FanDuel’s Week 11 Main Slate features 16 games and will kickoff at noon ET.
The spotlight will be on LSU and Alabama in a potential shootout that could decide the Heisman winner. One of the biggest decisions on the slate is how heavily we want to play this game. Both of these defenses are loaded with future pros and the Vegas game total (63 points). It is easy to envision the shootout but there is a higher likelihood that this game ends up being slightly disappointing from a fantasy perspective. We will also need to decide how we want to approach Ohio State. The Buckeyes are favored by 43.5 points, so the blowout risk is extreme but we also can’t ignore the upside of a game where Vegas gives Ohio State an implied team total of 54.5 points.
This slate breakdown will go position-by-position, highlighting the top options and giving an overview of the toughest choices we face this week. The top options are broken down into two categories. Players listed as Core Plays are those who you can play with high confidence in both cash games and tournaments. Players listed as Worth Considering are viable as cost-saving options in your main lineup or high-upside options for tournaments
Injury Notes
More than any slate this season, late-breaking injury news is going to have a huge impact on roster construction. There are a number of big name players who look like game time decisions.
The biggest question is the injury status of Rondale Moore. Currently listed as questionable, Moore may return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last four Purdue games. Priced at just $5,000 against a mediocre Nebraska defense, Moore would be coming at a discount of nearly $5,000 compared to what he should cost. He is going to have an especially big impact on overall roster construction since this is a week with almost nothing under $6,000 at wide receiver. If Moore is active, the higher-priced players at all other positions are much easier to get into lineups and will be higher owned.
Tylan Wallace suffered a knee injury in practice this week. There are some rumors it could be a season-ending injury but it is all conjecture at this point. Oklahoma State has only said that he is getting an MRI and is questionable for Saturday. We will probably have to wait until closer to game time for a final designation but for now, he shouldn’t be in any lineups.
Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman is also listed as questionable after missing the Florida State game two weeks ago with a shoulder injury. He could be one of the top plays on the slate at the position if we get some positive news on his health.
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez is questionable to return from a knee injury. He has a nice matchup against Purdue but even if he is able to start, it will be hard to figure out how much he will be limited as a runner.
Notre Dame running back Tony Jones Jr. is questionable. If he was to miss, Jafar Armstrong becomes an interesting option at a very low price.
Some other injury situations to keep an eye on are SMU wide receiver Reggie Roberson, Miami running back DeeJay Dallas, Houston running back Patrick Carr, and Kansas State wide receiver Malik Knowles.
Quarterback
Positional Overview
There are a number of exciting options at the position this week. We have four legitimate Heisman candidates on the slate: Jalen Hurts ($12,000), Justin Fields ($10,800), Tua Tagovailoa ($10,200), and Joe Burrow ($10,100). All four are in play if you can fit the salaries in.
We also have two of our most consistently productive dual-threat quarterbacks in Jamie Newman ($10,400) and Sam Ehlinger ($10,600) firmly in play in the same price range.
If we want to save some cap space, Hendon Hooker ($8,400) looks slightly under-priced if he is fully healthy. Converted wide receiver Lynn Bowden ($9,100) is also an intriguing upside play. He has rushed for 190+ yards and 2 touchdowns in two of his three starts, with the lone exception a monsoon game against Georgia.
Core Plays
Justin Fields, Ohio State ($10,800)
There is some hesitation as to whether it makes sense to rely on a quarterback for a team that is favored by 43.5 points, knowing the likely blowout means fewer passing attempts, fewer designed quarterback runs, and an early exit. Unless Maryland’s offense has a better showing than expected, Fields’ upside might be limited a bit. The other side of this same coin is that Fields has a higher floor in this type of matchup, as well. He isn’t leaving the field unless Ohio State is up at least 30 points. If the Ohio State offense struggles, you get a full game of Fields and it is hard to see him not putting up 25+ points if he plays the full game. If Ohio State does rack up enough points that Fields exits early, you have to like your chances that he would be involved in enough of those scores to get to 25+ points before heading to the bench. The only scenario where Fields fails to give you solid production is if the defense scores and almost all of the offensive touchdowns are scored by the running backs. We have seen another top Big 10 quarterback smash in a similar spot. In a 69-0 blowout of Maryland, Penn State’s Sean Clifford put up 38 fantasy points with three passing touchdowns and a rushing score.
