Weekend Wonderings: Week 11 (2024)

By Winsto (11/16/2024)

  1. I am seriously trying to figure out how, in an offense with Aaron Rodgers (QB), Davante Adams (WR), and Garrett Wilson (WR), Breece Hall (RB) is having his worst season in terms of yards per carry (4.1).  He had more success with Zach Wilson (QB) under center!  How?  How does this make sense? Hall finished last season strongly, as he touched the ball 18 or more times in 5 of his last 6 games in 2023.  In his last 4 games this season, he has reached 18 touches once. Here is the reality: Breece Hall is a very talented player.  However, shockingly, the New York Jets do not seem to use him as well as they should.  Braelon Allen (RB) has seen enough carries to be a thorn in Hall’s side.  What is a bit more disconcerting is the propensity for the Jets coaches to try Allen in short-yardage situations.  The reality is this offense is not efficient enough to produce a fantasy RB1 if the lead running back is not getting the vast majority of the touches.  Add all of these factors up, and the results suggest that Hall is a RB2 that can be difficult to trust in terms of fantasy.  That is how I see it for the foreseeable future.  Of course, Hall’s remaining schedule is very favorable to the running back position, but I need to see better usage by the coaches before I start trusting Hall in fantasy again. 
  2. Regarding the results of TNF’s Commanders-Eagles match-up, my biggest takeaway is the shocking argument that Saquon Barkley (RB) is good—198 total yards and 2 TDs.  One other takeaway is even though Jayden Daniels (QB) had a meh fantasy games (191 passing yards and 1 TD), he is still a low end QB1 for remainder of the season. 
  3. If you are looking for a sneaky play at TE this week, may I suggest one Dawson Knox (TE-Buffalo)? With Dalton Kincaid (TE) ruled out and Buffalo’s opponent being a Kansas City defense that has been generous to the TE position, Knox is low-end TE1 for Week 11. 
  4. Staying with the Kansas City – Buffalo game, expect Kareem Hunt (RB-Kansas City) to receive many touches.  He is a top 15 RB for the week.  As for James Cook (RB-Buffalo), despite the tough KC rush defense, Cook should still see RB2 production, particularly in PPR leagues.  I think he will find more success through the air than through the ground.
  5. I am often intrigued by teams coming out of Bye weeks and whether or not there are any changes.  Green Bay, coming out of the Bye week, is a team I am paying attention to, particularly to the wide receivers.  Currently, Jayden Reed (WR) is the top fantasy wide receiver on this offense, and he averages 4 receptions (with 5.2 targets) per game. For perspective, Jalen Tolbert (WR-Dallas) sees 5.3 targets per game.  Those stats are difficult to trust in fantasy football.  For Week 11, I will be looking to see if there are any changes to this passing game, particularly a bump in targets to Reed.  Otherwise, Reed has the look of a WR3, just like his teammate, Romeo Doubs (WR-Green Bay). Also, for those of us holding out hope regarding Christian Watson (WR-Green Bay) becoming a thing in fantasy this season, Week 11 is probably the last gasp. 
  6. I wonder how many have noticed that Cedric Tillman (WR-Cleveland) is averaging 10.7 targets per game since the Amari Cooper (WR-Buffalo) trade.  That would qualify as 3rd behind Malik Nabors (WR-NYG) and Cooper Kupp (WR-LAR) in targets per game.  This is the type of stat that supports the idea that Tillman could finish out the season as a top 10 WR for fantasy. 
  7. Sadly, Michael Pittman (WR-Indianapolis) has been virtually unplayable in fantasy when Anthony Richardson (QB-Indianapolis) has started.  He topped over 40 yards once in the 5 games Richardson started (and finished), with 0 TDs.  In fact, I would be hard pressed to play Josh Downs (WR-Indianapolis) and/or Alec Pierce (WR-Indianapolis) despite the potential for a long TD reception. 
  8. Speaking of wide receivers to avoid, Cooper Rush (QB-Dallas) and Mac Jones (QB-Jacksonville) are both set to start in Week 11.  You really want to consider finding alternative pass catching options if you are thinking about starting one of their pass catchers. 
  9. Sometimes we should pay attention to who is playing the following Thursday night, as teams will occasionally restrict carries for RBs to avoid them being overworked.  This may prove to be a factor for Najee Harris (RB-Pittsburgh) and Nick Chubb (RB-Cleveland), as those teams square off 4 days after tomorrow. 
  10. And finally…, I wonder why a person’s pupils are the last part of the body to stop working when someone dies.  I guess they just dilate.