Email Not Displaying? Click Here
Sunday, November 21, 2021
Week 11 is shaping up to be a pretty weird one. How weird? Well, I think you can make a case that running back has more reliable options available than wide receiver. Yeah, that kind of weird.
That's because we have the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Amari Cooper, Antonio Brown, Allen Robinson, and Sterling Shepard all out, along with the Broncos and Rams on a bye. Some of those situations have ready-made replacements in-house -- Rashod Bateman WR2 SZN activated -- but most of them are pretty cloudy. That's how you get to a point where I feel better about starting RB27 (Zack Moss) ahead of WR24 (Hunter Renfrow). That usually doesn't happen.
You're going to have a lot of questions about your lineups this week, I know. Adam Aizer and Heath Cummings updated you on the latest news and answered some start/sit questions on this morning's FFT podcast, and Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath are on CBS Sports HQ from 10 a.m. ET to kickoff of the 1 p.m. games to answer your questions and keep you updated on all of the news you need to know on the FFT live show. 
Make sure you check both out, but if you want more direct answers to your questions and other news updates, I have two more ways for you to win: Go to Twitter and use the hashtag "#AskFFT", where our whole team will be answering questions all morning; and go to the FFT YouTube channel to chat with Adam and I from 11:30 until kickoff . We'll be there right up until kickoff answering as many questions as we can, so make sure you're in the chat early to get your questions in. 
Here's the rest of our preview content to get you ready, and check out my updated position rankings at the bottom of the newsletter to help with any early lineup dilemmas you may have: 
Quarterbacks
  • Out: Jared Goff (oblique), Zach Wilson (knee)
  • Expected to play: Ben Roethlisberger (COVID-19), 
  • Questionable: Kyler Murray (ankle) Lamar Jackson (illness), Taysom Hill (foot), Colt McCoy (pectoral)
Murray and Jackson are both legitimately questionable for Sunday. According to Sunday morning reports, Murray's chances of playing are looking somewhat slim, pointing to a third straight absence. With the Cardinals on a bye in Week 12, getting an extra week of rest makes sense. Jackson was added back to the injury report Saturday after missing multiple days of practice with a non-COVID illness, and there is a real chance he won't be cleared to play. I'm still starting Jackson if he's active, while Tyler Huntley would be just a 2QB-league candidate. 
Running backs
  • Out: Alvin Kamara (knee), Aaron Jones (knee), Elijah Mitchell (finger), JaMycal Hasty (ankle), Jermar Jefferson (ankle), Jeremy McNichols (concussion)
Jones' absence has been expected all week, and it puts AJ Dillon in position to have a big role against the Vikings. I'm expecting at least 15 carries and three targets, and that's the floor for Dillon, who is a top-10 RB for me. I expect similar production from Mark Ingram in Kamara's absence, as well; he had 14 carries and seven targets in Week 10 with Kamara out, racking up 20.8 PPR points. He's a top-15 RB. 
Mitchell's absence makes Jeff Wilson one of the better plug-and-play options for this week against the Jaguars. He'll likely see 15-plus carries, and though Jacksonville has been surprisingly stingy against the run this season, he's an RB2 for this week. 
And, with McNichols out, D'Onta Foreman is in the RB2 discussion. He'll likely split work with Adrian Peterson, but I think Foreman is the better play of the two -- he's more likely to take on some of McNichols' passing game role. 
  • Legitimately questionable: Saquon Barkley (ankle), Jamaal Williams (thigh), Latavius Murray (ankle), Justin Jackson (quad), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee)
Barkley is the most important name here, and unfortunately he doesn't play until Monday night, so he's the hardest to make a call on. Barkley has huge upside if he plays, obviously, but if you have to choose between him and someone playing Sunday, your best bet is to go with the sure thing. And that's probably true even if you have Devontae Booker, who is in some question himself with a hip injury of his own. You might be able to just roll with both Barkley and Booker, but there's a risk that neither plays and you're stuck. It's not an ideal situation. 
Edwards-Helaire is also questionable for Sunday's game after being activated from IR. You would think since they elevated him to the active roster when they didn't have to, that would probably mean Edwards-Helaire is going to play, but there's no guarantee of that -- and he'll likely have a limited role if he does play. I would try to avoid him and hope he's ready to make a big impact in Week 13 after the bye. Darrel Williams is tough to trust as a fringe RB2 with Edwards-Helaire's status up in the air. 
