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Matt's running back (RB) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 11 of 2025. His RB lineups advice for Week 11 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
Nothing brings a tear to my eye like seeing the heavy hitters of fantasy football go out there and do their thing. Jonathan Taylor (49.6), De'Von Achane (40.5), and Jahmyr Gibbs(38.2) are proving they're must-start status.
We may have also witnessed the ascension of TreVeyon Henderson, who dropped 28 fantasy points after averaging 10.5 yards per catch and churning out 147 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in Rhamondre Stevenson's absence, proving that the cream always rises to the top.
With that said, here are your RotoBaller starts and sits at the running back position for Week 11 of the fantasy football season.
Week 11 - Fantasy Football Booms
Rico Dowdle - RB, Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
I know you all witnessed Taylor drop 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including that "good night, don't forget to tip the waitress" walk-off run in overtime against this Falcons defense last week. Anytime anyone drops 49.6 fantasy points on a defense, you are inserting the next man up against said defense; it just happens to be one of the baddest backs in the league right now, Rico Dowdle, getting his shot this week.
You chose wisely Rico 😂
NOvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/RdRHCTnpdH
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
Since Week 5, Dowdle has been as good as any back in the game, averaging 21 fantasy points per game, a number only eclipsed over that period by Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, and De'Von Achane. If not for the Panthers feeling obliged to give Chuba Hubbard touches upon his return, Dowdle's numbers could be even more impressive.
In half of Dowdle's contests since being the starter in Carolina, the bruising back has churned out 130 or more rushing yards and has topped 180 yards on the ground twice. Not exactly what you want to hear if you are a Falcons fan. Even before becoming the lead back, Dowdle managed 10.8 fantasy points on 11 opportunities back in Week 3 against this Falcons team.
Josh Jacobs - RB, Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
While the Falcons had been one of the best defenses against opposing backs for fantasy in the weeks leading up to their meeting with Taylor, the New York Giants have been on the other end of that equation, allowing 30.4 fantasy points per game over their previous four contests.
For New York, its run defense has been among the worst over the last few weeks, allowing an average of 202 yards per game on the ground while allowing opposing running backs to account for 165.3 of those yards per game and finding the end zone on three occasions. Opposing backs have also had a hand in the passing game, being responsible for three receiving touchdowns and 111 receiving yards on 13 receptions over those three contests.
Josh Jacobs enters this week averaging nearly 20 fantasy points per game this season. When you factor in his production along with the Giants' subpar play on the defensive side of the ball, there is a very realistic possibility that Jacobs exits Week 11 as the top-scoring back for the week.
Rachaad White - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills
Bucky Irving has once again been ruled out in a Week 11 matchup that, on paper, is expected to be one of the most fantasy-relevant on this week's slate. As of Monday morning, Irving remained without a timetable for return.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles made pretty clear he did not expect Bucky Irving or Chris Godwin to practice or play Sunday at Buffalo. He said he would wait and see whether Hasson Reddick can practice.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) November 10, 2025
If Irving continues to miss time, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker become viable fantasy options this week.
Since Week 2, White has been serviceable for fantasy managers, averaging 11.7 fantasy points per game. That production has been better for fantasy managers than what they had received from Derrick Henry, Kenneth Walker III, or Alvin Kamara over that period. In White's last eight contests, he has accounted for 442 yards of total offense, caught 28 passes, and reached the end zone on four occasions.
While, on paper, the Bills are a difficult matchup in fantasy, if you dig a little deeper into the analytics, you can find reason to believe that White can be a solid RB2 with RB1 upside this week. Since Week 6, Buffalo has allowed 25.6 fantasy points per game, and opposing backs have averaged 5.32 yards per rushing attempt.
While White is not in the same tier of fantasy-producing backs as De'Von Achane, they both possess similar skill sets. Against the Bills, Achane averaged 7.9 yards per carry on his way to 174 yards on the ground, and added 51 receiving yards on his five receptions. White is not likely to come close to matching Achane's 225 yards of total offense, but he is more than capable of hitting half that number.
Week 11 - Fantasy Football Busts
Saquon Barkley - RB, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions
Now that I have your attention, let's look at the facts. I know you're starting your studs, but the numbers suggest we need to proceed with caution this week with Saquon Barkley.
Heading into that contest last week against the Packers, Barkley was the RB11 in fantasy, averaging 16 fantasy points per game. Before his 33.4-point performance in Week 8 against the Giants, Barkley had posted back-to-back weeks with less than nine fantasy points.
As good as Barkley has been, as good as he is, he is no longer the surefire option he once was. I'm not saying anything the numbers aren't already suggesting. Again, you are starting Barkley, but have options in your lineup that account for any potential disappointment.
When looking at the Week 11 matchup, Barkley could be in for a long day. He's also one run away from being a top-producing back any given week, so that is why you don't flat-out bench a player of Barkley's ability.
Over Detroit's three previous contests, it has limited fantasy production from the running back position to 14.0 points per game; only the Rams have allowed fewer. In those three contests, opposing backs have been responsible for 291 yards of total offense and have failed to score a touchdown.
J.K. Dobbins - RB, Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
As far as stout run defenses are concerned, fewer teams have been as good at limiting yards on the ground as the Kansas City Chiefs have been this season. Kansas City has allowed 104.6 yards per game rushing this season; however, over its last three contests, it has allowed just 75.3 rushing yards per game.
J.K. Dobbins has been one of the most effective backs this season, rushing for 772 yards, the fifth most. Over the last five contests, his 370 rushing yards rank seventh. The one problem holding Dobbins back, while he is the seventh-leading rusher, is that he hasn't been able to hit paydirt in any of those 76 rushing attempts. For fantasy, he finds himself as the RB33, averaging 8.7 fantasy points per game since Week 6.
Dobbins hasn't scored a touchdown in any of his previous five outings, while Kansas City has allowed just a single score in its last four. Basic fantasy football mathematics would suggest the probability of Dobbins reaching the end zone this week is 2.76%. Ok, I made that number up, but it's still not great.
Aaron Jones Sr. - RB, Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
After back-to-back weeks of 10-plus fantasy points, you may be thinking that Aaron Jones Sr. is a viable option as your RB2 this week. Well, I am here to tell you that assuming makes an … never mind, my kids read this article.
Getting back to the facts, since returning to the Vikings lineup, Jones has 140 yards and averaged an impressive 6.09 yards per attempt, cashing in one of those carries for six points last week against the Ravens. However, those 140 rushing yards rank 20th among the position over that period.
Jones is only getting 50% of his team's carries inside the 5-yard line, which suggests Jordan Mason isn't going away anytime soon. It doesn't help Jones' prospects that he's forced only one missed tackle in 23 attempts since returning and is producing just 1.52 yards after contact per attempt.
What also doesn't help is facing a Chicago Bears team this week that is allowing 15.9 fantasy points per game to the running back position, the fifth fewest since Week 6. Tyrone Tracy Jr. eventually got going, churning out 71 yards on the ground last week on 14 carries, but he was held out of the end zone and was irrelevant for the entirety of the first half.
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