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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Justin Herbert (v CIN)
Bengals-Chargers has the makings of a shootout on Sunday night, and Herbert is coming off a game where he looked as healthy as he’s looked all season—including nine carries for 32 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Los Angeles wants to play more conservative when they can, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to this week considering how good Joe Burrow has been, so Herbert gets a significant boost into the clear QB1 ranks with high upside versus a Cincinnati defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns in the league (17).
Start: Jared Goff (v JAX)
Goff is coming off a five-interception game (I’m still convinced one should have been a strip sack), but that shouldn’t erase the run of elite play before Week 10—and this weekend is the perfect bounce-back spot versus a Jacksonville defense that has allowed the third-most passing yards per game (261.2) and a 19:5 touchdown-interception ratio on the season. Detroit being able to keep the ball on the ground would be the only concern, but Goff’s usual efficiency makes him a definite top-10 option at quarterback.
Start: Russell Wilson (v BAL)
Wilson is also a QB1 for this week, as Baltimore has allowed a whopping 294.9 passing yards per game (most in the league) and ranks dead last in passing touchdowns allowed (22). Maybe the classic Ravens-Steelers matchup will cause both defenses to step up and make it a slugfest, but I doubt that will be the case, and Wilson should take plenty of shots to George Pickens and Mike Williams—especially considering all the downfield issues Baltimore has had. Start Wilson with confidence.
Start: Bo Nix (v ATL)
Nix did all he could last week in Kansas City, and he’s continued to trend up after completing 22-of-30 passes for 215 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in a difficult matchup. Now back at home where he has gone for fantasy-points totals of 23.14, 20.74, and 29.76 over his past three appearances, Nix needs to be viewed as a weekly QB1 in plus matchups (such as this week versus an Atlanta defense allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position), and Denver’s star rookie is the overall QB9 on the season.
Sit of the Week: Jordan Love (@ CHI)
The bye week will help both in terms of Love’s health and the Packers putting together a game plan to attack Chicago’s defense—which Green Bay’s quarterback stung for 280.5 passing yards per game and a 5:0 touchdown-interception ratio last year. However, if there is an area where the Bears have remained capable, it’s defending the pass with an NFL-low six touchdowns surrendered, and Jaylon Johnson notably didn’t play in the second matchup last season when Love completed 27-of-32 passes and threw for 316 yards. I’d view him as more of a high-end QB2 for this week.
Sit: Kirk Cousins (@ DEN)
Cousins cooled off last week by being held out of the end zone in a loss to the Saints, and he gets a difficult road draw versus the Broncos with Vance Joseph’s defense allowing 12.71 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks other than Lamar Jackson this season. The key would be getting Kyle Pitts more involved with Drake London and Darnell Mooney battling Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss on the outside, but Cousins’ ceiling will likely be capped on Sunday, so we have him as a low-end QB2.
Sit: Drake Maye (v LAR)
Maye has proven to be a weekly rushing threat and should be gaining some confidence after his first win (excluding last month against the Jets when he left after six pass attempts), but I’m just worried about the New England offensive line holding up this week versus a young, energetic front for the Rams. Basically, the floor is a concern if Maye doesn’t do damage as a runner and he’s under constant duress as a passer, and the Patriots perhaps being forced to play from behind would still create risk if the offensive line doesn’t hold up.
Sit: Patrick Mahomes (@ BUF)
Mahomes is certainly trending up from a long-term perspective with 262+ passing yards in all three games since acquiring DeAndre Hopkins, and perhaps that momentum will be carried into a huge showdown versus the Bills. That said, I would keep him out of the QB1 ranks with Buffalo limiting Mahomes to a 5:5 touchdown-interception ratio over the past three meetings in the regular season, and the Chiefs would probably like to make Sunday a slugfest if they can. Plus, Mahomes is averaging just 219.5 passing yards per game on the road this season (compared to 266.0 yards per game at home).
Running Back
Start of the Week: Jonathan Taylor (@ NYJ)
I try to avoid putting superstar players here, but Taylor is being ranked as a borderline RB1/RB2 by most, while we have him as our top running back for Week 11 facing a Jets defense that has allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game in the league (134.0) and has frankly played worse than that for much of the season. Indianapolis turning back to Anthony Richardson at quarterback should only help Taylor and the running game, so look for him to have a monster day and get back into the end zone after failing to score in back-to-back starts by Joe Flacco.
