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Nick's running back start 'em, sit 'em picks for fantasy football Week 11 lineups (2025). Read his expert RB start/sit advice for Woody Marks, Sean Tucker, Kareem Hunt, others.
Howdy, RotoBallers, and welcome in for another edition of our weekend start 'em sit' em columns. We know that everyone's hunting for explosive performances that can carry us to victory, while hoping to avoid seemingly locked-in starters in letdown spots.
This week, we've got a trio with stellar matchups who could blow past your current expectations, including one player still available in over 80% of Yahoo leagues. On the other hand, a pair of early-season RB1s who have slipped lately highlight the group that we're worried about for Week 11. In this weekly piece, we hope to put your views surrounding those must-start options into perspective, though we know that many may lack the depth to outright pivot.
Even if you fall into the latter camp, being cognizant of the matchups could lead to more aggressive shots with other calls to help achieve a lofty team ceiling, especially if you're in must-win territory. Let's take a look at which running backs we should lock into our fantasy lineups and which ones may need to hit the bench. Don't see the running back you're looking for? Be sure to check out more running back start 'em sit 'em content, and our Week 11 RB rankings on RotoBaller. Let's dive in!
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Week 11 Starts - Potential Fantasy Football Booms
Jaylen Warren - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Don’t undersell the reality of facing the Bengals at this time. This writer is ranking Warren inside the top-10 RBs, ahead of star players such as Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. This may be obvious to many of you, but perhaps some of you have been utilizing Warren in a FLEX spot and are conflicted about this week.
The Steelers haven’t often turned to Warren where it counts, with only two rush TDs (both in Week 9), but he powered for 127 yards on 16 carries against Cincy in Week 7. And the Bengals will be without two key pieces on the front, further weakening the worst defense in the league.
Trey Hendrickson, Shemar Stewart Both Out for Week 11https://t.co/2BXIhTE98w
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) November 14, 2025
Warren is a play that can make value on volume and yardage alone, but if TD variance falls his way, then we’re looking at a nuclear game. Even with the lesser red-zone usage for Warren, it isn’t like he’s off the field.
Since his injury in Week 4 and the Week 5 BYE, Warren has 70 rushes to Kenneth Gainwell’s 17, including 80% of carries inside the five-yard line. He holds a 10-to-2 advantage on red-zone rushes and targets as well. In the end, several strong signals are lighting up!
Woody Marks - Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Tennessee’s shortcomings fall across the entire team, but the overall effect of negative gamescripts leads to many opponents controlling the majority of the game. This provides a comfortable ability to run with the ball.
This year, they’ve given up 141.3 rushing yards per game (4.84 YPC), as well as a league-leading 15 rush TDs. Enter: Marks, who helped Houston toward its 36-29 comeback victory with 14-63-1 rushing and another two catches for 18 more yards.
Recognizing that it has been a while since these teams squared off back in Week 4, let’s remember what happened. Marks broke out with 119 total yards and two scores on 21 touches, while Nick Chubb churned 62 yards out of 15 opportunities in a dominant 26-0 dub.
And it always helps to get some glowing talk out of your head coach, right? After the Week 10 comeback victory, DeMeco Ryans spoke on both Marks and Chubb:
"To start with our running backs, I thought Woody [Marks] played fast. He made plays, especially plays on the perimeter, which is where I've seen him shine the most when he can get the ball in space. He did a really nice job of handling the bulk of the carries for us. When [Nick] Chubb came in & got his opportunities, he had some explosive runs." Adding how, "it was good, a one-two punch that we were able to use."
Marks has the sparks flying to catch fire, and was praised for his handling of the primary RB workload. Houston’s defense has a great chance at once again shutting the Titans down and leaving the offense in cruise control, which takes the pressure off Davis Mills. Marks can shine at the epicenter of this effort.
Sean Tucker - Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills
Let’s have a little fun here. Much of the attention is on Bucky Irving’s return to practice, but we’ve yet to see his shoulder take contact. And the Bucs are rolling a no-pads practice week, so we’re not certain how the shoulder is going to be tested. Friday saw word come down that Irving will miss Week 11, and possibly more still.
Bowles said Irving and Godwin made progress in their first week back at practice, but it's not even a sure thing they'd be ready to play next week against the Rams. Clearly being careful with both before bringing them back.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) November 14, 2025
Meanwhile, Tucker has risen to a timeshare with Rachaad White over the last couple of weeks. Though White still owns the passing downs, Tucker has 21 carries for 95 yards and a TD in the last two games. White stands at 23 totes for 73 yards, which gives him a meager 3.28 YPC over his last seven contests.
The veteran’s lesser rushing already sprung Irving to prominence last year, so what if this matchup with Buffalo’s porous run defense gives us a glimpse into Tucker’s upside? Per DVOA, only the Bengals and Giants are worse against the run. Buffalo is allowing 5.47 YPC and nearly 150 RuYds per game.
