The buildup to the Week 11 clash between the Carolina Panthers and Washington Football Team has been about Cam Newton's return to the starting quarterback role in Carolina...
Time is running out for fantasy football managers to make a push into their league's playoffs. If you're not in a good position now, you only have four more weeks to get into one...
The Kansas City Chiefs defense has started to play better over the last few weeks, and in Week 11, that unit will get a chance to prove if it has made the complete turnaround into a Super Bowl contender...
It's all coming to a head now. The months of research and preparation before draft day. The weeks of roster management, waiver claims and trades since. It has all led us here. The stretch run of the fantasy regular season...
Fantasy Football Week 11: Examining Trade Value for This Year's Top 100 Players
Nov 18, 2021
Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) makes a catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
With Thanksgiving a week away, it's a good time to take stock of your team and decide who you are thankful for this season. Cooper Kupp, Jonathan Taylor and Deebo Samuel would be natural choices if you drafted them. Surely you have others.
But if you find yourself with more players you aren't particularly thankful for than those you are, well, it's time to make some trades. The clock is ticking. Soon enough, you won't have the chance to improve your team through that particular route.
That's where the trade value chart comes into play. As you start working the proverbial phones, having a tool to help you properly value your own players and prospective trade targets can help keep you from getting ripped off.
Players not listed below have a trade value of one. And, as always, may the fantasy points be with you!
Your window to sell high on Mike Williams may be closing pretty quickly. After catching 31 passes for 471 yards and six touchdowns in his first five games, he's posted just 10 receptions for 137 yards and zero scores in his next four.
Just as worrying, he's gone from averaging 10.6 targets per game in that five-game stretch to just 5.2 per contest over the next four contests.
Mike Williams deep targets (15+ air yards) per game:
We've seen this from Williams in the past, who always seems to post a few monster games per season but has struggled with consistency. Early on this season, it looked like he may have addressed that inconsistency, but recent weeks have cast doubt.
If you can't sell high, you might have to weather this storm and hope he'll pick things up in the second half of the season. But if you're having doubts, consider putting him on the trade block to see if any wideout-needy teams make you a big-time offer.
Consider trying to buy low on Miles Sanders. Before he was placed on injured reserve, he was having a poor season, but the Eagles were giving him just nine carries per game. But in the last three weeks, the Eagles have successfully transitioned into a run-first offense, running the ball 41.3 times per game.
Eagles RBs are averaging 30.3 rush attempts per game over the last three weeks in their new, run-first attack. That easily leads the league over the Titans (27.5).
Volume won't be a problem for Miles Sanders when he returns – the big question is who gets the goal-line carries?
Miles Sanders averaged 5.0 YPC vs. Las Vegas, the first game Sirianni started to commit to the run. That is more than either Scott/Howard averaged vs. DET or LAC.
I would not bench Scott/Howard, but I think Sanders can be very effective in the #Eagles new run-heavy offense
Sanders is more talented than any of Jordan Howard, Boston Scott or Kenny Gainwell, with over 800 yards rushing in each of his first two seasons. He should see a major bump in usage upon his return, given the Eagles' new offensive philosophy.
It's possible that, upon his return, he could be one of the running back stars in the second half of the season. At the least, it appears his floor is going to be in the RB2 range.
(Note: He's low on the trade value chart because his status for Week 11 was unclear at the time of publication. If he's healthy, he'd get a bump up to a trade value of seven, with the chance to ascend much higher once we see his exact role in Philly's backfield).
Buy low while you have the chance. Sanders has all the makings of a major breakthrough producer down the stretch.
The 2021 fantasy football season is flying by. Although it seems like the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers just kicked the season off, we're already in Week 11. The fantasy stretch run is here, which means different things to different people...
Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 11: Reviewing Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters
Nov 17, 2021
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates with Panthers fans after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 34-10. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Fantasy football managers are faced with the difficult task of determining which players have the most favorable matchups each week.
It can be easy to make the wrong choice, though. An offensive player facing a weak defense can end up falling short of expectations, and a player who is benched because of a tough opponent can end up exceeding their projections.
