Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Justin Boone's lineup picks (and benches) to help you win Week 11
Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy football players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 11 rankings.
Starts
Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
vs. Seahawks
Stafford has thrown 20 touchdowns and no interceptions over his last six games and is playing at an elite level at the moment. He’s been a top-eight fantasy quarterback five times during that stretch, while throwing at least three touchdown passes in each of those contests.
The Seahawks will present a tougher challenge this week, but Seattle excels at stopping the run with the third-fewest rushing yards and fourth-fewest rushing scores allowed.
The better way to attack them is through the air and the Rams are tied for the fifth-highest implied point total in what’s expected to be one of the highest scoring games of the week, according to oddsmakers.
It also helps to know that the Rams are 5-0 when Stafford has started against the Seahawks.
Even in a more difficult matchup, don’t hesitate to start him as a strong mid-range QB1 this week.
Other QBs to start:
Joe Flacco at Steelers – The last time Flacco squared off with Pittsburgh, he threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in Week 7. The Steelers’ defense has shown signs of improvement lately, but they’re still the 10th-best matchup for fantasy QBs.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Bengals – In that same game where Flacco went off, Rodgers threw four touchdowns of his own, finishing as the QB7 overall on the week. On the season, the Bengals are giving up the third-most fantasy points to QBs.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Steelers
vs. Bengals
Targeting Cincinnati’s defense in 2025 is the quickest way to fantasy success, especially when it comes to the running backs.
The Bengals are allowing the most fantasy points to the position, including four weekly results inside the top-five and seven inside the top-12. Every team that’s faced Cincy has had at least one back finish as RB16 or better.
Warren’s best performance of the season came against this squad, when he posted 158 scrimmage yards and ended up as the RB10 on the week.
Now, he’s back for more in a game where the Steelers are at home and favored by 5.5 points. The contest also has one of the highest projected point totals on the slate at 48.5.
It’ll be nearly impossible to rank Warren outside of my top-10 fantasy RBs this week.
Other RBs to start:
Rico Dowdle at Falcons – The Falcons are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to RBs and just got hammered by Jonathan Taylor to the tune of 286 scrimmage yards and three scores. This is a smash spot for Dowdle.
RJ Harvey vs. Chiefs – With J.K. Dobbins dealing with a foot injury, Harvey is expected to get his first start. While the matchup with the Chiefs isn’t the best, Harvey has flashed more than enough potential to be considered an upside RB2. Despite only seeing double-digit touches in one game this season, the rookie has topped 50 scrimmage yards four times and has scored five TDs over the last four weeks.
Woody Marks at Titans – A shift has occurred in the Texans’ backfield, with Marks playing a season-high 80% of the snaps in Week 10. Now, he gets a Titans’ defense that’s permitting the second-most points to running backs.
George Pickens, WR, Cowboys
at Raiders
Even with CeeDee Lamb returning to the lineup in Week 7, Pickens hasn’t missed a beat with stat lines of 4-82-0, 7-78-0 and 6-79 over the past three games.
The only thing he’s missing is touchdowns, but he’ll have an excellent chance to reach the end zone on Monday night.
The Cowboys have the fourth-highest implied point total on the week, against a Raiders team that’s giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to receivers.
Pickens has the ability to erupt in any matchup, but this is one of the easiest opponents left on his schedule. Start him as a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside.
Other WRs to start:
DeVonta Smith vs. Lions – Smith has been the Eagles’ best and most consistent receiver this season. Philly could be forced to pass more against the Lions, which would be good for fantasy since Detroit is the eighth-most generous defense to opposing wideouts.
Tee Higgins at Steelers – Higgins has four touchdowns in his last three games and posted a 6-96-1 stat line versus the Steelers in their last meeting back in Week 7.
Romeo Doubs at Giants – Doubs left early last week with a chest injury, but is practicing in full and should get back on track versus the Giants, who are the seventh-most friendly matchup for WRs.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Chargers
at Jaguars
Gadsden banged up his knee last week, leading to his first down game since taking over as the Chargers’ starter.
The good news is that the rookie still saw six targets in that game and continues to be a significant part of the passing attack.
Jacksonville offers the perfect bounce-back spot as the second-best opponent for fantasy tight ends. The Jaguars have allowed at least 70 yards and/or a touchdown to a tight end in six straight games.
Don’t overthink one bad week from Gadsden. He’s a locked-in TE1 with high-end upside whenever he’s healthy.
Other TEs to start:
Kyle Pitts Sr. vs. Panthers – Carolina allows the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends and just gave up 92 yards and a score to Juwan Johnson last week. Pitts is a top-10 fantasy tight end for Week 11.
