Week 11 Rankings For Fantasy Football: Upgrade Joe Flacco, Chase Brown and The Bengals
Dwain McFarland highlights the biggest upgrades, downgrades and SICKO starts for Week 11 of the fantasy football season.
It is time to set our fantasy lineups for Week 11, and with that in mind, let's follow the data to analyze some of the biggest risers and fallers in the ranks to help you make those start-sit decisions.
Risers In My Week 11 Rankings For Fantasy Football
See below for the biggest upgrades in my Week 11 fantasy football rankings, sorted positionally.
Joe Flacco is a top-12 QB for Week 11 fantasy football.
Flacco has averaged 24.4 fantasy points in his four starts with the Bengals, which ranks second behind only Jaxson Dart (25.2). Over that span, the veteran signal caller has averaged 314 yards and 2.75 touchdowns through the air, which ranks first and second, respectively.
This week, he faces a Steelers defense that has allowed the most passing yards per game (316) over the last four contests. Pittsburgh has boosted opposing passing attacks by 59.4 yards per game, tying the Bears for the most.
Projection Model (using my PPR projections):
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 21.6
- Median: 17.7
- Floor: 14.2
Flacco is a low-end QB1 with high-end QB1 upside against Pittsburgh.
QB Rapid Fire: Week 11 Rankings Upgrades & Pending News
- C.J. Stroud | Texans: Stroud is questionable (concussion) for a Week 11 tilt against the Titans. The Texans carry a solid 23.5-point team total as 7.5-point favorites over Tennessee. The Titans have been decent against the pass, but much of that is due to getting blown out, which has led to opponents running the ball with a lead. Houston could do the same, but they don't have a strong running game, which could open the door for a multi-TD performance from Stroud. The third-year QB has averaged 17.4 points per game, which is better than most names ranked above him this week. If Stroud suits up, he is a borderline QB1 with an Xfinity Best ceiling of 22.8 points.
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Chase Brown could handle a massive workload in Week 11.
In Week 9, Samaje Perine suffered a high ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week. In that game, Brown played a near-every-down role with a 95% snap share. He finished the day with a 93 Utilization Score and 19.2 fantasy points.
Pittsburgh hasn't been an easy out for RBs. They are the seventh-toughest defense, holding opposing RB units to a -3.2 fantasy boost. They are also the third-most man-heavy defense, which caused me to slightly doc Brown's targets in the projection model. Brown has an 18% target share against zone versus 10% against man in 2025.
Still, despite the matchup challenges, Brown is in for a massive uptick in opportunities overall, which opens the door for fantasy points.
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 24.0
- Median: 15.3
- Floor: 11.2
Brown is a low-end RB1 assuming Perine is out for Week 11. If Perine surprises with a return to the lineup, Brown would fall to borderline RB2 territory.
RB Rapid Fire: Week 11 Rankings Upgrades & Pending News
- Bijan Robinson | Falcons: Everyone is starting Robinson, but I wanted to drop his name here for prop bet reasons. Robinson has a 24% target share against zone coverage versus 10% against man in 2025. This weekend, he faces the Panthers—the second-most-heavy zone defense at 82%. Early lines from oddsmakers have Robinson's receiving yards prop at 36.5 yards. He has averaged 51.9, and I have him projected for 50.2. Give me the over, y'all!
- Ashton Jeanty | Raiders: Jeanty has taken over a massive role over the last two games, posting snap shares of 90% and 88%. He has averaged 16.6 points with a Utilization Score of 92. Historically, comparable RBs in score have been top-six options 72% of the time. The Raiders' offensive line could keep him from reaching those heights, but the volume is there, and Jeanty gets a juicy matchup against Dallas in Week 11. The Cowboys sanctioned the No. 3 fantasy boost to RB units at 5.0 points per game. Jeanty is a mid-range RB1 with high-end RB1 upside—his Xfinity Best ceiling projection of 26 points ranks sixth.
