The light at the end of the bye week tunnel is visible on the 2016 NFL schedule, with Week 11 the last remaining week where four teams are idle. But a lot of fantasy football rosters may be spread especially thin this week, with the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers and New York Jets off. With that in mind, here are your quarterback, tight end and team defense streamers for Week 11.
Quarterback: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers, vs. New England Patriots
Yahoo! Ownership: 13%
Over his four starts, Kaepernick has put up over 1,100 total yards (938 passing, 228 rushing) with five passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He has topped 200 yards through the air just twice in that span, but Kaepernick’s fantasy value is clearly enhanced by his running ability.
Week 11 brings a matchup against the New England Patriots, who have allowed at least 20 fantasy points (ESPN) to an opposing quarterback in three of their last four games. That includes a rushing touchdown allowed to a quarterback in two of those games, and opposing quarterbacks have thrown the ball at least 37 times in seven of nine games against New England this season.
With the expectation of a one-sided result in favor of the Patriots on Sunday, Kaepernick is in line for some garbage time production. If you’re a Matt Ryan or Philip Rivers owner looking for a bye week fill-in this week, Kaepernick needs to be at the top of your list.
Others To Consider: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills, at Cincinnati Bengals; Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, at Dallas Cowboys; Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars, at Detroit Lions
Tight End: Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars, at Detroit Lions
Yahoo! Ownership: 58%
Yardage has been hard to come by for Thomas, with no more than 28 receiving yards in any of his last six games. But he set a season-high for targets (10) and catches (six) in Week 10 against the Houston Texans, along with a touchdown for the third time in the last four games.
The Detroit Lions enter this week allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends (11.8 per game; ESPN standard scoring), including a tied for league-high nine touchdowns allowed to the position. Thomas is next on the list of tight ends Detroit will face, and he’s been able to overcome the ineptitude of quarterback Blake Bortles.
Thomas has been a bit of a forgotten man in fantasy this year, but there is no better week to use him as a streamer than this one.
Others To Consider: Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots, at San Francisco 49ers (check Rob Gronkowski’s status); Ladarius Green, Pittsburgh Steelers, at Cleveland Browns; Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens, at Dallas Cowboys
Team Defense: New York Giants, vs. Chicago Bears
Yahoo! Ownership: 14%
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During the Giants’ four-game winning streak, the defense has stepped up with 10 sacks and seven interceptions. In five home games this season, they have totaled 11 sacks.
Week 11 brings a home game against the Chicago Bears, who will now be without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery as he starts a four-game performance-enhancing drug suspension. The bad version of quarterback Jay Cutler re-surfaced in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a lost fumble as the Bears turned the ball over a total of four times.
The Bears are injury and suspension depleted all over their offense, and Cutler is playing out the string this season. The Giants’ defense is surely ready to pounce on an opportunity at home, and they have big upside as a streaming option this week.
Others To Consider: Detroit Lions, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; Pittsburgh Steelers, at Cleveland Browns; Miami Dolphins, at Los Angeles Rams; Oakland Raiders, vs. Houston Texans (Mexico City, Monday Night)
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