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As we head into Week 11 of the NFL season and draw closer to the fantasy league playoffs, every decision matters for fantasy managers.
The NFL - and fantasy football - is a game of constantly moving parts, and just when you think you know everything, things can change.
In the interest of keeping fantasy GMs up to date and informed, I'll be putting some interesting nuggets in one convenient place. This info might be in the form of stats, trends, or injury news, but it's info that I believe can help fantasy managers win their matchups this week. Without further delay, here are 10 Things You Should Know Ahead of Week 11.
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#1. Bills & Browns Head To Motown
As cool as it would've been to have a THUNDERSNOW (How wicked awesome does that sound?!?) game, it was never going to realistically work. The NFL decided to be proactive on the situation and moved the game to Ford Field in Detroit.
The cushy domed environment gives a big boost to all the fantasy principals involved, as the projected point total - which was as low as 43 earlier in the week when the game was expected to take place in Buffalo - has skyrocketed to currently sit at 50.5.
#2. The Chiefs' Receiving Corps Is Banged Up
Patrick Mahomes enters a Week 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers in a neck-and-neck race with Josh Allen as the overall fantasy QB1. However, Mahomes' receiving corps is suddenly extremely banged-up, as both JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) and Mecole Hardman (IR) will be out of the lineup this week.
Due to these injuries, we can expect Chiefs' receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Justin Watson to all see a bump in playing time and targets. MVS and Toney vault into must-start territory in Week 11, while Moore and Watson are shakier options, but deserve FLEX consideration from desperate fantasy managers.
#3. The Chargers' Receiving Corps Is Getting Healthy
If you drafted a Chargers offensive player not named Austin Ekeler in 2022, you've probably spent the year being pretty frustrated. Keenan Allen has played in just two games this season due to a lingering hamstring injury, while Mike Williams hasn't suited up since Week 7 thanks to an ankle injury.
The injuries have left players such as Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter to hold down the fort, and have limited QB Justin Herbert's fantasy upside in obvious ways.
Chargers' fantasy managers can (reluctantly) rejoice this week, as it appears as though both Allen and Williams will return to the lineup in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs that has legit shootout potential.
#4. Justin Fields Looks To Keep Rolling
If you're lucky enough to have Justin Fields on your roster - or unlucky enough to have faced him - then you already that the second-year Bears QB has looked superhuman over the past month.
Fields has notched fantasy finishes of QB1-QB1-QB5-QB5 over the last four weeks and he's averaging just a shade over 100 yards per game rushing since Week 5.
After a cake matchup against Detroit last week, Fields draws another dream spot against an Atlanta Falcons squad that ranks 30th in the NFL in Total Defense DVOA.
#5. Tony Pollard's Fun Time Is Over
Tony Pollard's fantasy managers have likely felt like a fresh-out-of-Shawshank Andy Dufresne over the last two weeks, as Pollard has finally gotten his time in the sun with Ezekiel Elliott sidelined due to a knee injury. Pollard has produced 275 total yards and four TDs for his managers over the Cowboys' last two.
However, Elliott's return to action this week against Minnesota likely means that Pollard will return to his - frustrating - role of sharing playing time and usage with Zeke. He's talented enough to still produce for fantasy GMs in a reduced role, but his managers must hope for ultra-efficiency from Pollard.
#6. Jonathan Taylor Is Still Good At Football
The Colts’ star finally looked healthy last week en route to a monster 147-yard rushing performance against the Raiders. With Nyheim Hines shipped to Buffalo and Deon Jackson banged-up, Taylor should continue to get all the work he can handle for this fledgling Indy squad, due to Colts' interim HC Jeff Saturday's former o-lineman mentality and willingness to run the football.
Many will shy away from this tough-on-the-surface matchup with an 8-1 Philly squad, though despite ranking fifth in the NFL in Total Defense DVOA, the Eagles have been leaky on the ground. Things are so bad for this Philly run defense that they've resorted to signing veteran d-linemen Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh off the street this week.
#7. Baker Is Back
Carolina will turn back to Baker Mayfield after P.J. Walker suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 10. Yay...said no one with Panthers on their rosters. Mayfield is averaging 11.4 fantasy points per game over his six 2022 appearances. His presence hurts the fantasy value of both D.J. Moore and Terrace Marshall Jr., while the fantasy prospects for the Baltimore Ravens DST skyrockets in Week 11.
#8. Russell Wilson's Stove Is Broken
For years, fantasy fans begged Pete Carroll to #LetRussCook in Seattle. It appears that Wilson's stove was broken during his move to Denver, as the former superstar has been a grease fire in this Broncos offense. Wilson has passed for over 300 yards in a game just once this year and Denver ranks dead last in the NFL in points per game (14.6), while Wilson comes into Week 11 as the overall fantasy QB22.
#9. Washington Commands Our Attention
We shouldn't sleep on some of Washington's fantasy options this week. The combination of an impressive win on Monday Night Football over the previously-undefeated Philadelphia Eagles and a juicy Week 11 matchup against the Houston Texans puts the Commanders on my radar.
Washington's DST stands out as a top-five streaming option against a Davis Mills-led Texans offense that ranks near the bottom of the NFL in almost every offensive statistical category. As a bonus, it looks as though they will get Chase Young back this week.
Taylor Heinicke has been named the starter for Week 11 and gives this passing attack a new dimension. Terry McLaurin was averaging just 61.1 receiving yards per game with Carson Wentz at the helm of this offense, but McLaurin has averaged 92.5 receiving yards per game in Heinicke’s four starts.
Houston is last in the NFL in fantasy points, rushing yards, and rushing TDs allowed to opposing RBs this season. With J.D. McKissic now out for the year, Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson are both solid fantasy options in Week 11.
#10. Tight End Turnover
The TE position is a thorn in the side of most fantasy managers on an annual basis and 2022 has been no different. That headache will increase now that Arizona's Zach Ertz is out for the season with an ACL injury. Former Mackey Award winner Trey McBride will get the first shot at the Ertz role in Arizona's offense and is worth a waiver dart.
Baltimore's Mark Andrews is expected to return to the lineup in Week 11. He trails just Travis Kelce in average fantasy points per game.
Philly's Dallas Goedert heads to IR after a shoulder injury suffered Monday night against Washington. Some combination of Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra, and Tyree Jackson will attempt to fill the void at TE for the Eagles, though none appear fantasy viable as of now.
Cleveland's David Njoku could return to the lineup in Week 11. Before going down in Week 7, the 26-year-old was having a true breakout season for the Browns. Njoku has averaged 14.2 fantasy points per game over his last five and would be an instant TE1 fantasy play if active against the Bills.
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