Likely in: James Robinson (knee/heel), Miles Sanders (knee), Nick Chubb (COVID-19)
Chubb was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday and is expected to start Sunday. He should be a great option against the Lions, and backup D'Ernest Johnson is also a decent play, though he'll likely need a touchdown for you to feel good about starting him. Robinson is expected to play something like his normal role despite the knee scare, and he's a high-end RB2. 
Sanders is more of an RB3 in his expected return. The Eagles are much more run-heavy than they were when Sanders last played, but we just don't know how much he'll play or what kind of role Jordan Howard or Boston Scott might have with Sanders back. Plus, the matchup against the Saints is a really tough one. 
Wide receivers
  • Out: DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring), Marquise Brown (thigh), Amari Cooper (COVID-19), Antonio Brown (ankle), Allen Robinson (hamstring), Sterling Shepard (quad), Allen Lazard (shoulder), Anthony Schwartz (concussion)
  • Legitimately questionable: Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin), Curtis Samuel (groin), Devin Duvernay (knee), 
  • Expected to play: Chase Claypool (toe)
Well, I guess the good news is, we really don't have any question marks that really matter this week. With Marquise Brown out, I expect Rashod Bateman to have a solid game against the Ravens, and he's in the WR2 discussion for me. He's been really solid through his first four games (18 catches, 241 yards), and he's got the potential to have a real breakout here. 
Michael Gallup is also in the WR3 discussion with Cooper sidelined for Sunday's game as well as Thursday's Thanksgiving day matchup in Week 12. Darnell Mooney could be in line for a heavy target share against the Ravens and is also in that WR3 discussion. 
The most interesting questions are probably with Claypool and the Giants WRs. Claypool has shown flashes this season, including a pretty healthy role when JuJu Smith-Schuster went down, but he hasn't been consistently productive. There's been weekly upside there, but he's more of a boom-or-bust WR3. And that's probably the same range I would put Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay with Shepard out. It's a great matchup against the Buccaneers, but we just haven't seen enough consistent production from either to be too confident in them. There are a lot of WR3s with upside this week. 
Tight ends
  • Out: Ricky Seals-Jones (hip), Logan Thomas (hamstring), Geoff Swaim (concussion)
  • Expected to play: Rob Gronkowski (back)
Hopefully Gronkowski is fully healthy for Monday's game, because it is a great matchup. He practiced in full Thursday and Friday but was unable to go Saturday, so it's hard to know what to expect here. I would try to avoid the situation if I can, but we know how much upside Gronkowski has as one of Tom Brady's top red zone targets, so if you can get Evan Engram as an insurance policy in case Gronkowski is ruled out Monday, I don't mind that approach. 
Updated rankings
Here are my latest rankings as of Sunday morning: 
  1. Patrick Mahomes vs. DAL
  2. Tom Brady vs. NYG
  3. Josh Allen vs. IND
  4. Dak Prescott @KC
  5. Lamar Jackson @CHI
  6. Jalen Hurts vs. NO
  7. Justin Herbert vs. PIT
  8. Aaron Rodgers @MIN
  9. Joe Burrow @LV
  10. Russell Wilson vs. ARI
  11. Tua Tagovailoa @NYJ
  12. Ryan Tannehill vs. HOU
  13. Derek Carr vs. CIN
  14. Cam Newton vs. WAS
  15. Kirk Cousins vs. GB
  16. Daniel Jones @TB
  17. Justin Fields vs. BAL
  18. Jimmy Garoppolo @JAX
  19. Tyrod Taylor @TEN
  20. Baker Mayfield vs. DET
  21. Taylor Heinicke @CAR
  22. Trevor Lawrence vs. SF
  23. Carson Wentz @BUF
  24. Trevor Siemian @PHI
  1. Christian McCaffrey vs. WAS
  2. Najee Harris @LAC
  3. Austin Ekeler vs. PIT
  4. Dalvin Cook vs. GB
  5. D'Andre Swift @CLE
  6. Leonard Fournette vs. NYG
