Fantasy Football Week 11 Sleepers, Who to Start, & Who to Sit

Running Backs

Start: I’ve been down on him the last few weeks, but I actually think Frank Gore is ready for a big day against the Giants who allow the second-most fantasy points and the most rushing yards to opposing RB’s.  San Francisco has been committed to Gore as their top back and he should be in for a nice day against the generous Giants ran D. In his first action since week two, Ryan Mathews couldn’t ask for a much better matchup as he takes on the Raiders who allow the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. There is some risk that Mathews will share some work with Branden Oliver and Donald Brown, but I still think he’s a strong play this week in a good matchup.  Jeremy Hill is expected to get plenty of work for the Bengals again this week with Gio Bernard still out making Hill a fringe RB1 despite his struggles last week.  If you can get your hands on Alfred Blue, the rookie from LSU is expected to start in place of Arian Foster against the Browns and makes a nice RB2 play for fantasy football week 11.  With Ryan Mallet getting his first start, look for the Texans to run the ball and focus on attacking a Browns run defense that has been inconsistent this season.  Blue showed he can produce when called upon filling in effectively in week three and had 64 total yards on 15 touches against Tennessee in the Texans last game when Arian Foster left with his latest injury. (last week: Bobby Rainey, Ronnie Hillman, Denard Robinson)

Sit: I was an early proponent of adding Tre Mason, but I don’t think you should start him this week against a tough Denver defense allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing RB’s. The Rams offensive line and struggling total offense knock Mason to a low-end flex play even though he has seized control of the timeshare. For the Lions, Joique Bell will get most of the work this week with Reggie Bush still struggling through injury, but the Cardinals defense has been imposing against the run allowing the second-fewest points per game, so go with another option if you can. (last week: Frank Gore, Lamar Miller)

Sleeper: If you have to dig deep for a running back to play, Jonas Gray is coming off back-to-back weeks leading the Patriots in carries.  The Colts run defense has struggled at times this season, but it’s always a function of the Pats gameplan whether Gray or Shane Vereen is the back that will produce more fantasy points. The Tampa Bay backfield is a tricky one to figure out, but I’d go with Charles Sims whose role should be on the upswing over Bobby Rainey.  Both are rolls of the dice for this week against a good Washington run defense, but Sims is a name to check for if you’re forced to hit the waiver wire late in order to get ready for fantasy football week 11. (last week: Lorenzo Taliaferro, Marion Grice)