Week 11 Positional Rankings

Joe Burrow

Michael Zingone Posted On November 18, 2021

We’re just a few weeks away from the fantasy football playoffs. In dynasty fantasy football, every team is playing for something at any given time. Whether it’s for a critical bye week, a spot in the playoffs, or a tiebreaker for 1.01, there’s always a reason to set your optimal lineup. This time of year, in particular, be sure to check out all of the other great articles here at DLF. From early rookie analysis to last-minute trade-deadline trades, there is so much to do in dynasty fantasy football besides set lineups. Perhaps nothing, though, is more impactful to your season goals than the latter.

If you’ve followed this series for each of the last two years, you’ll be familiar with the overall structure. We’ll list the top 32 QBs, 60 RBs, 60 WRs, and 30 TEs each and every week along with some detailed analysis on a few standout plays. This year, I’ve collaborated with Peter Howard to give you some additional data and rankings. In each section, you’ll mine my (@FFzinger) rankings along with Peter’s, presented in order of our average ranking. Any QB or TE not ranked in each of our top 30 was given a ranking of 35, and the same is true with RBs/WRs given 65. You’ll also find a Tier associated with each player, which is defined mathematically based on the gaps from one player to the next to define a relative “Tier” within our rankings. Finally, you’ll find a write-up from both Peter and me highlighting a particularly good play for the upcoming week in our rankings.

To generate this list each and every week, Peter and I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics. Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players who perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision.

Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s positional rankings!

Quarterback

Pos	Player	Matchup	@FFZinger	@PaHowdy	Average	Tier
QB	Lamar Jackson	@CHI	1	1	1	1
QB	Patrick Mahomes	DAL	2	2	2	1
QB	Josh Allen	IND	3	4	3.5	2
QB	Dak Prescott	@KC	4	3	3.5	2
QB	Jalen Hurts	NO	5	7	6	3
QB	Tom Brady	NYG	6	6	6	3
QB	Joe Burrow	@LV	11	5	8	4
QB	Justin Herbert	PIT	9	8	8.5	4
QB	Kyler Murray	@SEA	8	10	9	4
QB	Ryan Tannehill	HOU	10	11	10.5	4
QB	Russell Wilson	ARI	12	9	10.5	4
QB	Aaron Rodgers	@MIN	7	18	12.5	5
QB	Derek Carr	CIN	13	13	13	5
QB	Mac Jones	@ATL	14	16	15	6
QB	Kirk Cousins	GB	16	14	15	6
QB	Jimmy Garoppolo	@JAC	19	12	15.5	6
QB	Tua Tagovailoa	@NYJ	15	17	16	6
QB	Cam Newton	WAS	17	15	16	6
QB	Justin Fields	BAL	18	20	19	7
QB	Baker Mayfield	DET	23	19	21	8
QB	Carson Wentz	@BUF	21	24	22.5	8
QB	Tyrod Taylor	@TEN	20	26	23	8
QB	Taylor Heinicke	@CAR	25	21	23	8
QB	Matt Ryan	NE	22	27	24.5	8
QB	Trevor Lawrence	SF	24	25	24.5	8
QB	Daniel Jones	@TB	26	23	24.5	8
QB	Trevor Siemian	@PHI	28	22	25	8
QB	Jared Goff	@CLE	27	30	28.5	9
QB	Mason Rudolph	@LAC	29	29	29	9
QB	Joe Flacco	MIA	30	28	29	9

FFzinger Highlight Player: Mac Jones, QB NE

While I wouldn’t be thrilled to start Jones on a weekly basis as a top-12 option, he’s proven that he can contribute to fantasy teams even as a rookie. Jones doesn’t score fantasy points in the way that will vault him to fantasy superstardom – unless he’s Tom Brady – but you can certainly do worse even in 1QB leagues. The rookie quarterback has thrown for at least 270 yards or two touchdowns in six of ten games this season. Jones has a solid floor, and in a good matchup, he can post solid QB2-type numbers. In week 11, the Patriots take on the Falcons, who have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, including the fourth-most passing touchdowns allowed. The Patriots have a high 27-point implied team total on the week, and Jones should benefit from a good matchup.

PaHowdy Highlight Player: Joe Burrow, QB CIN

Burrow is coming off a bye week after having his season-worst fantasy output in week nine. But he is also facing the Las Vegas Raiders, who have allowed five top-12 performances against his position – from Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts, but also Teddy Bridgewater, and Jacoby Brissett back in week three. They rank as the 25th-most giving defense to the pass in my strength of schedule rankings and have allowed more passing efficiency than any other defense adjusted by their opponent’s average this season. Vegas has the game projection set at 49 total points and I think Burrow bounces back in a big way in week 11.