  7. Jonathan Taylor @BUF
  8. Ezekiel Elliott @KC
  9. AJ Dillon @MIN
  10. Joe Mixon @LV
  11. David Montgomery vs. BAL
  12. James Conner @SEA
  13. James Robinson vs. SF
  14. Nick Chubb vs. DET
  15. Mark Ingram @PHI
  16. Michael Carter vs. MIA
  17. Jeff Wilson @JAX
  18. Myles Gaskin @NYJ
  19. Josh Jacobs vs. CIN
  20. Antonio Gibson @CAR
  21. Miles Sanders vs. NO
  22. D'Onta Foreman vs. HOU
  23. Alex Collins vs. ARI
  24. Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. DAL
  25. Saquon Barkley @TB
  26. Darrel Williams vs. DAL
  27. Zack Moss vs. IND
  28. Kenyan Drake vs. CIN
  29. Ty Johnson vs. MIA
  30. Devonta Freeman @CHI
  31. Tony Pollard @KC
  32. Devin Singletary vs. IND
  33. D'Ernest Johnson vs. DET
  34. Devontae Booker @TB
  35. David Johnson @TEN
  36. Nyheim Hines @BUF
  37. J.D. McKissic @CAR
  38. Jamaal Williams @CLE
  39. Patrick Taylor @MIN
  40. Adrian Peterson vs. HOU
  41. Latavius Murray @CHI
  42. Alexander Mattison vs. GB
  43. Brandon Bolden @ATL
  44. Deejay Dallas vs. ARI
  45. Boston Scott vs. NO
  46. Trey Sermon @JAX
  47. Giovani Bernard vs. NYG
  48. Jordan Howard vs. NO
  1. Tyreek Hill vs. DAL
  2. Davante Adams @MIN
  3. CeeDee Lamb @KC
  4. Stefon Diggs vs. IND
  5. Justin Jefferson vs. GB
  6. Keenan Allen vs. PIT
  7. Deebo Samuel @JAX
  8. Chris Godwin vs. NYG
  9. Ja'Marr Chase @LV
  10. D.K. Metcalf vs. ARI
  11. Mike Evans vs. NYG
  12. A.J. Brown vs. HOU
  13. D.J. Moore vs. WAS
  14. Terry McLaurin @CAR
  15. Brandin Cooks @TEN
  16. Diontae Johnson @LAC
  17. Rashod Bateman @CHI
  18. Tyler Lockett vs. ARI
  19. Jaylen Waddle @NYJ
  20. Tee Higgins @LV
  21. Adam Thielen vs. GB
  22. Michael Pittman @BUF
  23. DeVonta Smith vs. NO
  24. Hunter Renfrow vs. CIN
  25. Darnell Mooney vs. BAL
  26. Corey Davis vs. MIA
  27. Jarvis Landry vs. DET
  28. Cole Beasley vs. IND
  29. Marvin Jones vs. SF
  30. Mike Williams vs. PIT
  31. Sammy Watkins @CHI
  32. A.J. Green @SEA
  33. Christian Kirk @SEA
  34. Kenny Golladay @TB
  35. Michael Gallup @KC
  36. Jamal Agnew vs. SF
  37. Jamison Crowder vs. MIA
  38. Kadarius Toney @TB
  39. Chase Claypool @LAC
  40. Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. SF
  41. Mecole Hardman vs. DAL
  42. Emmanuel Sanders vs. IND
  43. Tyler Boyd @LV
  44. Brandon Aiyuk @JAX
  45. Marquez Callaway @PHI
  46. Elijah Moore vs. MIA
  47. Marcus Johnson vs. HOU
  48. Rondale Moore @SEA
  1. Travis Kelce vs. DAL
  2. Darren Waller vs. CIN
  3. Mark Andrews @CHI
  4. George Kittle @JAX
  5. Mike Gesicki @NYJ
  6. Dalton Schultz @KC
  7. T.J. Hockenson @CLE
  8. Dan Arnold vs. SF
  9. Rob Gronkowski vs. NYG
  10. Pat Freiermuth @LAC
  11. Tyler Conklin vs. GB
  12. Dawson Knox vs. IND
  13. Jared Cook vs. PIT
  14. Cole Kmet vs. BAL
  15. Zach Ertz @SEA
  16. Austin Hooper vs. DET
  17. O.J. Howard vs. NYG
  18. Adam Trautman @PHI
  19. Evan Engram @TB
  20. David Njoku vs. DET
  21. C.J. Uzomah @LV
  22. Gerald Everett vs. ARI
  23. Anthony Firkser vs. HOU
 
 
The 2021/22 UEFA Season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and thrilling in recent times! Watch Europe's Top clubs battle on the road to glory exclusively on Paramount+.
Watch Live
 
Just Women’s Sports is here to bring you everything you need to see and know in the world of women’s sports. From in-depth news and analysis, to podcasts and more, Just Women’s Sports is 100% women’s sports, 100% of the time. Check it out online & on social
Visit Now
FOLLOW FFT
You are receiving this email because you're opted in to receive Fantasy Football Today from CBSSports.com.
To ensure delivery of emails from CBSSports.com, please add contact@email.cbssports.com to your address book.
Not a Fantasy Football Today newsletter subscriber? Sign up here.
© 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. | 1401 West Cypress Creek Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309