Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 11 Matchups To Consider

It’s that time again to filter through some of the week’s most intriguing matchups to help finetune your fantasy lineup ahead of Week 11. The Ballers weekly rankings are out and I’m here to lend you a hand with picking the right guys to push your fantasy team in the right direction.

As always, you can utilize the Start/Sit Tool on the website, ask for advice in the Discord or reach out to me via Twitter: @KurtKnowsBest.

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson (DEN) vs Las Vegas

Russell Wilson’s 2022 fantasy season will be a candidate for the most disappointing for fantasy managers. In his 8 games played, Mr. Unlimited has only been a top-12 QB once this season and has finished outside of the top-20 in 63% of his games played. The only week Wilson finished inside the top-12 was against his Week 11 matchup: The Raiders.

The Raiders’ defense is trending in a historically bad direction. Through 9 games, the Raiders have only not given up a top-12 QB performance once this season, and that came in Week 8 in a 24-0 loss to the Saints where Andy Dalton just let Alvin Kamara do the work. If a top-12 finish isn’t good enough for you, Las Vegas is giving up a top-5 finish in 44% of their games and a top-8 finish in 78%.

If you’re needing a high-ceiling stream for this week, Wilson is worth the risk.

***Mike’s steel underpants not included***

Kurt would play Wilson over: Kirk Cousins (QB11)

Daniel Jones (NYG) vs Detroit

The Giants have been one of the most surprising turn-around stories of the NFL season, but the wins haven’t turned into great fantasy success for Daniel Jones. Through 9 games, Jones has only hit the top-12 QBs twice and each of those games came with rushing TDs to help bump his scoring up. Jones’ fantasy output feels capped by his passing game where he’s only thrown for 200 yards twice this season.

Detroit offers an opportunity for Jones to get back into the top-12 for fantasy managers needing a streaming option, which is why Lauren Carpenter has him headlining the Waiver Wire pickups at the position. The Lions are giving up an average of 21 points per game to opposing fantasy QBs and have been the victim of overall QB1 performances in two of the last three weeks. All that said, I’m not sure I’m willing to trust Jones to throw the ball enough to give a fantasy roster the 20 points you’re needing from a QB on a weekly basis. 

Kurt prefers to play: Jimmy Garoppolo (QB12)

Running Backs

David Montgomery (CHI) at Atlanta

It’s been a rough few weeks for David Montgomery’s role in the Bears’ offense. Since Justin Fields started his tear of top-8 QB performances, Montgomery is only averaging 7.5 fantasy points despite still seeing 68% of snaps since Week 6. What’s encouraging is Montgomery has still been involved in the passing game, seeing 6 targets over the last three weeks. Not to mention, Khalil Herbert’s injury does provide a chance to Montgomery to see more work in the running game.

The Bears’ matchup with Atlanta could be the remedy for Montgomery’s exclusion from the top-24 RBs over the last three weeks. Since Week 7, Atlanta has allowed a top-12 RB finish in each game with an average finish of RB8 on the week. Week 11 will be a good indicator if fantasy managers are going to be able to rely on Montgomery down the stretch to the playoffs.

Kurt would play Montgomery over: Jamaal Williams (RB19); Tony Pollard (RB15)

D’Andre Swift (DET) at NY Giants

It’s been quite a tough ride for fantasy managers with D’Andre Swift and probably more so now that he’s returned to the field. Since his return from injury, Swift is averaging just 8 opportunities per game (4 carries, 4 targets) while fellow RB Jamaal Williams has continued to see the majority of the workload getting 16 carries per game. Looking at the fantasy output may even skew how painful it is for fantasy managers who drafted Swift expecting the consistent RB3 and RB4 finishes they say to start the season.

The Giants’ defense shouldn’t inspire a ton of confidence for fantasy managers having to decide to put Swift into their lineups. New York’s defense has only allowed 20 or more points to an opposing team’s RBs three times this season. However, the Giants’ defense has allowed a top-24 RB finish in four-straight games which opens the door a bit for Swift to still have a productive day.

Until we see Swift in a lead role, fantasy managers should only consider him a high-end FLEX play.

Kurt would play Swift over: Michael Carter (RB28); AJ Dillon (RB33)

Kyren Williams (LAR) at New Orleans

The Rams rookie RB made his NFL debut last week in a very limited role but provided a glimpse of what he can provide to a backfield that’s extremely open for the taking. On just 27% of snaps, Williams had more combined yards (39) than starter Darrell Henderson Jr. who finished as the RB24 thanks to a TD.

