Week 11 is shaping up to be quite strange. How weird? Well I think you can argue that the rollback has more reliable options than the wide receiver. Yeah, that kind of weird.
That’s because we have people like DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Amari Cooper, Antonio Brown, Allen Robinson and Sterling Shepard, as well as the Broncos and Rams goodbye. Some of these situations have out-of-the-box replacements in-house – Rashod Bateman WR2 SZN activated – but most of them are pretty cloudy. This is how you get to a point where I feel better to start RB27 (Zack Moss) before WR24 (Hunter Renfrow). This usually does not happen.
You’re going to have a lot of questions about your queues this week, I know. Adam Aizer and Heath Cummings kept you up to date with the latest news and answered a few kick-off / sit-down questions on this morning’s FFT podcast, and Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard and Heath are on CBS Sports HQ from 10 a.m.ET on the spot. dispatch of the 1 p.m. matches to answer your questions and keep you informed of all the news to know about the FFT live.
Be sure to check out both, but if you want more straightforward answers to your questions and other news updates, I have two more ways for you to earn: go to Twitter and use the hashtag “#AskFFT”, where our entire team will answer questions all morning; and head over to the FFT YouTube channel to chat with Adam and I from 11:30 am until kick-off. We’ll be there until kick-off to answer as many questions as possible, so be sure to be in the chat early to ask your questions.
Here’s the rest of our preview content to get you ready, and check out my updated position rankings at the bottom of the newsletter to help you solve any early dilemmas you might run into:
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Quarterbacks
Murray and Jackson are both legitimately questionable for Sunday. According to reports from Sunday morning, Murray’s chances of playing appear somewhat slim, indicating a third straight absence. With the Cardinals saying goodbye in Week 12, it makes sense to have an extra week off. Jackson was added to the injury report on Saturday after missing several days of training with an illness unrelated to COVID, and there’s a real chance he won’t be cleared to play. I always start Jackson if he’s active, while Tyler Huntley would only be a 2QB League contender.
Ball carriers
Jones’s absence was expected all week, and that puts AJ Dillon in a position to play a big role against the Vikings. I’m expecting at least 15 carries and three targets, and that’s the floor for Dillon, who is a top 10 RB for me. I also expect a similar production from Mark Ingram in Kamara’s absence; he had 14 ranges and seven targets in Week 10 with Kamara, racking up 20.8 PPR points. He is one of the top 15 RB.
Mitchell’s absence makes Jeff Wilson one of the best plug-and-play options for this week against the Jaguars. He’s likely to see more than 15 races, and while Jacksonville has been surprisingly stingy against the race this season, he’s an RB2 for this week.
And, with McNichols absent, D’Onta Foreman is in the RB2 discussion. He’ll likely share the job with Adrian Peterson, but I think Foreman is the better game of the two – he’s more likely to take on some of McNichols’ passing role.
Barkley is the most important name here, and unfortunately he doesn’t play until Monday night, so he’s the hardest to call. Barkley has a huge advantage if he plays, obviously, but if you have to choose between him and someone who plays on Sunday your best bet is to go with the sure thing. And that’s probably true even if you have Devontae Booker, who himself is in question with a hip injury. You might just be able to play with Barkley and Booker, but there’s a risk neither of them play and you’ll get stuck. It is not an ideal situation.
Edwards-Helaire is also questionable for Sunday’s game after being activated from IR. You’d think that since they elevated him to the active roster when they weren’t required to, that would likely mean Edwards-Helaire is going to play, but there’s no guarantee of that. – and he will probably have a limited role if he plays. I would try to avoid it and hope it is ready to make a big impact in week 13 after the bye. It’s hard to trust Darrel Williams as a marginal RB2 with Edwards-Helaire status in the air.
Probably in: James Robinson (knee / heel), Miles Sanders (knee), Nick Chubb (COVID-19)
Chubb was activated from the reserve / COVID-19 list on Friday and is expected to start on Sunday. He should be a great option against the Lions, and replacement D’Ernest Johnson is also a decent game, although he will likely need a touchdown to make you feel good about starting him. Robinson should play something like his normal role despite knee fear, and he’s a top-of-the-line RB2.
Sanders is more of an RB3 in his expected comeback. The Eagles are a lot busier with racing than they were when Sanders last played, but we just don’t know how much he’ll play or what kind of role Jordan Howard or Boston Scott might have with returning Sanders. . Plus, the game against the Saints is really tough.
Wide receivers
- Outside: DeAndre Hopkins (hamstrings), Marquise Brown (thigh), Amari Cooper (COVID-19), Antonio Brown (ankle), Allen Robinson (hamstrings), Sterling Shepard (quad), Allen Lazard (shoulder), Anthony Schwartz (concussion)
- Legitimately questionable: Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin), Curtis Samuel (groin), Devin Duvernay (knee),
- Intended to play: Chase Claypool (toe)
Well, I guess the good news is that we really don’t have any question marks that really matter this week. With Marquise Brown out, I expect Rashod Bateman to have a solid game against the Ravens, and he’s in the WR2 talk for me. He’s been very solid in his first four games (18 catches, 241 yards) and he has the potential to make a real breakthrough here.
Michael Gallup is also in the WR3 talk with Cooper out for Sunday’s game as well as Thursday’s Thanksgiving game in Week 12. Darnell Mooney could be in contention for a significant target share against the Ravens and is also in the game. this discussion WR3.
The most interesting questions probably concern Claypool and the WR Giants. Claypool has shown flashes this season, including a pretty healthy role when JuJu Smith-Schuster fell, but he hasn’t always been productive. There was a weekly hike there, but it’s more of a WR3. And that’s probably the same lineup I would put Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay on with Shepard. It’s a great clash against the Buccaneers, but we just haven’t seen enough consistent production from either to be too confident in them. There are a lot WR3s with an increase this week.
