Sometimes you don’t have many choices as the bench options on your roster become scarce. If you do have options, though, I believe what I have to say about these players that I love and hate will help put you in a position to win your week. My track record, thus far, is pretty spot on as I continue to hold myself accountable, review each list every week on Twitter (@Colin_McT) and improve week-to-week! Let’s take a look at who deserves to start and who you should consider sitting this week.
Players I Love and Hate in Week 11 of the 2022 Season
Quarterback
Love: Daniel Jones, New York Giants
It’s not just Jones’ new nickname “Vanilla Vick” that makes me love him ahead of Week 11. Rather, it’s the matchup against the Detroit Lions that has me excited. Jones and the Giants will play host to the Lions in Week 11. Detroit continues to allow the most points per game (29.3) to the opposition this season. They’re also allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks (23.0), as well.
While I do think Saquon plays a major role in this one, the Giants do have a divisional matchup with the Dallas Cowboys next Thursday, on the road, on Thanksgiving. They may do their best to keep their stud running back fresh for that one. Jones is also averaging nearly eight rushes per game himself with three games logging 10 or more carries. The Lions just so happen to be allowing the second-most rushing yards to quarterbacks. Jones’ 2022 success coupled with an excellent Week 11 matchup make him easy to love starting. This is after making the “hate list” one week ago.
Hate: Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
I hate what’s going on in Las Vegas. After a 2-7 start, the team seems to be unraveling before our eyes. They’ve scored just 40 total points in the last three games and no more than 20 in any of them. In Week 11, they’ll take on the Denver Broncos, who are allowing the least amount of points per game in 2022.
Carr and the Raiders will remain without Darren Waller or Hunter Renfrow as both are still on the IR. So, it’s really just Carr throwing to Davante Adams who has a whopping 31 targets over the last two weeks. I fully expect Patrick Surtain II to shadow Adams in Week 11 which will make turning a high-volume of targets into quality production more difficult than usual. Beyond Adams, it’s hard to imagine Mack Hollins or someone else stepping up in a big way in Week 11.
Carr has scored over 19.0 fantasy points just once this season. In his first matchup with the Broncos, at home in Week 4, Carr logged just 11.52 points. With a depleted set of weapons on the road, I hate the fact that he may not even score that many in Week 11.
Running Back
Love: David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
My bold prediction for Week 11 is that Montgomery logs his first game with 20.0+ fantasy points this season. Admittedly, a good chunk of those points are attributed to the idea that he gets into the end zone, not once, but twice on Sunday. That may come as a surprise given the success quarterback, Justin Fields, is having running the ball, especially in the last two weeks.
What’s big for Montgomery in Week 11 is the absence of Khalil Herbert. He is set to miss the next four games while on the Injured Reserve list with a hip injury. Herbert’s average of roughly 10 carries per game is now up for grabs. While rookie, Tristan Ebner, should see a few touches per game, Montgomery is no stranger to a workhorse role with this team.
From Weeks 12 to 17 in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Montgomery was the overall RB1 each time. I’m not quite ready to buy-in to that concept for 2022, but for Week 11 specifically, Montgomery could sit atop the ranks or close to it. He gets an Atlanta Falcons defense that’s allowed a top-11 running back each of the last four weeks, two of which ended up in the top-five. I love Montgomery’s chances to do so himself with somewhere between 18 to 25 touches on Sunday.
Hate: James Robinson, New York Jets
It’s conceivable to think James Robinson will come out of the Jets’ Week 10 bye healthier and a better understanding of New York’s offense. While that may be true, it will be tough to put it all together against the New England Patriots in Week 11.
New England is also coming out of their bye as they host the Jets this week. Bill Belichick is known to make life miserable for younger quarterbacks. With two weeks to prepare for Zach Wilson, I foresee a game plan from the Patriots that eliminates the run game and forces Wilson to throw. That won’t be difficult for a Patriots defense allowing the second-least fantasy points to running backs this season. They’ve allowed just one rushing touchdown to the position.
I do think Michael Carter does have value as the presumed pass-catching back in Week 11. Assuming this game stays tight, or even the Pats jump out to a lead, Carter could see seven or more targets, as he did in their first matchup. James Robinson has a better chance to produce with heavier volume in Week 12 against the Chicago Bears.
Wide Receiver
Love: Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts
Since Week 8, the Philadelphia Eagles are allowing an average of 155 rushing yards per game to opposing teams. On a full-season scale, that average would be the third-most allowed in the league. Up next is a road trip to Indy where they’ll have to try and stop Jonathan Taylor.
With more of a focus on stopping the run, it could open up opportunities in the passing game. Assuming the Eagles offense continues to produce, the Colts will likely be passing plenty in Week 11, too, to keep up with Philadelphia. The guy I love the most to benefit from this sort of game script is Parris Campbell.
Campbell has 32 total targets in his last three games with Matt Ryan under center. Matt Ryan is also throwing the ball an average of 40 times per game, as well. With an expected high-passing volume and Campbell seeing a healthy share of targets, I think he belongs in Week 11 lineups for those on the fence about starting him.
Hate: Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders
Teams are having their way running against the Houston Texans’ defense. Though neither are truly elite running backs, Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. should also run as they please in Week 11. Not to mention the Commanders had major success running the ball in Week 10 with this duo. They racked up 130 rushing yards on 40 combined carries against the Eagles.
As a result, I think the Washington passing game may suffer from a volume standpoint. Curtis Samuel has just four targets exactly in each of the Commanders’ last three games. That said, I think he becomes extremely touchdown dependent in Week 11, which I hate. He does see a few carries of his own out of the Washington backfield, but I’m not starting him and expecting him to house one of those. Samuel is best left on the bench in Week 11.
Tight End
Love: George Kittle, San Francisco
George Kittle is an obvious start for most fantasy teams at this point, even after a disappointing 3.1 PPR points in Week 10. Luckily, he gets a prime bounce-back spot that managers will love in Week 11. So, while he is likely in every starting lineup out there, take this as a sign to prioritize him in Daily Fantasy Sports lineups, or perhaps trade for him before Sunday in your redraft leagues.
Kittle will face the league’s worst defense against tight ends, the Arizona Cardinals. Teams are targeting their tight ends against the Cardinals at the highest rate. As a result, tight ends are averaging the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns against them. Kittle will be no different. With the offense at full strength, Kittle has more trouble than usual carving out a role. He will have his best opportunity of the season to be the top pass catcher on San Francisco’s offense in Week 11.
Hate: Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
I hate starting any Los Angeles Ram in the foreseeable future. Sure, Cooper Kupp’s 31% target share is up for grabs on the Rams’ offense, but I think Higbee will have a hard time making the most of whatever piece he gets of it in Week 11. The New Orleans Saints present the toughest matchup for tight ends on a week-to-week basis.
Baltimore Ravens backup tight end, Isaiah Likely, is the only tight end to score a touchdown against New Orleans this season. That’s even more meaningful knowing their defense as a whole is allowing the seventh-most points per game to opponents this season.
Matthew Stafford should return for the Rams after missing last week with a concussion. That does help Higbee ever so slightly, though I think most of his points, of what he does score, will be in the form of receptions for PPR leagues.
With stud cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, still absent for New Orleans, I think it’s possible Allen Robinson finally steps up on Sunday. There are just too many question marks surrounding this offense right now. I would hate to have to plug any of them into my lineups in Week 11.
Also check out our Week 11 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings