Stars of Week 11

QB: Kirk Cousins, WAS: 21-30, 375 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs

RB: Rob Kelley, WAS: 24 carries, 137 yards, 3 TDs                                                 

WR: Dez Bryant, DAL: 6 catches, 80 yards, 2 TDs

TE: Jared Cook, GB: 6 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD 

Week 11 fell on the quieter side in terms of individual fantasy numbers, but that doesn’t mean we’re lacking for stalwart performances. Kirk Cousins put on a show on Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers, passing for 375 yards and 3 TDs. We’ll take a closer look at Cousins below. His teammate, “Fat Rob” Kelley went off against the Packers as well. We reviewed Kelley in this space last week, and nothing’s changed – he’s the guy to own in Washington's backfield. Dez Bryant found the end zone twice, and he’s working his way back into WR1 status after having missed three games earlier in the year for injury. Speaking of returning from injury, Jared Cook made his way back for the Packers and had a strong game in a losing effort. Cook remains nothing more than a TE2 – still too inconsistent to trust.

Week 11 Takeaways – A Closer Look

Each week we take a closer look at a handful of performances and sort out what such performances mean going forward.

- Kirk Cousins, QB - WAS: 21-30, 375 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs

Analysis: Kirk Cousins emerged in 2015 as a viable starting QB, and his 2016 performance by and large has carried over from last season. While not posting eye popping stats, Cousins has amassed more than 3,000 passing yards with 17 TDs and 7 INTs through ten games. Washington's offense has a nice array of weapons, with standout tight end Jordan Reed to go along with a stable of quality WRs, and a strong running game led by Rob Kelley. From a fantasy perspective, Cousins’ weekly consistency is improving – he’s tossed 2 TDs or more in six of the last eight games. With the well balanced offense Washington possesses, you should have faith in Cousins to continue to deliver. He sits on the QB1/QB2 border based on matchups, so he’s a viable starter most weeks.

- Thomas Rawls, RB – SEA: 14 carries, 57 yards, 0 TDs

Analysis: Last week we looked at CJ Prosise, and unfortunately he suffered an injured shoulder against the Eagles that will keep him out for several weeks. The good news for the Seahawks is that Thomas Rawls has returned, and he looked quite good. The plan was to ease Rawls back into the mix, but with Prosise now out, this won’t be a luxury the Seahawks can afford. Rawls runs violently, looking for contact as he barrels his way downhill. That’s a trait the Seahawks’ coaches love in their RBs, but the downside is that injuries tend to occur more often. In any event, Rawls will be the lead back going forward and will be no less than an RB2 in any given week. In other words, if you’ve got Rawls, he should find his way into your starting lineup unless you have a treasure trove of top RB options.

- Chris Ivory, RB – JAX: 17 carries, 39 yards 0 TDs

- TJ Yeldon, RB – JAX: 4 carries, 16 yards, 0 TDs                                         

Analysis: The Jaguars were considered a fruit bearing fantasy provider at draft time, with a volume QB, a stud WR, a secondary WR and two relevant RBs. Well, the wheels have fallen off the wagon with this team – both for fantasy purposes and in real life. Today we look at the running back situation – one problem at a time please. With Ivory injured for the first few games, TJ Yeldon had every chance to earn the lead back duties, and he failed miserably. Comparing the two RBs, both Ivory and Yeldon are averaging 3.6 yards per carry, and each has carried the ball into the end zone once. Yuk! The matchup against the Lions passed along one key piece of information – Ivory’s the ball carrier to own between the two. The 17 to 4 carry distribution ratio tells you everything you need to know about how the coaching staff views these two backs. All that said, the Jaguars are a mess, and Ivory profiles as nothing more than an RB3/flex option, while Yeldon may safely be dropped.

