Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Week 11 Predictions

It's already Week 11 in the NFL, and fantasy football playoffs are quickly approaching. Fortunately for those who are in desperate need of a victory, there are only four teams on a bye. Unfortunately, those four teams--the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, New York Jets and San Diego Chargers--happen to feature quite a few key fantasy players. There will be no Matt Ryan, no Julio Jones, no Devonta Freeman, no Demaryius Thomas, no Emmanuel Sanders, no Matt Forte, no Brandon Marshall, no Philip Rivers, no Melvin Gordon and no Tyrell Williams. Nevertheless, with several projected high-scoring games, and with new players becoming relevant every week, there are still plenty of options to help fill out your lineup. You can click through the gallery for a closer look at some sleepers to start, as well as some potential busts to sit.

Start: Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins

Opponent: vs. Green Bay Packers

Quietly performing like a QB1, Cousins ranks 10th at the position in fantasy points per game over the last five weeks (standard Yahoo scoring), and that includes difficult matchups against the Cowboys, Steelers and Vikings, all of whom are Top 11 defenses in terms of fantasy points allowed to QB's. Now, Cousins is at home against a Packers defense that was just torched by Marcus Mariota for 216 yards and three touchdowns--in the first half--and should continue his strong play. (Getty)

Sit: Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are giving up the 14th most fantasy points per game to opposing QB's, but that number is slightly skewed by giving up five touchdowns to Ben Roethlisberger back in Week 4. This defense is actually ninth in the NFL in yards per attempt allowed, and that's despite having to play the likes of Big Ben, Derek Carr, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton. Winston is playing well as of late, but facing a tough matchup in what will be the Bucs' first road game since October 23 is a recipe for a letdown. (Getty)

Start: Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Opponent: vs. New England Patriots

Don't look now, but the often-maligned Kaepernick has turned in two Top-10 QB finishes in a row, most recently throwing for 210 yards and a touchdown and adding 55 rushing yards and a score in what appeared to be a brutal matchup at Arizona. He's still not going to impress many people as a passer, but his rushing ability--averaging 57.0 yards on the ground per game since taking over as starter a month ago--increases his floor, and the Patriots' defense is inconsistent. (Getty)

Sit: Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Opponent: at Minnesota Vikings

Palmer's weekly QB finishes since Week 3: 29th, 23rd, 19th, 17th, 8th, 17th. He's hard to trust even in a favorable matchup (as we saw last week), let alone one on the road against a Vikings defense that has yet to allow a 300-yard passer and has given up multiple passing touchdowns just three times all year. (Getty)

Start: C.J. Prosise, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Opponent: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The electric rookie took over as the Seahawks' feature back against the Patriots, easily out-pacing Christine Michael in snaps (54 to 11), touches (24 to 6) and yards (153 to 26). It's worth noting that Michael was dealing with a hamstring injury, and this situation could get even more muddied with Thomas Rawls expected to return this week, but Prosise added a new dimension to Seattle's offense on Sunday night, and the 'Hawks would be unwise to go away from what worked during their biggest win of the season. Rawls should be eased back into action after such a lengthy absence, and Michael has been trending the wrong direction for about a month, so Prosise is still a 15-touch candidate, at least for one more week. He has the talent to turn that kind of volume into RB2 numbers, with a boost in PPR leagues. (Getty)

Sit: Ryan Mathews, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Opponent: at Seattle Seahawks

Mathews turned in his best game of the season in Week 10, cutting up the Falcons for 139 total yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion on 21 touches. But we've seen him have productive games before, and we've also seen him play 20 percent of the snaps--or less--in subsequent weeks. With Darren Sproles still playing a significant role, and Wendell Smallwood also involved, it's difficult to predict what head coach Doug Pederson will do with his running back committee on any given week. Add in a matchup at CenturyLink against a Seahawks defense that is third in the NFL in yards per carry allowed, and you're pretty much banking on a short touchdown if you start Mathews. (Getty)

