| | | | Tuesday, November 16, 2021 | | The start of the Odell Beckham era in Los Angeles did not go quite as hoped. Beckham played a limited role, and his lack of experience with Matthew Stafford showed on an early interception where the two clearly weren't on the same page. Things never quite got better for them, as the 49ers dominated the whole way, winning 31-10. And, with the exception of Cooper Kupp, nobody from the Rams offense had a game to remember. | | The bye week comes at a good time for the Rams, who need to figure out how to move forward without Robert Woods and how best to integrate Beckham. They're joined on the bye in Week 11 with the Broncos, though those are the only two teams on bye this week, which hopefully means most of you won't have too many absences to deal with. | | Well, too many absences due to byes, at least. We're likely already without Aaron Jones (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) for Week 11, and CeeDee Lamb (arm), Dallas Goedert (concussion), and Baker Mayfield (knee) were all added to the lengthy list of injuries we'll have to watch this week. We'll hopefully get more details on those injuries -- and, as always, we'll probably learn about more injuries -- Tuesday, but that's what we're watching this week. | | Keeping track of injuries is a big part of Fantasy every season, but it does feel like it's been more of an issue this season than usual. Which means you need to pay close attention to the news this week. So, make sure you tune in to Fantasy Football Today on CBS Sports HQ at noon ET, and for help locking in your waiver-wire claims join Heath Cummings and Adam Aizer on the FFT YouTube stream tonight at 8 p.m. , where we'll be taking your questions live for an hour. If you've got any questions before then, as always, you can email me at Chris.Towers@ViacomCBS.com with the subject line "#AskFFT" to be included this week -- including in tomorrow's trade mailbag. | | And here's what we've got on tap in today's newsletter: | | ➕Top Week 11 Waiver Wire Targets📈Week 11 Rankings📉 | | | | ➕Top Week 11 Waiver Wire Targets | | | | Hopefully, this week's waiver options will be able to make an impact, and there are a few who certainly have the opportunity. You can find Jamey's entire breakdown here. We're gonna need the help: | | Jamey Eisenberg's top targets | | Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE (51%) -- If you're looking for upside at running back, Stevenson is the obvious choice. He's the only Patriots running back they've trusted as both a pass catcher and rusher this season, and we saw the upside of that role in Week 10 as he finished as RB2 in PPR leagues. Damien Harris is likely to return as the lead back for the Patriots, but this is a famously un-sentimental team, so it wouldn't be shocking to see them simply turn to Stevenson as the lead back if they feel he gives them the best chance to win. That potential is worth chasing. D'Onta Foreman, RB, TEN (8%) -- But if you need someone to start in Week 11, Foreman is probably the best pick. He's looking better than Adrian Peterson so far and gets to face the Texans this week, so I think he could potentially be a top-30 RB this week. If you need someone to fill in, Foreman can do so in a pinch. Darnell Mooney, WR, CHI (53%) -- Did you know Mooney has the 17th-highest target share in the league at 26%? That's No. 1 WR usage. Obviously, in a low-volume passing game, there's only so much Mooney can do with those targets, but Mooney certainly deserves to be more rostered than this. Dan Arnold, TE, JAX (50%) -- Arnold hasn't had a huge breakout game, so I suppose it makes sense why his roster rate remains so low, but that's mostly just because he hasn't found the end zone yet. In his past five games, he has at least 10 PPR points in four of five, including 60 or more yards in those four as well. Given his role in the Tampa offense, Arnold looks like he's pretty close to being a must-start TE. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA (51%) -- Tagovailoa was thrown into a tough situation in Week 10, relieving Jacoby Brissett despite dealing with a broken finger on his throwing hand against the Ravens . He played well enough to assuage some concerns about his health, and now he gets a much softer landing against the Jets in his return to the starting lineup. Tagovailoa was playing well before the injury, and he's a worthwhile streamer (at least) for Week 11. | | | | A few other options ... | | The top long-term QB flier: Cam Newton, QB, CAR (20%) -- Newton is expected to start for the Panthers in Week 11 against Washington, and I'm pretty excited about that. When I went through the process of projecting Week 11, he came out much higher than I ultimately ranked him. I'm not ready to declare Newton is back as a top-10 QB, but I think this might be the best set of pass-catchers he's ever played with, in an offense that has already created six rushing touchdowns for quarterbacks. The potential here should be obvious. A deeper-league RB: Wayne Gallman, ATL (3%) -- Gallman led the Falcons in carries in Week 10, but it's fair to wonder how much of that was just because they were getting blown out so badly by halftime, as much of his work came in the second quarter. However, with Cordarrelle Patterson dealing with an ankle sprain that seems like it could cost him at least this week, Gallman is worth adding -- it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he led the team in carries Thursday against the Patriots. An upside WR target: Rashod Bateman , BAL (64%) -- In the first four games of his career, Bateman has at least six targets in each, with 80 yards in two of four. He hasn't had a huge breakout game yet, but he's carved out an immediate role and been productive, which bodes very well moving forward. I don't buy the idea some have mentioned that he is going to overtake Marquise Brown as the lead target in the offense -- in the same stretch where Bateman has 28 targets, Brown has 44 -- but Bateman looks pretty good in his own right, and could break out in the second half of the season. The highest-upside TE: Logan Thomas , WAS (52%) -- Hopefully Thomas can get back in Week 11 after practicing a bit last week and being designated to return. He doesn't have to be activated until next week, but you rarely see teams take the full 21 days in these situations, so I expect we'll see Thomas this week. He's a top-12 TE for me if he plays. | | 📈Week 11 Rankings📉 | | | | Here's where things stand for me in my first run through of the Week 11 rankings for PPR leagues. You can find Jamey, Dave, and Heath's rankings right here: | | | | Quarterbacks | | There's something interesting happening with QB play around the NFL in recent weeks. As friend of FFT (and former co-worker) Ben Gretch pointed out Monday, league-wide average depth of target has fallen from 8.2 yards per pass attempt during the first six weeks of the season down to 7.5 over the past four. That may not sound like much, but when you're talking about nearly 4,000 pass attempts over the past four weeks, that's a pretty sizable shift. | | What does that mean for Fantasy? It's hard to say right now. We've seen guys like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes struggle to complete the deep ball recently, with Mahomes adjusting to post the lowest intended air yards per target of his career in Week 10, choosing to lean on the short pass when