Running Back

Pos	Player	Matchup	@FFZinger	@PaHowdy	Average	Tier
RB	Christian McCaffrey	WAS	1	1	1	1
RB	Austin Ekeler	PIT	2	2	2	1
RB	D’Andre Swift	@CLE	3	6	4.5	2
RB	Najee Harris	@LAC	5	5	5	2
RB	Dalvin Cook	GB	4	7	5.5	2
RB	Ezekiel Elliott	@KC	9	4	6.5	2
RB	A.J. Dillon	@MIN	11	3	7	2
RB	Nick Chubb	DET	7	8	7.5	2
RB	Jonathan Taylor	@BUF	8	9	8.5	2
RB	Joe Mixon	@LV	6	14	10	3
RB	James Conner	@SEA	10	10	10	3
RB	Leonard Fournette	NYG	12	12	12	3
RB	James Robinson	SF	15	13	14	4
RB	Michael Carter	MIA	19	11	15	4
RB	Elijah Mitchell	@JAC	13	19	16	4
RB	Myles Gaskin	@NYJ	17	16	16.5	4
RB	David Montgomery	BAL	14	21	17.5	4
RB	Saquon Barkley	@TB	16	22	19	4
RB	Darrel Williams	DAL	20	18	19	4
RB	Rhamondre Stevenson	@ATL	22	17	19.5	4
RB	Mark Ingram	@PHI	24	15	19.5	4
RB	Josh Jacobs	CIN	18	24	21	4
RB	Antonio Gibson	@CAR	23	23	23	4
RB	D’Onta Foreman	HOU	25	29	27	5
RB	Zack Moss	IND	30	25	27.5	5
RB	Devonta Freeman	@CHI	28	30	29	5
RB	D’Ernest Johnson	DET	33	27	30	5
RB	J.D. McKissic	@CAR	29	32	30.5	5
RB	Jordan Howard	NO	32	31	31.5	5
RB	Alex Collins	ARI	39	26	32.5	5
RB	Tony Pollard	@KC	31	40	35.5	6
RB	Kenyan Drake	CIN	38	33	35.5	6
RB	Devin Singletary	IND	34	39	36.5	6
RB	Mike Davis	NE	41	34	37.5	6
RB	Boston Scott	NO	36	42	39	6
RB	Nyheim Hines	@BUF	42	37	39.5	6
RB	David Johnson	@TEN	51	28	39.5	6
RB	Brandon Bolden	@ATL	45	35	40	6
RB	Adrian Peterson	HOU	40	44	42	6
RB	Cordarrelle Patterson	NE	65	20	42.5	6
RB	Alvin Kamara	@PHI	21	65	43	6
RB	Ty Johnson	MIA	43	45	44	6
RB	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	DAL	26	65	45.5	6
RB	Jeremy McNichols	HOU	50	41	45.5	6
RB	Damien Harris	@ATL	27	65	46	6
RB	Kenneth Gainwell	NO	54	43	48.5	7
RB	Samaje Perine	@LV	49	50	49.5	7
RB	Eno Benjamin	@SEA	35	65	50	7
RB	Demetric Felton	DET	65	36	50.5	7
RB	Chris Carson	ARI	37	65	51	7
RB	Matt Breida	IND	65	38	51.5	7
RB	Khalil Herbert	BAL	57	47	52	7
RB	Giovani Bernard	NYG	46	59	52.5	7
RB	Alexander Mattison	GB	56	49	52.5	7
RB	Chuba Hubbard	WAS	52	55	53.5	7
RB	Wayne Gallman	NE	44	65	54.5	7
RB	Ronald Jones	NYG	58	52	55	7
RB	Phillip Lindsay	@TEN	59	51	55	7
RB	Derrick Gore	DAL	65	46	55.5	7
RB	Jeff Wilson Jr.	@JAC	47	65	56	7

FFzinger Highlight Player: D’Onta Foreman, RB TEN

Going up against the Houston Texans is a prime spot for any offensive player. That’s no different for Foreman, who was likely on your waiver wire just a few weeks ago. While Derrick Henry might’ve rushed for 300 yards and seven touchdowns against the Texans, Foreman should be able to step into a great matchup and produce at least low-end RB2 numbers. Foreman saw his workload more than double last week, totaling a solid 13 touches, including two receptions. The Tennessee Titans have a great 27.5 implied team total against a Texans defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards to opposing running backs on the season (and allowing nearly five yards per attempt). Expect Foreman to command a solid 15 opportunities with a good chance to find the end zone.

