It’s time for the week 11 edition of “Buy or Leave Dry”. As we do every week, we take a look at some players to use and avoid when constructing your daily fantasy (DFS) teams for DraftKings and FanDuel. Let’s take a look at the key players for week 11 in the NFL.
Quarterback
BUY: Marcus Mariota Titans @ Colts
Salary DraftKings $6,700 FanDuel $8,000
Marcus Mariota is really starting to heat up. Over his last two games he has thrown for over 600 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Look for his hot streak to continue week 11 against an Indianapolis Colts defense ranked 31st against the pass. There has been no sign of a sophomore slump for the young Mariota. His quarterback rating is 99.6 and he has passed for nearly 2500 yards on the season. In his last two road games against San Diego and Miami, Mariota has thrown for six touchdowns. The threat of Demarco Murray and the Titans run game has really allowed Mariota to have his way with opposing defenses this year. Use Mariota week 11 and continue to ride the hot hand.
LEAVE DRY: Andy Dalton Bengals VS Bills
Salary DraftKings $5,700 FanDuel $7,500
In what has been a disappointing season for the Cincinnati Bengals, you could look at Andy Dalton as being one of the reasons why. Despite a quarterback rating of 95.8, Dalton has only thrown for 10 touchdowns through nine games this season and less than half of those have come at home. The Buffalo Bills possess the 11th ranked pass defense in the NFL and have averaged over three sacks a game. The Bills will put pressure on Dalton similar to the pressure the New York Giants did on Monday night. The pressure will be too much for Dalton and the Bengals offensive line to handle. Look elsewhere.
Other options to use at quarterback include Ben Roethlisberger, Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford.
Running Back
BUY: LeGarrette Blount Patriots @ 49ers
Salary DraftKings $6,400 FanDuel $7,300
LeGarrette Blount is the league leader in rushing touchdowns with 12. He has scored a touchdown in five straight and in eight of nine games total on the season. His week 11 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers rank dead last in the NFL against the run. Blount joins Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon as the only three running backs in the league to average at least 20 rushing attempts per game. That trend will continue this week for Blount. New England is coming off a rare loss to Seattle on Sunday night and will look to rebound in a big way. With Rob Gronkowski possibly missing this game due to injury, there is a very good chance the Patriots will pound the Niners on the ground. The salary is right, use Blount in week 11.
LEAVE DRY: Jay Ajayi Dolphins @ Rams.
Salary DraftKings $6,800 FanDuel $7,600
After three straight dominant weeks on the ground Jay Ajayi failed to get on track last week against the San Diego Chargers. The second year running back was held to 79 yards on 19 carries and failed to score a touchdown for the first time in four weeks. Miami travels to Los Angeles to face a Rams team ranked 11th against opposing running backs. The Rams have been solid against the run all season, including being one of the only teams to keep Cardinals star David Johnson in check. There will be a lot of excitement in LA this week with first overall pick Jared Goff taking over as the starting quarterback. Look for an inspired effort on defense leading to a second straight subpar performance for Ajayi.
Other options at running back include Le’Veon Bell, C.J. Prosise and James Starks.
Wide Receiver
BUY: Antonio Brown Steelers @ Browns
Salary DraftKings $9,500 FanDuel $8,900
This is simply a case of one of the best wide receivers in the game going against one of the worst defenses in the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a desperate team in a must win game. That does not bode well for the winless Browns. Antonio Brown is coming off a 14 catch, 18 target game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers made it a point to get Brown back as a key focal point in their offense. In ten career games against Cleveland, Brown has a stat line of 67 catches for 1054 yards and 7 touchdowns. Pittsburgh is 9-1 in those games. The salary is very high but it doesn’t matter, you need to find a way to put Brown in your DFS lineups this week.
LEAVE DRY: Doug Baldwin Seahawks VS Eagles
Salary DraftKings $5,700 FanDuel $6,700
Doug Baldwin is coming off a three touchdown performance last week against New England. This week Seattle returns home to face the Philadelphia Eagles in a big NFC showdown. Despite the big game last week, the fact remains that Baldwin has had more than six catches only twice in a game this season. He has also cracked the 100-yard mark once. Philadelphia ranks fifth in the league in points allowed, seventh against the pass and 12th against opposing wide receivers. Seattle will utilize a lot of C.J. Prosise botht on the ground and through the air. Even though the game is in Seattle, Baldwin is too inconsistent to trust. Leave him off your lineups.
Better Options include Terrelle Pryor, Jamison Crowder and Sterling Shepard.
Tight End
Buy: Zach Miller Bears @ Giants
Salary DraftKings $3,800 FanDuel $5,500
Alshon Jeffrey has been suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Eddie Royal is questionable to play. That leaves Cameron Meredith and Zach Miller to catch the ball. Miller has 17 targets in the two games since Jay Cutler returned. With Jeffrey out that number will continue to rise. The Giants rank 20th against opposing tight ends. Miller is a great value play.
LEAVE DRY: Cameron Brate Buccaneers @ Chiefs
Salary DraftKings $3,800 FanDuel $5,600
Cameron Brate and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs. Brate has scored in three straight games and is tied for the league lead in touchdowns by a tight end. That trend will stop this week. The Chiefs defense ranks third against opposing tight ends and allows a very low 18.7 points per game. It’s always tough for any team to play in Kansas City. Make sure you “leave dry” Cameron Brate.
Defense
Buy: Chiefs VS Buccaneers
Salary DraftKings $3,200 FanDuel $5,000
The Chiefs have forced 14 turnovers in four home games this year. Despite throwing for 19 touchdowns, Jameis Winston has turned it over 13 times himself. Kansas City is very tough at home. Buy the Chiefs.
Leave Dry: Vikings VS Cardinals
Salary DraftKings $3,300 FanDuel $4,500
Minnesota has lost four straight and things are spiraling out of control fast. After not allowing more than 20 points in their first five games, they have allowed 20 or more in all four games of the losing streak. In come David Johnson and the Arizona Cardinals. Look Elsewhere.
Scott Burke- Lead Fantasy writer, all-around sports junkie. Follow on twitter @scot557
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