that's what the defense is giving him. It led to one of his best games of the season in Week 10, but we also continued to see fewer explosive plays from the Chiefs. | | This is something to watch for over the rest of the season because it's possible that the shift toward ever more pass-heavy approaches might lead defenses to grow more comfortable giving up the short stuff (or getting hurt by the run) rather than allowing big plays. In theory, that should benefit rushing quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, who can hurt defenses when they are dropping seven back in coverage with his legs or by extending plays and finding holes in the defense. Jackson would be my No. 1 QB for Week 11 regardless of this fact, but it's an interesting shift that could have an impact on how we value quarterbacks, so it's something I'll be watching closely moving forward. | | Lamar Jackson @CHIPatrick Mahomes vs. DALJosh Allen vs. INDTom Brady vs. NYGDak Prescott @KCJalen Hurts vs. NOJustin Herbert vs. PITAaron Rodgers @MIN Joe Burrow @LVRussell Wilson vs. ARITua Tagovailoa @NYJRyan Tannehill vs. HOUDerek Carr vs. CINCam Newton vs. WASKirk Cousins vs. GBDaniel Jones @TBJustin Fields vs. BALMac Jones @ATLJimmy Garoppolo @JAXTyrod Taylor @TENMike White vs. MIABaker Mayfield vs. DETMatt Ryan vs. NETaylor Heinicke @CAR | | Running backs | | Week 11 could see the return of several starters from injuries, which could create a lot of additional questions at a position that generally doesn't need more of them. The biggest name coming back is Saquon Barkley, and I think his return should be pretty straightforward -- he'll play 70% of the snaps if not more and should have both a goal-line and passing game role, and he's back in my top-10 even in a tough matchup against the Buccaneers. | | Clyde Edwards-Helaire is also expected back from his knee injury, and he presents a tougher question. The Chiefs haven't committed to him as an every-down back in quite the same way as Barkley, and Darrel Williams played fine in his absence, especially as a pass catcher. Edwards-Helaire is a much better runner than Williams and should have a healthy role waiting for him there, but the Chiefs have shown they are willing to take CEH off the field in passing downs and near the goal line for Williams. If that remains the case, Edwards-Helaire's upside is going to be capped. He's RB20 for me in his expected return against Dallas, but I'm not particularly confident in it. | | It's also possible we'll see Miles Sanders return from IR this week, and his return could come in a dramatically different offense than the one he left. Through Week 7, when Sanders suffered the injury, he was the only Eagles running back with more than 10 carries in a game, something that happened just three times in the first seven games. In three games since, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, and Jordan Howard have had double-digit carries in a game a combined seven times in three games. If Sanders returns to be the lead back of a suddenly run-first offense, he could be a second-half breakout. It would be quite a turnaround. | | Christian McCaffrey vs. WASJonathan Taylor @BUFD'Andre Swift @CLENajee Harris @LACAustin Ekeler vs. PITDalvin Cook vs. GBEzekiel Elliott @KC Leonard Fournette vs. NYGJoe Mixon @LVSaquon Barkley @TBAJ Dillon @MINNick Chubb vs. DETJames Conner @SEAJames Robinson vs. SFDavid Montgomery vs. BAL Mark Ingram @PHIMichael Carter vs. MIAAntonio Gibson @CARJosh Jacobs vs. CINClyde Edwards-Helaire vs. DALElijah Mitchell @JAXMyles Gaskin @NYJAlex Collins vs. ARIZack Moss vs. IND Damien Harris @ATLBoston Scott vs. NORhamondre Stevenson @ATLD'Onta Foreman vs. HOUDevonta Freeman @CHIDarrel Williams