Copyright GIVEMESPORT
The 2025 NFL season is just a day away from Week 11, and Fantasy Football managers are gearing up for their next matchups to stay in their respective playoff hunts. We are more than a week off a consequential trade deadline, and the contenders are starting to emerge on the road to Super Bowl LX. With plenty of teams either desperate for a win or tanking depending on their situations, GIVEMESPORT has identified ten players/units you need to start in Week 11. Fortune favors the bold down the stretch. Quarterbacks Start – J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (vs Chicago Bears) Fantasy Football managers might hesitate to start J.J. McCarthy after a turnover-prone loss to the Baltimore Ravens. But we saw some encouraging signs from this 14.7-point night. First, Kevin O'Connell is certainly opening the playbook for his young quarterback, which bodes well for his breakout potential. In addition, McCarthy rushed for a career-high 48 yards against a Ravens' defense that has been playing a lot better these last few weeks. The former No. 4 overall pick put up 22.2 fantasy points the last time he faced the Chicago Bears, and we're betting he hits that number or better in a must-win Week 11 game. Sit – Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs Philadelphia Eagles) Two things can be true. Jared Goff is a legit candidate for league MVP, yet the Detroit Lions' star quarterback hasn't been the most reliable fantasy starter. The four-time Pro Bowler has four games of less than 13 points, and he now heads into a hostile environment against a much-improved Philadelphia Eagles' defense post-trade deadline. Goff will likely still be his efficient self, but lean on the run game a little bit more in this battle of the NFC heavyweights. Running Backs Start – Woody Marks, Houston Texans (vs Tennessee Titans) The Houston Texans have worked their way back into playoff contention, and giving Woody Marks more carries has helped propel this uneven offensive unit. The rookie tailback is coming off an 81-yard, one-touchdown game in the Texans' epic comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, Mark gets to face the team he dropped 27.9 points on in Week 4, the Tennessee Titans. We expect the Atlanta native to eclipse the 20-point mark once again, this time on the road. Sit – Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks (vs Los Angeles Rams) Kenneth Walker III has been trending in the wrong direction for a while now, despite the Seattle Seahawks' collective success. The fourth-year tailback hasn't eclipsed the 10-point mark since Week 4, and he's now splitting backfield carries with Zach Charbonnet. The Los Angeles Rams have been largely terrific at stopping the run, and they'll likely hone in on that first in this marquee matchup. Wide Receivers Start – Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (vs Pittsburgh Steelers) Tee Higgins is hitting his stride with quarterback Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals' wideout now heads into a favorable matchup against a reeling Pittsburgh Steelers team. The AFC North leaders have now lost three out of their past four games, and this highly compensated defense has been susceptible to explosive passing attacks. With a bye week to gear up for this critical divisional showdown, Higgins is primed for another 20+ performance against this leaky secondary. Sit – Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (vs Kansas City Chiefs) The Denver Broncos have had a very successful season through ten weeks and are currently sitting at 8-2 overall and in first place in the AFC West. Sean Payton's team boasts a phenomenal defense, featuring a world-class secondary that remains elite even when Pat Surtain II misses a game or two. The offense, on the other hand, has its good days and bad days, which will likely spell doom for this team in the postseason. Courtland Sutton hasn't eclipsed 11 points since Week 7, and we believe he's due for another quiet night against Steve Spagnuolo's stellar defense. Tight Ends Start – Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs Cincinnati Bengals) There are some warning signs for Pat Freiermuth heading into Week 11, as the veteran tight end recently called out the Pittsburgh Steelers' receiving core, while also seeing his targets decrease the past few weeks. Nevertheless, the Cincinnati Bengals are giving up a league-worst 15 points per game to opposing tight ends, which blows every other franchise out of the water. Pat Freiermuth had 111 yards and two touchdowns the last time he faced the Bengals' secondary, and while his stats might not be that gaudy this time, he should hit around 15 points as the Steelers look to maintain their AFC North lead. Sit – Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs Buffalo Bills) We recommended that you add Cade Otton from the waiver wire last week, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' tight end subsequently put up 17.2 points against the red-hot New England Patriots. Now, the former fourth-round pick will face the Buffalo Bills, who are surely ticked off after a disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins. Sean McDermott's team is allowing just 2.8 points to opposing tight ends, which means Baker Mayfield will have to look toward his other targets to stay in the MVP race. Defenses Start – Houston Texans (vs Tennessee Titans) The Houston Texans have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Tennessee Titans have one of the worst offenses in the NFL. The Texans are just a game behind the AFC's No. 7 seed. The Titans are tanking. There's no question which defense should score the most fantasy points in Week 11. Sit – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs Buffalo Bills) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a sneaky-good fantasy unit in 2025, but Todd Bowles' team has a tough matchup ahead against the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen and this elite offense have a lot to prove after a dismal loss to the Miami Dolphins, and they need to win this game to stay in the AFC East hunt. Even though the weather could be a little dicey for both offenses, we don't expect the Buccaneers' defense to put up many fantasy points in this 1:00 PM game.