Taking on the Saints isn’t an ideal spot to call your shot on Williams taking over the backfield, especially as banged up as the Rams’ offense is now with Kupp and Stafford both looking to miss another week. For what it’s worth, last week the Saints gave up RB22 and RB26 finishes to Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Playing Williams as a FLEX may not be an unrealistic option, especially if he continues to see an uptick in snaps in Week 11.

Kurt would play Williams over: Chuba Hubbard (RB48); Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB44)

Wide Receivers

Kadarius Toney (KC) at LA Chargers

Fantasy managers who held Toney through the first half of the fantasy season were rewarded with an extremely encouraging Week 10 that saw Toney finish as the WR12. After seeing just 9% of snaps in his Chiefs debut, Toney’s usage jumped to 44% of snaps last week. In the Targets Per Route Run article for this week, Toney appears in the top group from Week 10, seeing a target on 29% of his routes. That’s a number that could only continue to grow with Juju Smith-Schuster likely out after suffering a concussion against the Jaguars.

The Chargers are known for giving up plenty of yards in the running game but have been very good against opposing fantasy WRs. The last time LA’s defense gave up a top-24 finish to an opposing WR was back in Week 5 when Amari Cooper finished as the WR11. Fantasy managers chasing Toney’s big day may be disappointed if this game doesn’t turn into a shootout between Mahomes and Herbert, but I’m personally putting him into my lineup as a FLEX play.

Kurt would play Toney over: DJ Moore (WR20)

Amari Cooper (CLE) at Buffalo

The 2022 season has been a tale of home or away for Amari Cooper. Cooper has quietly been the WR14 on the season, which is impressive since it’s Jacoby Brissett we’re relying on to get him the ball consistently. However, with just three remaining home games for the rest of the season, fantasy managers may be disappointed in what they’ll get from Cooper down the stretch. Only four weeks this season has Cooper failed to be a top-24 WR and all of those weeks the Browns were playing on the road. 

Another road game in Week 11 means fantasy managers should be thinking twice about putting Cooper in their lineups. Not to mention, the potential snowstorm moving through New York means passing options could be very limited this week. Fantasy managers should find an alternative this week for Cooper.

Kurt prefers to play: Joshua Palmer (WR27); Christian Watson (WR31)

Nico Collins (HOU) vs Washington

Typically playing the second WR on a bad team that wants to establish the run isn’t a suggestion I’d be throwing out. That said, Nico Collins has quietly established himself as a real fantasy option going forward that fantasy managers should be rostering. Collins finished Week 10 as the WR21 after seeing 10 targets and getting into the end zone for the first time this season and that was with Brandin Cooks on the field.

Week 11 might not be the matchup to target Collins as a FLEX option, with the Commanders’ defense playing better than their 24th ranking suggests. Over their last four games, Washington’s defense has only allowed one top-24 WR finish. Collins should only be considered a low-end FLEX play this week but should be rostered going forward.

Kurt prefers to play: Parris Campbell (WR38)

Tight Ends

Foster Moreau (LV) at Denver

Take a trip with me to the Island of Dr. Moreau, who finished as the TE5 in Week 10. Moreau has seen a huge bump in snaps since Darren Waller went down with a hamstring injury and was placed on IR. Since Week 7, Moreau has seen 96% of the Raiders’ TE targets and is getting 17% of the team’s total targets. What’s encouraging about Moreau’s usage are the two red zone targets that came his way last week.

The Broncos’ defense is arguably the best in the league from top to bottom, and in their first game against Denver, the Raiders only managed 188 yards through the air. Luckily for Moreau, I’d expect this game to eclipse the expected 42 points, which means there should be targets available for him to see a chance to repeat that top-12 TE finish.

Kurt would play Moreau over: Dawson Knox (TE10)

Dalton Schultz (DAL) at Minnesota

Back-to-back finishes inside the top-10 TEs have to have restored fantasy managers’ faith in Dalton Schultz going forward. In the last two games, Schultz has seen 15 targets including 3 red zone targets last week. 

Minnesota offers a decent matchup for Schultz as the 15th most difficult schedule-adjusted defense against TEs on the season. In the last month though, the Vikings have given up TE1 and TE6 finishes to opposing TEs, averaging 11 points per game during that stretch. Fantasy managers should play Schultz this week expecting top-5 upside.

Kurt would play Schultz over: T.J. Hockenson (TE4)