If you're on the fantasy football playoff bubble, avoiding players who could potentially fall flat on their faces is a must. It's one thing to say it, but actually making the right start 'em, sit 'em moves is another. Before you lock in your starters ahead of another important matchup, our Week 11 fantasy busts list is here to help you avoid starting potential no-shows, such as D'Andre Swift, Kyler Murray, and Kyle Pitts.
Even superstars can struggle (ahem, Derrick Henry), but you won't see those players among our bust picks unless we legitimately advise benching them. We aim to highlight players who are truly on the start-sit bubble, not auto-plays and not players only rostered in super-deep leagues. We know that with injuries and bye weeks causing problems, you might not have enough depth to bench the players on this list. You might also just completely disagree with our choices. Either way, do what you have to do to field your best lineup.
We hit on a bunch of last week's bust picks, including D'Andre Swift, AJ Dillon, Justin Herbert, Noah Fant, Brandin Cooks, Curtis Samuel, Pat Freiermuth, and the Chiefs' D/ST, and we'll look to keep the momentum going.
WEEK 11 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Start 'em, sit 'em
Without further ado, here are our Week 11 bust picks.
Week 11 Fantasy Busts: Running backs
Michael Carter, Jets @ Patriots (Sloan Piva). The Patriots have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points per game (FPPG) to running backs this season, and Bill Belichick always schemes well against the Jets. Carter amassed just 26 yards on seven carries when these squads faced off on Hallow's Eve. Stay away from this spooky play.
James Conner, Cardinals vs. 49ers (Vinnie Iyer). In honor of this game being in Mexico City: La defensa de carrera de los 49ers es desagradable y detendrá a este Cardenal.
D’Andre Swift, Lions @ Giants (Matt Lutovsky). Swift actually saw an increase in playing time last week, but he still played in fewer than one-third of Detroit’s snaps. He has just eight carries and four catches over the past two games, so even though he salvaged his Week 10 with a touchdown, Swift is extremely risky against a Giants’ defense allowing the seventh-fewest FPPG to RBs. Swift’s explosiveness always gives him a high ceiling, but his floor is beyond low at this point.
WEEK 11 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 11 Fantasy Busts: Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, Raiders @ Broncos (Piva). The Raiders are a mess and Carr is dejected, and now the Raiders have to travel to Mile High to face a Broncos D that allows the second-fewest FPPG to QBs. Good luck! Pat Surtain II and company will be up to the challenge of containing Davante Adams, and both tight end Darren Waller and slot-man Hunter Renfrow are hurt. Ditch the Carr.
Kirk Cousins, Vikings vs. Cowboys (Iyer). Minnesota really needs to make this a Dalvin game to win.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals vs. 49ers (Lutovsky). If Murray returns from his hamstring injury this week, he’s far from a sure thing against San Francisco’s aggressive defense. It’s reasonable to expect him to run less given his injury, and his passing numbers have already been lagging this year. Don’t take the risk if you can help it.
WEEK 11 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 11 Fantasy Football Busts: Wide receivers
Jakobi Meyers, Patriots vs. Jets (Piva). Meyers will be "lost in the Sauce" this weekend with rookie Sauce Gardner already looking like one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. The Jets didn't have Gardner exclusively covering Meyers when these teams first met, and Meyers ended up with nine catches for 60 yards and a TD. (Gardner was also upset that PFF credited him with that TD allowed.) Don't expect the Jets to make that mistake again — they will put their best corner on New England's best receiver.
Amari Cooper Browns vs. Bills (Iyer). It’s another tough coverage matchup away from home, so you know what that means for him doing anything.
Garrett Wilson, Jets @ Patriots (Lutovsky). We usually get burned when we pick against Wilson (like in Week 8 against these same Patriots when he had six catches for 115 yards), but we’re willing to bet the Pats learned a thing or two about containing the rookie after that game. Here’s betting Wilson won’t be able to do it twice against a Bill Belichick defense.
WEEK 11 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 11 Fantasy Football Busts: Tight ends
Dawson Knox, Bills vs. Browns (Piva). The Browns rank eighth in fewest standard FPPG allowed to TEs and fourth in PPR points allowed to TEs. Josh Allen has also been prone to red-zone turnovers over the past few weeks, so we wonder if we will see more sneaks or Devin Singletary handoffs near the goal line. Regardless, don't be the one who Knox this weekend.
Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Bears (Iyer). The Bears are much weaker against outside wide receivers than tight ends because of some decent safety play.
Hayden Hurst, Bengals @ Steelers (Lutovsky). Hurst remains a steady target for Joe Burrow, but he hasn’t scored since Week 5 and he’s yet to top 48 yards in a game this season. It’s tempting to think that he’ll be more involved with Ja’Marr Chase (hip) out, but even if he improves on the five targets he saw in Week 9, it’s tough to expect many yards to go with it. Pittsburgh has allowed just two TE touchdowns all season, and we’re not banking on another here.
WEEK 11 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Week 11 Fantasy Busts: Defenses
Arizona Cardinals vs. 49ers (Piva). The Cardinals have been pretty good defensively over the past month, and they held the Rams to 17 points while logging three sacks and two takeaways in Week 10. But the 49ers are a much different animal than the Rams. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle would probably advise you against playing the Cards this week.
Cincinnati Bengals at Steelers (Iyer). You cannot afford to attack Kenny Pickett in the same way, especially when not turning over the ball at home.
Dallas Cowboys @ Vikings (Lutovsky). The Cowboys couldn’t cover Christian Watson or stop Aaron Jones on the ground last week, so what are they going to do with Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook? Kirk Cousins will make a mistake or two, but that won’t be enough for Dallas to have a big fantasy day.
