Two of the most surprising fantasy wide receivers will square off in week 11. Robert Woods and Adam Thielen have come out of nowhere this season as solid fantasy contributors, and both will face each other’s stingy defenses.
Thielen was a one-man show in week 10 against Washington, while Woods teamed up with quarterback Jared Goff for a dominating performance against Houston. Can both of them replicate their success in week 11? It will be tough, but both should get a look, with Thielen having more value.
Here’s the week 11 wide receivers start ’em, sit ’em guide in fantasy football.
Start
Marqise Lee vs. Cleveland Browns
If he’s still on your waiver wire, pick him up. The lifeless Jacksonville pass offense actually hasn’t been too terrible in recent weeks.
The Jaguars are averaging 284 yards per game in the last three contests and Lee has been the main attraction among wide receivers. He has 23 targets in the last two games, turning those into 14 catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s not just these last two games either that have me excited for this matchup. Since week 6, he’s been the main target for a Jaguars team focusing more on the pass. And against Cleveland, that matters.
The Browns are giving up the 11th-most passing yards per game in the last three contests, including a dreadful performance in week 10 against Detroit. The Jaguars aren’t the Lions, but they’ve shown enough in recent weeks to be trusted in this matchup.
Demaryius Thomas vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Thomas has been a difficult wide receiver to trust in 2017 thanks to his inability to find the endzone.
Lately, though, the often-targeted wide receiver is starting to get back into the scoring column. He’s scored a touchdown in each of the last two weeks after going scoreless during the beginning of the season.
And while the Broncos are horrible throwing the ball, Thomas is still devouring targets, going for at least eight in four of the last five games.
The Bengals aren’t allowing much out of fantasy wide receivers, but there’s been some glimmers of hope in recent weeks. The Bengals allow less than 200 yards passing overall for the season, but that number has risen to 237 yards per game in the last three contests.
I don’t like Denver’s passing game, but I like the matchup and Thomas’ newfound ability to find the endzone again.
Mohamed Sanu vs. Seattle Seahawks
It’s tempting to put Sanu on the bench in what would seem like a difficult matchup.
But the Seahawks stingy defense is suffering key losses, making them look a bit underwhelming in the secondary. Earl Thomas is expected to be back, but Kam Chancellor may be out, along with Richard Shermon, who is out for the year.
Those three players are essential for Seattle’s defensive success, so with that many question marks, I’m still starting Sanu this week. Last week was a bit of a downer, but he still contributed mightily to fantasy owners in the previous three weeks. He’s good in the red zone and I expect the Falcons to move the ball on Seattle.
He should be in that WR2 discussion.
Sit
Jarvis Landry vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I still believe Tampa Bay’s defense is not as bad as what it showed earlier this season.
It finally showed up in week 10 and I believe that will be closer to the norm going forward. That’s an issue for Landry, who is stuck on a Miami team unable to move the ball with any efficiency at all.
While he’s scored at a good rate in the last two weeks, it’s based on touchdowns only. He won’t put up receiving yards, because his yards per catch is ridiculous at less than 4.5 yards.
The Bucs will clamp down on the passing game and I don’t trust Miami’s offense. There should be better weapons available than Landry.
Cooper Kupp vs. Minnesota Vikings
I know we saw Minnesota’s pass defense fail a bit in week 10 against Washington. Don’t expect that to be the case in week 11.
The game flow contributed to that breakdown in week 10 as Minnesota built a big lead heading into the second half. This game should feature less scoring and that’s a bad sign for Kupp and company.
He’s getting decent targets, with 12 in the past two games, but he’s being overshadowed by other weapons on the Rams roster. And in 2017, those weapons are far more plentiful than last year’s version.
Minnesota is still one of the stingiest pass defenses in the NFL, so I’m not expecting much out of Kupp, who doesn’t have the ability to break one deep on Minnesota’s secondary.
Corey Coleman vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
If you’re being sneaky out there in fantasy land, you’d know that Coleman is returning this week from injured reserve.
He’s the No. 1 receiver on a Browns team that just came off its best passing performance of the season. However, while I believe Coleman should earn a roster spot in your league, he shouldn’t be started in his first game back.
Coach Hue Jackson has said Coleman will come out as the top option in week 11, but the Jagaurs are hard on the best passing teams. Cleveland doesn’t really generate much hope in that category.
Coleman should be owned, but he’s not a play in week 11.