- Rishard Matthews, WR – TEN: 9 catches, 122 yards, 0 TDs

Analysis: In prior weeks we sung the praises of Marcus Mariota and his development this season. Well, improved QB play lends itself to more useable fantasy weapons in the receiving game. Rishard Matthews has quietly had a strong season for the Titans, with 45 catches, 605 yards and 6 TDs through eleven games this year. There’s an element of boom or bust with Matthews, as he’s had 40 yards receiving or less in six of his eleven games. But, Matthews has especially come on as of late – he’s either snagged at least 1 TD pass or surpassed the 100 yard barrier in six of his last seven games. Matthews has worked his was into WR3 status. With a juicy matchup against the Bears next week, Matthews makes a great start.   

- Malcolm Mitchell, WR – NE: 4 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: Patriots rookie WR Malcolm Mitchell was a deep sleeper in large dynasty leagues, and we got a glimpse of why this past Sunday against the 49ers. Stepping in for an injured Chris Hogan, Mitchell scored his first NFL TD and narrowly missed the 100 yard mark. Mitchell has good hands and is elusive in the open field, so no surprise that he produced given the opportunity. Mitchell’s value in large part will be tied to how quickly Chris Hogan returns from his back injury, so he’s more of a speculative add at this point in time. So keep an eye on the news relating to Hogan, and keep Mitchell’s name on your radar – especially for future seasons.

Rapid Fire Pickups

Each week we’ll throw out potential free agent pickups from each position, in each case 1) someone who has NOT been referenced above, and 2) a player available in most leagues.

QB: Ryan Tannehill, MIA

RB: Kenneth Dixon, BAL

RB: Paul Perkins, NYG

WR: Tyler Boyd, CIN (he’s the priority Bengals’ WR add with AJ Green out)

WR: Tyreek Hill, KC

TE: C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU

Week 12 Rankings 

Quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady, NE (at NYJ)
2. Drew Brees, NO (vs LA)
3. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (at IND)
4. Russell Wilson, SEA (at TB)
5. Aaron Rodgers, GB (at PHI)
6. Dak Prescott, DAL (vs WAS)
7. Cam Newton, CAR (at OAK)
8. Matt Ryan, ATL (vs ARZ)
9. Marcus Mariota, TEN (at CHI)
10. Eli Manning, NYG (at CLE)
11. Derek Carr, OAK (vs CAR)
12. Kirk Cousins, WAS (at DAL)
13. Tyrod Taylor, BUF (vs JAX)
14. Carson Palmer, ARZ (at ATL)
15. Philip Rivers, SD (at HOU)
16. Matthew Stafford, DET (vs MIN)
17. Colin Kaepernick, SF (at MIA)
18. Andrew Luck, IND (vs PIT)
19. Ryan Tannehill, MIA (vs SF)
20. Blake Bortles, JAX (at BUF)

Running Backs:

1. David Johnson, ARZ (at ATL)
2. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (vs WAS)
3. Le'Veon Bell, PIT (at IND)
4. Jay Ajayi, MIA (vs SF)
5. DeMarco Murray, TEN (at CHI)
6. Melvin Gordon, SD (at HOU)
7. Spencer Ware, KC (at DEN)
8. LeSean McCoy, BUF (vs JAX)
9. Thomas Rawls, SEA (at TB)
10. Lamar Miller, HOU (vs SD)
11. Todd Gurley, LA (at NO)
12. Devonta Freeman, ATL (vs ARZ)
13. Frank Gore, IND (vs PIT)
14. LeGarrette Blount, NE (at NYJ)
15. Matt Forte, NYJ (vs NE)
16. Rashad Jennings, NYG (at CLE)
17. Jordan Howard, CHI (vs TEN)
18. Carlos Hyde, SF (at MIA)
19. Robert Kelley, WAS (at DAL)
20. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (at OAK)
21. Latavius Murray, OAK (vs CAR)
22. Doug Martin, TB (vs SEA)
23. Theo Riddick, DET (vs MIN)
24. Jeremy Hill, CIN (at BAL)
25. Devontae Booker, DEN (vs KC)
26. Mark Ingram, NO (vs LA)
27. Wendell Smallwood, PHI (vs GB)
28. Tim Hightower, NO (vs LA)
29. Chris Ivory, JAX (at BUF)
30. James Starks, GB (at PHI)
31. Tevin Coleman, ATL (vs ARZ)
32. Terrance West, BAL (vs CIN)
33. Isaiah Crowell, CLE (vs NYG)
34. Kenneth Dixon, BAL (vs CIN)
35. James White, NE (at NYJ)
36. Darren Sproles, PHI (vs GB)
37. Mike Gillislee, BUF (vs JAX)
38. Bilal Powell, NYJ (vs NE)
39. Dion Lewis, NE (at NYJ)
40. Jerick McKinnon, MIN (at DET)

