Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
Luck and the Colts are reeling from an embarrassing loss against the St. Louis Rams where Luck was intercepted three times and only threw one touchdown. Look for Luck to struggle again this Thursday night when they play in Tennessee in Week 11. The Titans currently give up the third fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and have only allowed one passing touchdown to be thrown against them in the last five weeks.
The Titans sacked Chad Henne three times and intercepted him twice last week. While Luck is eons better than Henne, Luck had an extremely difficult time connecting with his receivers last week, and will surely hit his bumps in the road this Thursday evening against the Titans. If you start him, plan for low-end QB2 numbers.
Projected Statistics: 21/32, 298 yards, one touchdown, one interception
Colin Kaepernick, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
In Week 11 Kaepernick and the 49ers play at the Superdome where the Saints have been a force to beat on their home turf.
Kaepernick’s sporadic performances have definitely labeled him into a match-based quarterback and a match against the Saints this week is the time to leave Kaepernick on your bench.
Kaepernick has had less than 200 passing yards in seven games this year and this will not change against the Saints who limited the fourth ranked quarterback, Tony Romo to a measly 128 passing yards and one touchdown in their dome last week.
Crucial to Kaepernick’s success this week is the status of tight end Vernon Davis, who suffered a concussion in last week’s game. If you have a quarterback with a more suitable matchup, I’d play him over Kaepernick this week.
Projected Statistics: 9/20, 117 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions
Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots
This week the Patriots return from a bye week and Brady and his team travel to play the Carolina Panthers whose defense stingily has limited opposing quarterbacks to an average of less than 10 fantasy points each week.
Normally Brady would be a quarterback for whom you would ignore these statistics and go forth with playing him in your Week 11 lineup.
However, the 15th ranked Brady, who has racked up six interceptions and has thrown only 13 touchdowns this season just isn’t the same Brady as he was last year.
You may not own a better quarterback than Brady, but keep in mind the defensive torture that Kaepernick faced last week versus the Panthers and lower your expectations for Brady in Week 11.
Projected Statistics: 19/37, 219 yards, one touchdown, one interception
A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
Green and the Bengals take on the rested Cleveland Browns this week. While it is extremely debatable to sit an awesome receiver like Green, prepare for many less fantasy points then you’ve been so generously receiving from him these past several weeks.
Green faced the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 and he was harshly limited to only 51 receiving yards and zero touchdowns.
You can expect corner back Joe Haden to be all over Green like a rash, once again doing his best to prevent Green from reaching the end zone. So if you have another wide receiver of equal quality or more desirable matchup who you’re on the fence about playing, consider him instead of Green in Week 11.
Projected Statistics: Eight receptions, 74 yards, zero touchdowns.
Roddy White, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
White, who now is showing up on waivers across the country is still wide receiver taboo at least for this week.
In Week 11, White and the horribly struggling Atlanta Falcons play at Tampa Bay to face a giddy Buccaneers, who will be on fire to achieve their second season win against the vulnerable Falcons offensive line.
White has been a fantasy football disaster this year, and even though he appears to be finally playing at full capability, he will be seeing a heavy dose of Darrelle Revis in his face.
We must see more production out of White and a double-digit fantasy point game before he can be considered a viable start, even in deep leagues.
If you own White or have just picked him up from the waivers, it is not recommended that you start him in Week 11.
Projected Statistics: Two receptions, 31 yards, zero touchdowns.
Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, San Diego Chargers
Allen and the San Diego Chargers travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins in Week 11. Fantasy owners who picked up Allen some weeks back have noticed that his production has had its ups and downs which dismisses his must start status on a weekly basis.
The Dolphins boast a tough, fifth highest ranked pass defense and Philip Rivers will be challenged to connect with his targets this week through the air. Where you may find yourself in a bind to sit Allen this week, keep in mind the problematic matchup he faces and expect no more than flex numbers from Allen if you have place him in your Week 11 roster.
Projected Statistics: Five receptions, 58 yards, zero touchdowns.
Mark Ingram, Running Back, New Orleans Saints
Ingram’s stellar 145 rushing yards and one touchdown in last week’s game against the Cowboys may have some fantasy owners sprinting to the waiver wires to grab up him, with the hope that he’ll spruce up your fantasy team in Week 11.
What people need to keep in mind, is up until last week Ingram has scored no higher than two fantasy points in any game in 2013. The Saints play the 49ers this week and their defense is much more capable than Dallas’ banged up rush defense in restricting the run.
Ingram still sits third behind Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas in depth and should return to his previous fantasy status, offering just a handful of fantasy points in his Week 11 matchup.
Projected Statistics: Six attempts, 23 yards, one reception, 17 yards, zero touchdowns
C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Buffalo Bills
Fantasy owners who continue to play Spiller week in and week out, hoping to see even a glimpse of last year’s elite running back will still be waiting in Week 11.
The Buffalo Bills play against the New York Jets whose staunch rush defense only allows opposing running backs the second fewest fantasy points on average.
Spiller’s ankle is a chronic issue this season and the Bills clearly trust and favor fellow running back Fred Jackson enough to give him more carries than Spiller nearly every week.
Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Spiller’s outlook for Week 11 only presents typical status quo RB3 fantasy points.
Projected Statistics: 11 attempts, 45 yards, two receptions, 23 yards, zero touchdowns
John Carlson, Tight End, Minnesota Vikings
Healthy tight ends who can score at least ten fantasy points a week are seriously hard to come by this season. Fantasy owners who acquired the Week 10 top-scoring tight end Carlson off the waivers due to his successful touchdown-scoring performance last week, are probably anxious to try out their newest team member.
Before you assume he’ll score double digits in Week 11, keep in mind the Vikings travel to Seattle where Carlson faces a defense who allows a meager 6.2 fantasy points on average to tight ends.
If you have no other viable option for a tight end this week, temper expectations from Carlson in Week 11.
Projected Statistics: Three receptions, 53 yards, zero touchdowns.
Garrett Graham, Tight End, Houston Texans
Graham and the Texans host the Oakland Raiders in Week 11 and if you’re still starting the 19th ranked Graham each week, you need to stop. Graham, who only has scored three touchdowns, has virtually fallen into a dark hole and has been a fantasy dud since Week 5.
The absence of fellow tight end Owen Daniels has done zilch to boost Graham’s fantasy value one bit. The Raiders defense is suspect, but it does manage to limit tight ends from reaching the end zone, only allowing four tight end touchdowns this year.
Once again, look for Graham to give you his typical, scrawny offering of fantasy points if you start him in Week 11.
Projected Statistics: Two receptions, 31 yards, zero touchdowns.