Week 11 provides some interesting matchup-talent contrasts in our fantasy QB rankings. On one side, we have Carson Wentz against the ferocious Patriots defense, which just had a bye but was proven to be human by Lamar Jackson. On the other, we have Kyle Allen, who looked decent against Green Bay in the snow, is definitely less talented than Wentz, but also faces a brutal Atlanta pass defense (except the Falcons just held Drew Brees in check). You could make an argument for both of those players as sleepers or busts this week. It's just a matter of perspective.
The same is true with Baker Mayfield (vs. Steelers) versus Ryan Finley (@ Raiders). Mayfield led a solid Browns' outing against the Bills, winning a game many expected Cleveland to lose. Mayfield didn't make any brutal mistakes, although Freddie Kitchens couldn't call a play to score on goal-to-go if his life depended on it. Finley had some rough patches in his NFL debut but also displayed the arm talent we knew he had, and he gets to face Oakland, another terrible pass defense, in Week 11.
WEEK 11 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
In the end, Wentz and Mayfield win out in our rankings, but barely. In a given week, most quarterbacks will accumulate a passing level of fantasy points, no pun intended. We're looking for the two-to-six point difference that can matter in the outcome of our fantasy matchups. Maybe that's an extra touchdown, one fewer interception, or 75 more yards. And in the interests of that, we still have to bet on the much superior talent of Wentz and Mayfield despite the tougher opponents.
WEEK 11 DFS LINEUPS:
Y! cash | Y! GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | FD cash | FD GPP
Most fantasy owners probably have a better option than that duo, though. Our top 15 is overloaded with solid QBs with neutral or better matchups. There's the return of Nick Foles as Jacksonville's quarterback against the Colts. Josh Allen faces Miami. Sam Darnold gets the Redskins, while Jimmy Garoppolo gets the Cardinals. And of course the usual young studs and future Hall-of-Famers figure into that mix, too.
WEEK 11 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Ideally, the decision you have to make this week is not Wentz versus Finley, but Wentz versus Darnold. In that case, you can rely on the better matchup to rule the day because the talent discrepancy might not be as high. But we'd also understand if you decide to go with the player you consider your QB1 -- just realize that there's some definite downside to those tough matchups, a downside that may not exist for the better matchups.
MORE WEEK 11:
Waiver wire | FAAB planner | Trade values | Snap counts | Fantasy playoff SOS
Note: These rankings will be updated throughout the week, so check back for player movement and individual analysis.
MORE WEEK 11 DFS: Values | Stacks | Lineup Builder
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Week 11 Fantasy QB Rankings
These rankings are for standard leagues with 4-point passing TDs.
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Lamar Jackson, BAL vs. HOU |
| 2 | Patrick Mahomes II, KC vs. LAC (in Mexico). We don't expect anything weird to happen, but just keep an eye out for news on the field in Mexico City. If something was especially off, maybe the Chiefs would take a super cautious approach here. Again, we don't expect that, but it's a slightly added wrinkle this week for Mahomes. |
| 3 | Deshaun Watson, HOU @ BAL |
| 4 | Drew Brees, NO @ TB. Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most passing yards in the league this season, and we know how much Brees and Sean Payton love to get this offense moving through the air. |
| 5 | Tom Brady, NE @ PHI |
| 6 | Jameis Winston, TB vs. NO. Jameis is still Jameis, but this game should be a shootout where at least one of Winston's top-notch receivers puts up a big day with him. |
| 7 | Philip Rivers, LAC vs. KC (in Mexico). The Chiefs' defense is just bad. Rivers should have a bounce-back game in what promises to be a high-scoring affair in the thin air at Estadio Azteca. |
| 8 | Dak Prescott, DAL @ DET |
| 9 | Jimmy Garoppolo, SF vs. ARZ. No one allows more fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Cardinals. Couple that with Garoppolo putting in strong performances of late, and you have a Week 11 fantasy starter. |
| 10 | Derek Carr, OAK vs. CIN. The Bengals have allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2019, and Carr is about as consistent as they come of late. With the emergence of Hunter Renfrow and Zay Jones as possible weapons, too, you've gotta like Carr. |
| 11 | Josh Allen, BUF @ MIA. Allen put up pedestrian numbers the first time against Miami, but we'd expect those to rise to a starter-level game in Week 11. |
| 12 | Matt Ryan, ATL @ CAR |
| 13 | Sam Darnold, NYJ @ WAS. Darnold looked great against a bad Giants defense in Week 10, and that should be the narrative of Week 11, as well. |
| 14 | Nick Foles, JAX @ IND. We didn't get even a full-game look at Foles before he was injured in Week 1 (although he threw a perfect ball for a touchdown to DJ Chark on the play he was injured). Back in his starting role, maybe it'd be a lot to expect 300 yards and three scores, but you can probably count on 250 yards and two TDs. |
| 15 | Kirk Cousins, MIN vs. DEN |
| 16 | Jared Goff, LAR vs. CHI. Considering Goff just struggled against Pittsburgh, we don't like him much more against a still-strong (albeit not as strong) Chicago defense. |
| 17 | Jacoby Brissett, IND vs. JAX. Another injury situation worth watching: Brissett would be a fine play if he starts, but Brian Hoyer sets this whole offense back if it's him under center again. |
| 18 | Baker Mayfield, CLE vs. PIT |
| 19 | Carson Wentz, PHI vs. NE. Wentz isn't Lamar Jackson. He's more competent than most of the QBs New England has faced, but the Pats will surely get the better of him at least once or twice. |
| 20 | Kyle Allen, CAR vs. ATL |
| 21 | Ryan Finley, CIN @ OAK |
| 22 | Kyler Murray, ARZ @ SF. San Francisco allows the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in the league. Murray's best bet will be to find space and scramble against an imposing pass rush, but your fantasy team can do better than Kyler this week. |
| 23 | Mitchell Trubisky, CHI @ LAR |
| 24 | Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA vs. BUF |
| 25 | Dwayne Haskins, WAS vs. NYJ |
| 26 | Mason Rudolph, PIT @ CLE |
| 27 | Jeff Driskel, DET vs. DAL |
| 28 | Brandon Allen, DEN @ MIN |