Travis Kelce at Broncos – Kelce doesn’t have the best matchup, but he’s been very consistent this season with at least 50 yards and/or a touchdown in five straight contests and seven of his nine outings on the year.
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Sits
Jared Goff, QB, Lions
at Eagles
Goff has an outstanding schedule to finish the fantasy season with six straight indoor games and several easy opponents, but before he gets there, he has to face the Eagles.
Philly is top-10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks and looked even more dangerous after acquiring LB Jaelan Phillips at the trade deadline.
An outdoor game on the road against a tough defense is where Goff tends to struggle the most, making him more of a risky QB2 streamer option this week.
However, after this contest, you should make a serious effort to buy low on members of the Lions’ offense.
Other QBs to sit:
Sam Darnold at Rams – Darnold is coming off one of his quietest games of the year and isn’t likely to rebound versus the Rams, who are the eighth-hardest matchup for fantasy QBs.
Bo Nix vs. Chiefs – Nix’s best fantasy performances this season came against very easy opponents like the Giants and Cowboys. Unfortunately for him, the Chiefs have only allowed two quarterbacks to top 225 passing yards against them this year and it was a pair of stars in Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. Don’t expect Nix to join that group.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seahawks
at Rams
Walker hasn’t reached double-digit fantasy points since the opening month of the season due to a timeshare with Zach Charbonnet and the overall struggles of the Seahawks’ rushing attack.
It’s turned Walker into a disappointing fantasy RB, who is hard to bench based on his talent, but even more difficult to trust in your lineup based on what we’ve seen so far this season.
This is also far from a get-right game against the Rams, since they’re the toughest opponent for fantasy backs in 2025.
Unless something significant changes down the stretch, Walker doesn’t look like a player who will be on many fantasy playoff rosters.
Other RBs to sit:
Kareem Hunt at Broncos – Since taking over the lead role from an injured Isiah Pacheco, Hunt has survived in fantasy thanks to touchdowns but has failed to top 50 yards in either contest. Unfortunately for him, the Broncos present an even stiffer challenge this week.
David Montgomery at Eagles – When the Lions’ offense is in a plus-matchup, Montgomery has added value thanks to the increased scoring potential. As I outlined with Goff, a game against the Eagles, which is outdoors and on the roa,d is not an ideal environment for this team.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. Packers – Tracy hasn’t excelled in the lead-back role since Cam Skattebo was lost for the season. Now, he’ll face the Packers’ defense that’s top five in fewest fantasy points permitted to running backs.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers
at Falcons
McMillan is having a solid rookie season where he’s shown more than enough to make me believe he’ll be an excellent pro during his career.
The problem is the current environment he finds himself in simply isn’t allowing him to produce big weeks for fantasy.
The first-rounder has only found the end zone in one of his 10 NFL games and that occurred against the Cowboys, who have been the softest possible matchup in 2025.
Bryce Young continues to limit the Panthers’ passing attack and it’s turned McMillan into a low-ceiling fantasy WR3.
Another tough matchup is on tap this week with A.J. Terrell and the Falcons, who are giving up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to receivers.
Lineup decisions always come down to who your other options are, but McMillan is far from the must-start he appeared to be emerging as earlier in the season.
Other WRs to sit:
Courtland Sutton vs. Chiefs – Sutton has only reached double-digit fantasy points once in his last five outings. He’s just a TD-or-bust WR3 against a Chiefs’ defense allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to wideouts.
Jameson Williams at Eagles – Williams has been standing out lately and should finish the season strong, but this week’s matchup against the Eagles is one to avoid. Philly has given up the third-fewest receptions and the seventh-fewest receiving yards this year.
Xavier Worthy at Broncos – Worthy has only topped 35 receiving yards once in his last four appearances and has just one touchdown during that span. That’s unlikely to change in a difficult spot against the Broncos.
Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
at Browns
With Andrews only playing 58% of the snaps in the three games since the Ravens’ bye, he’s becoming harder and harder to start with any confidence.
The veteran has been held under 35 receiving yards in eight of his nine games this season. His only saving grace has come in the form of touchdowns, including three over the last two weeks.
However, we know how volatile TD scoring can be, which makes Andrews hard to trust as anything more than a TD-or-bust TE2 streamer.
The Browns have only let one tight end go over 40 yards against them this year and it was a fairly fluky performance from Darnell Washington.
Other TEs to sit:
Dalton Schultz at Titans – Schultz is dealing with a shoulder injury, which could limit him this week. He’s also facing a Titans’ defense that’s been solid against tight ends and held Schultz to just 30 yards in their first meeting in Week 4.
David Njoku vs. Ravens – Njoku is another TD-or-bust streamer, who’s only topped 40 yards once this season. With the Ravens’ defense heating up, you can do better than Njoku this week.