Jamie Newman, Wake Forst ($10,400)
Newman is one of the top quarterback plays on the slate for the second-straight week. He returned from a minor shoulder injury to put up 38.5 fantasy points against NC State. He could have had a much bigger game if the Wolfpack offense had done anything at all because he did almost all of his damage early before Wake took their foot off the gas and cruised to the easy win. Newman has had an extremely high floor this season. In the five games he has started and finished, he has put up at least 26.9 FanDuel fantasy points in each. Newman is a true dual-threat who has proven to be especially difficult to stop as a runner when in the red zone, rushing for 8 touchdowns in his last 8 games. The matchup against Virginia Tech is solid. Wake Forest is favored by 2 points in a game with a 61.5-point total (5th-highest on the slate). Virginia Tech has given up some big numbers to opposing passers this season. North Carolina’s Sam Howell threw for 348 yards and 5 touchdowns, Miami’s N’Kosi Perry threw for 422 yards and 4 touchdowns, and Duke’s Quentin Harris threw for a pair of scores while also rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Others to Consider
Hendon Hooker, Virginita Tech ($8,400)
Like Jamie Newman last week, Hooker carries an injury designation and we will probably have to wait until game day to receive confirmation that he is the starter. However, all signs point to his return. Reports are that he was probably healthy enough to go last week but that Justin Fuente decided to hold him out in bad conditions in part because he had barely practiced in the week leading up to the game. Assuming he is healthy, Hooker might give us the most bang for our buck of any player on the slate. Wake Forest’s uptempo offense is going to lead to a lot of offensive snaps on both sides of this matchup. The game is expected to be very competitive and high scoring (the Hokies implied team total of 29.5 points is 11th-highest on the slate). With Virginia Tech’s mediocre stable of running backs, most of the offense should come through Hooker. In his two full games as the starter, he has rushed 31 times for 119 yards and 1 touchdown. He should rush for at least 50 yards and has a good shot at a rushing touchdown in this matchup. Hooker has also been very solid throwing the ball, averaging just under 10 yards per attempt with a touchdown rage of 11.5%. The big name quarterbacks in higher profile matchups and the injury designation could help keep Hooker's GPP ownership down.
Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma ($12,000)
How much you like Hurts should be directly proportional to how much you like the value options at other positions. Hurts does have the highest raw points projection on the slate by a decent margin, so if you can fit him in and feel comfortable with the rest of your lineup, you should do it. Oklahoma has the third-highest team total on the slate (41.3) but is probably in the best spot overall since the two teams with higher totals are both favored by 30+. The Sooners are just a 14.5-point home favorite against a very solid Iowa State team. The Cyclones rank 17th in defensive SP+, so this isn’t the type of matchup where Oklahoma is going to be able to do whatever they want and the 41.3-point team total is eight points less than their scoring average to date. Hurts’ salary has risen to the point to the point where he is merely a solid value but not a slam dunk play that you have to jam in no matter what, however. When you look at it through the lens of two vs. two lineup decisions, you can see how tough a call playing Hurts is. Would you rather roster Hendon Hooker and CeeDee Lamb for a combined $18,000 or Hurts and a $6,000 receiver? These aren’t easy calls and are the reason why Hurts is not quite a core play for me on this slate but is still going to be a strong GPP target.
Running Back
Positional Overview
The $9,400 to $10,000 price range is loaded with excellent options this week. The most difficult decision on the slate is picking which two of these top backs to play. There are six backs in this range that probably have 20-point floors with 40-point upside. You can’t go wrong with any of the following backs: J.K. Dobbins ($10,000), AJ Dillon ($9,900), Cam Akers ($9,700), Travis Etienne ($9,600), Jonathan Taylor ($9,500), and D’Andre Swift ($9,400). If you are making multiple tournaments lineups, it makes sense to try to get exposure to each of these potential slate-breakers.
The strength of the top options mean there is a real opportunity cost to using one of the running back spots as a salary saver. There are some solid options outside of the elite tier, however. Iowa State’s Breece Hall ($9,000) has been on fire and has a solid matchup against Oklahoma. Injuries to other Texas Tech backs have SaRodorick Thompson ($8,400) in line for a huge workload. David Bailey ($7,700) has been extremely productive as the second option in the run-heavy Boston College offense. Lastly, Master Teague ($6,600) should have a strong game if Vegas is right in tabbing Ohio State as a 43.5-point favorite.
Core Plays
AJ Dillon, Boston College ($9,900)
Dillon looks poised for another big week. Boston College is a 2-point home favorite against Florida State in a potential shootout (63-point game total). Both teams will play uptempo, so there should be a lot of snaps in this game. We could easily see Dillon have 33+ touches for the fourth time this season. In his last seven games, Dillon has put up at least 150 total yards six times (with Clemson as the only exception). This consistency and heavy usage makes him the safest of the top running back options. The matchup is probably even better than it looks on paper. The Seminoles mediocre, 57-ranked SP+ defense will be without its best player. Massive defensive tackle Marvin Wilson sustained a hand injury last week against Miami and had season-ending surgery. He was the anchor of the run defense and makes a difficult challenge for the Florida State defense even tougher.
