Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Week 11 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Another miserable real-life week for the Packers, another terrific fantasy performance for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers threw for 351 YDS and 3 TD and added an additional 33 yards on the ground in an ugly road loss against the Redskins on Sunday night. Rodgers has been a fantasy gold mine for the past month and with his team getting the piss beaten out of them week after week, there's no reason to believe this run is going to come to an end anytime soon. 
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Dak Prescott (Cowboys)

LVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ben Roethlisberger is arguably the least reliable elite quarterback in the NFL and he proved that unfortunate distinction to be true once again in Week 11. Despite facing the lowly Browns, Roethlisberger was mediocre as hell, finishing the game with 167 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT's and a successful 2-point conversion. Roethlisberger has another road bout against the lowly Colts defense on the docket in Week 12, so another middling-to-bad performance could be in the cards.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford (Lions), Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Cam Newton (Panthers)

Running Back
MVP: Rob Kelley (Redskins)
The people that were savvy enough to pick up Rob Kelley on the waiver wire over the past 2-3 weeks were handsomely rewarded for their gamble. The newly-minted Redskins starting running back crushed the suddenly hole-filled Packers front 7, picking up 137 YDS and 3 TD on 24 carries. Despite his success over the past 2 games, Kelley has a brutal upcoming schedule and will be nothing more than a risky RB2/FLEX play the rest of the way.
Honorable Mentions: David Johnson (Cardinals), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers), Rashad Jennings (Giants)

LVP: Isaiah Crowell (Browns)
The disheartening struggles of Isaiah Crowell continued in Week 11. Crowell couldn't get anything going against a Steelers defense that has allowed 3 100+ yard-rushers in their previous 4 games, finishing the afternoon with an awful 23 yards (10 rushing, 13 receiving) on 13 touches. Crowell has been thoroughly unreliable since mid-October and shouldn't be started unless your completely desperate. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Jeremy Hill (Bengals), Giovani Bernard (Bengals), Spencer Ware (Chiefs)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
After going through some inevitable chemistry growing pains with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, the Dez Bryant that fantasy owners have come to know and love over the past 7 years appears to be back for good. Bryant made a mockery of the Ravens banged-up secondary, reeling in 6-of-8 targets for 80 yards and 2 TD. Bryant will be a low-end WR1 in a Thanksgiving Day tilt with lockdown corner Josh Norman and the Redskins in Week 12.
Honorable Mentions: Jamison Crowder (Redskins), Steve Smith Sr. (Ravens), T.Y. Hilton (Colts)

LVP: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
Odell Beckham Jr.'s roller-coaster 2016 season had one of its lowest points to-date in Week 11. OBJ couldn't take advantage of a stellar matchup against the Bears injury-depleted secondary, who had allowed the most fantasy points to WR's heading into the week, getting held to just 46 yards on 5 receptions. Despite his season-long inconsistency, Beckham Jr. seems primed for a bounceback game in Week 12 against the Browns talent-barren secondary.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Saints), Golden Tate (Lions), Willie Snead (Saints)

Tight End
MVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
Eric Ebron finally rose from tease to breadwinner in Week 11. Ebron caught 3 of the 5 passes thrown his way for 70 yards and scored a rushing TD on a trick play at the goal line that helped the Lions squeak out a win over the Jaguars. Ebron's healthy dose of weekly targets put him on the TE1 radar, but his lack of scores firmly place him into the dreaded low-floor/high-ceiling category.
Honorable Mentions: Zach Miller (Bears), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)

LVP: Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
Martellus Bennett's weak performance in Week 11 is honestly shocking. Put in an excellent position to succeed without Rob Gronkowski in the lineup against a porous 49ers defense, Bennett struggled to get open and managed to get just a single catch for 14 yards on the afternoon. The always erratic Bennett will once again be on the TE1 radar in a decent-enough Week 12 matchup against the Jets with Gronkowski's availability currently up in the air.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Delanie Walker (Titans), Tyler Eifert (Bengals)

Defense
MVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
Apparently all a struggling defense needs to get back on track is to play the Browns. The Steelers defense looked liked a staunch unit, as they picked up 8 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, a TD and allowed just 9 points against the Browns offense. Despite this runaway success, the Steelers defense have proven time and time again this year that they can't be counted on as a full-time starting defense. 
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills

LVP: Dallas Cowboys
In a week were most of the defenses with good matchups delivered, the Cowboys were the clear biggest letdown. The Cowboys couldn't getting anything against turnover-prone quarterback Joe Flacco and the Ravens banged-up offensive line, as they finished the game with 1 sack, 0 takeaways and 17 points allowed. The Cowboys D has cooled off considerably in the past few weeks and won't be a great play this week as they take on a Redskins offense that has only surrendered 4 sacks and 2 turnovers in their last 3 games. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens

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