Week 11 Free Agent Focus


Derek Carr, QB, Raiders

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

He disappointed in the box score on Thursday night, throwing for just 218 yards and a score. But Carr played well, completing 68% of his passes. He’s now tossed 8 TDs vs. just 1 INT over his last 4 outings and gets a plus Week 11 matchup against the Bengals’ 27th-ranked QB defense. Beyond that lies another strong matchup at the Jets.

Brian Hill, RB, Falcons

Blind-bid recommendation: 50-75%

Ito Smith (neck) hit IR this week, and Devonta Freeman exited Sunday’s game in New Orleans with a foot injury. That suddenly left Hill atop the depth chart. He finished with 61 yards on 20 carries, plus a 10-yard TD catch, in the win over the Saints. If Freeman misses more time, Hill will be a volume-based starting option for fantasy.

Atlanta gets a bad Panthers run defense in Week 11 before tougher draws against the Bucs and Saints. Week 14 brings the rematch with Carolina.


Darius Slayton, WR, Giants

Blind-bid recommendation: 15-20%

Don’t mistake him for a high-floor play, but this rookie has flashed plenty of upside this year. He smoked the Jets for a 10-121-2 line on Sunday — his 2nd multi-TD game among the last 3. Slayton also has games of 3-82 and 4-62-1 since Week 3.

The Giants have a Week 11 bye and then tough draws against the Bears and Packers. But Slayton might be useable in Weeks 14 through 16 vs. the Eagles, Dolphins and Redskins.

Cole Beasley, WR, Bills

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

His 3-game TD streak was snapped in Sunday’s loss to the Browns, but Beasley hauled in 4 of 6 targets for 74 yards. He’s now seen 6+ targets in 3 of his last 4 games and 6 of 9 overall.

A Week 11 matchup with the Dolphins will have Beasley on the WR3 radar.


Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith, TEs, Vikings

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

Minnesota's TEs continued to play expanded roles in the passing game with WR Adam Thielen out on Sunday night. Rudolph played 78% of the offensive snaps and tallied 5 targets; Smith posted a 74% snap rate and 6 targets. Over the last 4 games now, Smith has seen 21 targets and Rudolph 19.

Both guys will be viable fantasy plays at home for the Broncos in Week 11 if Thielen remains sidelined.

Dawson Knox, TE, Bills

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

After Knox spiked back up to a 76% snap rate last week, he posted a 4-55 line on 6 targets in Sunday’s loss to the Browns. The targets tied for 3rd on the team and the catches tied for 2nd. Knox's snap rate sunk to 58%, but that's still a fine number.

Knox will be on the Week 11 spot-start radar in a plus matchup vs. Miami.



Deep-League Options:


Sam Darnold, QB, Jets

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

He played his best game since Week 6 in Sunday’s win over the Giants. Darnold completed 19 of 30 passes (63.3%) for 230 yards, 1 TD and, most importantly, 0 INTs. He added 25 yards and another score on the ground. It makes Darnold a bit easier to trust for next week’s plus matchup against the Redskins.


Kyle Allen, QB, Panthers

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-8%

He played reasonably well in snowy Lambeau, completing 28 of 43 passes (65.2%) for 307 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Allen still has 2 games — next week and Week 14 — against a Falcons defense that entered Sunday ranked 29th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs before surprisingly limiting Drew Brees. And Week 13 brings the Redskins’ 22nd-ranked QB defense.


J.D. McKissic, RB, Lions

Blind-bid recommendation: 15-20%

Ty Johnson left Sunday’s game in Chicago with a concussion, so McKissic stepped in as the backfield leader. He took 10 carries for 36 yards and caught 6 of 7 targets for 19 yards on a 70% snap rate.

If Johnson misses next week’s game against the Cowboys, McKissic will be in the RB3 mix — especially in PPR leagues.


James Washington, WR, Steelers

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

He posted a career-best 6-90-1 line in Sunday’s win over the Rams. Washington’s 7 targets tied for the team lead.

We wouldn’t yet trust him in fantasy lineups, but he could use this performance to springboard into a more significant role. Washington still has plus matchups remaining against the Bengals (Week 12), Cardinals (Week 14) and Jets (Week 16).


Andy Isabella, WR, Cardinals

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

A week after scoring an 88-yard TD, Isabella added a 55-yard catch in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay. He saw only 3 targets but turned them into 3 grabs for 78 yards. Note, though, that the rookie still played just 37% of Arizona's offensive snaps.

The Cards’ WR depth chart is wide open behind Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald, so don’t be surprised if Isabella’s role expands down the stretch. The short-term schedule just isn’t ideal: at 49ers, Bye, vs. Rams and vs. Steelers.