- Jaylen Warren | Steelers: Warren has hogged 80% of the Steelers' rushing attempts over the last four games. Pittsburgh is a 5.5-point favorite and boasts the No. 1 team total on the slate at 27.5 points. Historically, that is a good combination for RBs. But that's not all, y'all! The Bengals have green-lighted the No. 1 fantasy boost to opposing RB rooms at 9.7 points per game. Warren's Xfinity Best ceiling is 24 points. He is a low-end RB1 with significant upside against Cincinnati.
- TreVeyon Henderson | Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) has been ruled out for Thursday Night Football, while Terrell Jennings (knee) is listed as questionable. The Patriots are 11.5-point favorites over the Jets and are tied with the Steelers for the highest team total at 27.5. I have Henderson as a borderline RB1 right now, assuming he gets most of the work. However, if Jennings is active, I will drop him to mid-range RB2 territory with Jennings in a limited role.
- RJ Harvey | Broncos: With reports surfacing that J.K. Dobbins could be headed to IR with a foot injury, Harvey should take over the RB1 duties for Denver. Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin could keep Harvey from taking over an every-down role, but we should see enough of an uptick to raise our expectations. The playmaker has made the most of his opportunities so far, averaging an impressive 17.1 points in contests where he reached seven opportunities or more. I have Harvey projected for 55% of the attempts and a 12% target share, which translates to 15 to 18 opportunities. The Chiefs are the sixth-hardest RB matchup with a -3.3-point fantasy boost, but it isn't an insurmountable matchup. I am on an island with my RB15 ranking for Harvey. The next closest Fantasy Life ranker has him at RB24. His Xfinity Best ceiling is 24.1 points.
- Aaron Jones | Vikings: Jones has taken over the Minnesota backfield over the last two weeks. Last week, he notched an 84 Utilization Score with 15.9 fantasy points, handling 72% of the snaps. The Vikings offer a healthy team total of 25.75 points as three-point favorites over the Bears. Jones UPGRADES to mid-range RB2 territory.
- Kareem Hunt | Chiefs: Isiah Pacheco might not be ready for a return in Week 11. That means we could see another game with Hunt as the lead option. In Week 9, he monopolized the backfield with an 81% snap share and posted 12.5 fantasy points. Hunt is a borderline RB2 against the Broncos.
Jaylen Waddle is a top-10 fantasy WR against Washington.
Since the loss of Tyreek Hill, Waddle has averaged 18.7 points in his five healthy games. Over that span, he has an average Utilization Score of 81. His historical comparisons have averaged 16.4 points per game, with 65% of them performing as top-12 WRs.
- WR1 to WR6 performers: 15%
- WR7 to WR12 performers: 50%
- WR13 to WR18 performers: 19%
- WR19 to WR24 performers: 13%
The Commanders have been absolutely destroyed by WRs, allowing the second-highest fantasy boost to the position at 7.3 points per game. Additionally, Matthew Freedman's NFL Betting Game Model projects this game as the highest total on the slate at 50.2. That is a five-star bet, y'all!
Waddle could melt the boxscore in this one, y'all!
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 23.8
- Median: 16.3
- Floor: 12.2
Waddle is a mid-range WR1 with high-end WR1 upside in Week 11.
WR Rapid Fire: Week 11 Rankings Upgrades & Pending News
- Tee Higgins | Bengals: Higgins has averaged 18.8 points in four games with Flacco at the helm. This weekend, he faces a Steelers defense that has boosted opposing receiving corps by 7.5 points per game over the last four weeks. Pittsburgh deploys man coverage the second most at 39%. Higgins has feasted on man looks with a 30% target share and 2.53 yards per route run (YPRR). Against zone, he has a 13% target share and 0.94 YPRR. Higgins projects for 15.9 PPR points with a 23.3 Xfinity Best ceiling—he is a high-end WR2.
- Khalil Shakir | Bills: Shakir suffered a high ankle sprain in training camp and started the season slowly with target shares of 19%, 4% and 15%. However, since then, he has reached a 23% target share or higher in five of the last six games. Over that span, he has a 26% target share with 13.4 fantasy points per game. This weekend, the Bills could be without Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) in a potential shootout with the Buccaneers. The Bills are tied for the highest team total on the slate at 27.5 points. Shakir is a mid-range WR3 option against Tampa Bay in Week 11. Note: Shakir (ribs) was limited in practice on Wednesday.
- Jauan Jennings | 49ers: Jennings has improved his Utilization Score by nine points over the last four games. Over that span, he has a 69 score with 11.7 points per game. His historical comps have averaged 13.6 points per game, with 65% finishing as the WR30 or better. Jennings is a high-end WR3 versus the Cardinals.
- Tre Tucker | Raiders: Tucker has cooled off considerably after a hot start. But y'all know what's up. He plays a Cowboys secondary that has consented to the No. 1 fantasy boost for WRs at 8.2 points per game. Tucker is a low-end WR3 with a sneaky 18.4 Xfinity Best ceiling.
- Dontayvion Wicks | Packers: The Packers are banged up at WR with Romeo Doubs (chest) and Matthew Golden (shoulder) questionable for Week 11 against the Giants. Wicks notched a 19% target share in Week 10 in his most significant role of the season with a 69% route participation rate. If one of Doubs or Golden can't play, Wicks could be the No. 1 or No. 2 option against a Giants secondary that has provided a 3.2-point fantasy boost to WR units. Wicks is a mid-range WR4.
TE Rapid Fire: Week 11 Rankings Upgrades & Pending News
- Cade Otton | Buccaneers: Otton gets one of the toughest TE matchups against the Bills. Buffalo has held opposing TEs to a -5.6-point fantasy boost. However, Otton has become a focal point of Tampa's offense due to injuries. The veteran TE has a 78 Utilization Score with a 24% target share over the last four contests. He has averaged 21.2 points over that span. Despite a tough matchup, Otton's recent role pushes him into mid-range TE1 territory. He offers a 17.4 Xfinity Best ceiling projection.
Fallers in My Week 11 Rankings For Fantasy Football
See below for a handful of downgrades in my Week 11 fantasy football rankings.
- Bo Nix | QB | Broncos: Nix hasn't fared well against good defenses in 2025. The Chiefs are the second-hardest matchup for QBs. Kansas City has held QB rooms to 4.9 points below their season average. Oddsmakers see things similarly. The Broncos carry the fifth-lowest team total at 20 points. Most start-sit decisions this weekend with Nix involved should lean towards sit. He is a mid-range QB2.
- Derrick Henry | RB | Ravens: Henry has scored 18-plus fantasy points in only two games all season. He has averaged only 12.8 points this season with a 64 Utilization Score. This weekend, he faces the second-best run defense. The Browns have held opposing RB rooms to 5.8 points below their average. Besides, is there a better way to get King Henry going than by placing him on the fallers' list? Henry downgrades to mid-range RB2 territory. You're welcome, y'all!
- Xavier Worthy | WR | Chiefs: Worthy has averaged 8.0 fantasy points with a 51 Utilization Score in three games with Rashee Rice. That's not good! Worthy's historical Utilization Score comps based on that sample: 9.1 points per game with only 3% securing a top-36 finish. With a tough matchup on tap against the Broncos, Worthy doesn't deserve a top-36 ranking in Week 11. He is a WR4.
- Colston Loveland | TE | Bears: Loveland's route participation fell back to earth at 56% with Cole Kmet back in the lineup in Week 10. The rookie first-rounder is still worth holding onto in deeper leagues, but the breakout notice is on hold. Loveland falls to mid-range TE2 status against the Vikings in Week 11.
Sicko Starts For Week 11 Fantasy Football
I want to throw in a few names for all my fellow fantasy managers who are in a SICKO league. If you are in a 12-team league with three starting WRs and two flexes, these are for you! Or you are in a more typical setup, but need a name to help get you through injuries; these are for you!
We are looking for players with a rostership under 50% who aren't in many starting lineups.
Let's go, you sickos.
