Fantasy Football Week 11 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em: Tua Tagovailoa gets a shot to light up Jets and his critics

Last week in this spot I wrote about Patrick Mahomes and his recent struggles prior to Week 10 at Las Vegas. I expected him to have a dominant game, and he responded with a season-high 46 Fantasy points against the Raiders with 406 passing yards and five touchdowns.

A big reason why was Darrel Williams, who had 11 carries for 43 yards, along with a whopping nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. I thought that could be the last time Fantasy managers get to rely on Williams as a starter with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee) coming back, but that might not be the case.

Andy Reid said Wednesday that Edwards-Helaire could be out in Week 11 to give him additional time to get healthy. Kansas City has a bye in Week 12, and Reid said “if we feel like he’s not ready, then we won’t put him in there” against the Cowboys on Sunday.

If that happens, and Edwards-Helaire is out again, then Williams remains a high-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. In five games with Edwards-Helaire out, Williams has four outings with at least 19 total touches and has scored at least 16 PPR points three times.

The Cowboys-Chiefs game has the highest projected score of the week at 56 points, so Williams has the chance for another stellar outing. Dallas also has allowed four running backs to score at least 11 PPR points in the past four games, with three touchdowns allowed over that span.

Keep an eye on what happens with Edwards-Helaire prior to Sunday. And if he’s out again then start Williams with confidence in all formats.

Editor’s Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.

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Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em

This should be Tua Tagovailoa’s time to shine. He’s past the trade rumors (for now) of the Dolphins trying to replace him. He’s mostly past the finger injury that has limited him the past two weeks. And he has a favorable matchup in Week 11 at the Jets.

I’m buying that Tagovailoa will have a big game against the Jets. We’ve already seen him thrive in favorable matchups this season against the Jaguars in Week 6 and the Falcons in Week 7, and he scored at least 25 Fantasy points in each outing.

He came on for an injured Jacoby Brissett (knee) in Week 10 against Baltimore and closed out a surprise victory against the Ravens with 12 Fantasy points in the second half. Let’s hope that momentum carries over to this week.

The Jets have allowed at least 24 Fantasy points to five opposing quarterbacks in a row, including Matt Ryan, Mac Jones, Joe Burrow, Carson Wentz and Josh Allen. Tagovailoa will be next, and he has top-10 upside this week in all leagues.

It hasn’t been a smooth season for Tagovailoa — or an easy start to his NFL career. But he has the opportunity to silence his critics, especially if he plays well and wins games like this against the Jets. That’s what I’m expecting to happen for him in Week 11.

Titans (vs. HOU): The Titans defense has been amazing of late, and the Titans DST has become a must-start Fantasy option in all leagues. The Titans DST has scored at least 13 Fantasy points in three of the past four games, and Tennessee has 14 sacks, five interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two DST scores over that span. And now Houston comes to town. In Tyrod Taylor’s last game at Miami in Week 9, he was sacked five times with three interceptions. The Titans DST is my No. 1 unit this week.

Browns (vs. DET)

Dolphins (at NYJ)

49ers (at JAC)

Steelers (at LAC): With the potential of Pittsburgh being without T.J. Watt (hip/knee), Joe Haden (foot) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (COVID-19), it could be time to sit the Steelers DST. Now, the unit can still play well if those guys are out, but the Chargers still bring plenty of weapons and have scored at least 24 points in four of their past six games. Justin Herbert has only been sacked twice in his past two games, and he has just four interceptions in his past seven outings. If Watt, Haden and Fitzpatrick play, that changes things, but as of Wednesday you might want to find another DST for this week.  

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