiders have been playing some inspired football under new interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce. But I believe this game will get out of hand early as the Miami Dolphins’ number-one-ranked offense can score at any time. I would like to find another defense to start this week, as I would never like to start any defense against this Dolphins offense right now.

Green Bay Packers Defense vs. Los Angeles Chargers

I know the Green Bay Packers defense was a popular streaming defense last week, and they have been a startable fantasy defense at times this season. But this week the Packers get a tough matchup against Justin Hebert and the ninth-ranked Chargers’ offense. I would sit the Packers’ defense if at all possible this week.

Good luck in Week 11, everyone!