What a wild football season it's been so far! We saw that unforgettable Hail Mary from Washington just a couple of weeks ago. And now, we’re witnessing the Chiefs' defense come up with a huge play, blocking a chip-shot field goal to win the game. It's been that kind of season—full of shocking moments and heart-pounding finishes. Eight games this week were decided by fewer than seven points! It’s clear that this season has captured everyone's attention, and we can’t look away.

With Week 11 already upon us and the playoffs fast approaching, every game now feels crucial. There’s no room for mistakes—each week is more important than the last. So, let’s ensure we set that perfect lineup and keep pushing toward the finish line!

Starts

QB - Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (Bal)

The Steelers are having an impressive season, and it doesn’t matter who’s under center—thanks to their elite defense. But recently QB Russell Wilson has sparked the offense, especially with his clutch comeback win against Washington in Week 10. While it wasn’t the cleanest performance, Wilson still delivered with 3 passing touchdowns. Through three starts this year, the veteran has thrown 7 TDs with only 2 turnovers, and this divisional matchup against the Ravens is shaping up to be a high-scoring affair. Baltimore’s secondary has been a major weakness, as we saw last week when QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase shredded them. The Ravens are giving up a league-worst 294 passing yards per game and are also allowing the 8th most fantasy points to QBs. With that kind of matchup, Wilson is a strong bet to finish as a top-12 QB this week.

RB - Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (@ NO)

It feels a bit odd to have Browns RB Nick Chubb on the start list this year. In past seasons, it would’ve been a no-brainer. But after his injury, things haven't quite clicked, as he’s failed to top 60 rushing yards in his first three games. Despite the slow start, I’m expecting this week to be Chubb’s breakout game. Cleveland’s offense is still searching for its rhythm, and what better way to establish it than by dominating on the ground against the Saints? New Orleans has struggled to stop the run, allowing 141 rushing yards per game—the 6th most in the league. This will be Chubb’s fourth game back, and with the passing game still inconsistent, I expect the Browns to lean heavily on their star running back. It's time for Chubb to reclaim his role as the centerpiece of the offense.

WR - Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans (Min)

Titans WR Calvin Ridley’s season has been a classic case of boom or bust. In his first six games, he was held under 10 yards in three, making him tough to trust in your lineup. But things have changed since WR DeAndre Hopkins joined the Chiefs, and now Ridley is looking more like a lineup lock. Case in point: over the past three weeks, Ridley has caught 20 of 32 targets—a staggering number in just three games. Additionally, he's made the most of those opportunities, racking up 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. This week, he’s got a solid matchup against the Vikings. While Minnesota boasts one of the league’s best-run defenses, they’ve struggled against the pass, allowing the 7th most passing yards per game. Ridley is a must-start moving forward, as he’s finally living up to his potential.

TE - Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (Cle)

After National Tight End Day a couple of weeks ago, the position has cooled off a bit, but there are still some solid options to consider. This week, I’m rolling with Saints TE Taysom Hill. Normally I’d shy away from his gadget role, but with WR Chris Olave now on IR, Hill has become a more reliable part of the offense. Over the past three games, Hill has caught 8 passes on 11 targets for 96 yards. Those numbers alone might not be enough to sell you, but he’s also added 13 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. With the Saints’ top two wide receivers sidelined, Hill should continue to see solid involvement in both the passing and running game. If you can get a tight end who’s looking at 5-7 targets and 4-5 carries, that’s a player worth starting. Hill is a safe option this week.

Defense - Philadelphia Eagles (Wsh)

In past seasons, facing Washington’s revolving door of quarterbacks would’ve made the Eagles' defense an easy start. But this year, things are different. Washington rookie QB Jaden Daniels has truly elevated the offense, making them a much tougher matchup. On the season, Washington ranks 4th in both total yards and scoring. That said, there have been some vulnerabilities when they've gone up against stronger defenses. Against the Bears and Steelers, Washington struggled to move the ball (aside from that wild Hail Mary). Now they head to Philly, while the Eagles defense returns home riding high after a dominant win over the Cowboys, where they forced 5 turnovers. This game promises to be exciting, but I expect the Eagle's defense to give the rookie QB a tough time. They’ll likely make life difficult for Daniels and slow down Washington’s high-powered offense.