Start: Nick Chubb (@ NO)
Chubb should be recharged following the bye week, and his outlook is the best it’s been in 2024 with the Browns facing a New Orleans defense that just allowed Bijan Robinson to rush 20 times for 116 yards (5.8 YPC) and two touchdowns. The offensive line for Cleveland coming together with Wyatt Teller rested as well is good news for Chubb—who saw 16 touches in each of the past two games and will be determined to have a breakout showing on Sunday. Consider him a top-20 option at the position.
Start: Gus Edwards (v CIN)
Running back seems thinner this week, so backups like Edwards could be worth starting for owners in a tough spot; the Chargers immediately had the veteran operate as the clear No. 2 runner last week with 10 carries for 55 yards in his return to the lineup, and even if it becomes a back-and-forth game, Los Angeles will want to run on Sunday night. Among all the projected 1B or change-of-pace options, Edwards arguably tops the list for Week 11.
Start: Roschon Johnson (v GB)
Johnson is another backup to consider this weekend, as Chicago will make changes following the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron—and one of the changes could very well be Johnson being used more to set the tone on early downs. At the very least, the former Longhorn has proven he can convert around the goal line with four rushing touchdowns this year, and D’Andre Swift has started to struggle again with 3.4 yards per carry over the past two weeks. If you are desperate, Johnston is worth a look.
Sit of the Week: Rhamondre Stevenson (v LAR)
The Rams sold out to stop the run against the Dolphins on Monday night, and I think we can fully expect a similar defensive approach with the Patriots not having a Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle to threaten the defense through the air. If so, Stevenson will be facing stacked boxes all afternoon, so he’ll probably need a short score to pay off as a start; in addition to bottling up the run last week, LA limited De’Von Achane to just 15 receiving yards on five receptions with defenders consistently swarming to the ball.
Sit: Najee Harris (v BAL)
Harris is one of the few runners to have some success versus the Ravens with 111+ rushing yards in two of the past four meetings (once in each of the past two seasons)—which is obviously no small feat. But in the other two games (both of which happened to be at home), Najee was limited to 35.0 rushing yards per game, and Baltimore has been more stout this year with the NFL’s best run defense (73.0 yards per game allowed) than they were in 2023 with 109.4 yards per game allowed or 2022 with 92.1 yards per game allowed. I have him as more of a low-end RB2.
Sit: Travis Etienne Jr. (@ DET)
Etienne is another running back with a tough matchup this week, as Detroit has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position (17.0)—and Jacksonville has delved into difficult-to-trust territory as an offense. There is still upside whenever Etienne is on the field, but he’s not broken a play of 20+ yards since Week 3, and hopes of increased work in the passing game haven’t come to fruition with three receptions for five yards over his past three appearances, which keeps him outside the top 24.
Sit: Raheem Mostert (v LV)
We’ll see what happens moving forward, but Mostert didn’t record a carry on Monday night and was essentially used only as the third-down back (a role that he split with De’Von Achane). While there is a chance Mostert still sees goal-line carries with no such opportunities last week, Achane was on the field for the lone snap (a play-action touchdown), and the 32-year-old’s fumbling issues might keep the door open for rookie Jaylen Wright to get touches behind Achane—so there’s a ton of uncertainty for him in lineups.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Davante Adams (v IND)
Adams is out of practice to begin the week with an illness and sore wrist, but assuming he plays, the former All-Pro is primed for a top-five day versus an Indy defense he’s roasted for lines of 7/106/1, 9/126/1 and 13/126/2 in three of the past four years. The most recent matchup was the multi-score effort which came in Week 17 of last season, and Adams seeing 13 targets in the loss to Arizona was a positive despite the overall disappointment for him and the New York offense. I’d give him another week as a clear WR1.
Start: Jayden Reed (@ CHI)
As stated, the Bears will be a tough draw for the Green Bay passing attack, but Reed could be exempt based on his role—as he’ll be used on manufactured touches/shots and avoid Jaylon Johnson for the most part. So far this season, Reed has gone for a gain of 30+ yards in six-of-nine appearances, and he was able to catch all four of his targets for 112 yards in the second game against Chicago as a rookie. I like Reed to break his three-game touchdown drought and return WR2 value.
Start: Jameson Williams (v JAX)
Williams didn’t have a huge game in his return on Sunday night with three receptions (on five targets) for 53 yards, but he made a couple of really tough catches—which will only give Detroit more confidence in the second-year speedster. Based on the struggles for Jacksonville in coverage, Williams will provide plenty of upside this week, and his start to the campaign shouldn’t go overlooked with 80+ total yards in four of the first five games.