- Week 1: Daniel Jones (hit), Jerome Ford (miss), Rashod Bateman (miss), Hunter Henry (hit)
- Week 2: Trevor Lawrence (hit), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (miss), Kayshon Boutte (hit), Juwan Johnson (hit)
- Week 3: Tyrod Taylor (hit), Tyler Allgeier (miss), Wan'Dale Robinson (miss), Cole Kmet (hit)
- Week 4: Jaxson Dart (hit), TreVeyon Henderson (hit), Troy Franklin (hit), Cade Otton (miss)
- Week 5: Jaxson Dart (hit), Rhamondre Stevenson (hit), Malik Washington (miss), Mason Taylor (hit)
- Week 6: Trevor Lawrence (hit), Kimani Vidal (hit), Isiah Bond (miss), Mason Taylor (miss)
- Week 7: C.J. Stroud (miss), Kendre Miller (injury), Tez Johson (hit), Oronde Gadsden II (hit)
- Week 8: Joe Flacco (hit), Kyle Monangai (miss), Troy Franklin (hit), Colston Loveland (miss)
- Week 9: J.J. McCarthy (hit), Brashard Smith (miss), Chimere Dike (miss), Colston Loveland (hit)
- Week 10: J.J. McCarthy (miss), Devin Singletary (miss), Darius Slayton (hit), Luke Musgrave (miss)
Aaron Rodgers | QB | Steelers
Rodgers is rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues and is in 19% of starting lineups.
Rodgers ranks fourth in passing touchdowns per game with two per contest. This weekend, he faces a Bengals defense that has provided the No. 1 boost to opposing QBs at 5.7 points per game.
Oddsmakers love the Steelers this weekend, as 5.5-point favorites and the top team total on the slate at 27.5 points.
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 20.4
- Median: 16.7
- Floor: 13.3
Rodgers upgrades to mid-range QB2 territory and offers mid-range QB1 upside.
Emanuel Wilson | RB | Packers
Wilson is rostered in 7% of leagues but starts in only 2% of lineups.
Disclaimer: Finding an RB rostered in under 50% of leagues with any sort of projectable volume is difficult. That means we must often pivot to RB2s in favorable matchups that would offer significant value should the starter go down.
Enter Emanuel Wilson, who has separated from the pack to claim the RB2 role in Green Bay over the last four games. Over that span, Wilson has outsnapped Chris Brooks 31% to 11%, averaging 5.8 attempts and 1.8 targets.
The Packers are 7.5-point favorites and own the third-highest team total at 26 points. That is an excellent combination for RBs, and the Giants have boosted opposing backfields by 6.6 points per game—the second-most in the NFL.
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 9.3
- Median: 5.4
- Floor: 3.8
That isn't a great range of outcomes, but this is for the SICKO leagues! Wilson could pay off a mid-range RB3 finish, and should Jacobs suffer an injury (hopefully he doesn't), Wilson would be the No. 1 waiver wire priority in Week 12.
Note: I considered Blake Corum here, but Wilson had the better Week 11 matchup.
Tez Johnson | WR | Buccaneers
Johnson is rostered in 39% of Yahoo leagues and is in only 12% of starting lineups.
In four games as a starter, Johnson has averaged 14.2 points with a 60 Utilization Score. He hasn't been a high-end target earner (15%), but the rookie has flashed play-making ability.
The Bills have been an above-average defense against the pass, but they aren't a shutdown unit. To have a chance to win against Buffalo, Tampa will need big plays, and Baker Mayfield averages 1.78 TD passes per game (11th).
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 16.9
- Median: 10.2
- Floor: 7.4
Johnson is a mid-range WR3 in Week 11.
Theo Johnson | TE | Giants
Johnson is rostered in 49% of Yahoo leagues and starts in 32% of lineups.
Johnson has averaged 12.1 points with a 79 Utilization Score and a 21% target share in six games without Malik Nabers.
He has a strong rapport with Jaxson Dart, who is questionable due to a concussion. However, Mike Kafka named Jameis Winston as the QB2 should Dart not be able to go. So, our bases are covered either way.
- Xfinity Best (ceiling): 14.1
- Median: 8.9
- Floor: 6.4
Johnson is a low-end TE1 against the Packers in Week 11.
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