Fantasy News for NFL Week 11
With a Super Bowl rematch from last season highlighting this week’s slate of games, fantasy owners can’t help but look to their own playoffs – less than two weeks away for some leagues – entering Week 11.
What news can fantasy owners glean prior to Sunday’s contest? Find that out – and more – in the Week 11 edition of NFL Fantasy News.
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson Finished For 2023
After suffering a shoulder injury during his team’s 33-31 victory over the Ravens, Browns QB Deshaun Watson has been shelved for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season. Already this season, backup QBs PJ Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson have played significant minutes due to previous Watson injuries.
Fantasy Impact: Fantasy owners of RBs Kareem Hunt or Jerome Ford should consider these players must-starts with inexperienced and unproven QBs helming the offense. Neither DTR nor Walker have the ability to carry the Browns with their arm, so the running game will benefit significantly with Watson out for the year.
Miami Dolphins RB De’Von Achane Optimistic For Week 11 Return
After spending four weeks on the Injured Reserve (IR) list, Miami has reactivated rookie RB De’Von Achane. During his Wednesday press conference, HC Mike McDaniel said that Achane was “untacklable” and showed his characteristic bursts in his first practice after a four-week hiatus.
Fantasy Impact: Miami’s offense is already the league’s highest-scoring unit, and adding another weapon like Achane makes the unit even harder to stop. Fantasy owners should temper their excitement for Week 11, however, as the rookie is not guaranteed to return to action. Further, fantasy owners of Raheem Mostert should monitor this situation as it will impact his value.
Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields Expected To Start Sunday
Bears fans have not seen QB Justin Fields since Week 6 when the third-year player suffered a thumb injury. Chicago announced that the first-rounder out of Ohio State was a full participant in practice Wednesday, his first since the injury. His full practice is expected to be his first step towards starting Sunday against the Lions.
Fantasy Impact: Fields return is a significant boost for the Bears. The mobile QB is one of the league’s strongest runners, giving Chicago’s opponents fits with another running threat out of the Bear’s backfield. Fantasy owners should continue to sit Fields in Week 11, however, as Detroit has given up just 15 yards per outing on the ground to opposing QBs and two TDs in nine games.
Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson Limited Wednesday, Expect To Play
In his team’s 27-19 victory over New Orleans, Minnesota TE T.J. Hockenson suffered a mild rib injury. In his first on-field practice since, Hockenson was listed as a limited participant, giving pause to fantasy owners after the former Iowa star’s standout performance against the Saints.
Fantasy Impact: With new QB Josh Dobbs guiding the Vikings’ offense, the six-year veteran has thrived for Minnesota. In his past two games, Hockenson has 18 catches off 27 targets for 203 yards and a TD, ranking among the top five at the TE position in both yards and catches during this span. Fantasy owners should expect more of the same Sunday against Denver.
Houston Texans RB Dameon Pierce Misses Wednesday Practice
An ankle injury in Week 8 has sidelined Houston RB Dameon Pierce for multiple weeks. With Week 11 just around the corner, the second-year RB did not return to the practice field, meaning fantasy owners can expect the former Florida Gators’ runner will miss another game.
Fantasy Impact: All fantasy owners – and not just managers with Pierce on your team – should grab Devin Singletary. In the two games since Singletary has been the starter, the sixth-year RB has recorded 176 yards rushing and 11 receiving yards, almost half the entire yards Pierce had in his first eight weeks. Singletary looks locked in as the primary RB moving forward for Houston.