Wide Receivers:

1. Odell Beckham Jr., NYG (at CLE)
2. Antonio Brown, PIT (at IND)
3. Julio Jones, ATL (vs ARZ)
4. Amari Cooper, OAK (vs CAR)
5. Dez Bryant, DAL (vs WAS)
6. Jordy Nelson, GB (at PHI)
7. Brandin Cooks, NO (vs LA)
8. Mike Evans, TB (vs SEA)
9. Doug Baldwin, SEA (at TB)
10. Larry Fitzgerald, ARZ (at ATL)
11. Allen Robinson, JAX (at BUF)
12. Michael Crabtree, OAK (vs CAR)
13. Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (at OAK)
14. Julian Edelman, NE (at NYJ)
15. Demaryius Thomas, DEN (vs KC)
16. Terrelle Pryor, CLE (vs NYG)
17. Rishard Matthews, TEN (at CHI)
18. Jordan Matthews, PHI (vs GB)
19. T.Y. Hilton, IND (vs PIT)
20. Brandon Marshall, NYJ (vs NE)
21. DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (vs SD)
22. Steve Smith, BAL (vs CIN)
23. Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (vs KC)
24. Michael Thomas, NO (vs LA)
25. Jarvis Landry, MIA (vs SF)
26. Davante Adams, GB (at PHI)
27. Devante Parker, MIA (vs SF)
28. Sterling Shepard, NYG (at CLE)
29. Tyrell Williams, SD (at HOU)
30. Jamison Crowder, WAS (at DAL)
31. DeSean Jackson, WAS (at DAL)
32. Tyler Boyd, CIN (at BAL)
33. Kenny Britt, LA (at NO)
34. Randall Cobb, GB (at PHI)
35. Willie Snead, NO (vs LA)
36. Donte Moncrief, IND (vs PIT)
37. Mike Wallace, BAL (vs CIN)
38. Golden Tate, DET (vs MIN)
39. Cole Beasley, DAL (vs WAS)
40. Cameron Meredith, CHI (vs TEN) 

Tight End:

1. Greg Olsen, CAR (at OAK)
2. Jordan Reed, WAS (at DAL)
3. Jimmy Graham, SEA (at TB)
4. Delanie Walker, TEN (at CHI)
5. Tyler Eifert, CIN (at BAL)
6. Travis Kelce, KC (at DEN)
7. Antonio Gates, SD (at HOU)
8. Kyle Rudolph, MIN (at DET)
9. Eric Ebron, DET (vs MIN)
10. Zach Ertz, PHI (vs GB)
11. Martellus Bennett, NE (at NYJ)
12. Jason Witten, DAL (vs WAS)
13. C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU (vs SD)
14. Cameron Brate, TB (vs SEA)
15. Gary Barnidge, CLE (vs NYG)
16. Jared Cook, GB (at PHI)
17. Will Tye, NYG (at CLE)
18. Coby Fleener, NO (vs LA)
19. Julius Thomas, JAX (at BUF)
20. Vance McDonald, SF (at MIA)

Defense/Special Teams:

1. New York Giants (at CLE)
2. Buffalo Bills (vs JAX)
3. Seattle Seahawks (at TB)
4. Denver Broncos (vs KC)
5. Miami Dolphins (vs SF)
6. New England Patriots (at NYJ)
7. Baltimore Ravens (vs CIN)
8. Minnesota Vikings (at DET)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (at DEN)
10. Tennessee Titans (at CHI)
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND)
12. Detroit Lions (vs MIN)
13. Arizona Cardinals (at ATL)
14. Philadelphia Eagles (vs GB)
15. Houston Texans (vs SD)