Here at Fantasy Life, we support scratching your NFL itch in whatever way possible. For some people, that might be betting on spreads. However, that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Instead, some people might enjoy picking games without the spread. Pick’em contests—where you simply pick the winner of each game each week—remain a popular way to compete against your friends without having to dive headfirst into the world of sports betting

Each week, Geoff Ulrich and myself are going to walk you through our favorite ways to approach these contests. Which games should you eat the chalk, where should you look for leverage, and which trendy upsets should you avoid?

Let’s dive into all 14 games for Week 11.

Commanders at Eagles

LaMarca: Eagles (4/10 confidence). As much as I’ve believed in the Commanders this season, I think the Eagles are playing better at the moment. Washington’s offense has hit a bit of a rut in recent weeks, while the Eagles are absolutely rolling. They’re also the better defensive team, so I think they get the job done.

Geoff: Commanders (2/10). I just think that Jayden Daniels will find a way. The Eagles' defense has looked much improved of late, but they also haven’t gone up against the toughest of opponents the last couple of games. Washington is a solid team and Daniels should be able to make enough plays when he has the ball to eke out a close win. 

Colts at Jets

LaMarca: Jets (2/10). I managed to avoid the Jets trap last week, but I can’t help myself in Week 11. Their defense has not looked anywhere near as impressive as in past years, but Anthony Richardson should still struggle to move the chains in this matchup.

Geoff: Colts (3/10). I see the move back to Richardson as a positive. The Colts moved to Flacco because they thought they had a theoretical shot at going somewhere with him as QB, but that time has passed after two losses. Richardson should be motivated after the public benching, and the Colts' defense is now healthy and has enough disruptors on the D-line to give Rodgers issues. 

Ravens at Steelers

LaMarca: Steelers (1/10). I absolutely hate picking against the Ravens, but I’m trusting my boy Mike Tomlin. Tomlin has smashed in three key areas throughout his career: as an underdog, at home, and in division. He checks all of those boxes in this contest. Maybe the Ravens win a close one, but I’ll take my chances with Pittsburgh.

Geoff: Steelers (2/10). The Steelers continue to be somewhat underrated by most metrics. They have a top-tier defense and have averaged 30.75 points on offense in the last four games. Mike Tomlin is also 13-8 straight up as a home underdog since 2014, the best record in the NFL.

Vikings at Titans

LaMarca: Vikings (8/10). Sam Darnold has shown some signs of regression in recent weeks, but who in their right mind is picking the Titans in this spot? 

Nov 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks for a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Geoff: Vikings (4/10). I want to make a case for the Titans in this spot but can’t pull the trigger. The bottom line is that even with Darnold regressing (and he is regressing), the Vikings' defense is still playing well and likely stifles the Titans' offense to the point where Darnold just needs to be a game manager. Expect another low-scoring affair, with the Vikings grinding out another win. 

Browns at Saints

LaMarca: Browns (7/10). The Browns are technically underdogs in this matchup, but I have no idea why. The Saints managed to pick up an extremely fluky win over the Falcons last week, but I still think they’re one of the worst teams in football. The Browns should be a bit healthier following a bye week, while their offense has shown signs of life since switching to Jameis Winston at quarterback.

Geoff: Browns (7/10). The Saints got their one-week dead cat bounce with the win over division rival Atlanta. It’s back to reality this week as their depleted secondary and flimsy passing attack likely gets beat by a Browns team that has better talent on both sides of the ball. 

Jaguars at Lions

LaMarca: Lions (10/10). If the Lions can win a game where Jared Goff throws five picks, I’m not sure how the Jaguars can beat them. They’d need Bane to open up a crater in the field like in the Dark Knight Rises, and even that probably wouldn’t help.

Geoff: Lions (11/10). The Lions are winning games they shouldn’t win and the Jaguars are just not winning. Seriously, Goff likely bounces back after the much-publicized 5 INTs and just buries the Jaguars early. 

Packers at Bears

LaMarca: Packers (9/10). The Bears haven’t scored a touchdown in what feels like a month, while the Packers are coming off a bye. Chicago has decided to change things around with their offensive coordinator, but that feels kinda like shuffling chairs on the deck of the Titanic. As long as the offensive line can’t block—and Caleb Williams continues to hold the ball too long—they’re going to struggle to score points.

Geoff: Packers (9/10). The Bears have some serious O-line issues. It’s already a thin position for them, and they have three starters that look highly questionable to even play in this game. Add in the fact the Packers are off a bye and Caleb Williams’ regression over the last three games (4.92 yards per attempt and zero passing TDs), and a Packers romp win seems like the most likely scenario. 

Raiders at Dolphins

LaMarca: Dolphins (3/10). The Dolphins had an impressive win over the Rams on Monday night, but this is a nightmare spot. They’ll be playing on short rest while the Raiders are coming off a bye. I still think the Dolphins win, but don’t be surprised if this is closer than expected.

Geoff: Dolphins (3/10). This is a classic Dolphins letdown spot, but I still don't want to pick the Raiders who look like they may be starting Desmond Ridder in this game. Ridder had 19 turnovers last season (fifth most) despite starting just 13 games. The Dolphins likely pick up their second win in a row. 

Rams at Patriots

LaMarca: Rams (6/10). The Pats are frisky, but I think the Rams’ offense bounces back in a big way. New England is 25th in EPA per play defensively, and that number was even worse before feasting on a soft matchup vs. the Bears.

Geoff: Rams (6/10). I’m not impressed with the Rams over the last couple of weeks, as they struggled to put away Seattle and flopped against Miami. BUT the Patriots are still a limited team who have been run on by worse rushing offenses than the Rams. Kyren Williams may score three times in this spot and Jared Verse should add to his sack total. 

Falcons at Broncos

LaMarca: Broncos (4/10). I like this Broncos team, which should’ve beaten the Chiefs in Arrowhead last week. Maybe they're a bit deflated following that loss, but playing in Mile High Stadium should help. The Falcons aren’t a bad team, but they’re also not particularly good.

Nov 10, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) catches a pass for a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) chases during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Geoff: Broncos (6/10). I like the idea of fading an indoor team heading north and outdoors in November. Atlanta is 0-2 against the AFC this season (losses to Pittsburgh and KC), and Denver likely pushes that record against the opposing conference to 0-3. 

Seahawks at 49ers

LaMarca: 49ers (9/10). The 49ers have spanked the Seahawks every time these teams have met recently. With the 49ers getting healthier, I think they absolutely roll.

Geoff: 49ers (7/10). The 49ers should have won last week's game going away, and I doubt their kicker misses three straight FGs for the second week in a row. Even if he does, the 49ers now have Christian McCaffrey back in the lineup, who is sure to up their efficiency in the red zone and make a repeat of last week’s special teams drama less likely. 

Chiefs at Bills

LaMarca: Chiefs (1/10). I’m throwing up my hands and surrendering at this point. Do I think the Chiefs are better than the Bills? Not really. But I’m done picking against Patrick Mahomes. Whether it’s the offense, defense, special teams, or officiating, the Chiefs always find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Geoff: Chiefs (3/10). The Bills are solid. The Bills have Josh Allen. The Bills are likely going to win the AFC East. The Bills are facing Patrick Mahomes. 

Bengals at Chargers

LaMarca: Chargers (5/10). I’ve been lukewarm on the Chargers all season, but they’ve won me over recently. Their offense is throwing the ball at a much higher rate than they did to start the year, which makes sense when you have a quarterback like Justin Herbert. They also have one of the best defenses in football, so they’re the more complete team.

Geoff: Bengals (6/10). I don’t dislike the Chargers and certainly love the fact they are opening up the offense a little bit for Justin Herbert. I do question the upside of this team as they only have one win over a team without a losing record (Denver) and have wilted when facing off against above-average QBs this season. For his career, Joe Burrow is also 6-1 in a dome. 

Texans at Cowboys

LaMarca: Texans (8/10). The Cowboys are absolutely cooked. When your season goes this poorly—and your starting quarterback lands on IR—I’m not sure how you find the motivation to compete. Meanwhile, the Texans should get back Nico Collins this week, giving their offense a massive boost.

Geoff: Texans (4/10). Teams who faced the Lions the week before have a terrible record the following week. That said, this is the Cowboys and even if they make this game competitive (and I do think they might), there is a great chance they find a way to blow it in the end. The Texans have been great at eking out close games this season and probably find a way to get past this tricky spot on the schedule with a win.