Welcome to our Fantasy Football Plays and Fades for Week 11 (2024)! We have entered the bye weeks and injuries are happening everywhere, which makes setting your lineups difficult. This is where we breakdown matchups to help you find the right players to play and which players to avoid each week.
Before we know it, the playoffs will be breathing down our necks. Now more than ever, finding those edges will be essential to making the playoffs and potentially making deep playoff runs.
That’s where we come in. In Week 11 of Plays & Fades, we’re giving you actionable advice on how can and can’t put you on the verge of success this week!
Quarterbacks
Plays
- Brock Purdy vs. Seattle
- I’ve held on to the Purdy Vendetta long enough. I’ve been one of those guys since he’s entered the league. “System quarterback.” “Not accurate enough.” “He lacks elite arm strength.” Come to find out, in fantasy football none of those things have mattered. What has mattered is his hyper efficiency in running the San Francisco offense. It’s continued into this season, where he’s posting another solid 4.3% touchdown rate and has been a consistent QB1 play all season long. What’s to stop him now?
- Certainly not the Seattle defense, which ranks 21st against quarterbacks in fantasy points given up this season. Purdy lost a big-time receiver in Brandon Aiyuk. He’s gone without the best running back in the game nearly all season. None of it has mattered. Brock Purdy is a plug-and-play fantasy starter and nothing changes that going forward.
- Justin Herbert vs. Cincinnati
- It was merely a matter of time before Herby found the toys he liked to play with on the Harbaugh Island of Misfits. After a slow start, he’s finished as a QB1 each of the past three weeks. He’s been a markedly better quarterback at home, averaging 16.4 fantasy points per game at SoFi versus 11.6 fantasy points per game on the road. We don’t chase fantasy points. But we do chase efficiency.
- Efficiency and upside will be the name of the game against the Bengals. The Chargers are the superior defensive unit here, so whether it turns into a shootout or game where the Los Angeles defense steps up, it shoudl provide ample opportunity for Herbert to produce at a high-level again this week.
- Russell Wilson vs. Baltimore
- My brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you remember a time earlier in this season where there was outrage over Russell Wilson, he of the DangerWich. He of the pop star wife. He of … unlimited … capacity, being inserted into the starting lineup in Pittsburgh over a perfectly competent Justin Fields? So do I. The moral of the story might be to never, ever question the feel Mike Tomlin has for his football team. Because Russ, dare I say it, is back.
- He’s in a prime shootout spot against a team that has played poorly against quarterbacks all season and seemingly has the feel of the devil may care, gun-slinging Wilson of his prime. In his three starts, he’s posted a 7.1% touchdown rate. Translation? Russell Wilson may not be the MVP candidate we used to know. But, he is still the cringe worthy efficiency machine that makes him a plus start this week.
Fades
- Anthony Richardson @ New York Jets
- Anthony Richardson is a hell of a lot of fun to watch and to root for. What is isn’t right now is in an offense that will allow him to hit the peaks of the Cleveland run of last season.
- With A-Rich not being in a great position to produce, coming across one of the better cornerback duos in football without one of his better receivers in Michael Pittman isn’t a great recipe to produce in droves. He’s worth a flyer if you need someone. However, expect a boom-or-bust ceiling on that production.
- Caleb Williams vs. Green Bay
- Caleb might be in for a resurrection day after the Bears fired Shane Waldron this week. However, at his best this year, he’s been a hit-or-miss prospect that’s has seen more high than low.
- Playing the sixth best team against quarterbacks won’t help his cause. In a transition week, it’s tough to see Caleb taking off out of the blue.
- Jayden Daniels @ Philadelphia
- Jayden has been one of the best quarterbacks in football this season. He’s efficient and offers high rushing upside while limiting turnovers. It’s a recipe for winning real football.
- But over the last six weeks, he’s been a very normal fantasy quarterback. His numbers extrapolated over a season over the past six weeks would equal a high end QB2 at around 275 fantasy points. Playing this defense won’t help that cause.