We just saw Buffalo roll over in Miami, so perhaps you're underestimating the potential runaway win that the Bucs can hang on these Bills. Either way, Tucker has a few lanes to become a sneaky week-winner, or at least a worthwhile FLEX play.
Week 11 Concerns - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Kyren Williams - Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Williams has run well in two games after the bye, collecting nearly 200 total yards and three TDs across 41 touches. So, what gives? Well, despite the high volume and recent stats, Williams has been splitting work with Blake Corum.
The Rams may not get the same juice out of Corum, but they’ve been comfortable giving him exactly 13 touches across alternating in each of their last three games. It is worth noting they’ve won each of those games by at least 16 points, so tighter contests could see them lean more on Williams.
Said tight contest is almost surely on the table in a Week 11 showdown against the Seahawks. The marquee NFC West showdown pits Williams against a front that has only allowed an average of 66.8 rushing yards to opposing RBs.
Even including rushing QBs and such, the total 3.71 YPC against SEA is the third-lowest in the league. They are also one of only three teams to allow fewer than 2% of rushes to explode for 15 or more yards on the year.
Perhaps Williams grinds out 24 carries for 85 yards and a TD plunge in a slugfest, or can make some value through the air, but the tea leaves are ominous. That kind of line shouldn't be on the higher end of the projection tree.
Kareem Hunt - Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
Hunt is embarking on a mile-high uphill climb against the Broncos in the thin air. Isiah Pacheco still hasn’t appeared at practice due to his knee injury sustained in Week 8, but is that enough to put Hunt into your RB2/FLEX spot?
We recognize that being tethered to Patrick Mahomes’ offense provides a certain confidence floor in getting to the red zone. But if the higher range of outcomes that you’re hoping for is a short TD by virtue of the passing game dragging him down the field, then that’s pretty sad.
Or hey, maybe Hunt will buoy his value with another 10 targets like he did in Week 10 of 2024, when seven catches led to 65 yards in a 16-14 win against the Broncos. However, he also only gained 35 yards on 14 carries (2.5 YPC), and we can’t count on running back a Darren Sproles impression.
Denver’s defense is simply elite. Even when preoccupied with Mahomes, the stars up front can clog most rushing lanes. Even in a lead RB role without Pacheco tagging in, it’s difficult to see Hunt finding that receiving volume with Brashard Smith hanging around. (Hunt only has nine catches in nine games so far.)
If you’re pressed into flexing Hunt, then so be it. It’s understandable that some are grateful for 12-15 touches, no matter the circumstances. However, some are speaking on Hunt with tunnel vision due to the “starting Chiefs RB” tag. Tread carefully.
Ashton Jeanty - Las Vegas Raiders vs. Dallas Cowboys
These aren’t your parents’ Cowboys, but we also can’t simply read those embarrassing seasonal stats and project their opponents for glory. A strong offense and bottom-of-the-barrel defensive metrics have defined the first half of Dallas’ campaign, but now is not (necessarily) then.
While you can laugh at Jerry Jones’ timing on trades, Quinnen Williams’ arrival coincides with linebacker DeMarvion Overshown’s activation from the PUP list. You can take PFF grades with large grains of salt, but Williams’ 90.8 Run DEF grade is seventh-best in the NFL
Quinnen Williams has beaten 57 double teams to generate pressure since 2022, the most of any player in that span.
His 190 total pressures during that timeframe are the 4th-most among defensive tackles.@dallascowboys | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/bsFRr5QkiV
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 4, 2025
Per ESPN, his 47% Run Stop Win rate trails only Solomon Thomas' 48% mark, and now they're teammates. Combine that with a bottom-eight team run-blocking grade for the Raiders, and you’ve got a problem!
If the potent Cowboys’ offense can put Las Vegas into an early hole, it could really limit Jeanty’s involvement. Geno Smith and company have been able to bully teams like the Jaguars and Commanders, but have disappeared against many others.
Brock Bowers’ return does help offensive outcomes. Some of you may be envisioning the three-TD explosion for Jeanty in Week 4 against the Bears, but one hopes you have two feet on the ground regarding which version of the Cowboys could show up on Monday night.
*In lieu of involving bigger names like Williams and Jeanty, here are some others in the RB2/FLEX conversation that are objectively easier to bench:
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG vs. GB -- Seven-point underdogs in a game with a low total of around 42 points).
- Quinshon Judkins (CLE vs. BAL -- His advanced metrics have faded lately, O/U total down to 39 points).
- Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (SEA at LAR -- Rams allow 3.88 YPC, league-low three rush TD, and George Holani vultures/AJ Barner tush push being on the table creates razor-thin margins).
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