1 of 5 | Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) is a must-start fantasy football play in Week 11. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Nick Chubb and Chase Brown are among my four must-start fantasy football running backs for Week 11.
Saquon Barkley leads my Top-30 weekly fantasy football running back rankings. Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs and De’Von Achane are my other Top-5 options. Advertisement
Joe Mixon, Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Kyren Williams and Kareem Hunt also should be considered Top-10 plays for Week 11.
Hunt and Gibbs join Chubb and Brown as my must-start plays. My rankings were compiled based on several factors, including likely workload, strength of opponent, previous matchup history, expected red zone opportunities and predicted game script.
Players from the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are on bye, should be benched or potentially dropped. Advertisement
Those with stock in Aaron Jones, Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris and other injured running backs should continue to monitor their status leading into their respective kickoffs.
My top free agent targets for Week 11 are available here. My Week 11 wide receiver rankings also are available. All positional rankings will be updated throughout the week, based on injuries and other factors.
Jahmyr Gibbs
Barring injury or a bye week, Gibbs is likely a weekly must-start play in most leagues, but I predict his best performance of the season this week when his Detroit Lions host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars allowed the fifth-most fantasy points and fourth-most receiving yards (46.3) per game to opposing running backs through 10 weeks. They also surrendered more than 100 yards from scrimmage to running backs in each of their last three games, including 101 yards to Aaron Jones, 199 to Saquon Barkley and 125 to Josh Jacobs.
Gibbs totaled more than 100 yards from scrimmage in three of his last four games. He also scored six touchdowns over his last five appearances.
Look for the Lions to feed Gibbs, who ranks No. 4 in fantasy points per game among running backs over the last four weeks, early and often as a rusher and pass catcher. He is my No. 4 play for Week 11. Advertisement
Kareem Hunt
Hunt is the No. 10 player in my Week 11 running back rankings. The Kansas City Chiefs ball carrier averaged the ninth-most fantasy points per game among running backs over the last four weeks.
He also reached 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his last two appearances. He scored in four of his last five games — finding the end zone a total of five times during that span.
This week, the Chiefs will battle the Buffalo Bills, who allowed the second-most fantasy points, 14th-most rushing yards (100.7) and a league-high 54.5 receiving yards per game to running backs so far this season. They surrendered more than 100 yards from scrimmage in each of their last two games, including 122 to Jonathan Taylor in Week 10 and 121 and two scores to De’Von Achane in Week 9.
I expect Hunt to extend that streak in this high-profile AFC matchup. He is a low-end RB1.
Chase Brown
Their defense might be struggling, but the Cincinnati Bengals offense continues to hum, led by quarterback Joe Burrow. Brown quietly produced low-end RB1 fantasy value over the last four weeks, averaging the 13th-most fantasy points per game among running backs. Advertisement
Brown eclipsed 20 touches in consecutive games for the first time this season between his Week 9 and Week 10 appearances. He turned 32 touches into a career-high 157 yards from scrimmage and a score in Week 9. He followed that performance with 94 yards and a score in the Bengals’ Week 10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Brown’s increased usage as a pass catcher — 16 targets over the last two weeks — is a great sign for his fantasy stock holders. He is now set to face a Los Angeles Chargers defense that has been decent against the run, but somewhat vulnerable against dual-threat running backs.
Brown, my No. 16 running back, could struggle to eclipse 50 rushing yards, but I expect him to make up it as a pass catcher. He can still be used as a mid-range RB2 or flex play.
Nick Chubb
Chubb, my No. 20 play, can be plugged in as a low-end RB2 or flex play this week, when his Cleveland Browns take on the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints allowed the third-most fantasy points and seventh-most rushing yards (113.3) per game to running backs through 10 weeks. They surrendered touchdowns to the position in each of their last six games. They allowed a total of a dozen scores to running backs over their last eight games. Advertisement
Chubb failed to eclipse 52 yards from scrimmage in each of his three appearances this season, but averaged about 15 touches per game during that span, when he also faced tough defensive fronts. I expect his workload to be similar this week against a vulnerable Saints defense.
Look for closer to 75 yards from scrimmage from Chubb in this matchup. He could climb into high-end RB2 territory if he reaches the end zone for his second touchdown of the season.
Week 11 fantasy football running back rankings
1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at DEN
3. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions vs. JAX
5. De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins vs. LV
6. Joe Mixon, Houston Texans at DAL
7. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens at PIT
8. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. CLE
9. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams at NE
10. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs at BUF
11. Breece Hall, New York Jets vs. IND Advertisement
12. D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears vs. GB
13. Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks at SF
14. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts at NYJ
15. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers at CHI
16. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals at LAC
17. J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers vs. CIN
18. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings at TEN
19. James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. KC
20. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns at NO
21. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans vs. MIN
22. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions vs. JAX
23. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots vs. LAR
24. Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders at MIA
25. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. BAL
26. Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys vs. HOU
27. Audric Estime, Denver Broncos vs. ATL
28. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars at DET
29. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders at PHI
30. Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills vs. KC
NFL: Miami Dolphins defeat Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stiff-arms Los Angeles Rams defensive end Cobie Durant at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on November 11, 2024. The Dolphins defeated the Rams 23-15 Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