Running Backs
Plays
- Kyren Williams @ New England
- Few backs get the snap share and usage Kyren does. It’s a recipe for success that has had him with his worse week this season being the RB27.
- At his best, he clocks over 20 opportunities and gets into the end zone. He’s THE guy in the Rams run game and it’s a title he isn’t giving up any time soon. He’s a weekly must start.
- Ken Walker @ San Francisco
- When we speak of consistent, Walker is hardly mentioned. He’s seen as a flashy player. But all season, he’s been a solid RB2 or RB1 player. It’s not easy to do, and it’s a guy we need to plug in weekly.
- The Niners are very middle of the road against the run and have given up over 30 points to the running back position two times this year, including last week against Tampa Bay. It’s a potentially good spot for a very good player to shine again.
- Joe Mixon @ Dallas
- Mixon has yet to make it to RB1 overall status this season. But he has been the RB2 in two different occasions and a top-figr goy on four different occasions.
- Dallas is the second best matchup for running backs in the league. Simply put, play the matchup. This could be the week Mixon is the RB1 overall.
Fades
- Rico Dowdle vs. Houston
- Dowdle has been better than anticipated this season, posting a couple of RB1 weeks in the process.
- But, the Texans are the seventh-best defense against fantasy running backs. We’re due for a letdown week, and with this potentially being a tough sledding week for a Dallas team currently addled with quarterback issues and being listed as a 7.5-point underdog. It’s a spot that screams negative game script for Dowdle.
- Tony Pollard vs. Minnesota
- Pollard is another player that has had a quality season and has really been the only notable fantasy asset in the Tennessee offense.
- But again, game scripts matter. Tennessee is likely to again be playing from behind and that doesn’t lend itself well to a player that has returned more value on the ground rather than through the air this season.
- Jacksonville RBs @ Detroit
- Let’s make this simple for you. I want no part of a Mac Jones-led offense.
- Tank Bigsby has already been ruled out and Travis Etienne hasn’t been at this best this season. There is opportunity for Etienne this week. However, when he’s had those opportunities this season he hasn’t produced. I think you have to start Etienne in this spot. But, it’s a situation where you should expect a limited ceiling.
Wide Receivers
Plays
George Pickens @ Baltimore
- George Pickens chooses violence regularly. George Pickens may have found his spirit animal quarterback in Russell Wilson. Pickens likes to get deep and Russ likes to throw it deep.
- Couple those things with a defense that is the worst in football in allowing fantasy points to wide receivers and you are one or two big plays away from a massive George Pickens week.
Ricky Pearsall vs. Seattle
- Pearsall is fresh off of a breakout week last week. While it’s a limited upside, Pearsall has shown the upside that made him a first-round pick.
- Pearsall played nearly 65 percent of snaps last week and caught a 46-yard reception and got a touchdown. It’s the type of upside you want. I expect that to continue this week.
Cedric Tillman @ New Orleans
- What a massive leap Tillman has made since the Amari Cooper trade and Jameis Winston being inserted into the starting quarterback role in Cleveland. He’s been targeted 32 times in that three-week stretch. We love players who are getting that sort of volume.
- Sorry to say it as a Saints fan, but this is always a plus matchup for wide receivers. With the Saints trading Marshon Lattimore, the Saints cornerbacks have been vulnerable. Expect that trend to continue this week.
Fades
Jakobi Meyers vs. Miami
- Bad matchup. Bad quarterback. Bad offense. Jakobi Meyers is listed as probable coming off of a hamstring injury. But, this is a Brock Bowers offense and this team isn’t good enough nor is the volume there to support two fantasy-worthy pass catchers.
Buffalo WRs @ Kansas City
- Another simple solution. I expect Khalil Shakir to get a fair amount of volume this week. However, there is no pass-catcher in this offense that is going to strike fear into me as a fantasy owner and cause me to start them.
