The 10th Sunday of the NFL season began with an exciting overtime affair in Germany, featuring Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor approaching 50 fantasy points, followed by another terrific outing by New England Patriots MVP candidate Drake Maye in the early-afternoon games. Then, in the late afternoon, Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford tossed four TD passes for a record third consecutive game.
Of course, this being the NFL, not everything that happened Sunday was positive. We are still waiting for New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson and Chicago Bears WR DJ Moore to score a fantasy point. Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold scored only 4.92 more fantasy points than they did. Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson scored just 2.8 points. New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart thrived again, rushing for two touchdowns, but he had to leave early due to a concussion. He may not play in Week 11.
Each Monday, before the current NFL weekend ends, we will identify players available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues worthy of your attention, from standard formats to deeper options. The NFL is a weekly league, and player valuation and roles seldom remain stagnant. It does not matter how you acquire players for your fantasy rosters, just that you acquire them!
Quarterback
Matt Bowen breaks down why Caleb Williams has what it takes to continue as a fantasy starting quarterback.
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (33.3% rostered in ESPN leagues): Flacco comes off his bye week for a road tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The last time Flacco faced the Steelers, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin was not at all happy about it. Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns (25.98 points) in an exhilarating 33-31 win. Flacco has averaged 25 fantasy points over his past four games. Chances are pretty good that your fantasy QB has not done the same.
J.J. McCarthy, Vikings (49.6%): Young McCarthy remains an unreliable fantasy option, but even as he completed fewer than half his passes in Sunday's loss, he scored 14.72 points, thanks in part to 48 rushing yards. The Vikings host the Bears in Week 11. McCarthy opened the season against these Bears and scored 22.22 points. Perhaps he can do so again.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
San Francisco 49ers fill-in Mac Jones (5.9%) didn't win his game against the Rams, but he still provided 23.06 points -- his best fantasy outing of the season. Perhaps Brock Purdy (toe) returns to start in Week 11 versus the Arizona Cardinals, but then again, we have been assuming his pending return for weeks.
At least with Cardinals fill-in Jacoby Brissett (17.4%) we know he will continue to start for a while with Kyler Murray (foot) on IR. Brissett scored 19.42 points in Sunday's blowout loss to the Seahawks. He will face the 49ers this week.
Washington Commanders fill-in Marcus Mariota (11.5%) performed capably in Sunday's blowout loss to the Detroit Lions, and he is another reasonable option for Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins.
Houston Texans backup Davis Mills (2.4%), active in 2% of ESPN leagues this week, led the position with 27.68 points on Sunday. He engineered a late drive to upend the Jacksonville Jaguars while filling in for C.J. Stroud (concussion). If Stroud is not ready to play in Week 11 against the Tennessee Titans, consider Mills because, well, it's the Titans.
Running back
Matt Bowen shows TreVeyon Henderson love after a tremendous Week 10.
Trey Benson, Cardinals (49.9%): Benson (knee) remains on IR and, while he was expected to be back in the lineup by now, he has yet to practice. Perhaps he will return this week. Emari Demercado led Cardinals running backs with 13.4 points on Sunday, but Benson -- who the franchise chose in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft to be the heir apparent to starter James Conner -- will be given every opportunity to break out, when healthy.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (27.8%): Allgeier rushed for a pair of touchdowns in Atlanta's overtime loss to the Colts, giving him six for the season. While that is three times as many rushing touchdowns as star Bijan Robinson, it's still tough to rely on Allgeier. He gets more volume than most backup running backs and even has four games with double-digit PPR points. However, there have also been multiple games where he barely scored any fantasy points at all. Consider him because the Falcons play the Panthers, Saints and Jets over the next three weeks.
Tyjae Spears, Titans (37.9%): Spears and the Titans come off their bye week to face the Texans in Week 11. The Texans have their own problems on offense, and they weren't so dominant defensively in Sunday's win over the Jaguars. Spears, getting double-digit touches in recent weeks, has outscored "starter" Tony Pollard in three of the past four games and is trending in the right direction.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
We featured New York Giants RB Devin Singletary (10.3%) last week, because it was clear Tyrone Tracy Jr. was going to share touches in the wake of Cam Skattebo's injury. On Sunday, Tracy earned more volume, but Singletary turned three receptions into 53 yards and outscored him. Ultimately, neither Giants RB figures to help fantasy managers much, but the timeshare remains, and Singletary remains a bit too available.
As with Spears, Kansas City Chiefs backup Kareem Hunt (47.9%) comes off the bye week and may have a featured role in Week 11 at the Denver Broncos, depending on the health of Isiah Pacheco (knee). As with the Titans, neither of the Chiefs RBs is a must-play.