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Sits

QB - CJ Stroud, Houston Texans (@Dal)

Through the first six weeks of the season, Houston QB CJ Stroud was playing well. He had 10 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions and a couple of 300-yard games, making him a reliable weekly starter. However, his performance over the last four games has sharply declined, as He’s averaging under 200 passing yards per game with just 2 touchdowns and 4 turnovers. While some of those games were against tough defenses like the Jets and Colts, his most recent performance against the Lions sealed the deal for me. Detroit’s defense has been among the worst in the league, allowing the second-most fantasy points to QBs, yet Stroud still struggled. He missed several throws, including a critical one to wide-open WR Tank Dell that resulted in an interception. Right now Stroud is too risky to trust, regardless of matchup. If you can find a streaming option, I’d recommend going that route until he shows more consistency.

RB - D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (GB)

At first glance, Bears RB D’Andre Swift looks like a lineup lock, sitting comfortably as a top-20 RB. But when you dig deeper, his performance has been more boom-or-bust. He went on a hot streak with four straight games of 18+ points, which is impressive. However, in his other five games, he’s been held under 60 rushing yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown. Additionally, Swift hasn’t been a consistent factor in the passing game, with 2 or fewer receptions in 5 of his 9 games. This week he faces the Packers, who are allowing the 10th fewest rushing yards per game. With the Bears' offense not quite firing on all cylinders, I’m not confident in Swift’s ability to deliver a strong performance. He’s too risky, especially in a tough matchup.

WR - Devonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (Wsh)

Eagles WR Devonta Smith is having an overall solid year but has a few dud games mixed in. He’s part of the Eagles' game plan when needed, but if the running game is working, they’ll gladly lean on it and run the ball 30 times instead. Smith has had five games with 70+ receiving yards but has also been held under 15 yards twice this year.

This week against Washington, the Eagles are likely to stick to the ground game, especially at home. The Commanders have allowed the 5th most rushing yards, which sets up a heavy dose of RB Saquon Barkley and QB Jalen Hurts on the ground. However, while weak against the run, Washington has been strong against the pass, giving up the 5th fewest passing yards in the league. Given the matchup and likely game script, I don’t see Smith being heavily involved. It’s a week to look for a different wideout option.

TE - Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (Ind)

At one point this year, Jets TE Tyler Conklin seemed like a lineup lock, posting 15 catches for 165 yards over a three-game stretch. However, with the addition of WR Davante Adams in addition to QB Aaron Rodgers’ underwhelming play, Conklin is no longer a reliable option. He’s caught just 2 passes for 5 yards in his last two games, and right now is an afterthought in the offense. With a tough upcoming matchup against the Colts to go along with a struggling QB, there are better TE options available.

Defense - San Francisco 49ers (Sea) 

There’s no such thing as a guaranteed "lineup lock" when it comes to defenses. Take the San Francisco 49ers as an example. San Fran has been solid, but not quite the dominant force many expected. While they’ve been consistently mediocre (allowing 20+ points in five straight games and recording only 8 sacks), their turnovers have been offset by giving up the 10th most yards in the league. Additionally, this will be their second matchup with Seattle. In the first one, they allowed 24 points while picking up just a couple of sacks. To that end, don’t let the 49ers' reputation fool you, as there are better options out there.

It’s been an unpredictable and thrilling season so far, and with Week 11 fast approaching, every decision matters. As the playoffs loom large, making the right calls each week can make all the difference. The players you choose to start or sit can impact your fantasy team’s success, so it’s crucial to stay on top of the latest trends, matchups, and player performances. Whether it’s finding the perfect streaming option or making the tough decision to bench a struggling player, your moves need to be smart and timely.

As we head into the final stretch, don’t let any mistakes derail your fantasy playoff hopes. Set your lineup with confidence, trust the analysis, and keep pushing toward that championship. Every week counts—so let’s go set those winning lineups!