Tight ends
Hopefully Gronkowski is in perfect health for Monday’s game, because it’s a great game. He trained in full on Thursday and Friday but couldn’t make it on Saturday so it’s hard to know what to expect here. I would try to avoid the situation if I can, but we know how Gronkowski is one of Tom Brady’s main Red Zone targets, so if you can get Evan Engram as your insurance policy just in case Gronkowski would be ruled out on Monday, I don’t mind this approach.
Updated rankings
Here are my last Sunday morning rankings:
Strategist
- Patrick Mahomes vs. DAL
- Tom Brady vs. NYG
- Josh Allen vs. IND
- Dak Prescott @KC
- Lamar Jackson @CHI
- Jalen Hurts vs. NO
- Justin Herbert vs. PIT
- Aaron Rodgers @MIN
- Joe Burrow @LV
- Russell Wilson v ARI
- Tua Tagovailoa @NYJ
- Ryan Tannehill vs. HOU
- Derek Carr vs. CIN
- Cam Newton vs. WAS
- Kirk Cousins vs. GB
- Daniel Jones @TB
- Justin Fields vs. BAL
- Jimmy Garoppolo @JAX
- Tyrod Taylor @TEN
- Baker Mayfield vs. DET
- Taylor Heinicke @CAR
- Trevor Lawrence vs. SF
- Carson Wentz @BUF
- Trevor Siemian @PHI
To recover
- Christian McCaffrey vs. WAS
- Najee Harris @LAC
- Austin Ekeler vs. PIT
- Dalvin Cook vs. GB
- By André Swift @CLE
- Leonard Fournette vs. NYG
- Jonathan Taylor @BUF
- Ezekiel Elliott @KC
- AJ Dillon @MIN
- Joe Mixon @LV
- David Montgomery vs. BAL
- James Conner @SEA
- James Robinson vs. SF
- Nick Chubb vs. DET
- Mark Ingram @PHI
- Michael Carter vs. MIA
- Jeff Wilson @JAX
- Myles Gaskin @NYJ
- Josh Jacobs vs. CIN
- Antonio Gibson @CAR
- Miles Sanders vs. NO
- Onta Foreman vs. HOU
- Alex Collins vs. ARI
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. DAL
- Saquon Barkley @TB
- Darrel Williams vs. DAL
- Zack Moss vs. IND
- Kenyan Drake vs. CIN
- Ty Johnson vs. MIA
- Devonta Freeman @CHI
- Tony Pollard @KC
- Devin Singletary vs. IND
- Ernest Johnson vs. DET
- Devontae Booker @TB
- David Johnson @TEN
- Nyheim Hines @BUF
- JD McKissic @CAR
- Jamaal Williams @CLE
- Patrick Taylor @MIN
- Adrian Peterson vs. HOU
- Latavius Murray @CHI
- Alexander Mattison v GB
- Brandon Bolden @ATL
- Deejay Dallas vs. ARI
- Boston Scott vs. NO
- Trey’s Sermon @JAX
- Giovani Bernard vs. NYG
- Jordan Howard vs. NO
Wide receivers
- Tyreek Hill vs. DAL
- Davante Adams @MIN
- Lamb CeeDee @KC
- Stefon Diggs v IND
- Justin Jefferson vs. GB
- Keenan Allen vs. PIT
- Deebo Samuel @JAX
- Chris Godwin vs. NYG
- Ja’Marr Chase @LV
- DK Metcalf v ARI
- Mike Evans vs. NYG
- AJ Brown vs. HOU
- DJ Moore vs. WAS
- Terry McLaurin @CAR
- Brandin Cooks @TEN
- Diontae Johnson @LAC
- Rasod Bateman @CHI
- Tyler Lockett vs. ARI
- Jaylen Waddle @NYJ
- Tee Higgins @LV
- Adam Thielen vs. GB
- Michael Pittman @BUF
- DeVonta Smith vs. NO
- Hunter Renfrow vs. CIN
- Darnell Mooney vs. BAL
- Corey Davis vs. MIA
- Jarvis Landry vs. DET
- Cole Beasley vs. IND
- Marvin Jones vs. SF
- Mike Williams vs. PIT
- Sammy Watkins @CHI
- AJ Green @SEA
- Christian Kirk @SEA
- Kenny Golladay @TB
- Michael Gallup @KC
- Jamal Agnew vs. SF
- Jamison Crowder vs. MIA
- Kadarius Toney @TB
- Chase Claypool @LAC
- Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. SF
- Mecole Hardman vs. DAL
- Emmanuel Sanders v IND
- Tyler Boyd @LV
- Brandon Aiyuk @JAX
- Mark Callaway @PHI
- Elijah Moore vs. MIA
- Marcus Johnson vs. HOU
- Rondale Moore @SEA
Tight end
- Travis Kelce vs. DAL
- Darren Waller vs. CIN
- Mark Andrews @CHI
- George Kittle @JAX
- Mike Gesicki @NYJ
- Dalton Schultz @KC
- TJ Hockenson @CLE
- Dan Arnold vs. SF
- Rob Gronkowski vs. NYG
- Pat Freiermuth @LAC
- Tyler Conklin vs. GB
- Dawson Knox v IND
- Jared Cook vs. PIT
- Cole Kmet vs. BAL
- Zach Ertz @SEA
- Austin Hooper vs. DET
- JO Howard vs. NYG
- Adam Trautman @PHI
- Evan Engram @TB
- David Njoku vs. DET
- CJ Uzomah @LV
- Gerald Everett vs. ARI
- Anthony Firkser vs. HOU