PaHowdy Highlight Player: Michael Carter, RB NYJ

It’s been a minute since the Miami defense allowed top 12 running back week. However, since week seven, the position touch leaders they have faced are David Johnson, Devin Singletary and Mike Davis (back when Cordarrelle Patterson was still getting the second-most touches at the position for Atlanta, and he still managed to put up 14 PPR points). Before that James Robinson, Leonard Fournette and Jonathan Taylor had no problem scoring points against them (and neither did Singletary who finished in the top 12 back in their first meeting in week two). In short, Carter has had over 16 PPR points in three of his last four games and I think week 11 makes it four out of five.

Wide Receiver

Pos	Player	Matchup	@FFZinger	@PaHowdy	Average	Tier
WR	Davante Adams	@MIN	1	1	1	1
WR	Tyreek Hill	DAL	3	2	2.5	1
WR	Deebo Samuel	@JAC	5	3	4	2
WR	A.J. Brown	HOU	2	7	4.5	2
WR	Stefon Diggs	IND	4	5	4.5	2
WR	Chris Godwin	NYG	8	4	6	3
WR	Justin Jefferson	GB	6	8	7	3
WR	CeeDee Lamb	@KC	7	9	8	3
WR	Ja’Marr Chase	@LV	11	6	8.5	3
WR	Mike Evans	NYG	10	10	10	3
WR	Keenan Allen	PIT	9	12	10.5	3
WR	D.K. Metcalf	ARI	12	11	11.5	3
WR	Marquise Brown	@CHI	13	14	13.5	4
WR	Diontae Johnson	@LAC	14	13	13.5	4
WR	Amari Cooper	@KC	15	15	15	4
WR	Tyler Lockett	ARI	18	16	17	5
WR	Terry McLaurin	@CAR	17	18	17.5	5
WR	Michael Pittman	@BUF	16	20	18	5
WR	Adam Thielen	GB	19	19	19	5
WR	Jaylen Waddle	@NYJ	21	17	19	5
WR	Tee Higgins	@LV	20	22	21	6
WR	D.J. Moore	WAS	24	21	22.5	6
WR	Hunter Renfrow	CIN	22	26	24	6
WR	DeVonta Smith	NO	23	25	24	6
WR	Brandin Cooks	@TEN	25	23	24	6
WR	Christian Kirk	@SEA	26	24	25	6
WR	Jarvis Landry	DET	30	27	28.5	7
WR	Mike Williams	PIT	29	32	30.5	8
WR	Corey Davis	MIA	32	31	31.5	8
WR	Emmanuel Sanders	IND	31	33	32	8
WR	Darnell Mooney	BAL	40	30	35	9
WR	Jakobi Meyers	@ATL	27	44	35.5	9
WR	Kendrick Bourne	@ATL	43	28	35.5	9
WR	Kadarius Toney	@TB	41	34	37.5	10
WR	Rashod Bateman	@CHI	34	43	38.5	10
WR	Brandon Aiyuk	@JAC	37	40	38.5	10
WR	Elijah Moore	MIA	33	46	39.5	10
WR	Tyler Boyd	@LV	44	38	41	10
WR	Cole Beasley	IND	28	56	42	10
WR	Kenny Golladay	@TB	38	48	43	10
WR	Marquez Callaway	@PHI	51	36	43.5	10
WR	Deonte Harris	@PHI	52	35	43.5	10
WR	Michael Gallup	@KC	39	51	45	10
WR	Laviska Shenault Jr.	SF	54	37	45.5	10
WR	Mecole Hardman	DAL	53	39	46	10
WR	A.J. Green	@SEA	47	49	48	11
WR	DeAndre Hopkins	@SEA	35	65	50	12
WR	Marvin Jones	SF	36	29	32.5	12
WR	Jamison Crowder	MIA	46	55	50.5	13
WR	Bryan Edwards	CIN	50	52	51	13
WR	Marcus Johnson	HOU	60	42	51	13
WR	Donovan Peoples-Jones	DET	45	59	52	13
WR	Russell Gage	NE	48	58	53	13
WR	Zach Pascal	@BUF	65	41	53	13
WR	Allen Robinson	BAL	42	47	44.5	13
WR	Rondale Moore	@SEA	55	53	54	14
WR	Nelson Agholor	@ATL	59	50	54.5	14
WR	Tyler Johnson	NYG	65	45	55	14
WR	Robby Anderson	WAS	49	64	56.5	14
WR	K.J. Osborn	GB	65	54	59.5	15

FFzinger Highlight Player: Cole Beasley, WR BUF

Read this headline as “start all Bills receivers”. In this week’s rankings, I have Beasley, Emmanuel Sanders, and Stefon Diggs all as top-32 options. The Bills have the third-highest implied team total of the week at 28.75 points, and the Colts defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. It’s a matchup made in heaven for Beasley and the Bills’ passing offense. Beasley is nursing a rib injury as of this writing, so monitor his status throughout the week. Should he be available, do not hesitate to plug him into your lineup as a WR3/flex option. The veteran receiver has posted nine or more targets in three of his last four games. The entire Bills offense should have no problems moving the ball on Sunday against the Colts, and Beasley (and the other wide receivers) should stand to benefit.

