Only a couple weeks remain before the playoffs begin. Are you in, out, or on the bubble? This week we help you solidify your position or play spoiler.
Now, you're not going to find "start Adrian Peterson" here. If you drafted a player in the first five rounds, chances are those are your go-to players, so we'll try to give you some less-than-obvious choices to bolster your lineup every week.
On that note, here we go for Week 11:
Start ‘em
Andre Brown, New York Giants running back vs. Green Bay
Brown returned from a broken leg to rush the ball 31 times last week against Oakland, running for 115 yards and a score. The Packers defense has suddenly slipped against the run, allowing over 300 yards rushing the last two weeks (along with seven receptions to running backs). Giants quarterback Eli Manning remains turnover prone, and Brown proved he could carry the load last week. Expect him to again.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tennessee Titans quarterback vs. Indianapolis
Fitzpatrick will finish out the season now that Jake Locker is out with a foot injury, and the veteran played well in relief last week (264 yards, 2 TD), albeit against a bad Jacksonville squad. But, he also threw for 247 yards and a score against a good Chiefs defense in a start back in week 5. The Colts have allowed Case Keenum and Kellen Clemens to throw for 597 yards and five touchdowns the last two weeks and have given up 11 passing touchdowns since week 5.
Sit ‘em
Shane Vereen, New England Patriots running back vs. Carolina
You may have an itchy trigger finger if you’ve stashed him on your bench since he went on injured reserve after a great week 1, but while he will likely play this week, it’s just not a good matchup with a very good Carolina defense. It’s true Vereen has been back practicing for two weeks, but it’s still different than game play. Wait another week on him.
Kenny Stills, New Orleans Saints wide receiver vs. San Francisco
You’re seeing more and more of Stills on the highlight reels, but he’s a true boom-or-bust play. While you may be looking for that edge this week, he’s too unreliable. The rookie is catching 2.1 of his lowly 3.6 targets per game. While they tend to produce big numbers, it just isn’t enough to rely on. Throw in the fact that San Francisco is allowing the eighth fewest fantasy points to receivers across Yahoo! leagues, it’s not a good matchup either.
Sleeper
Scott Tolzien, Green Bay Packers quarterback vs. New York Giants
There’s a lot happening here. You’ve got a quarterback making his first NFL start, on the road, against a team that has won three straight. But, Tolzien threw for 280 yards and a score in his emergency debut last week, and formed an immediate rapport with his receivers. And, while the Giants defense looked good against Josh Freeman, Matt Barkley and Terrelle Pryor, it was torched for an average of 274 yards per game and allowed 14 touchdown passes the first six weeks. Tolzien might get you 2-3 touchdowns this week.
