NFL Week 11 latest buzz, fantasy tips and upset predictions

Graziano: Rams (+1) over Seahawks. Quarterback Matthew Stafford will be back from his right thumb injury for this game, and his Rams are a major thorn in the Seahawks' side. Los Angeles beat them soundly in Week 1. And while Seattle won both games last year in a rare down season for L.A., Sean McVay is 9-5 against the Seahawks in his career as the Rams' coach. The Rams just seem to be sort of a bad matchup for Seattle.

What's your fantasy football call of the week?

Graziano: I would try very hard to leave any and all Bears running backs on the bench this weekend -- even if Khalil Herbert returns from injury and regardless of how well D'Onta Foreman has run the ball in his place. The Bears like handling their run game by committee; and barring further injury or other unforeseen circumstance, that's the way they plan to handle it moving forward. Rookie back Roschon Johnson has shown something as a pass-catcher, so in weeks when Chicago falls behind early, it's possible he has some PPR-league value. But I've asked directly, and my understanding is the Bears have no plans to commit to one of these guys over the others.

Herbert's return will help with the overall speed of the group, but to think he's just going to take over a full workload and send Foreman to the bench is improbable. Add in the fact that the Lions -- the Bears' Week 11 opponent -- are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs and you're better off with other options than the Bears at RB in Week 11.

Fowler: Consider starting Vikings running back Ty Chandler this week. Minnesota's run game has been a bumpy ride, but Chandler acquitted himself well on Sunday against New Orleans with 15 rushes for 45 yards and a touchdown. The stage is set for Chandler to produce against the Broncos, who rank last in rushing defense. Starter Alexander Mattison is in the concussion protocol, and Cam Akers is out for the season with an Achilles injury.

What else are you hearing this week?

Graziano's notebook:

• I will go ahead and predict that Bailey Zappe will be the Patriots' starting quarterback when they come back from their bye week to play the Giants in Week 12. Sunday's game in Germany felt like a breaking point for Mac Jones, and sources I'm talking to think coach Bill Belichick could use the two-week break to make a change and get Zappe ready to start. Jones has been a massive disappointment this season, regressing in key areas and repeating too many mistakes week in and week out.

The Pats are almost certain to be looking for a new quarterback in the spring, but in the meantime, they feel like Zappe has shown enough in practice to be viable. It's not 100 percent, and few people know enough to accurately predict what Belichick will do. But it sounds like there's a solid chance Zappe will be the guy for Week 12 and maybe the rest of the season.

• Bears quarterback Justin Fields threw again in Monday's practice, and the team is optimistic he'll be able to return from his thumb injury and play this week. Yes, this time last week the Bears were holding out hope that he could return in time for their Week 10 game, and he did not. But Sunday will have been 10 days since their Thursday night game against the Panthers, and the hope is that Fields' grip strength has improved to the point where he can throw the ball without the injury affecting him. The Bears still want to see Fields get through the week and make sure he can be confident and accurate with his throws, but as of Tuesday, they were feeling optimistic that this could be the week.

• It also sounds like the Dolphins are expecting to have running back De'Von Achane back this week, the first week he is eligible to come off injured reserve. He probably didn't need the full four weeks, as it turns out, to heal from his knee injury, but the Dolphins were intentionally careful with their lightning-quick rookie. They now believe they could have him back for the final eight games, starting Sunday against Antonio Pierce's red-hot Raiders.

Fowler's notebook:

• Here's what I was told about the Patriots' quarterback situation this week: Decisions are still "up in the air," but it wouldn't surprise if Zappe gets more time, either subbed in or as the starter. So to your point, Dan, this seems to be trending toward Zappe. The frustrations with Jones surfaced earlier this season, and about a month ago, his grip on the job became shaky due to poor decision-making and struggles under pressure. New England decided to roll with Jones, who gave the Patriots a chance in multiple games. But the situation appeared to reach a boiling point in Germany.

Zappe is likely the next man up, but it feels like anything is possible over the next eight weeks. Malik Cunningham and Will Grier can't be totally overlooked. The Pats' quarterback room could look far different in 2024, when New England could have a top-five pick in a draft that features several talented passers.

• Buffalo's firing of Dorsey was abrupt, hitting social media roughly 12 hours after the Denver loss. This one is complicated, because Dorsey has done some good things with the offense's overall attack, and it's not his fault that Bills players were dropping passes and fumbling Monday night. But a few factors led to this. The Bills felt that their offense was stronger and better positioned than a year ago, with the line finally solidified and the addition of tight end Dalton Kincaid, who has superstar potential. At least on paper, running a consistent offense should have been easier. Instead, everything felt harder, with Buffalo falling from second to seventh in total offense and second to eighth in scoring offense from 2022 to 2023.

Not all of that falls on Dorsey, of course. A bigger issue is that Allen looks like he's losing his swagger a bit. And a reeling team simply needs a shake-up before it's too late -- especially in light of the point about Allen. Dorsey is a bright coach who interviewed well on the head-coaching circuit in January. He's capable. He just wasn't able to elevate and reinvent Buffalo's attack.