Week 11 of the fantasy football season featured plenty of notable performances around the NFL on Sunday. What should we make of them? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis.
Taysom Hill dazzles as starting QB
In his first start at quarterback for the Saints, Hill's 24.4 PPR points were the second-highest QB total of the early games (behind Deshaun Watson's 31.6). So, what did we see here? A lot of defined throws in Sean Payton's offense. Scheming windows and matchups there. However, Hill did make those throws. And while he was bailed out a bit on the deep 50/50 balls by poor coverage from the Atlanta secondary, Hill finished with 18-of-23 passing for 233 yards. Now, Hill is going to give you some rushing totals on second-reaction plays, too, when he pulls the ball down. But we didn't see as many designed QB rushes, which I think is the plan moving forward. With Hill now the No. 1 in New Orleans, he won't get as many inside-the-tackle runs on power schemes. Bottom line here: Hill can execute as a passer in this system. And with a matchup versus the Broncos in Week 12, Hill will be a fringe QB1. -- Bowen
From among Sunday's 1 p.m. ET games, Hill's 24.4 fantasy points made him QB2 and TE1, and at the latter, he paced the field by nearly four full points and enjoyed the 10th-best score by any tight end-eligible in 2020. Hill played all 62 offensive snaps, lining up 60 times at quarterback and twice as a wide receiver with Alvin Kamara under center, showing a clear commitment from Payton that Hill is his starting quarterback moving forward. -- Cockcroft
Joe Burrow lost for the season?
In yet another of the many deflating developments of 2020, Burrow exited Sunday's game early with a presumably season-ending injury, suffered when a Washington Football Team defender landed on his left leg. The rookie tweeted before the game's conclusion, "See ya next year," an indication that his injury is serious, probably a torn ligament and/or fracture in his knee. Burrow's impressive first NFL campaign, one without a preseason at that, concludes with 173.7 fantasy points, the eighth most by any rookie quarterback through his team's first 10 games (since 1950). He showed plenty of poise, good mobility and was able to make big plays despite getting practically no support from his offensive line. Moving forward, Burrow's absence is a huge hit to the Bengals' offense, which had made wide receivers Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins viable weekly fantasy starters, and A.J. Green a flex consideration in larger formats. All three wide receivers need be downgraded with Ryan Finley now under center, especially considering that the Bengals face several above-average-to-tough cornerbacks in the coming weeks: James Bradberry in Week 12, Xavien Howard in Week 13, Bradley Roby in Week 16 and the Ravens' trio (Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith) in Week 17. If you've been counting on Boyd and Higgins, you probably have no choice but to stand pat -- though certainly consider shopping them if you find an unsuspecting trade partner -- but be more prepared to bench them in weeks where you see better matchups. -- Cockcroft
I agree, Tristan. Along with an anticipated decline in throwing volume for this Bengals offense, the loss of Burrow will have an impact on the top three receivers in Cincinnati. The rookie quarterback really showcased his ability to process with speed this year, while winning with ball location. Plus, don't forget about Burrow's movement traits and the toughness he played with behind a subpar Bengals offensive line. With Finley at quarterback, you simply don't have the same level of play at the position. -- Bowen
Justin Herbert continues blistering pace
His magical rookie season continued on Sunday, as with his 27.7 points, second most among quarterbacks through the 4 p.m. ET games, he now has 218.7 through his first nine career NFL starts, third most by any quarterback since at least 1950. Herbert got it done again in Week 11, his seventh consecutive game with at least 20 points, by peppering wide receiver Keenan Allen with targets, as Allen got 19 of 49 targets and caught 16 of 37 completed Herbert passes in the process. Herbert did make good use of Mike Williams, Hunter Henry and Kalen Ballage, however, and while the matchup against the New York Jets did work in the rookie's favor, it's still a good sign he was spreading the ball around with so much success. Joe Burrow's season-ending injury vastly improves Herbert's chances of finishing 2020 the top rookie in fantasy football. Herbert does face some challenges from a matchups perspective, with the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots his next two assignments, but he has a rather fantasy-friendly playoff schedule and might yet be the guy who carries you to a championship. Regard him as a low-end QB1. -- Cockcroft
Deshaun Watson is on a roll
The 31.6 PPR points in the win over the Patriots were a season high for Watson. Look, he was really dialed in as a pocket thrower on Sunday, which has been the case for the majority of this season. He showed timing, rhythm and delivered the ball with high-level location. He's seeing the field really well. And, with Watson, you get the second-reaction ability, where he can step up or slip outside of the pocket as a both a runner/passer. New England gave Watson more zone looks in this game (due to his running traits), and I would expect a similar script for the Lions this Thursday in a very favorable matchup for the Texans quarterback. Watson will be a top-five quarterback in the Week 12 rankings. -- Bowen
Speaking of the schedule, what I like most about him from a fantasy perspective is that what remains is easy as pie, from a decision-making standpoint. In addition to the Thanksgiving Day Lions matchup you mentioned, Matt, Watson faces the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 and Tennessee Titans in Week 17, so I know he's my locked-in fantasy championship starter those weeks. But matchups in Weeks 13-15 (IND, @CHI, @IND) against much tougher defenses? I'm probably going to be looking elsewhere, though he could sway me with a repeat of how good he looked on Sunday in four days. -- Cockcroft
