Start or sit: Week 11

The following teams are on bye; the Colts, Saints, Steelers and Texans. That means you lose the services of QBs Drew Bees and Big Ben Roethlisberger; RBs Darren Sproles, Rashard Mendenhall, Arian Foster and Ben Tate; WRs Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne, Marques Colston, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown; and TEs Jimmy Graham, Heath Miller and Owen Daniels. Plan accordingly, as you will have some studs out this week.

START

QB Matt Ryan (vs. Titans)
Ryan finally appears to be playing up to draft expectations, with a two-game average of 313 yards and 2.5 TDs with one interception. It's only two games but it's a great start. In Weeks 1-7 he was averaging 240.4 yards and 1.3 TDs with 1.1 interceptions. He's facing the Titans, who are allowing 243.8 yards and 1.3 TDs per game over the past four weeks to opposing QBs. Look for his upswing to continue and start him.

RB James Starks (vs. Bucs)
As I stated in this week's Fantasy Ticker, sometimes bye weeks force you to find a "body" for a one-week play and I mentioned Ryan Grant and John Kuhn but Starks has been a matchup play all season as well. He's on a three-game surge with an average of 16 utilizations for 82.7 offensive yards but zero TDs. The Bucs are allowing opposing backs 260.3 offensive yards and 2.7 total TDs per game over their past three games, making Starks a high-end flex-play or low-end No. 2 in larger leagues. Either way it's a matchup with upside. If you can, start him.

RB Michael Turner (vs. Titans)
Turner no longer is an elite back but he's having a solid season regardless. He has a four-game average of 23.8 rush attempts for 107 yards and 0.8 TDs per game, including 4.5 yards per carry. He's playing well and, with the Titans allowing opposing backs 117 rushing yards and 0.8 TDs per game the past four weeks, he's a must-start.

WR Denarius Moore, Raiders (at Vikings) 
Moore had an outstanding training camp but was silent as a fantasy producer until recently. He has a two-game average of 4.5 catches for 92 yards and one TD on 9.5 targets. He has the speed and agility to be a playmaker on any given play and with the Vikings allowing 198.3 yards and 1.7 TDs per game to opposing WRs over the past three games, he's a must-start.

WR Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (at Patriots)
It's not like QB Matt Cassel (hand) was playing at an elite level before his injury and Bowe has worked with below-average quarterbacks in the past and still had great fantasy production. You can't bench him because he has an untested QB in Tyler Palko starting when the Patriots are allowing 199.3 yards and one TD per game to opposing WRs in their last three games. Bowe is a middle-of-the-road No. 2 fantasy wide receiver this week.

WR Victor Cruz, Giants (at Eagles)
Cruz mystifies me because he's so dominant at times I find it hard to believe he's not a starter. That simply shows how deep and talented the Giants' wideouts are. Cruz caught 6-84-0 on 11 targets last week and deserves weekly consideration with a three-game average of 6.3 catches for 91.3 yards and 0.3 TDs on 10.3 targets. Combine that with the fact that the Eagles are allowing 186 yards and 1.7 TDs per game to opposing WRs the past three games and it's a great matchup. Start him.

TE Brent Celek, Eagles (vs. Giants)
Celek is seeing quality time as a receiver and has a three-game average of six catches for 69 yards and 0.3 TDs on 8.3 targets. WR Jeremy Maclin (shoulder, hamstring) has yet to practice this week and Riley Cooper might see extra time. However, there's no doubt, with Celek's play, he'll see a few of those lost targets as well. The Giants are allowing 75.3 yards and 0.7 TDs to opposing TEs per game over the past three games. That's in line with Celek's average, making him a must-start.

SIT

QB Philip Rivers (at Bears)   
Rivers went from a hot start when the season began to a big dip. However, he has picked it up the past few weeks despite the team losing with a three-game average of 342.7 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. I've stated previously that it's time to move him and I still believe that. This week, he's in Chicago where the weather and raucous crowd make it tough on opposing teams. The weather hasn't been a factor so far, but the Bears are allowing opposing QBs 268.7 yards, one TD and three interceptions per game in their last three. Sit him.

RB Mike Tolbert, Chargers (at Bears)
Tolbert has played second fiddle to Ryan Mathews or they've hurt each other's production by the time-share. He has only one game the past four weeks with more than 100 offensive yards and the Bears are only allowing 88 offensive yards and 0.7 total TDs per game to opposing backs the past four weeks. If you can, sit him.

RB Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (at Lions)
The problem with Stewart is his limited touches. By sharing time with DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers are a different offense and they're not utilizing Stewart's skills very well. His strength is his pass-receiving ability. However, despite giving up chunks of rushing yardage, the Lions prevent backs from doing damage through the air. The Lions are in the top 10 in least fantasy points allowed against opposing backs the past four weeks. Keep Stewart on your bench.

WR Jason Avant, Eagles (at Giants)
In an expanded role last week, Jason Avant caught 1-2-0 on one target and has a two-week average of 1.5 catches for 11 yards and zero TDs on two targets. Steve Smith was the beneficiary of DeSean Jackson's deactivation and if his knee doesn't affect him, he's the better receiver — with 5-47-0 on 10 targets last week. TE Brent Celek's involvement the past few weeks hurts Avant as well. Even though Jeremy Maclin (shoulder, hamstring) isn't likely to play, the Giants are allowing only 137.7 yards and 0.3 TDs to opposing WRs per game over the past three games. Bench Avant.

WR Greg Little, Browns (vs. Jaguars)
Even though Little had his best game of the season, catching 6-84-0 on six targets, there's no guarantee he'll see that again, as this offense is too inconsistent and anemic. They're also facing the Jaguars, who are allowing only 93.3 yards and 0.3 TDs to opposing WRs per game over the past three games. If you can, sit him.

WR Austin Pettis, Rams (vs. Seahawks)
Many fantasy owners expect Pettis to be a point-per-reception machine like Greg Salas briefly was before going down to injury. Pettis has a two-game average of 4.5 targets for 3.5 catches, 37 yards and no TDs. He eventually might get it done but with the Seahawks allowing only 93.5 yards and 0.8 TDs per game to opposing WRs over the last four weeks, sit him.

TE Scott Chandler, Bills (at Dolphins)
A true boom-or-bust player. He's either going to get you a TD or nothing. He has been cold the past two weeks, with a two-game average of three catches for 29 yards and zero TDs. The inconsistency of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the fact that the Dolphins are allowing only 35.5 yards and 0.3 TDs per game to opposing tight ends over the last four weeks puts him on your bench.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/11/18/start-or-sit-week-11-3

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