Darnell Mooney @ Denver
- The Mooney Renaissance has been super enjoyable this season. He’s enjoyed WR2 finishes each of the past three weeks and has been solid all season.
- But, despite Atlanta being a 2.5-point underdog it feels like a spot where they can get comfortably ahead and ride the coat tails of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allegier. It’s a negative game script spot for the Falcons this week and that shouldn’t be conducive for multiple pass catchers.
Tight Ends
Play
Tucker Kraft @ Chicago
- Tucker Kraft has been touchdown-dependent all season. He’s developed an elite rapport with Jordan Love and it’s shown with eight red zone targets and seven receptions in those spots this season.
- On top of his five touchdowns, Kraft has been second among tight ends in Yards After Catch and has averaged 2.17 yards per route run. The efficiency has been there all season and should continue this week.
Jonnu Smith vs. Las Vegas
- Jonnu is seen as a hit-or-miss player. But, if you dig into the metrics he’s dangerously close to being in the Tucker Kraft conversation.
- In the same amount of games played, he’s had more targets and receptions, only 29 fewer receiving yards and four fewer touchdown receptions. Translation? Jonnu Smith belongs in your lineups and makes an excellent streaming option for Trey McBride owners this week.
Mark Andrews @ Pittsburgh
- The Mark Andrew Tackle Era is far behind us. He’s been a TE1 four of the past five weeks and has re-established that rapport with Lamar Jackson.
- The touchdown connection with Jackson has been there and the targets should continue. Fire up Mark Andrews no matter what this week.
Fades
Evan Engram @ Detroit
- The Jacksonville running backs blurb applies again here. Evan Engram is a very good player, but it’s hard to trust any pass catcher linked to Mac “MacCorkle” Jones. It’s as simple as that.
Zach Ertz @ Philadelphia
- The toughest fantasy defense against tight ends against a past-his-prime tight end. This screams stay away.
- Ertz has had a nice season. But, with the athleticism not being what it used to be it’s hard to get excited about him in a spot where he is likely to be shut down. It’s a stay away.
Mike Gesicki @ L.A. Chargers
- The Griddy God Gesicki is anothe tight end who has flashed big time this season. But, in playing the seventh-toughest defense against tight ends with Ja’Marr Chase in your lineup? Yeah, there’s far too much unpredictability to rely on Gesicki this season.
Plays
New Orleans vs. Cleveland
- The Cleveland Browns haven’t been the same level of team they were last season. With Nick Chubb not having returned to form yet, we could see the Saints once again generate turnovers even without getting stops.
- Keep in mind, the key to a good fantasy defense is either getting TFLs or generating turnovers. The Saints have both of those capabilities.
Miami vs. Las Vegas
- Miami has been surprisingly good on defense this season. They’ve posted multiple D/ST1 weeks this season and are playing a team that play into their strengths as a defense.
Minnesota @ Tennessee
- Again, play your matchups. Brian Flores has a good thing going. Cam Bynum is a turnover-generating machine and the Tennessee Titans are bad at football. Start the Vikings. This game doesn’t always have to be complicated.
Fades
Philadelphia @ Washington
- The Eagles are playing high-level ball right now. With the Commanders having been a very good team, it’ll be interesting to see how well the Eagles respond to them. That said, Washington has found a way to exploit every team they play. Jayden Daniels doesn’t turn the ball over, so there won’t be many chances for the Eagles to get sacks or generate turnovers.
Indianapolis vs. N.Y. Jets
- A defensive unit that is bad against all positions sees an elite running back in Breece Hall and arguably the best receiver duo in football in Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson. Do you see where we’re doing with this?
Jacksonville @ Detroit
- Matchups make our lives easy. Detroit’s running game is elite. Detroit has elite assets in the passing game. Detroit takes care of the ball. Translation? Tough sledding ahead for the Jaguars.
