Here are 16 players to start or sit for fantasy football Week 11

The good news for fantasy football managers? Only two teams are on bye in Week 11. The bad news? One of them is the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts have been one of the best offenses in the NFL this season, and Jonathan Taylor has been the clear-cut No. 1 fantasy running back. Without him and other contributors like Daniel Jones, Michael Pittman Jr., Tyler Warren and Alec Pierce, fantasy managers will face some difficult start ’em, sit ’em decisions.

This week, the crop of streamers to pick from is a little better. That’s because three of the NFL’s most porous defenses – the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans – are all set to return from bye.

But will these streamers end up being better options than some of the higher-end fantasy assets in tough matchups? Those will be the decisions fantasy footballers grapple with as the push to the playoffs reaches its peak.

Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 11 of the NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 11

Quarterbacks

• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (vs. Washington Commanders)

The Commanders have allowed at least 250 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in each of their last four games. The team has also lost starting cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL) and Trey Amos (broken fibula) in back-to-back weeks and may struggle to contain Jaylen Waddle. Tagovailoa has accounted for multiple touchdowns in six of his last nine starts, so he has a solid floor and a high ceiling in this matchup.

• Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Is Rodgers going to throw four touchdowns against the Bengals again? Maybe not, but Cincinnati is one of five teams to have surrendered at least 20 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. The Bengals also figure to be without Trey Hendrickson (hip) for this game, so they won’t be able to generate consistent pressure against Rodgers. That should allow the 41-year-old veteran to put together a solid performance, especially if the game turns into another shootout.

Running backs

• Woody Marks, Houston Texans (at Tennessee Titans)

Marks has had an up-and-down rookie season, but he has averaged 73 scrimmage yards per game over his last two outings. He should have a chance to do some damage against a Titans defense that has allowed 12 rushing touchdowns to running backs this season – tied for the most in the NFL – and the second-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to the position.

• Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Buffalo Bills)

Could Tucker end up taking on the lead role in Tampa Bay’s backfield? He was more efficient than Rachaad White against the Patriots, becoming the first running back to total more than 53 rushing yards against New England (he had 53 on nine carries). Bucky Irving still hasn’t practiced since suffering a shoulder injury in Week 4 against the Eagles, so that could line Tucker up for a solid workload against a Bills defense that has surrendered 12 rushing touchdowns to running backs this season.

Wide receivers

• Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

The Cardinals have made a concerted effort to get Harrison Jr. the ball coming out of their bye. Over the last two weeks, the second-year wide-out has averaged 11 targets per game and has posted 10 catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Now, he faces a 49ers team that has allowed 126 receptions to wide receivers this season, fifth-most in the NFL, making him a quality PPR threat.

• Tyler Lockett, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Lockett has only been with the Raiders for a couple of weeks, but the Jakobi Meyers trade allowed him to step into a larger role. The 33-year-old veteran had a team-high six targets against the Broncos and turned them into five catches for 44 yards in a tough matchup. The Cowboys are considerably weaker, having allowed a league-high 16 touchdowns to receivers this season, so Lockett’s long-term chemistry with Geno Smith could make him a viable flex in this spot.

Tight end

• Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

The Bengals have allowed far and away the most receiving touchdowns to tight ends this season at 12. No other team has allowed more than seven. Last time they played the Steelers, Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington all scored. All could be viable again, but Freiermuth has the highest ceiling of the bunch.

Defense/special teams

• Los Angeles Chargers (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Chargers are coming off a strong defensive effort against the Steelers, limiting Pittsburgh to 10 total points and forcing Rodgers into two interceptions. The Jaguars are thin at receiver thanks to injuries to Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, so they could have trouble moving the ball against Jesse Minter’s stingy defense.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 11

Quarterbacks

• Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

The Chiefs are coming off a bye and are one of just six NFL teams to allow fewer than 10 passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks this season. Nix could still do some damage against a Kansas City defense that has allowed a league-high five rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, but it’s hard to recommend trusting the second-year starter after his Week 10 struggles against a weaker Raiders defense.

• Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

The Rams have surrendered the eighth-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season. More importantly, the team ranks ninth in the NFL in pressures, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Darnold’s passer rating drops from 128.6 when kept clean to 83.8 when under pressure, per Pro Football Focus, so this could end up being a tougher matchup for him.

Running backs

• Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (vs. Green Bay Packers)

Tracy should continue to get a high volume of touches as he splits the Giants’ workload with Devin Singletary, but the Packers have been good against the run this season. Add in the possibility of Russell Wilson starting for an injured Jaxson Dart (concussion) and Tracy doesn’t seem likely to find many running lanes.

• Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

Walker has not scored a touchdown since his team’s Week 3 game against the Saints. That doesn’t seem likely to change against a Rams team that has allowed a league-low one rushing touchdown to running backs this season.

Wide receivers

• Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (at Denver Broncos)

The Broncos have allowed the fewest FPPG to wide receivers this season. Rashee Rice can still be trusted against them, but Worthy – who has averaged just 3.7 catches and 37 receiving yards per game since Rice’s return with no touchdowns – is too risky to start.

• Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

It’s also going to be hard to trust the Broncos receivers against a Chiefs defense that has allowed a league-low 955 receiving yards to wide-outs this season. Sutton has cooled after a strong start to the season, averaging just three catches for 45 yards over his last five games with just one touchdown. Nix seems more comfortable throwing to his former college teammate Troy Franklin, so it may be time to fade Sutton.

Tight end

• Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Buffalo Bills)

Otton has seen an uptick in production over his last five games, but he has a tough matchup against the Bills in Week 11. Buffalo has allowed the fewest receptions (23) and receiving yards (242) to tight ends this season, so Otton has a low floor in this matchup.

Defense/special teams

• Seattle Seahawks (at Los Angeles Rams)

The Seahawks have been stellar defensively this season, but Matthew Stafford has thrown a whopping 13 touchdowns over his last three games. Maybe Seattle will put the MVP front-runner’s hot streak to an end, but there is potential for disappointment from the Seahawks stop unit this week.

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