vs. DALMike Davis vs. NETy Johnson vs. MIAKenyan Drake vs. CIN Tony Pollard @KCDevin Singletary vs. INDD'Ernest Johnson vs. DETJordan Howard vs. NOAdrian Peterson vs. HOUNyheim Hines @BUFWayne Gallman vs. NEJeremy McNichols vs. HOU J.D. McKissic @CARJamaal Williams @CLEJeff Wilson @JAXAlexander Mattison vs. GBDavid Johnson @TENPatrick Taylor @MINKenneth Gainwell vs. NO | | Wide receivers | | Week 10 was a get-right week for some of the elite tier at wide receiver, as Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb, and Keenan Allen, among others, put up big games in the midst of somewhat concerning trends. One guy who didn't really take part was Davante Adams, who finished as WR15 with seven catches for 78 yards -- a fine game, but yet another disappointing performance from the presumed WR1 entering the season. | | Adams is WR4 on the season, so it's hard to say he's been too disappointing, but he hasn't been the dominant player we expected -- he has as many games with 13 or fewer PPR points (four) as he does with 15-plus. But he's still WR2 for me this week, and I still think he's probably the best Fantasy WR the rest of the way -- it's either him or Cooper Kupp, and both have their bye weeks left. Adams still leads the league in target share, and the absence of Aaron Jones for the next week or two may only increase that. | | I don't know how much of a discount you can get for Adams, but if anyone is selling him for anything close to a discount, I'm buying. His current 3.06% touchdown rate is his lowest since 2015 -- he was at 12.1% in 2020. He's basically been every bit as good as last season with the exception of the touchdowns. | | Tyreek Hill vs. DALDavante Adams @MINKeenan Allen vs. PITStefon Diggs vs. INDJustin Jefferson vs. GBDeebo Samuel @JAXCeeDee Lamb @KCJa'Marr Chase @LV Chris Godwin vs. NYGMike Evans vs. NYGD.K. Metcalf vs. ARIMarquise Brown @CHITerry McLaurin @CARA.J. Brown vs. HOUD.J. Moore vs. WASBrandin Cooks @TENAmari Cooper @KCDiontae Johnson @LACJaylen Waddle @NYJTyler Lockett vs. ARIMichael Pittman @BUFTee Higgins @LVAdam Thielen vs. GBDeVonta Smith vs. NOHunter Renfrow vs. CIN Sterling Shepard @TBJakobi Meyers @ATLJarvis Landry vs. DETCole Beasley vs. INDMarvin Jones vs. SFCorey Davis vs. MIAMike Williams vs. PITDarnell Mooney vs. BAL Jamal Agnew vs. SFRashod Bateman @CHILaviska Shenault Jr. vs. SFA.J. Green @SEAJamison Crowder vs. MIAChristian Kirk @SEAMecole Hardman vs. DALKenny Golladay @TB Allen Robinson vs. BALEmmanuel Sanders vs. INDTyler Boyd @LVKadarius Toney @TBBrandon Aiyuk @JAXElijah Moore vs. MIARussell Gage vs. NE | | Tight ends | | Before Week 10, I said those famous last words a Fantasy analyst can utter: "Maybe tight end isn't so bad anymore." So, of course, only 12 players reached double figures in scoring even in PPR formats, a pretty typical number, with fringe types like Gerald Everett, Austin Hooper, and Albert Okwuegbunam making the number look better without actually helping many Fantasy players. | | But I stand by what I said! I've only got 10 tight ends projected for double-digits in Fantasy points this week, so I'm not over the moon about the position, but I would be fine starting Pat Freiermuth, Tyler Conklin, Dawson Knox, Jared Cook, or Hunter Henry if I needed to, which means the position runs 14 deep with guys I think you can trust. That's better than we're used to, and that's with Tyler Higbee and Noah Fant on bye and Dallas Goedert dealing with a concussion. | | Tight end isn't so bad right now! | | Travis Kelce vs. DALDarren Waller vs. CINGeorge Kittle @JAXMark Andrews @CHIKyle Pitts vs. NEMike Gesicki @NYJT.J. Hockenson @CLE Dan Arnold vs. SFLogan Thomas @CARDalton Schultz @KCPat Freiermuth @LACHunter Henry @ATLTyler Conklin vs. GBDawson Knox vs. INDJared Cook vs. PITCole Kmet vs. BALZach Ertz @SEAAustin Hooper vs. DETO.J. Howard vs. NYGAdam Trautman @PHIEvan Engram @TBCameron Brate vs. NYGDavid Njoku vs. DETC.J. Uzomah @LV | | Top-150 Flex Rankings | | Christian McCaffrey vs. WASJonathan Taylor @BUFD'Andre Swift @CLETyreek Hill vs. DALDavante Adams @MINNajee Harris @LACAustin Ekeler vs. PITTravis Kelce vs. DALDalvin Cook vs. GB Ezekiel Elliott @KCKeenan Allen vs. PITLeonard Fournette vs. NYGStefon Diggs vs. INDJoe Mixon @LVJustin Jefferson vs. GBSaquon Barkley @TBDeebo Samuel @JAXCeeDee Lamb @KCDarren Waller vs. CIN Ja'Marr Chase @LVGeorge Kittle @JAXAJ Dillon @MINNick Chubb vs. DETChris Godwin vs. NYGMike Evans vs. NYGJames Conner @SEAD.K. Metcalf vs. ARIMarquise Brown @CHITerry McLaurin @CAR A.J. Brown vs. HOUD.J. Moore vs. WASJames Robinson vs. SFDavid Montgomery vs. BALBrandin Cooks @TENJosh Jacobs vs. CINAmari Cooper @KCDiontae Johnson @LACJaylen Waddle @NYJTyler Lockett vs. ARI Mark Ingram @PHIMichael Carter vs. MIAAntonio Gibson @CARMark Andrews @CHIMichael Pittman @BUFTee Higgins @LVClyde Edwards-Helaire vs. DALKyle Pitts vs. NEAdam Thielen vs. GBElijah Mitchell @JAX DeVonta Smith vs. NOHunter Renfrow vs. CINMyles Gaskin @NYJMike Gesicki @NYJSterling Shepard @TBJakobi Meyers @ATLJarvis Landry vs. DETAlex Collins vs. ARIT.J. Hockenson @CLECole Beasley vs. IND Zack Moss vs. INDMarvin Jones vs. SFCorey Davis vs. MIAMike Williams vs. PITDarnell Mooney vs. BALJamal Agnew vs. SFRashod Bateman @CHIDan Arnold vs. SFLaviska Shenault Jr. vs. SFDamien Harris @ATL Boston Scott vs. NOA.J. Green @SEARhamondre Stevenson @ATLD'Onta Foreman vs. HOUDevonta Freeman @CHIDarrel Williams vs. DALJamison Crowder vs. MIAChristian Kirk @SEAMecole Hardman vs. DALKenny Golladay @TB Allen Robinson vs. BALEmmanuel Sanders vs. INDTyler Boyd @LVMike Davis vs. NEKadarius Toney @TBBrandon Aiyuk @JAXTy Johnson vs. MIAKenyan Drake vs. CINLogan Thomas @CARElijah Moore vs. MIA Tony Pollard @KCDalton Schultz @KCDevin Singletary vs. INDRussell Gage vs. NED'Ernest Johnson vs. DETMarquez Callaway @PHIMarcus Johnson vs. HOUPat Freiermuth @LACJordan Howard vs. NO Adrian Peterson vs. HOUTyler Conklin vs. GBAmon-Ra St. Brown @CLENyheim Hines @BUFRondale Moore @SEADawson Knox vs. INDJared Cook vs. PITWayne Gallman vs. NEJeremy McNichols vs. HOU Cole Kmet vs. BALT.Y. Hilton @BUFJ.D. McKissic @CARHunter Henry @ATLZach Ertz @SEANelson Agholor @ATLJamaal Williams @CLEAustin Hooper vs. DETJeff Wilson @JAXO.J. Howard vs. NYG Alexander Mattison vs. GBBryan Edwards vs. CINMichael Gallup @KCZach Pascal @BUFKendrick Bourne @ATLDonovan Peoples-Jones vs. DETAllen Lazard @MINNico Collins @TEN David Johnson @TENAdam Trautman @PHIRandall Cobb @MINPatrick Taylor @MINDeonte Harris @PHIKenneth Gainwell vs. NOEvan Engram @TBCameron Brate vs. NYGBrandon Bolden @ATL David Njoku vs. DETK.J. Osborn vs. GBRobby Anderson vs. WASDeejay Dallas vs. ARIMarquez Valdes-Scantling @MINSammy Watkins @CHIDanny Amendola @TENDemarcus Robinson vs. DAL Giovani Bernard vs. NYGTajae Sharpe vs. NEC.J. Uzomah @LVSamaje Perine @LVOlamide Zaccheaus vs. NEPreston Williams @NYJDyami Brown @CARLe'Veon Bell @CHI | | | | | | | | Europe's Best on P+ | | CONCACAF WCQ on Paramount+ | The 2021/22 UEFA Season promises to be one of the most exciting and thrilling in recent times! Watch Europe's Elite on the road to glory exclusively on Paramount+.
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| | Concacaf WCQ continues Tuesday! The USMNT Travel to Kingston to take on the Reggae Boyz as they look for another road victory against Jamaica at 5 PM ET, and Octagonal leaders Mexico visit Canada at 9 PM ET!
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