Start: Ladd McConkey (v CIN)
Los Angeles having a spread-the-wealth passing attack could lead to some frustration for McConkey owners, but the rookie has shown a quality floor with 39+ receiving yards in all but one game this season—and we also know what kind of upside he has with a 6/111/2 line in Week 8. Last week, McConkey only had two targets (catching both for 52 yards), so things could slant back towards him on Sunday night versus a very attackable Cincinnati secondary. I think he’s a top-24 play.
Others: Courtland Sutton (v ATL), Jauan Jennings (v SEEA)
Sit of the Week: Drake London (@ DEN)
Pat Surtain II is fresh off a shutdown performance against DeAndre Hopkins, and London is next on the schedule as another big-bodied wideout that Denver’s elite corner should be able to contain. The trust Kirk Cousins has in London combined with his touchdown potential (and Surtain not strictly shadowing all the time) keeps him on the WR2 line, but similar to his quarterback, I’d anticipate a capped ceiling based on the matchup, particularly on the road.
Sit: DJ Moore (v GB)
From a long-term perspective for this season, the Bears changing offensive coordinators can only be a good thing for Moore’s outlook—as it’s difficult to imagine things could get any worse than they’ve been thus far in 2024. For this week, though, Moore will see a lot of Jaire Alexander, and an aggressive Green Bay defense in general might not result in early returns under new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Keep Moore out of lineups if you can at least until the schedule lightens up.
Sit: Romeo Doubs (@ CHI)
Doubs is back to being the top wideout for the Packers in terms of snaps played (at least 83% in three games after not starting in his first week back from suspension), but Chicago will be a challenge considering their success keeping opposing wide receivers out of the end zone (five touchdowns allowed to the position)—and Doubs is likely to square off against Jaylon Johnson for most of the afternoon. In an offense that likes to spread the ball around, Doubs could be in store for a quiet day.
Sit: Xavier Worthy (@ BUF)
The Buffalo defense wanting to limit the big plays is no secret, and Worthy has been very quiet this month with three touches for just one yard despite playing at least 68% of the snaps in both games. It’s possible we see Kansas City unleash something that they’ve been keeping in their back pocket for Worthy (and the Bills trading back from the pick the Chiefs used on the rookie is another layer people will be talking about), but the production hasn’t really been there—making Worthy more of a boom-or-bust FLEX that has mostly fallen on the wrong side of things.
Others: Colts WRs (@ NYJ)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: Kyle Pitts (@ DEN)
Pitts had a speed bump with one reception (on one target) for 11 yards against the Cowboys in Week 9, but he’s gone for 55+ receiving yards in every other game since the start of October—and is now averaging 9.9 yards per target on the season. Although the Broncos have been better than expected defending tight ends, they are still best attacked between the numbers, so I like Pitts as a top-five option (pending the status of Dalton Kincaid).
Start: Pat Freiermuth (v BAL)
Baltimore has been lost all over the field when it comes to defending the pass, and fantasy owners can expect more upside for Freiermuth—who is at least a weekly factor with two or more receptions in every game this season—based on the matchup. Freiermuth scoring in three of the past six games is another reason to feel good about him as a start; we have him as a top-12 option.
Start: Brock Wright (v JAX)
Redraft leagues will hopefully have a better option than Wright, but touchdowns are often key for the position—and he will have an expanded role on Sunday if Sam LaPorta (shoulder) is unable to go. With the Jaguars allowing 12.8+ fantasy points to opposing tight ends in six of their past eight games, Wright is a cheap DFS flier to consider.
Sit of the Week: Mike Gesicki (@ LAC)
Gesicki would go from “sit” to “start” if Tee Higgins (quad) is out again on Sunday night, but if not, the tight end could be an afterthought like we saw from Week 4 through Week 8 with a combined four receptions for 24 yards and zero touchdowns when Higgins was healthy. Even though the play of Gesicki should make him a weekly factor, it’s simply not something we can count on when the Bengals have both Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins in the lineup.
Sit: Cole Kmet (v GB)
The state of the Chicago offense makes Kmet an option to avoid right now, and another factor to consider is that he’s been held out of the end zone in all eight career matchups versus the Packers—so that puts him at a disadvantage out of the gate if it were to continue. Focusing on this season, Kmet has been limited to yardage totals of 14, zero, and 13 since a 5/70/2 line in London, and the Bears needing help in protection could limit his opportunities in the passing game.
Sit: Davis Allen (@ NE)
Allen overtook Colby Parkinson for the lead role at tight end last week, and he showed well with five receptions (on six targets) for 34 yards. Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Parkinson back as the top guy at tight end after Los Angeles struggled in scoring territory on Monday night (he brings size that opponents need to account for), but either way, the offense will remain centered around Kyren Williams, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua.