The Yahoo team makes its most reliable predictions for week 11.
Russell Wilson offers advantage in the top five
Just four weeks ago, during the first quarter of Wilson’s first start of the season, many of us were begging Pittsburgh to pull the plug and reinstate Justin Fields at QB.
As always, the NFL remains the wildest and least predictable league. Russ is currently undefeated and is coming off a signature win in which he threw three TD passes. He has now scored seven combined touchdowns in his three games, and he just played the friendliest number of matchups on his schedule. The Steelers have a series of divisional games scheduled, starting this week against a Baltimore defense that ranks last against the pass, allowing 294.6 yards per game. Wilson is about to give us another multi-touchdown performance, likely finishing in the top 10 at his position (and possibly top five). It should also be another good week for George Pickens’ managers. — Andy Behrens
Rookie Bo Nix keeps it going
Nix has been the QB7 in fantasy points per game since Week 4, averaging nearly as many fantasy points (20.4) as Josh Allen (20.7) over that six-game span. After attempting seven passes inside the 10-yard line in his first seven games, Nix has 11 in his last three. Nix ranks fourth among all quarterbacks in carries inside the five and expected fantasy points this season, trailing only Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy and Lamar Jackson.
The Broncos get a Falcons defense that allows the 10th fewest fantasy points to go to running backs, but the seventh fewest to quarterbacks. Denver has a big advantage up front (LT Garrett Bolles hasn’t given up any pressure in the last four weeks) against an Atlanta front that just became the first defense in the Super Bowl era to fail to record 10 sacks in the first 10. games. Nix finishes this week as a top five QB. — Dalton Del Don
Cedric Tillman gets the perfect match
In the two games leading up to Cleveland’s bye week, Cedric Tillman was one of the most used players at his position in the league. Tillman collected 19 targets, 268 air yards (fifth among receivers) and a pair of end zone targets. You can’t ask for much more. Tillman is a wide receiver who can win at X with some yardage, contested catching skills and a subtle ability to gain yards after the catch. His tape is as legit as the production.
After the bye, Tillman and the Browns will play a Saints defense that has waned over the course of the season. In the past month alone, they have allowed the seventh-most yards per target as a pass defense amid both coverage and tackling issues. This isn’t a holdout game for any of these Browns passing players, including Tillman Chief. — Matt Harmon
Khalil Shakir…a perfect week 11 sleeper
I realize that Khalil Shakir is a seam call-up for fantasy managers most weeks. This is a good place to call him. He hit Kansas City for seven catches and a touchdown in the playoffs last year, and Josh Allen has specifically targeted Shakir in recent weeks, with 28 connections for 280 yards in the past four games. Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid are both out, and we’re not sure about Amari Cooper. Get Shakir in those lineups. — Scott Pianowski
Jauan Jennings is making the most of his new role
In his first active game since Brandon Aiyuk’s injury, Jennings had a huge role increase with 11 goals, catching seven for 93 yards. He’s transitioning into a new role, specifically taking on Aiyuk’s workload, and this new 49ers offense should continue for the rest of the season.
Jennings has an extremely high ceiling, the trust of both Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy and a dream matchup against the Seattle Seahawks this week. The Seahawks have lit up the sky all season long with every receiving corps they have faced. Expect Jennings to take advantage of the matchup and be a strong WR2 with WR1 advantage. — Tera Roberts
Ladd McConkey bounces back
McConkey is having his worst fantasy day in more than a month. The Chargers’ second-round rookie produced just 52 yards on two catches against the Titans in Week 10. This was a tough game for McConkey as the Titans entered the week allowing the fewest receiving yards per game.
Despite this poor performance, McConkey still leads the Chargers with a 23% target share this season. He has benefited from the Chargers throwing more since their bye week. Justin Herbert has averaged 262 yards per game over the past five weeks and leads the NFL with an average of 9.3 yards per attempt during that span. Herbert and McConkey will have a great matchup against the Bengals this week. Cincinnati is giving up the seventh-most EPA per passing game this season. Expect McConkey to rebound this week and earn his fourth Top 20 finish of the year. — Sal Vetri
