With four teams on bye, there are a few start/sit decisions to make for week 11 at the wide receiver position. The Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are out of lineups this upcoming week, so that leaves some receivers to become startable for fantasy managers. Will we be able to identify the next Marquez Valdez-Scantling from week 10? If not, who are the pass catchers that stand out due to their matchups in week 11?
This is a pivotal stretch of games in the next couple of weeks, as the playoffs will be determined for most leagues by week 15 or 16. Making flex decisions is the key to success for fantasy, as it has been safer to play three running back builds this year compared to past seasons even in PPR.
Wide Receiver Must Starts Week 11
Here are a few of the players that we are leaning on heavily in this game. These players are in a good spot to put together a solid performance and have a favorable matchup.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
According to DeMeco Ryans, Collins should be good to go for Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys coming off a hamstring injury. While they took him off injured reserve last week but didn’t play him against the Detroit Lions for Sunday Night, Ryans said it was just a “game-time decision and not because of an injury complication,” according to the Houston Chronicle. If he practices this week with no reports of any setbacks, he should be a top-five option right away for an offense that needs him with C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Surprisingly, Courtland Sutton for the Denver Broncos has been a wide receiver one or two for fantasy purposes the past few weeks. That should continue against the Atlanta Falcons, who just gave up a huge receiving day for MVS with the New Orleans Saints. Bo Nix has looked to Sutton as his go-to guy for Sean Payton’s offense.
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
The one who has actually benefitted the most fantasy-wise from the DeAndre Hopkins trade, even more than the Kansas City Chiefs, has been Calvin Ridley on the Tennessee Titans. He is finally producing like a top receiver on the field and is paying off even on a struggling team with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. Ridley has been a stable option efficiency-wise for fantasy managers as a starter and should be the focal point even in a tough matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Wide Receiver Must Sits Week 11
On the flip side of things, here are a few of the players we are sitting in this one.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Mac Jones is likely the starter again with Trevor Lawrence potentially out again with a shoulder injury, potentially for the season if the Jaguars keep losing. Jacksonville is in dire straights, as Brian Thomas Jr. had his worst outing against the Minnesota Vikings last week. This week, it’s the Detroit Lions and their elite defense, so the rookie star receiver is likely a bench this week and for the remainder of the fantasy season if Lawrence isn’t back in the lineup.
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are going to Tennessee to take on the Titans’ defense, which is not a great matchup against receivers. Jordan Addison could boom at any time but with Sam Darnold, it’s mostly been bust for the second-year receiver. With T.J. Hockenson also back in action, Addison will see even fewer targets than the tight end or superstar Justin Jefferson. Jalen Nailor and their other tight ends also get run in the red zone as other pass-catching options.
All Chicago Bears Wide Receivers
Although they fired Shane Waldron, it’s a wait-and-see for all the Chicago Bears wide receivers to start in fantasy. With the toughest schedule playing in the NFC North, receivers like D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and Keenan Allen are all barely flex plays till they show it on the field. Since the bye, along with Caleb Williams, the Bears’ offense regressed massively. With Thomas Brown now the offensive coordinator, it will be interesting to see if he can kickstart this meddling offense that has been hampered by its offensive line drastically in Chicago.
Lock for Week 11
George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers
Russell Wilson has been a revelation for George Pickens and the Pittsburgh Steelers passing game, as he has been a fantasy receiver one and should be moving forward. Especially in a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens this week, as they are the 32nd-ranked defense in passing yards given up and just gave up a massive fantasy day last week to Ja’Marr Chase.
Fade for Week 11
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb could get there in PPR with catches, but the touchdown equity and yards are all gone with Cooper Rush or Trey Lance under center. Dak Prescott being done for the year due to injury is the nail in the coffin for this Dallas Cowboys offense that has disappointed in 2024. Lamb goes from a top-ten receiver in fantasy to more of a top 20-30 player that doesn’t show much upside moving forward. While he might be a decent volume floor play, the ceiling is just not there for him in fantasy.
Sleeper for Week 11
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints
It isn’t smart to chase waiver wire points but this year, it has paid off at times like Jauan Jennings and Cedric Tillman, who have been fantasy-relevant for most of the season. MVS is the latest waiver pickup, as he went off on just 3 catches for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns. This could be a trend against the Cleveland Browns this week, as MVS runs the Rasheed Shaheed route tree and his deep speed is perfect for Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints. He will be a boom-bust player due to the lack of volume if the deep targets from Carr to MVS don’t hit home against good defenses.
Conclusion
There are plenty of wide receiver start and sit decisions that can make or break your matchup in week 11 for fantasy football. It will be interesting to see top duos rebound after a disappointing week, like the New York Jets (Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams). We could see the return of D.K. Metcalf this weekend coming off of injury for the Seattle Seahawks. Due to multiple injuries and with how offenses are spreading the ball out, it has been tougher this year compared to past years to find reliable pass catchers that can be reliable from week to week.
