RADIO
Keith Hernandez analyzes NFL players to consider sitting or benching for Week 11. These are his top potential fantasy football lineup busts to avoid starting.
Count 'em down. There are only three weeks left before the playoffs begin in most fantasy leagues. If you survived the dreaded Week 10 with a season-high six teams on bye, it's a true testament to your squad's depth and your savvy on the waiver wire. Pat yourself on the back. Four more teams have Week 11 off (Packers, Titans, Giants and Seahawks), with only four more teams remaining for a weekly breather in Week 12 (Chiefs, Vikings, Cardinals, Chargers). Plan accordingly.
For those fantasy teams still in contention for a postseason berth, it's put-up-or-shut-up time. There's no time to wait around anymore. If you're in need and have an injured player taking up space like A.J. Green (ankle), it's time to cut bait for someone that can actually get you into the playoffs. And for those still struggling with lineup decisions this late in the season, my suggestion is always: Stick with the guys that got you to this point and that you spent the draft capital on before the season, even if they've hurt you recently.
Below are 10 potential busts for Week 11 of the 2019 fantasy football season.
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Potential Quarterback Busts for Week 11
Jameis Winston - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs. Saints
Famous Jameis has the best wide receiver duo in the NFL in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. It's why he's thrown for over 300 yards in six of his nine games, including four straight against Carolina, Tennessee, Seattle and Arizona. But he also leads the NFL with 14 interceptions and 34 sacks taken.
The Saints Defense hasn't been the best at creating turnovers this year, but they've allowed only 816 passing yards and four touchdowns in their last five games. Winston went just 15-for-27 for a season-low 204 passing yards, two touchdowns and two sacks on Oct. 6 on the road in the first matchup with New Orleans this year. The Saints will be determined after their embarrassing Week 10 loss to the Falcons.
Jimmy Garoppolo - San Francisco 49ers Vs. Cardinals
Jimmy G had his best game of the season against these same Cardinals just two weeks ago on Halloween, going 28-for-37 for 317 yards and four touchdowns. The Cardinals give up the second most fantasy points per game (27.6) to the QB position, so it wasn't a surprise. It was the only time he's gone over 300 yards passing on the season, though, and he might be without his top two aerial targets in George Kittle (ankle, knee) and Emmanuel Sanders (ribs). Matt Breida (ankle) will be out, too.
Others: Kirk Cousins (Vs. Broncos), Kyler Murray (@ 49ers)
Potential Running Back Busts for Week 11
Alvin Kamara - New Orleans Saints @ Buccaneers
Negative game script hurt Kamara the most in Week 10, as he rushed just four times for 24 yards in his return from injury. Could he be a bust for a second straight week? How close is he to 100 percent? Kamara's involvement in the passing game always gives him a higher floor, and if the Saints are to put Week 10's disappointment in the rearview mirror, it'll likely come through the air. Tampa has allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points per game (11.6) to running backs in the last five weeks, allowing just one score on the ground over that span.
Ronald Jones II - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs. Saints
Staying with the same game here, the Saints defense has been even stingier to opposing running backs in the last five weeks, allowing only 208 rushing yards and no scores on the ground. Jones has seen double-digit carries each of the last three games and has improved his route tree as a pass-catcher, but a late-game fumble in Week 10 could open the door for Peyton Barber to remain involved in this frustrating backfield. For Jones to continue moving forward, he'll have to catch some passes.
David Montgomery - Chicago Bears @ Rams
The rookie rolled his ankle in practice on Wednesday and could be a game-time decision on Sunday night. The third-round pick has seen his involvement increase dramatically in the last three games, spiking with a season-high 27 carries on Oct. 27 against the Chargers.
The volume has kept him afloat as a low-end RB2, but the efficiency hasn't been there (3.6 yards per carry), and he wasn't even targeted in the passing game in Week 10. If he plays at less than 100 percent this weekend, he'll have a tough time producing against a Rams defensive front that has allowed only 269 rushing yards and one score on the ground in the last five weeks.
Others: Leonard Fournette (@ Colts), Jordan Howard (Vs. Patriots), Phillip Lindsay (@ Vikings)
Potential Wide Receiver Busts for Week 11
Devante Parker - Miami Dolphins Vs. Bills
Even on the rebuilding Dolphins, Parker has actually carved out some fantasy value this year, especially recently with rookie Preston Williams on Injured Reserve. Parker has already tied his career high with four touchdowns and has become Ryan Fitzpatrick's go-to No. 1 receiver. He had five catches for 55 yards and a TD in the first matchup with Buffalo, but the Bills Defense will focus on containing Parker this time around. On the season, Buffalo is allowing only 16.7 fantasy points per game to receivers.
Christian Kirk - Arizona Cardinals @ 49ers
Kirk did have an excellent matchup with the Bucs last week, but he still surprised with six catches, 138 yards and his first three touchdowns of the season. There's only one way to go from there... San Fran held Kirk to just two catches on five targets for a season-low eight yards two weeks ago, and they've been one of the best overall defenses throughout the season. Kirk has also alternated slow weeks with heavily targeted weeks in 2019.
Alshon Jeffery - Philadelphia Eagles Vs. Patriots
Somehow, Jeffery is questionable coming out of the bye week with an ankle injury. He scored the first two games of the season but has done very little since then, not topping 76 yards in a single game this year. Although the Pats haven't really played anyone of note and lost to the one decent team (Ravens) they faced in Week 9, Stephon Gilmore should be able to shut down a hobbled Jeffery if he suits up. New England allows an NFL-best 13.1 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts.
Others: Kenny Golladay (Vs. Cowboys), Stefon Diggs (Vs. Broncos), D.J. Chark (@ Colts)
Potential Tight End Busts for Week 11
Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs @ Chargers (Monday night)
Kelce caught all seven of his targets for 75 yards and a score last week, and he obviously has a much higher ceiling now that Patrick Mahomes has returned from his knee injury. But Kelce has just one 100-yard game this year (back on Sept. 15), and the Chargers have allowed a league-low 3.5 fantasy points to tight ends in the last five weeks. They were able to contain Kelce for only eight catches and 67 scoreless yards in two games in 2018.
Kyle Rudolph - Minnesota Vikings Vs. Broncos
Don't look now, but Rudolph has scored three of his four touchdowns this season in the last two games. That has coincided with Adam Thielen's hamstring injury, and there's a good chance Thielen misses another contest this Sunday against Denver. But Rudolph has just seven catches for 37 yards the last two games, and if he can't find paydirt, he'll disappoint you. Denver has allowed just one receiving touchdown to a tight end all season.
Others: O.J. Howard (Vs. Saints), Noah Fant (@ Vikings)
