Fantasy Football Start and Bench Advice: Week 11

Below is our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em Advice for week 11 of the 2007 season. Also, make sure you check out our Weekly Projections for Week 11, and if that isn’t enough, swing by our Start / Bench Forum, where Tavaner, Craphonso and Smitty attack all of your questions daily.

Smitty’s Week 11 Studs & Duds

STUD: Frank Gore
RB	(vs. STL)	110/20 yards, 2TDs
Gore has been a major disappointment so far this season, as most fantasy owners drafted the rusher inside the top 6 overall way back in August. Gore once again failed to produce solid fantasy numbers in Week 10, but his poor fantasy outing can be attributed to his lack of touches (13 carries), not his lack of effort (5.5 yards-per-carry). The problem on Monday night was that the 49ers were playing from behind all game long. Well, expect things to be a bit different in Week 11, as the 49ers take on the Rams in San Fran. The Rams have an awful defense, which should finally allow the 49ers to effectively move the football down the field. In a somewhat close game, Gore should have no problem finding running lanes against a rushing defense that gives up 120+ rushing yards per game on the ground.

DUD: Clinton Portis
RB	(@DAL)	68/8 yards
Dallas has the 5th best rushing defense in the entire league, so Portis might have a rough day on Sunday. Don’t sit Portis unless you have a solid alternative, but don’t expect too much from the runner either if you’re forced to start him. Hopefully he can punch in a lucky score, but the odds are against that happening, as the Cowboys have only surrendered 5 rushing TDs in 9 games this year.

STUD: Jesse Chatman
RB	(@PHI)	110/40 yards, 1TD
I really like Jesse Chatmanâ€¦ more importantly, I really like the way Jesse Chatman fits into that Miami offense. Ronnie Brownâ€™s back-up is almost a lock for 100 total rushing/receiving yards on a weekly basis, and I wouldnâ€™t be shocked at all if he has 5-6TDs in the final 6 fantasy weeks. Start him if you got him, he is without question a solid RB2 looking forward.
DUD: Panthers RBs
RB	(@GB)	75/10 yards
The Panthers rushing attack will face-off against a tough Packers defense in Week 11. The Packers are ranked 7th in the league against the rush and have given up just 3 rushing TDs all season long. DeShaun Foster re-aggravated his turf toe injury in Week 10, so there is a good shot that DeAngelo Williams will get the start — Well, don’t get too excited, because the runner may get shutdown.

STUD: Rex Grossman
QB	(@SEA)	300 yards, 3TDs, 1 INT
If there is one thing that we’ve learned about Rex Grossman in his young career, it’s that he is very solid when the pressure isn’t on him. Well, assuming Griese’s shoulder doesn’t magically heal over night, Grossman will start Week 11. Even if Griese was healthy enough to play this week, word on the wire is that Grossman would get the nod anyway. Expect the kid to respond against the Seahawks 24th ranked passing attack.

DUD: Lee Evans
BUF	(vs. NE)	4 rec, 50 yards
Buffalo goes up against the Patriots in Week 11 and the Patriots are one tough defense. They give up just 184.7 yards per game through the air, and while J.P. Losman is efficient enough to feed Lee Evans the football on a regular basis, odds are that Losman and Evans will have some connection problems on Sunday.

STUD: Chester Taylor
RB	(vs. OAK)	125/20 yards, 1TD
Oakland gives up 144.2 rushing yards per game on the ground, so Chester Taylor is going to have a big day on Sunday. Start him if you have him — This match-up screams fantasy points! It’s painful imagining what A.P. could do with this match-up, but climb down from the bridge and try not to think about it.

Be sure to check out all of our Weekly Projections!

Ask The Experts: Who Do I Start?

Brandon Jacobs (@ DET) or Jesse Chatman (@PHI) ?

Jacobs, as we projected, has been on and off the field all season long… but when healthy, he is a beast. Over the past three games, Jacobs is averaging 111 rushing yards per game. He only has 2TDs on the year, but he is a quality RB2/3 when on the field, no doubt.. That said, I love Jesse Chatman, as stated above. I believe Chatman is going to be all over the field on Sunday and should be good for at least 100-120 total yards and a score. Both are solid starts, and both face tough rushing match-ups, but Chatman is a factor in both the passing attack and rushing attack. Start Jesse Chatman.

