The first game of the NFL week on Thursday night is always tricky for fantasy football mangers who want to make sure they get off to a good start — either by starting the right players or avoiding certain players.
Week 11 brings an AFC East battle between the Commanders and Eagles in Philadelphia (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video). Here's a start 'em and sit 'em breakdown of the matchup, including some DFS recommendations for both DraftKings and FanDuel.
WEEK 11 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers
Start 'Em: Commanders vs. Eagles regular plays
Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, WR Terry McLaurin
Daniels has slipped to QB8 on average for the season thanks to off games in Weeks 7 and 10. The Eagles have been tough on QBs all-around but have faced a lot of shaky passers. Daniels should compile well in a high-scoring game with at least two combined scores.
McLaurin is WR14 in his best fantasy season, but that also includes microscopic games in Weeks 1 and 2. He's on fire since and has a rich history of burning the Eagles and will do so again on their outside corners, which also makes one feel good about Daniels rebounding.
Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts, RB Saquon Barkley, WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith
Only Lamar Jackson has been a better fantasy QB than Hurts this season, and since the Week 5 bye, he is rolling with big plays and scores in Kellen Moore's offense.
Barkley and Brown have been the most consistent high-producing factors, RB3 and WR5 on average. Smith has turned in a few recent clunkers, but he and Brown can smash a corner group, still without Marshon Lattimore, outside-in.
WEEK 11 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE
Stock Watch | Trade Advice | Start 'Em, Sit 'Em | Sleepers | Busts | Usage | Weather | Flex Finder
Start 'Em: Commanders vs. Eagles likely play
Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler
Ekeler has turned back the clock to his rockin' best Chargers days the past two weeks minus Brian Robinson Jr. Washington can't ignore his efficiency and versatility, and he looks rejuvenated. Ekeler can cause problems with his quickness, and the Eagles have been giving to pass-catching backs. The Commanders getting into a negative game script is more likely than them playing with a sizable lead in the second half.
Thursday Night Football sleepers
Eagles defense/special teams
Much like Hurts in Moore's offense, the youngsters in Vic Fangio's defense have been sharp, making a ton of plays since the Week 5 bye, pushing the Eagles from a fantasy afterthought to the No. 9 scoring fantasy unit. The Commanders don't turn over the ball much but can be had for a few sacks.
Commanders K Zane Gonzalez
Gonzalez is replacing fantasy's top kicker, Austin Seibert (hip), for a second consecutive game. He came through on his field goals vs. the Steelers and should see multiple trey chances again.
WEEK 11 DFS EXPERT ANALYSIS
Values and Sleepers | Best Stacks
Sit 'Em: Thursday Night Football busts
Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson is set to return from his hamstring injury, but there's a question on how big of an early-down role he can have based on Ekeler's hot play and the game script. The Eagles have become very stingy vs. the power run of late.
Eagles TE Dallas Goedert
Except for allowing TDs, the Commanders have been tough on tight ends in terms of catches and yardage. Given Goedert, with the exception of last week, isn't a big scorer, you can find better playable value elsewhere.
DraftKings mock Showdown lineup for Thursday night
- Captain: (1.5x): DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles ($12,900)
- FLEX: Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles ($11,000)
- FLEX: Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders ($9,000)
- FLEX: Austin Ekeler, RB, Commanders ($8,000)
- FLEX: Zane Gonzalez, K, Commanders ($4,400)
- FLEX: Jahan Dotson, WR, Eagles ($4,800)
FanDuel mock single-game lineup for Thursday night
- MVP: (1.5x): Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles ($15,000)
- FLEX: Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders ($14,500)
- FLEX: A.J. Brown, WR, Eagles ($13,000)
- FLEX: Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders ($12,500)
- FLEX: Zane Gonzlez, K, Commanders ($5,000)
For DK, Smith was helpful to make room for Hurts, McLaurin, and Ekeler in the lineup with limited savings on Gonzalez and a revenge-game dart throw for Dotson. For FD, playing Gonzalez set up being able to play both QBs and stacking each with his top wide receiver in good matchups.