So, we're here to help out. Here's some start/sit advice to hopefully help you take advantage of the best matchups in Week 11.
Start 'Em: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates after a Panthers touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
As Cam Newton emphatically told us on Sunday, he's back. And that should be a welcome sight for fantasy owners, especially ones who need a late-season upgrade at quarterback.
After a two-touchdown performance in his first game this season, the 32-year-old should be a top waiver priority in all formats as he's a strong starting option for the Carolina Panthers against the Washington Football Team.
He is expected to start as he will reportedly be taking first-team reps in practice this week.
Newton and the Panthers will be up against the 27th-ranked defense in the NFL, so there will be ample opportunities for him to get going both through the air and on the ground. Washington has also lost defensive end Chase Young to a torn ACL.
With a full week of practice under his belt, Newton will be more comfortable in the Carolina offense and develop a better rapport with Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore and Robby Anderson.
The stars are aligned for the veteran quarterback to come close to his old form as a fantasy stud on Sunday.
Sit 'Em: Carson Wentz, QB and Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 31: Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Carson Wentz (2) embraces Indianapolis Colts Wide Receiver Michael Pittman (11) after a touchdown during the NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts on October 31, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Colts are in for a tough time this week against the Buffalo Bills, which have the No. 1 defense in the NFL. So, it would be wise to avoid Indianapolis quarterback Carson Wentz.
The 28-year-old failed to take advantage of a weak Jacksonville Jaguars defense on Sunday, amassing just 180 yards with no touchdowns. And it's unlikely things will get better against a team allowing just 190.2 passing yards and 15.0 points per game.
With Wentz expected to struggle against Buffalo, it would be best to bench Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. for this week.
It might be a surprise that a wideout with 55 receptions for 729 yards and five touchdowns is a candidate to sit this week, but it might be a necessity.
Despite his status as the focal point of Indianapolis' passing attack, the 24-year-old has had five targets or less in three of his last five games. He will likely be lined up against the Bills' Pro Bowl cornerback, Tre'Davious White, for the majority of Sunday's game.
Owners who can afford to sit Pittman should do so and ride a receiver with a better matchup.
Start 'Em: AJ Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon (28) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
The Packers will be without its workhorse running back on Sunday as Aaron Jones is sidelined with a sprained MCL. While he is out, AJ Dillon will be called upon to fill his role.
After Jones was forced to exit last week's game against the Seattle Seahawks, Dillon stepped in and carried the ball 21 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. He also added two catches for 62 yards.
Through 10 games, the 23-year-old has 421 rushing yards and two touchdowns as he's seen an increase in usage in his sophomore season.
On Sunday, Dillon and the Packers will be facing the Minnesota Vikings, which rank 28th in the NFL in rushing defense after allowing an average of 130.6 yards on the ground. The running back will be in line for a ton of touches as the top option in Green Bay's backfield.
Rookie Patrick Taylor, who has spent time on the practice squad, was the only other RB besides Jones and Dillon to see any playing time last week.
Dillon will likely receive the bulk of the carries and is a must-start in Week 11.
Sit 'Em: Adrian Peterson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans running back Adrian Peterson (8) carries the ball against the New Orleans Saints in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
We all wanted to believe in Adrian Peterson after he scored a touchdown in his first game with the Titans two weeks ago. But the veteran running back is in a shared backfield situation and quickly fell back to earth last week.
The 36-year-old managed just 21 rushing yards on eight carries against the New Orleans Saints. He was outtouched 13 to nine by D'Onta Foreman, who totaled 78 scrimmage yards.
Peterson could see some action at the goal line, which might frustrate some owners because of his boom-or-bust potential. But it looks like Foreman is set to be the featured back in Tennessee's offense going forward.
The 25-year-old will also be playing a revenge game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, so it's likely he will see a hefty workload. Peterson can remain benched for the time being.
The fantasy football regular season is quickly winding down. With only a few weeks left before the playoffs begin, managers must get their rosters in tip-top shape to make a championship run...
