Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Week 11

Scott Engel provides Week 11 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make.

Welcome to Week 11, RotoBallers! Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with or consider avoiding when faced with tough lineup decisions in Week 11 of the fantasy football season.

These choices are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller's NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a 10% discount and get access to all of my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the remainder of the 2020 season. Weekly subscription options are available.

Skill position picks here are based on my PPR rankings. Good luck in Week 11 RotoBallers!

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Week 11 Running Back Spotlights

Mike Davis ranks second among running backs with 47 receptions this season, and is one of two RBs with six games of 5+ receptions. He has 50+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4 games at home. The Lions allow the most Fantasy Points Per Game to running backs, but Davis appeared to hit a wall after Week 5. He has not rushed for 70 yards or reached 40 receiving yards in a game since. Curtis Samuel is also a threat to steal some goal line attempts. Davis is not a slam dunk play just because of the matchup. If you have a tight decision involving Davis and another player, consider choosing the alternative.

Nyheim Hines had a season-high 115 scrimmage yards (70 rush, 45 rec.) and two TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) last week. He has two TDs in two of his past three games. Hines looks like the most explosive Colts running back when he touches the ball, and the Packers are second-worst in FFPG allowed to RBs. So momentum from last week and the matchup makes this look like a good matchup for Hines on paper.

But Hines has only 33 carries since the season opener and no more than seven in a game since then. He is a mostly a satellite back, and he still has only caught more than four passes in a game three times this season. After his 115-yards from scrimmage and two TDs in Week 1, he had 38 total yards in the next game. He cannot be trusted for quality touches, and if the Colts can run the ball effectively, Hines will likely not lead the way. It could be a pure committee this week, and the Indianapolis backfield has been very unpredictable. Hines has some promise because of the matchup, but he never has a real statistical floor and he is a risky play.

James Robinson rushed for 109 yards in Week 10. He is aiming for his 4th game in row with 95+ rush yards. He has a rushing TD in two of his past three. Robinson leads rookies in scrimmage yards (917) and rushing yards (689) and ranks 2nd with seven TDs (5 rush, 2 rec.). The Steelers obviously are best in FFPG allowed to RBs, so that may make you consider reserving Robinson. But even in a blowout, Robinson can catch passes playing from behind - and if the Jaguars only score twice, he is a good bet to notch one of those TDs. Robinson, the surprise breakout RB of 2020, has earned regular starting status regardless of matchups. He may lack upside this week, yet he will still give you a quality statistical floor.

This is the week when we learn more about the true outlook of La'Mical Perine. Published reports indicate the Jets will start giving him real opportunities to earn the featured back job this week. But you should not believe it until you see it. The Jets have a baffling and unhealthy dedication to Frank Gore, and we cannot be certain that will evaporate just yet. Gore may be a great clubhouse guy, but he does not deserve to be getting significant carries on a winless team. Keep Perine reserved for more week if you can. You don’t want to play him and then get burned by more of Gore. Perine could certainly start emerging this week, but it’s better to actually see it happen first before you start him.

WATCH: Scott Engel and Josh Hayes' Week 11 Sleeper and Value Plays

Week 11 WR Spotlights

Tee Higgins had 115 rec. yards and a receiving TD on career-high seven catches last week. He is aiming for his 5th game in row with 5+ catches and 70+ rec. yards. Higgins has a TD catch in two of his past three games. He ranks 3rd among rookies in catches (40), rec. yards (603) and rec. TDs (4). Since he burst onto the fantasy scene in Week 3, Higgins has scored in double figure fantasy points in every game and less than 13 once. Higgins has emerged as a must-start fantasy WR3. The Bengals will throw often whenever they don’t face an elite defense, and Higgins has produced even in the tough matchups, with 18-plus points vs. the Colts and Steelers. Higgins should win most tough lineup decisions that involve him.

Jakeem Grant Sr. led Miami with four catches for 43 yards and had his 1st TD catch of season last week. Tua Tagovailoa seems to be willing to throw to Grant more than Ryan Fitzpatrick did, and the absence of Preston Williams has also created more of an opportunity for the speedster. Grant has 10 targets in his past two games and now a chance to feature more of his playmaking skills in the passing game. If you need a deep play or add at WR, Grant could prove to have some upside as Tagovailoa continues to settle in. He is worth deeper consideration as soon as this week.

CeeDee Lamb had four catches for 71 yards and his 3rd-career receiving TD in Week 9. He leads all rookies with 44 receptions and ranks 3rd in receiving yards (595). Lamb has been pinned to Fantasy benches recently as Dallas has not won since Dak Prescott went down. The QB situation has looked bleak, yet Lamb scored 15.1 points against the Steelers and can deliver another quality performance this week. Andy Dalton is returning, and he should be better versus Minnesota than he has looked so far. The Vikings are 29^th in FFPG allowed to WRs, so consider starting Lamb for a good outing in Week 11.

Antonio Brown had seven receptions for 69 yards in Week 10. He looks to be in very good shape and has already shown he can beat defenders downfield. But he is simply not a primary pass-catcher in an offense that already has Chris Godwin and Mike Evans as top targets. Rob Gronkowski obviously has the established rapport with Tom Brady, especially closer to the goal line. So far, Brown has been a luxury for Brady as his third WR, but they have not connected for any real big plays. Consistency can be a real issue for Brown going forward, too. The Rams allow the least FFPG to WRs and Brown hasn’t shown enough to warrant a spot in fantasy starting lineups yet. Keep him reserved for now, and veer in the other direction in most lineup decisions involving him.

Week 11 Lineup QB/TE Spotlight: Taysom Hill

We needed a separate section for the hottest pickup in ESPN leagues (qualifies at TE) this week, and a nifty one on FleaFlicker (qualifies at WR).

Fantasy managers running to the waiver wire for Taysom Hill pic.twitter.com/kHx7P6njaK

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 20, 2020

Taysom Hill should not be a top consideration at QB despite how exciting he has looked in limited reps so far in his career, and how good the matchup looks vs. the Falcons. Hill is totally unpredictable as a starter and too risky in a very important fantasy week as the playoffs draw closer. There are no guarantees how much he will play, either, as there is some speculation, including from Bruce Arians, that we could see both Hill and Jameis Winston at QB for the Saints this week.

Hill has a shaky statistical floor, but most TEs do, so he is a viable start over any player at the position besides Travis Kelce. The upside is certainly there, but if he gets five to seven points, you do not want to be starting him over a Kelce or one of your better and more reliable WRs. He is certainly worth strong flex consideration, but not over safer plays that have delivered more consistently.

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