New Orleans Saints' defense/special teams has turned it around
Remember when this unit was struggling through extremely disappointing September performances? No longer, as the Saints' D/ST now has three consecutive games of at least 15 fantasy points, the longest such streak since the Pittsburgh Steelers did it in Weeks 8-10 last season. What's more, the Saints did it without top cover corner Marshon Lattimore (abdomen), and while part of the reason for the defense's success was Julio Jones' brief absence due to a hamstring injury, it's still saying something that the defense limited the Atlanta Falcons to nine points and 248 total yards on 59 total plays. Check out the defense against recent quarterbacks: Tom Brady scored 2.4 (Week 9), Nick Mullens 10.2 (Week 10) and now Matt Ryan 5.3. It doesn't bode well for future matchups for Ryan (Week 13 rematch) or Patrick Mahomes (Week 15), and the Saints D/ST, available in 39% of ESPN leagues, is a definite add-and-start for upcoming matchups with the Denver Broncos (Week 12) and Philadelphia Eagles (Week 14). -- Cockcroft
I need to give Tristan a hat tip here. A couple of weeks back, we debated the trade value of quarterback Matt Ryan with two upcoming matchups versus the Saints' defense. I said to keep Ryan, given the pass volume in this Atlanta offense. However, looking at this New Orleans defense over the past couple of weeks, the Saints are playing good football. Pressure schemes, the pass rush and a secondary that is winning with both communication and aggressive coverage. You win this one, Tristan. But I'll get the next one... -- Bowen
Quick-hitters
Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles quarterback was started in 30% of ESPN leagues this week. With 14.4 PPR fantasy points on Sunday, however, and two more interceptions in the loss to the Browns, I don't see Wentz as a viable starter in the Week 12 matchup versus the Seahawks. This Eagles offense is near the bottom of the league, in my opinion. It's a poorly schemed unit that lacks juice. -- Bowen
Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles and D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions: The Eagles weren't the only team that looked downright awful on Sunday. Let's lump the Lions in there, too. Fantasy managers can't like it. Sanders and Swift are clearly talented players who are seemingly held back by their offenses' overall struggles. If Swift is cleared for Thanksgiving, I'd normally love him for a Houston Texans matchup, but the injury and the short week worry me and that's a possible blowout that could force him to do most of his damage receiving. Sanders, meanwhile, would be facing a middling-to-above-average Seattle Seahawks run defense on Monday night. It couldn't be much more frustrating with the fantasy playoffs approaching. -- Cockcroft
Damiere Byrd, WR, New England Patriots: Say hello to your WR1 from the Sunday 1 p.m. ET games, and it wasn't particularly close, as his 26.3 PPR fantasy points earned him the lead by more than three full points. Unfortunately, Byrd's output was met more with frustration from the 27.8% of fantasy managers who started Jakobi Meyers, who scored only 6.8 points on three targets, and Byrd himself was in there in only 0.1% of lineups. One could look ahead to the favorable Arizona Cardinals Week 12 matchup and speculate that Byrd should be one of the week's top pickups, but I'm not so sure. This performance could just as likely draw him some one-on-one assignments from Patrick Peterson, and Byrd -- and the New England Patriots' receivers as a whole -- really isn't generating the volume fantasy teams need unless the Pats are in a really bad spot on the scoreboard. That could happen again next week, but I wouldn't want to actively invest a lineup spot on the chance. -- Cockcroft
Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team: Another week, another 3 (of 4) goal-to rushing opportunities for Gibson on Sunday, and with his conversion on his first-quarter chance, the rookie now has eight rushing scores in 10 games, with five of them 2 yards or shorter in distance. With the way the Football Team has been using him, including 55 total rushing attempts in his past four games, I'm on board with him as a high-end RB2/borderline RB1, and that's in spite of his having only one plus matchup remaining in the final six weeks (Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers). -- Cockcroft
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens: I've hit on Dobbins a couple of times this season because of the explosive traits he brings to the Ravens' offense: body control, contact balance and the vertical burst. He just needs the touches to establish consistent fantasy value, in my opinion. Well, maybe we are starting to see that now? Dobbins registered 18.4 PPR points in the Week 11 loss to the Titans. And the rookie saw No. 1 volume, finishing with 17 touches, while Gus Edwards and Mark Ingram combined for just five. Dobbins gets the Steelers next, a defense he rushed for 113 yards against in the first matchup of the season. I see him as a lower-tier RB2 in the ranks. -- Bowen
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts: Taylor topped the 15-point PPR scoring mark for the first time since Week 6, and his 26 touches were the most for the rookie since his Week 2 game versus the Vikings. Taylor was much more decisive with the ball on Sunday in a favorable matchup against the Packers' defense, hitting the hole with a burst and using his footwork to cut through the second level. Given his upcoming matchups versus Tennessee and Houston, fantasy managers should have more confidence starting Taylor as a low-end RB2. -- Bowen
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts: Pittman logged only three receptions Sunday, but the rookie found the end zone for the first time this season, and he's being schemed open on crossers that cater to his run-after-the-catch traits. Pittman has now caught 14 of 18 targets in his past three games for 223 yards. He has WR3 value for the Week 12 matchup against the zone-heavy Panthers. Throw the in-breakers here. -- Bowen