PaHowdy Highlight Player: Jaylen Waddle WR MIA (and Myles Gaskin, RB MIA)

Waddle finished with a disappointing 10 PPR points last week and now faces the New York Jets who have heavily shifted volume to the running back position for their opponents, allowing a whooping nine top-12 running back weeks in 2021. The only top-12 week they have allowed to a wide receiver was Stefon Diggs last week, and Michael Pittman finished 13th the week before. Back in week eight, they limited Ja’Marr Chase to WR27 on nine targets while Joe Mixon went off as the second-highest scoring running back with 25 PPR points. So, overall, it is a bit of a mixed matchup, and you should probably strongly consider Gaskin as a strong start this week.

However, Jaylen Waddle is now the clear volume leader on the team and ultimately is facing a soft defense with a decent Vegas game line (the team has a projection of 23 total points in a 44.5 game line, ranking them 15th overall in week 11).

Tight End

Pos	Player	Matchup	@FFZinger	@PaHowdy	Average	Tier
TE	Travis Kelce	DAL	1	1	1	1
TE	George Kittle	@JAC	2	2	2	1
TE	Mark Andrews	@CHI	3	3	3	1
TE	Darren Waller	CIN	6	4	5	2
TE	Hunter Henry	@ATL	5	6	5.5	2
TE	T.J. Hockenson	@CLE	7	5	6	2
TE	Kyle Pitts	NE	4	9	6.5	2
TE	Mike Gesicki	@NYJ	9	7	8	2
TE	Pat Freiermuth	@LAC	8	11	9.5	2
TE	Dalton Schultz	@KC	11	8	9.5	2
TE	Zach Ertz	@SEA	14	10	12	3
TE	Dawson Knox	IND	10	17	13.5	3
TE	Tyler Conklin	GB	15	12	13.5	3
TE	Evan Engram	@TB	16	15	15.5	4
TE	Jared Cook	PIT	17	14	15.5	4
TE	Austin Hooper	DET	21	16	18.5	5
TE	David Njoku	DET	24	13	18.5	5
TE	Cole Kmet	BAL	18	21	19.5	5
TE	Adam Trautman	@PHI	20	20	20	5
TE	C.J. Uzomah	@LV	19	24	21.5	5
TE	Dan Arnold	SF	12	35	23.5	6
TE	Dallas Goedert	NO	13	35	24	6
TE	Hayden Hurst	NE	30	19	24.5	6
TE	Gerald Everett	ARI	22	29	25.5	6
TE	Jack Doyle	@BUF	25	28	26.5	6
TE	Will Dissly	ARI	35	18	26.5	6
TE	Adam Shaheen	@NYJ	35	22	28.5	7
TE	Mo Alie-Cox	@BUF	23	35	29	7
TE	Geoff Swaim	HOU	35	23	29	7
TE	Ryan Griffin	MIA	28	31	29.5	7

FFzinger Highlight Player: Pat Freiermuth, TE PIT

During the NFL draft season, Kyle Pitts deservedly drew the attention of NFL media and dynasty leaguers everywhere. As the only other top two-round selection at tight end, however, Freiermuth has quickly shown that he should have been held in higher regard by the fantasy football world. It’s not often that a rookie tight end can consistently be a TE1 option, and Freiermuth has been just that over the last four weeks. Over that time, the only two tight ends to average more PPR fantasy points per game are Travis Kelce and George Kittle. While it’s a bit early to declare Freiermuth consistently in their company, he should excel once again against a Chargers defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the tight end position this year. Mason Rudolph leading the Steelers offense keeps the rookie down around TE8 for me, but dynasty GMs should not hesitate to plug him into their lineups.

PaHowdy Highlight Player: Zach Ertz, TE ARI

The Seahawks have allowed four top-12 weeks to the tight end position and Vegas expects this game to be a high-scoring one with a 49.5 game projection. Ertz has maintained a significant role in Arizona finishing inside the top 12 at tight end in 40% of his games this year. As an aging vet in a dynasty league, I don’t imagine he attracts much attention, but I think he has a solid floor against a defense that has allowed points to the position in a high-scoring game.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! If you’re wondering about a player we didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me or Peter Howard @PaHowdy on Twitter. Best of luck this week, and we’ll be back next week with more positional rankings.