Week 11 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Fantasy Football Running Backs (PPR): D’Andre Swift is heating up

Last week, more running backs surprised the rankings for fantasy football. Josh Jacobs had two touchdowns and put up 29.6 fantasy points last week, but his handcuff Devontae Booker had 21.3 fantasy points himself to rank eighth in the rankings. Ronald Jones put up the longest rushing touchdown this season that went for 98 yards last week. Rex Burkhead scored himself his second week in the top ten for fantasy points. There are a lot of question marks for fantasy players in week 11. Check out who you should start and sit for fantasy running backs next week.

Start ‘Em

Salvon Ahmed has filled in for Myles Gaskin, who will be on injured reserve until next week, and has done well. Last week he had a line of 21-89-1 against the Los Angeles Chargers for 15 fantasy points. After the release of Jordan Howard and the injury of Matthew Breida, Ahmed was left with a plethora of attempts in the backfield for the Dolphins. He made great use of them and could receive a healthy amount next week even with the return of Matt Breida. He is going up against the Denver Broncos, who are below average at defending the run. Ahmed has projected 10.2 fantasy points next week and would make an excellent waiver wire pick up in week 11.

D’Andre Swift has seen more touches in the last two weeks than he has ever seen in a two-week span in terms of carries. He has put up 25.9 fantasy points and 12.7 in the past two weeks. Swift always sees a lot of action in the passing game, where he usually gets 3-4 catches out of the backfield for solid yardage. Now that he is getting action through the run game, his fantasy value is definitely getting higher. The Detroit Lions will take on the Carolina Panthers next week, who have allowed the fourth-most points to running backs this season. Without McCaffrey on their squad as well, they will be easier to stop on defense. Swift has projected 15.5 points next week with RB1 potential and RB2 value.

Damien Harris has been averaging 15.5 carries in the Patriots’ backfield, where we know can get crowded sometimes. He has only been in the endzone once but has two games with over 100 yards in that span. Harris has been dealing with an injury but should be ready to go this week. While this starter pick may come as a surprise because of Rex Burkhead’s recent success, I believe Burkhead will cool off because of his lack of touches. Burkhead’s points came from two receiving touchdowns last week, where he only had four total catches. New England will take on the Texans next week, who are notorious for allowing fantasy points to running backs as they stand second in most fantasy points allowed to running backs. Damien Harris has projected 10.9 fantasy points as the lead back for the Patriots next week.

J.D McKissic has disrupted Washington’s backfield as a premier pass catcher for Alex Smith. Last week, Alex Smith dished out 15 targets to McKissic, which ended up being seven catches for 43 yards. The week before that, McKissic had nine catches for 65 yards against the New York Giants. He has averaged 17.5 points in the past two weeks and in his last five games he has double-digit points in four of them. Alex Smith has been letting him have all of the targets in the receiving game and it is paying off for McKissic in fantasy as a great flex option for PPR leagues. Washington plays the Cincinnati Bengals next week in what should be a tight game needing the assistance of J.D McKissic in the offense. He has projected 10.75 fantasy points next week.

Nyheim Hines has had two games over 20 points in the last three weeks of fantasy football for the Colts. Hines saw more rushing touches than he has ever seen last week with 12 against the Tennessee Titans. He had two touchdowns in that game to put up 28.5 fantasy points, his highest of the season. His supposed lead back, Jonathan Taylor, has not had double-digit carries in the last three weeks of playing and has not had over 10 fantasy points in that span as well. While Hines may not see as many touches in the backfield as he did last week, he is viable enough to start from his action in the passing game. The Colts face Green Bay next week, who has allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season, making Hines a valid RB2 starter. He has projected 11.75 fantasy points next week.

Sit ‘Em

Devontae Booker put up two touchdowns last week against the Denver Broncos late in the game to get him 21.3 fantasy points. Two weeks ago, he also saw an appearance in the endzone that led to 12.8 fantasy points. Booker’s last two weeks are the only weeks that he has seen the endzone and has scored over 10 points in fantasy for the whole season. Not saying he could not have weeks like this again, but his touches came in a blowout win over the Denver Broncos last week. The Raiders will take on the Chiefs next week in a game they will need to be playing their key players, like Josh Jacobs, to try to snag a divisional win. Booker has projected 7.25 fantasy points next week rightfully so.

Leonard Fournette has only received nine touches in the backfield in the past two weeks of play. His handcuff, Ronald Jones, had an outstanding day with 24.8 fantasy points against the Carolina Panthers. Fournette’s presence in the passing game certainly helps his value, but he has only seen double-digit carries three times this season. The Buccaneers face the Los Angeles Rams next week, who have allowed the sixth-least amount of points to running backs this season. He has projected 10.4 points at a flex-ceiling possible play for Fournette.

Giovani Bernard cooled down from his two 20 point games with 8.7 fantasy points against the Steelers. While the Steelers’ defense is tough against the run, Samaje Perine ate half of Bernard’s carries in this game and took away some of his value. With the chance of Joe Mixon returning this week as well, the starting value for Bernard declines in fantasy. The Bengals will face off against Washington, who is respectable against the run. Giovani should see a decrease in touches and points this week, but he is still projected 11.25 points.