Start: James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers

Opponent: at Washington Redskins

Last week, Starks was playing in his first game following a lengthy absence due to a torn meniscus. Add in the fact that the Packers were down early and forced to air it out, which seemingly would have been perfect for Ty Montgomery's pass-catching skill-set, and it wouldn't have been surprising to see Starks play on a limited basis. Instead, he played on 71 percent of the snaps and received 10 touches. It doesn't make sense for the Packers to basically bench Montgomery, who has provided an important spark to the offense, but for now, Starks is the clear lead back, and a matchup against a Washington defense that is 28th in the league in yards per carry allowed is one that even this struggling running offense can exploit. (Getty)

Sit: Terrance West, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Opponent: at Dallas Cowboys

West received 21 carries last week and is averaging 18.25 touches in the four games since the Ravens fired offensive coordinator Marc Trestman. At a position as thin as running back, you usually don't want to bench anyone getting that kind of volume, but West has been inefficient (2.73 yards per carry over that four-game span), the Ravens are without both starting guards, Kenneth Dixon's snap count percentage has been steadily increasing, and the Cowboys give up the second fewest fantasy points to running backs. No thanks. (Getty)

Start: Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

Opponent: at Carolina Panthers

Thomas got Bronco'd last week, finishing with four catches, 40 yards and two lost fumbles. But that can be forgiven considering he was flirting with WR1 status in the previous six games, averaging 8.7 targets, 6.2 receptions and 76.5 yards with five touchdowns over that stretch. Against a Panthers secondary that is getting burned on a weekly basis and gave up 78 yards and a touchdown on just five targets to Thomas in Week 6, the rookie should enjoy a big bounce-back week. (Getty)

Sit: Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins

Opponent: at Los Angeles Rams

Over the last five weeks, Landry is 66th among wide receivers in fantasy points (Yahoo standard scoring) per game. Even in PPR leagues, where he's considered to be especially valuable, he ranks just 58th. There just isn't enough volume with the Dolphins leaning on Jay Ajayi and the running game, so don't make the mistake of feeling like you have to start him just because he was an early draft pick. (Getty)

Start: Eddie Royal, WR, Chicago Bears

Opponent: at New York Giants

With Alshon Jeffery suspended for four games, Cam Meredith becomes the team's top threat on the outside, but don't be surprised if Royal, who has a more established rapport with Jay Cutler, leads the way in targets and receptions. That will especially be the case in Week 11 against the G-Men, who have given up at least five catches or a touchdown to a slot receiver in seven games this season. (Getty)

Sit: Marvin Jones, WR, Detroit Lions

Opponent: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Leading into the Lions' Week 10 bye, Jones had a five-game stretch averaging 5.6 targets, 2.8 receptions and 35.8 yards with two touchdowns. I'm hopeful the bye week gave the Lions time to find out how to get him more involved, but I want to see it happen first. For the time being, he's too risky to start against a Jaguars defense that just held DeAndre Hopkins in check and hasn't allowed a 100-yard receiver since Week 6. (Getty)

Start: Julius Thomas, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Opponent: at Detroit Lions

Averaging 33.6 yards per game to go with four touchdowns in eight games, Thomas' fantasy value pretty much hinges on finding the end zone. Fortunately for his Week 11 status, he goes up against the Detroit Lions, who, in nine games, have allowed nine touchdowns and a two-point conversion to tight ends. Thomas has a low floor, but this is an ideal matchup for him. (Getty)

Sit: Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Opponent: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Witten has tallied 18 targets, 14 receptions, 193 yards and a touchdown in back-to-back weeks, and he continues to prove a reliable target for rookie Dak Prescott. That said, he could have a little more trouble in Week 11 against the Ravens, who are giving up the second fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Baltimore has much more trouble on the outside, so don't be surprised if Prescott looks the way of Dez Bryant often in this one. (Getty)