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Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 11

Brian Blanco / Getty Images Sport / Getty

SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 11 rankings.

Start

Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars

at Browns

Bortles begins a favorable stretch of games with a matchup against the Browns. As an error-prone figurehead of a run-first offense, his ceiling isn't that high, but his fantasy floor should be the benchmark managers base their starting decisions on.

Fearless prediction: 269 yards passing, 2 TDs

Other QBs to start

  • Joe Flacco at Packers
  • Jay Cutler vs. Buccaneers

Alex Collins, RB, Ravens

at Packers

No team has allowed more rushing plays of 20-plus yards than the Packers this season, and Collins has racked up four such plays on only 93 attempts. He still hasn't found the end zone, but he may not need goal-line usage to do so against the Packers.

Fearless prediction: 72 yards rushing, 12 yards receiving, TD

Other RBs to start

  • Ameer Abdullah at Bears
  • Marshawn Lynch vs. Patriots
  • C.J. Anderson vs. Bengals

DeSean Jackson, WR, Buccaneers

at Dolphins

Jackson had one of his best games of the season in Week 10, with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and without No. 1 receiver Mike Evans, who returns for Week 11. Jackson could use his added reps with Fitzpatrick to outgain Evans against a Dolphins defense allowing 4.5 targets and 48.8 yards to No. 2 receivers, according to Football Outsiders.

Fearless prediction: 76 yards receiving, TD

Other WRs to start

  • Larry Fitzgerald at Texans
  • Nelson Agholor at Cowboys
  • Marqise Lee at Browns

Tyler Kroft, TE, Bengals

at Broncos

Starting tight ends against the Broncos has provided fantasy managers with a very favorable floor. In a year without much consistent tight end production, Kroft has been serviceable as the de facto No. 2 option in the Bengals' passing attack.

Fearless prediction: 66 yards receiving, TD

Other TEs to start

  • Austin Hooper at Seahawks
  • Marcedes Lewis at Browns

Sit

Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions

at Bears

Only five teams are allowing fewer fantasy points per game to quarterbacks than the Bears, as opposing teams are having an easy enough time beating them on the ground. Stafford has thrown five touchdowns and just one interception over his past two games, but he could give his arm a rest this week.

Other QBs to sit

  • Dak Prescott vs. Eagles
  • Jared Goff at Vikings

Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals

at Broncos

Mixon has scored touchdowns in consecutive weeks, but he racked up just 68 rushing yards on 21 carries along the way. The Broncos are allowing just 0.4 rushing TDs per game, limiting any upside in the inefficient rookie.

Other RBs to sit

  • Isaiah Crowell vs. Jaguars
  • Orleans Darkwa vs. Chiefs
  • Tevin Coleman at Seahawks

Sammy Watkins, WR, Rams

at Vikings

Watkins has reached the end zone in consecutive weeks, but he received a total of just five targets in two games against the Giants and Texans. He'll face a much tougher defense in Week 11, keeping him relegated to the third option in the Rams' passing attack.

Other WRs to sit

  • Marvin Jones at Bears
  • Randall Cobb vs. Ravens

Charles Clay, TE, Bills

at Chargers

Clay missed Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury, but he returned Thursday and should be ready to go Sunday. Even if he is, he'll be catching passes from rookie Nathan Peterman against an improving Chargers defense allowing fewer fantasy points to tight ends than all teams except the Packers.

Other TEs to sit

  • Vernon Davis at Saints
  • Kyle Rudolph vs. Rams

Stash

Aaron Jones, RB, Packers

Jones has been dropped en masse after being given a three-to-six-week timeline to recover from an MCL injury. Should he return for the fantasy playoffs, it would coincide with the potential return of Aaron Rodgers for the fantasy championship. He's the ideal target where available in keeper leagues as a top back next season.

Danny Woodhead, RB, Ravens

Woodhead is still available in more than half of all leagues, and he should be grabbed even if his return is pushed back to Week 12. The Ravens continue to linger around the AFC playoff mix, and they'll need the player they expected to be their lead back this season.

Quit

Duke Johnson, RB, Browns

Johnson's usage in the running game has ticked up over the last few weeks, but he's about to lose a good portion of his work as a pass-catcher with wide receivers Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon returning in the next couple weeks. Isaiah Crowell has been outperforming Johnson on the ground, leaving him in control of carries.

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Bills

Nathan Peterman has the start for Week 11 in a move the Bills claim is about winning now. Taylor's days in Buffalo are done. Either Peterman will help them win and reach the postseason, or a couple losses will knock them out of contention, allowing them to take a longer look at a potential quarterback of the future.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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