Lots of potential for breakout games this week
Week 11 has strong potential. Monday night’s Chiefs-Rams showdown is the desert following a Sunday main dish that will have at least three games with high-scoring upside (Cowboys-Falcons, Buccaneers-Giants, EaglesSaints) with Panthers-Lions and Titans-Colts having a chance to turn the whole week into a fantasy wonderland.
While scoring will be abundant and must-starts overflow, keep in mind there are some players who, even in those potential slugfests, will be best served on the sidelines rather than indulging in the fun.
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Carson Wentz, QB,
Eagles: Wentz has six straight games with at least two touchdown passes and has attempted at least 35 passes in all but one of his starts. That’s a strong combination going against a Saints defense that is 28th in net passing yards allowed and 31st in average fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
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Ben Roethlisberger, QB,
Steelers: The Jaguars lead the league in fewest passing yards allowed and have allowed just 12 touchdown passes. Roethlisberger has rarely had success against the Jags, sporting a mere 80.8 rating with a 10-8 TD:INT margin in seven career games versus Jacksonville. He also feels the wrath of the Jaguars’ pass rush, having been sacked 22 times (3.1 per game).
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Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys: Unlike Derek Carr and the Raiders, Dak Prescott has treated Cooper as a WR1, having thrown to him 18 times in his first two games with Dallas. He gets a great matchup in the form of a Falcons defense that ranks 30th in Fantasy points per game allowed to opposing receivers and ranks 27th in receiving yards allowed. In what should be a track meet, Cooper will get 10-plus targets and is a strong bet to record his first 100-yard afternoon with his new teammates.
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Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals: Without A.J. Green in the lineup in last week’s loss to the Saints, Boyd faltered as the featured receiver, catching only three passes. Things will get a lot worse before it gets better, as Boyd much contend with Baltimore’s lockdown of a pass defense that is second in both fewest receiving yards allowed and fewest yards per catch. While Boyd should see more than the four targets he got last week, it’s hard to envision him doing significant damage against the Ravens’ secondary.
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Tarik Cohen, RB, Bears: He will lose some value in non-PPR formats, but Cohen is a worthy start in PPR leagues as he takes on a Vikings defense that has struggled all season with stopping pass catching backs.
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Josh Adams, RB, Eagles: One of the hotter pickups on the waiver wire, Adams has averaged better than six yards per carry in his last three games and is expected to see more touches against the Saints. Back away, at least for this week, as the Saints allow a league-best 80.1 yards per game and a paltry 3.7 yards per attempt.