Chatman is playing well and I expect that to continue, but I like Jacobs this weekend. This Giants/Lions game is going to be a very good game and I think the Giants will be trying to control the clock in the second half. Start Brandon Jacobs, but it’s close.

Chester Taylor (vs. OAK) or Ryan Grant (vs. CAR) ?

Grant looked good in Week 10, and he has a favorable match-up in Week 11 against the Panthers, but Chester faces off against the 29th ranked rushing attack (OAK) and the Vikes can obviously run the football effectively – Chester is going to have a solid day. Grant is a solid flex looking forward and is a solid start on Sunday, but if forced to pick between these two, I say start Chester Taylor.

It seems like once a RB cements himself into the starting role in GB, he gets hurt. Grant looks promising and is a good start, but I like the way Minny is running the football. They won’t be quite as effective without AP in the backfield, but they will be solid enough. Start Chester Taylor.

Steve Smith (@GB) or Greg Jennings (vs. CAR) ?

Tough call, and the defensive match-ups are very similar (19th/14th). Steve Smith is doing NOTHING right now, but I stand by my statement last week. I refuse to bench Steve Smith. Just like Lee Evans, Smith will come around and bust out of his long-lasting slump. David Carr should be back this week, which is decent news. I know some will call this being stubborn, but I refuse to be on the other end of Steve Smith’s bounce-back game. Greg Jennings is a fantastic WR3 looking forward, with the upside for more, but in this situation I would start Steve Smith.

Ouch. I know this is going to come back to bite me, but I’m going with Jennings. Favre and the Packers are running a nice looking attack these days and Jennings should see a ton more looks. Steve Smith will bounce-back, but when? Start Greg Jennings.

Marc Bulger (@SF) or Carson Palmer (@AZ) ?

	Bulger faces the 49ers (15th against the pass) and Palmer faces the Cards (10th). This is a tough one, but I’m going with Bulger. Palmer is capable of that 4TD-game at any moment, but I just see that STL/SF game as a shootout, whereas the CIN/AZ game may be a low-scoring, yet close, game. Start Marc Bulger.
	Bulger looks healthy and ready to air it out. However, this is a tough call. I find it hard to ever bench Palmer, but Chad still may need a week to get back into a rhythm. Given that the Rams have a slightly better match-up, and Bulger looks back to form, start Marc Bulger. It is close, though.

Jesse Chatman (@PHI) or Clinton Portis (@DAL) ?

Jesse Chatman is the smart play here. First of all, they both have very, very tough match-ups. Portis faces Dallas (5th against the rush) and Chatman faces the PHI (11th against the rush), but Chatman can do some damage through the air as well as via the ground. As I’ve said above several times already in this Week 11 Start and Bench Advice, Chatman should be good for 100-120 total yards and a score. Start Jesse Chatman, Portis might be a Week 11 bust.

Dallas will likely shutdown Portis. Don’t sit him unless you have a great RB to plug into the spot, but this would be the week to consider other RBs given the match-up. Chatman has semi-tough match-up as well this week in the Eagles, but he should find plenty of yards and probably a TD in Week 11. Start Jesse Chatman.

Need Advice before kickoff? Swing by our FFX Start / Bench Forum and post your “tough calls” there!

Chiefs @ Colts

Sunday at 1PM EST

Player	Match-Up	Week 11 Projections
QB Peyton Manning	vs. KC	255 yards, 3TDs, 1 INT
RB Joseph Addai		90/40 yards, 1TD
RB Kenton Keith		30/0 yards
WR Reggie Wayne		8 rec, 110 yards, 2TDs
WR Marvin Harrison		0/0
WR Aaron Moorehead		4 rec, 40 yards
TE Dallas Clark		4 rec, 45 yards, 1TD

Player	Match-Up	Week 11 Projections
QB Brodie Croyle	@IND	225 1TD, 2 INTs
RB Larry Johnson		0/0
RB Priest Holmes		45/5 yards
WR Kolby Smith		25/5 yards
WR Dwayne Bowe		6 rec, 80 yards, 1TD
WR Eddie Kennison		0/0
TE Tony Gonzalez		5 rec, 65 yards