49ers backup Brian Robinson Jr. (21.2%) scored a rushing touchdown for the second consecutive week, which surely frustrated Christian McCaffrey's investors. If you think Robinson can score for a third consecutive game in Week 11, go for it.
Wide receiver
Liz Loza breaks down why Jameson Williams' recent performance against the Commanders makes him a fantasy starter in Week 11.
Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27.9%): Emeka Egbuka, the 19th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, is the star here. However, there is room for Johnson, picked 235th in the same draft, to continue posting relevant deep-league numbers. Johnson scored touchdowns on two of his five Sunday targets and he has averaged a relevant 13.3 points over his past five games. There is no telling when Chris Godwin Jr. (leg) will play again.
Mack Hollins, Patriots (0.6%): Nobody was discussing Hollins over the first seven weeks of the season, for good reasons. However, Hollins has stepped up in two of the past three games, catching seven passes for 89 yards in Week 8 and another six passes for 106 yards on Sunday. With Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) out, it appears Hollins is relevant.
Parker Washington, Jaguars (16.9%): Washington figured to play a larger role in Sunday's game against the Texans with Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) joining Travis Hunter (knee) on the sideline. QB Trevor Lawrence, however, continued his struggles, completing only 13 passes. Washington scored an impressive sideline receiving touchdown and returned a punt for another score. He may thrive again in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
We have discussed Colts' deep threat Alec Pierce (36.5%) several times already this season. Pierce scored 18.4 points on four receptions in Sunday's overtime win, and he had a 17.5-point performance the prior week against the Steelers. We have a trend. Other Colts WRs caught three passes against the Falcons. The Colts are not playing in Week 11, but one can make the case to add Pierce for future weeks.
Vikings reserve Jalen Nailor (0.5%) entered Sunday with 14 receptions and 178 receiving yards in eight games. There was no reason to look his way in fantasy. Is there more reason now that he caught five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown on Sunday? Not really, unless Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison get hurt, but dare to dream.
Tight end
Liz Loza details why it's crucial for Cardinals TE Trey McBride to start on fantasy rosters.
Dalton Schultz, Texans (27%): Schultz, so statistically quiet during the first month, has scored double-digit fantasy points in four of the past five games, including 18.3 points in Sunday's last-second win. Backup QB Davis Mills targeted Schultz 11 times. The Titans are up next, and it may not matter who plays QB for Houston. Schultz is a worthy addition.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers (34.8%): Like Schultz, Otton started slowly this season and now he also boasts double-digit fantasy points in four of five games. He enjoyed season highs of nine catches, 82 yards and 12 targets on Sunday. QB Baker Mayfield is going to keep throwing the football and Otton, who was relevant in fantasy for some of last season as well when others were absent, is thriving.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
New Orleans Saints starter Juwan Johnson (35.2%) tallied an impressive 19.2 points in Week 10 and he has scored double-digit fantasy points in four consecutive contests. However, the Saints are not playing in Week 11. It may be tough for a fantasy manager to roster multiple tight ends.
Bye weeks: To drop or not to drop?
Only two teams serve their bye in Week 11. One of them, the AFC South-leading Colts, boasts four key players rostered in more than 90% of ESPN leagues. Obviously, keep QB Daniel Jones, RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Michael Pittman Jr. and TE Tyler Warren rostered. WRs Josh Downs (63.6%) and Alec Pierce (36.5%) have value, but it is understandable to cut them if you need the roster spot this week. The Colts play the defensively solid Chiefs and Texans next.
As for the Saints, keep RB Alvin Kamara (93%) rostered, as his skills and role demand it. Plus, he scored 14.5 points Sunday. Keep WR Chris Olave rostered. QB Tyler Shough (1.2%) will probably still be out there in your league after the bye.
Defense
The Baltimore Ravens D/ST (50.8%) scored only six points in Sunday's win over the Vikings, but things may greatly improve the next fortnight versus the offensively challenged Cleveland Browns and Jets. Judge this Ravens D/ST unit, ravaged by injury, over its recent games and not the first half of the season.
Recommending the Miami Dolphins D/ST (1.9%) may feel wrong and there is good reason why this unit is barely rostered in ESPN leagues. However, the Dolphins kept Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen and his buddies in check on Sunday, scoring 11 fantasy points. Next up are the Commanders. This is a streaming opportunity.
It's also reasonable to consider the Dallas Cowboys D/ST (4%), because they have scored double-digit fantasy points in two of the past three games. They will face the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday in Week 11.