Fire them up, sit down and run back for Fantasy Football Week 11

It’s week 11, folks! Time to nail down those fantasy lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst games in a given week for fantasy football leagues. Each week I examine the running backs who may or may not exceed expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Kareem Hunt and Tony Pollard in Week 10!

For your final draft decisions, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them daily! Also make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we break down all things fantasy football five days a week!

All positions: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | K & DSTs

Goodbye: Buccaneers, cardinals, giants, panthers

1. Derrick Henry at Steelers
2. Saquon Barkley vs. Commanders (Thursday)
3. Christian McCaffrey vs. Seahawks
4. Joe Mixon at Cowboys (Mon.)
5. Bijan Robinson at Broncos
6. De’Von Achane vs. Raiders
7. Alvin Kamara vs. Browns
8. Kenneth Walker at 49ers
9. Jahmyr Gibbs vs. Jaguars
10. Jonathan Taylor at Jets

Complete the Week 11 running back rankings

Start of the week

Kareem Hunt at Bills (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Hunt has been fantastic since rejoining the Chiefs, averaging just under 17 fantasy points per game. His success should continue in what is a huge AFC battle against the Bills, who have struggled with running backs. Their defense is allowing 4.7 yards per rush and the second-most points per game at the position this season. Additionally, enemy runners have scored more than 19 points six times.

Start them

Breece Hall vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Normally I wouldn’t put a running back like Hall in this column unless it was as a sit ’em, but he’s been bad lately. In fact, he has failed to score more than 12.3 points in three straight games. I still believe in it, though, as Hall faces a Colts defense that gives five backs a chance to beat them for 15-plus points. That includes four runners who have reached that goal since Week 6, so Hall should bounce back.

David Montgomery vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Montgomery had modest totals in his last four games, scoring fewer than thirteen points three times. Still, a game against the Jaguars makes him a virtual must-start. Their defense has allowed the third-most points per game to opposing running backs, and eight have beaten them by more than 13 points. Additionally, two backs have scored more than 25 points against them in the last three weeks.

Chase Brown at Chargers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Brown is having a bad game this week, as he faces a Chargers defense that allows the third-fewest points per game. Still, he was able to put together a nice line against a tough Ravens defense last week, and he has seen a nearly 50% share of the Bengals offense since the team lost Zack Moss. In what could ultimately be a high-scoring affair, I’m starting Brown with confidence.

Aaron Jones at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Jones has slowed down in the stats as of late, having failed to score more than 12.2 points in three straight games. He was a bit confused last week too, so keep an eye on his status. If he can compete against the Titans, I’d keep him in fantasy lineups. Their defense has given up the fourth-most points per game to running backs since Week 7, including eight touchdowns.

RBs with good matchups

Sits of the week

James Cook vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Folks, I know you can’t sit on Cook, especially during the bye weeks. So this is more of a warning to temper expectations. He’s having a brutal matchup against the Chiefs, who haven’t allowed more than 13.2 points to a running back this season. That list includes superstars like Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara, not to mention Rachaad White, JK Dobbins and Jordan Mason.

Sit down

Tony Pollard vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pollard, who was listed as a sit ’em last week, posted a modest 10.3-point loss to the Chargers. He is also playing at less than 100% and is dealing with an injured foot that limited him to 29 snaps last week. I would also watch out for the veteran this week as he faces a tough Viking defense that is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs on the season. I would watch out for Pollard in this matchup.

JK Dobbins vs. Bengals (8:20 PM ET, NBC): Dobbins is tough to sit with four teams in a day, so consider this more of a “beware” in fantasy leagues. He’s scored in single digits in two of his last four games and lost 10 carries to Gus Edwards last week. The Bengals have also been tough against runners lately, allowing them the third-fewest points per game over the last four weeks. As a result, I would temper your fantasy expectations for Dobbins.

Travis Etienne Jr. at Lions (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Etienne Jr. has been a shadow of his former self in fantasy terms, scoring single digits in four of his last five games, and he could lose some work to D’Ernest Johnson. And even though he was in charge of the Jaguars’ backfield a week ago, Etienne Jr. still only 43 yards and 5.3 points. The Lions have one of the NFL’s best run defenses, and a projected negative game script means Etienne Jr. is a shaky flex at best.

Javonte Williams vs. Falcons (4:05 PM ET, Fox): Wiliams, who was listed as a sit ’em last week, scored just 2.7 points in a loss to the Chiefs. Additionally, he appears to have lost his top spot on the Broncos depth chart. Jaleel McLaughlin got the start last week, and rookie Audric Estime led the backfield in touches (as coach Sean Payton suggested earlier in the week). At this point, it’s almost impossible for Williams to start in most fantasy leagues.

RBs with bad matchups