Fantasy Football Start ’Em Sit ’Em: Week 11
Ten weeks of NFL action have come and gone, and we are entering the final few weeks of the fantasy football season. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks on byes this week and multiple star players set to miss time, fantasy managers face some tough decisions regarding who to start and sit.
When setting your lineups this week, consider starting or sitting these players:
Start
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears
Cordarrelle Patterson returned from a four week absence in Week 9 and turned in a solid fantasy performance, rushing 13 times for 44 yards and two touchdowns and catching his lone target for nine yards for 18.3 points in standard ESPN PPR leagues. However, last week was a different story, and he only rushed five times for 18 yards while adding one reception for two yards for three points.
Understandably, fantasy managers may be worried how Patterson will perform this week, but it must be taken into consideration that his poor performance last week may have been the result of load management. Since the Atlanta Falcons played on Thursday Night Football last week, it was Patterson’s second game in just four days since returning from the injured reserve, which could have caused the Falcons to be cautious and limit his usage.
With the Falcons facing a Bears defense who has been mediocre against the run this season and quarterback Marcus Mariota continuing to struggle, expect the Falcons to commit to the run game and Patterson to have a bounceback performance.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Diontae Johnson is undeniably the Pittsburgh Steelers’ best and most experienced wide receiver. Through nine games, Johnson leads the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards this season after doing so last season as well.
Star pass rusher T.J. Watt returned last week for the Steelers, giving their defense a huge boost. With Watt back, the Steelers’ defense should be able to keep them in the game this week against a Cincinnati Bengals team they beat with Watt in the fold Week 1.
The Steelers also traded wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Bears at the trade deadline, which should increase Johnson’s volume. Lock him into your lineup this week.
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons
Justin Fields has been on an absolute tear lately. In standard ESPN PPR leagues, Fields is averaging 32.86 fantasy points a game over the last four weeks, and 41.05 fantasy points a game over the last two weeks.
Fields faces a Falcons defense that has given up the 25th most fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks this week. The favorable matchup and his recent success easily has him in QB1 status this week.
Sit
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
James Conner has disappointed fantasy managers this season through the combination of poor performances and missing three games due to injury. Last week against the Los Angeles Rams however, Conner proved why fantasy managers expect so much out of him, rushing 21 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns while also catching three passes for 17 yards, scoring 23.6 standard ESPN PPR fantasy points.
This success should not continue into this week though, as Conner faces a San Francisco 49ers defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs and held fantasy RB1 Austin Ekeler to just 13.3 points last week.
If you have Conner, it’s best to look for another option at the running back position this week.
Allen Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
Allen Robinson has had a rough fantasy season so far, averaging only 7.8 standard ESPN PPR points a game through nine games.
The Los Angeles Rams’ star wide receiver Cooper Kupp was placed on the injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain that requires surgery. This is likely to increase Robinson’s volume in the offense and get fantasy managers excited about him, but until he shows he can be a viable fantasy option, Robinson is better left on the bench.
Jonathan Hartley is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jdh6293@psu.edu.
