Fantasy Football WR Sleepers: Smash Spots for Week 11 include CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Cedric Tillman, Calvin Ridley

November 13, 2024

Ellis looks at fantasy football WR sleepers in smash spots for Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season. Target these fantasy football wide receivers as starts in lineups.

In a week where the WR10 had 15 fantasy points, big games were hard to come by at the WR position. With that behind us, let’s try to come back stronger this week. I have scoured the data, and I am confident we’ll be putting our best picks forward this week.

Last week, I was hoping we’d have some players back from injury. With Tee Higgins held out, we had Mike Gesicki step in and deliver a mediocre week. Considering Ja'Marr Chase had 263 yards and three scores, there wasn’t much to go around. On our other picks, Nico Collins didn’t end up playing, and Mac Jones destroyed the last remaining life of the Jaguars.

My name is Ellis Johnson, and this is my Wide Receiver Smash Starts for Week 11. In this article, I am selecting four receivers of various values that are primed for big performances this week. 

George Pickens (WR, PIT) vs. BAL

Since the takeover of Russell Wilson, Pickens has shown glimpses of a fantasy WR1. We all know that Pickens has the talent to make highlight reel catches and be physical at the catch point; however, he hasn’t had a quarterback who has been able to harness his traits.

Ironically, I view Pickens much like his new teammate Mike Williams, a boom-bust WR with incredible play-making ability. The only difference is that Pickens has some wild displays of emotion and is at risk of being ejected on any given week.

Regardless, Pickens is this team’s clear top target. With over 70 yards in each of his last three games and two scores over that span, he has displayed a steady floor. This week, he faces a Ravens team that was embarrassed by Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase during prime time last week. Although Pickens is no Chase and Wilson is not Burrow, this is still a great matchup.

The Ravens have allowed the most fantasy points to the WR position and nearly 200 yards per game to opposing wideouts. Outside of Marlon Humphrey, the next Ravens corner is rookie Nate Wiggins, who ranks as PFF’s 62nd-best corner. Humphrey has not shadowed much this year, and I don’t expect him to follow Pickens. I’m firing Pickens up as a top-15 play this week.

I’m crying bro he DID NOT care about the football https://t.co/WsD5Masfck pic.twitter.com/CA6rL5H8Lx

— Ben Houselog (@benlikessport) November 10, 2024

Cedric Tillman (WR, CLE) at Saints

Tillman will be making an appearance in this article for the second time in three weeks. Coming off of their bye week, I think fantasy managers may be skeptical about throwing him right back into their lineups. I’m here to tell you to fire him up.

Tillman has had a wild sophomore breakout this season. In the absence of Amari Cooper and the change at QB, Tillman has been this team’s go-to target. Considering he has outplayed highly touted players such as Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore, it’s a cool story for the 2023 third-round WR out of Tenessee.

In his last three games, he has 12, nine, and 11 targets. That has led to 75 or more yards in each game and three total scores. We know Jameis Winston is not afraid to air it out, and against a reeling Saints defense, this is a smash spot. 

The Saints recently traded away Marshon Lattimore, their go-to shutdown corner for years. They have also lost their second corner, Paulson Adebo, to a season-ending injury. This leaves Kool-Aid McKinstry, PFF’s 42nd-best corner, as their top guy. 

Despite losing last week, we saw the Falcons find plenty of offensive success against the Saints. I expect the Browns will manage to rack up the score in this one, and hopefully, it’s not a vintage Nick Chubb day. I have Tillman as a top-20 play this week. 

Cedric Tillman’s THE WR1 overall in fantasy points from weeks 7-9

➖1st in Targets (32)
➖5th in Yards (255)
➖2nd in TD’s (3)

His 22.2 PPG in that span also ranks 1st in the NFL pic.twitter.com/HkOc7ht4ZJ

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) November 5, 2024

Calvin Ridley (WR, TEN) vs. MIN

Don’t look now, but two years after all of the hype, Calvin Ridley is finally coming through for fantasy. Ironically, this production is coming from what appears to be his worst situation yet. However, numbers don’t lie, and Ridley had two top-10 weekly performances over the last three weeks.

This week, the Titans are preparing to get slaughtered by a Brian Flores defense. Thankfully, that defense is susceptible to wide receivers. As scary as a blitz-heavy defense against Will Levis is, we know this will be a pass-happy game script. 

Ridley has five straight weeks with eight or more targets, including one week with 15. Considering the Vikings allow the second most receptions and third most yards to the WR position per game, Ridley should have a relatively safe floor. I think he is a top-24 play this week, with upside if this team manages to score any points.

Calvin Ridley since his week 6 8 target goose egg via @FantasyPtsData
*30.6% Target Share
*13.7 aDot
*53.5% AY Share
*31% TPRR
*2.57 YPRR
*38% 1st read
*17.1 FPPG
*342 yards (4th)
23-342-2 result (41 raw targets)pic.twitter.com/21fllDkdV2

— Andy (@andy_buckler) November 12, 2024

CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL) vs Texans

Oh great, the Cowboys are playing on Monday Night Football. To the satisfaction of everyone but Cowboys fans, the Most Disappointing Team of the Year award is a toss-up between the Jets and the Cowboys.

CeeDee Lamb is now tied to this struggling franchise for the foreseeable future after signing an extension this offseason. For the rest of this season, he is now tied to a combination of Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. What could go wrong?

I am selecting Lamb for this article this week to help provide confidence coming off a game where the Cowboys had 66 total passing yards. Not only did the QB play get in the way, but so did the sun, blinding Lamb for what would have been an easy touchdown. 

Thankfully, the sun shows promise for this week as Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Sun God, finished as a top-10 WR against the Texans last week. Although not spectacular, St. Brown’s six receptions, 60 yards, and a score was a nice week. The Texans, on the season, are allowing the fifth most fantasy points to the position and the second-most touchdowns.

Touchdowns might be a big ask for Rush and Lance; however, if they are going to score, Lamb is the likely target. It’s hard relying on these backup QBs, but I have a good feeling about Lamb’s volume. I have him as a top-15 play this week.

CeeDee Lamb on not catching the potential touchdown pass from Cooper rush in the sun:
“I couldn’t see.”
Are you in favor of curtains in AT&T stadium?
“1000 percent.”#DallasCowboys #cowboys #NFL pic.twitter.com/0i5y6Dvslq

— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) November 11, 2024

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