All you have to do is survive one more week of byes, and then your fantasy football team is home free.
The New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns are on bye in Week 11, removing not only a bunch of big-time players from the equation, but also some poor defenses to target. Despite these absences, there are still plenty of options to help your fantasy team if you know how to pick the right lineup.
These players are all fringe options in most leagues, but here is some advice about whether to keep them in or out of your lineup.
Start ‘Em
Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Although he didn’t quite torch the Baltimore Ravens defense as expected, Blake Bortles still had two touchdown passes Sunday, the seventh time in nine games he had multiple scores and the fifth in the row.
One of the problems was actually his own defense, which forced turnovers and created a shorter field to help eventually lead to a (gasp!) win for the Jacksonville Jaguars. That won’t always be the case, though, and Bortles will have more chances to post 300-yard games in the future.
Thursday will give him a good chance to continue his recent play with a matchup against the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, per ESPN. Bortles has proved himself as a consistent producer and should be started weekly except for only the toughest of matchups.
Chris Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
There is reason for concern with Chris Johnson. He struggled against the Seattle Seahawks last week with just 2.3 yards per carry, while Andre Ellington got more playing time and had a huge 48-yard touchdown run to seal the game. It’s certainly possible Ellington has earned more touches going forward.
However, it’s important to note Johnson finished with 25 carries in the win and that the team kept trusting him to grind away against a tough defense. Ellington ended with just five rushing attempts. It’s clear which player is the top option in this backfield.
He could have a better showing in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, who haven’t been as good against the run as you might think. The defense is 13th in the NFL with 102.4 rushing yards allowed per game but ranks 29th with 4.7 yards allowed per carry.
Many teams are either afraid to run or are trailing too quickly to stick with the rushing attack. Neither will be an issue for the Cardinals, and Johnson should have a bounce-back game.
Danny Amendola, WR, New England Patriots
Although it’s not easy to replace Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola will try to do just that with the starter dealing with a foot injury that will keep him out six to eight weeks, according to NFL Media’s Albert Breer (h/t Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com).
Amendola stepped up in a big way with Edelman out last game against the New York Giants, totaling 10 catches for 79 yards. He might not break huge gains with regularity, but these types of plays in key situations will lead to trust from quarterback Tom Brady and the coaching staff:
With Edelman and Dion Lewis out, those short passes have to go to someone. Rob Gronkowski and Brandon LaFell will get their share, but Amendola could be set for some big games, especially in points-per-reception leagues.
Sit ‘Em
Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
Those who started Kirk Cousins last week against the New Orleans Saints were certainly happy. The quarterback posted 324 passing yards and four touchdowns and probably could have done more if the offense didn’t slow down in a rout.
Of course, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg did his best to explain the ability of the opposing defense:
Cousins does have promise going forward with a healthy group of receivers, but he won’t post those type of numbers every week or possibly ever again. It will especially be difficult in Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers.
The Saints currently rank dead last in the NFL in defensive passer rating at 116.6. The Panthers rank first in that category with a 69.1 mark allowed. Going from the worst defense to one of the best will cause problems for Cousins and can lead to a quiet day.
Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers
Although Melvin Gordon hasn’t posted big fantasy numbers, he remains upbeat about his work so far this season. He recently summed up his attitude on his play so far, per Ricky Henne of Chargers.com:
It’s unfortunate I get some nice runs and they get taken back. But no one really sees that. People just look at the stats and say, ‘You need to score. You’re a bust.’ But I have a lot of time left. I know what I can do. Every time I touch the ball, my mindset is four or five. I feel like I get that, and I know that I get that watching it on film. I’m just missing the big ones. They’ll come. It’s not like I haven’t had some big runs, but I’m just going to get four or five like I’ve been taught. It’s going to break eventually.
All of this is true, as he is playing better than his numbers would indicate. The problem is the San Diego Chargers haven’t provided him too many chances, and that isn’t likely to change in the near future.
The major issue is the team is built on a passing attack, and Philip Rivers has run out of healthy targets. This makes Danny Woodhead a lot more valuable with his receiving ability, and it once again led to more snaps for him in Week 9 (42 to 27, per Pro Football Focus). Gordon could do well when he touches the ball, but there won’t be enough opportunity to produce a lot of fantasy points.
John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Although Michael Floyd is day-to-day with a hamstring injury, per Darren Urban of the Cardinals’ official website, it seems as though the former first-round pick has regained his role over John Brown. While he was healthy, he had seven catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns against the tough Seattle Seahawks defense.
To make matters worse, once Floyd was forced to the sidelines, it was Jaron Brown who came through for the Cardinals, catching three key passes late in the game.
It wasn’t a matter of health for John Brown, as he was on the field for a good portion of the game. He simply didn’t make an impact. Against a tough Cincinnati Bengals pass defense, this doesn’t seem likely to change.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for all your fantasy football and daily fantasy needs.
Read more Fantasy Football news on NerdyFootball.com