Travis Etienne, Clemson ($9,600)
The Clemson offense struggled to start the season but has been much better over their last four outings. The improved play has coincided with Etienne’s re-emergence as one of the nation’s most productive backs. He has put up at least 130 total yards and at least one touchdown in each of the last four games. Over this stretch, he is averaging an absurd 11.4 yards per carry. The matchup against NC State is certainly manageable for Clemson. The Wolfpack have the 46th-ranked SP+ defense but Clemson’s talented offense still comes into the game with a 42.8-point team total. There is some blowout risk here but it is hard to see Etienne failing in this spot. His elite speed and uncanny ability to break off long touchdown runs gives him extremely high upside, also.
Others to Consider
J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State ($10,000)
Dobbins has put up huge fantasy numbers against some very good rushing defenses in his last three outings; 35.6 points against Wisconsin, 28.6 against Northwestern, and 24.4 against Michigan State. Against a terrible Maryland defense in a game where Vegas has Ohio State with an absurd 54-point team total, the potential is there for Dobbins to have a slate-breaking performance. Given how heavily the Buckeyes are favored (42 points), Dobbins probably fits in better as a GPP play due to the blowout potential.
Master Teague, Ohio State ($6,600)
Teague is the clear #2 running back for Ohio State and could be in line for a heavy workload on Saturday if the matchup against Maryland goes according to script. The Buckeyes are 43.5-point favorites. This game could be over at halftime and there is no reason for Ohio State to expose Justin Fields and J.K. Dobbins to extra hits if they sprint out to a big lead early. This is a game where we should see 15+ carries from Teague against what is likely to be a tired, demoralized Maryland defense in the second half. We have seen Teague’s upside in these types of games. Against Nebraska, he came in and put up 105 total yards and 2 touchdowns. For a backup, he has shown a solid floor too, even against much better defenses than Maryland. He has rushed for 76 or more yards in four straight. Teague is a north-south back without a ton of wiggle. He has been very good in short-yardage opportunities, which bodes well for his red zone upside. The underrated aspect of Teague’s game is his pure speed. He has consistently timed in he sub-4.4 range and, even if those numbers are slightly exaggerated, shown that elite speed when he has been able to get into the secondary. Teague’s ability to break off the type of 75-yard touchdown runs that can swing a GPP make him a strong salary-saving tournament play.
Wide Receiver
Positional Overview
There are plenty of strong option above $8,800 worth playing in tournaments. The top Alabama and LSU wide receivers are very much in play for tournaments. At least one or two of these guys are likely to go off for big games. Jerry Jeudy ($9,300) and Justin Jefferson ($9,100) are the best bets. However, when you combine the uncertainty and high price tags, it is hard to count on any of these pass catchers as core plays.
The strength of the running back options at $9,400+ and lack of value at quarterback are going to make saving money at wide receiver the optimal play for cash games. Luckily, we can get some talented receivers in very good offenses without breaking the bank. Clemson’s Tee Higgins ($7,500) has been banged up and has just one touchdown since September but is an extremely talented guy who should bounce back soon. Similarly, Ohio State’s K.J. Hill ($6,800) hasn’t scored since September and had just three catches total in the last two games but has proven upside.
Core Plays
K.J. Hill, Ohio State ($6,800)
Hill returned to Ohio State for his senior season after a strong junior season in which he caught 70 passes for 885 yards and 6 touchdowns. With Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and Johnnie Dixon off to the NFL, it was expected Hill would build off those numbers and have a big fantasy season. That isn’t how things have played out. Hill has just 30 catches for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season. The quick passing game hasn’t been as big a part of the offense with Justin Fields as it was with Dwayne Haskins. Hill has to be disappointed and a bit frustrated with his production to date. Ohio State should be able to get almost whatever they want against Maryland so it would make sense to try to force the ball to Hill to get him back on track and keep him happy. The upside is high in this spot for Hill considering his sub-$7K price tag.
Tee Higgins, Clemson ($7,500)
Like Hill, Higgins has been in a bit of a slump. He had 5-75-1 last week against Wofford but before that had gone three games with 44 yards or fewer and no touchdowns. Based upon preseason expectations, Higgins has been a disappointment. At some point, you expect the talent to win out and for Higgins to have a game that reminds everyone why he is considered a potential 1st-round NFL pick. Against North Carolina State in a game Clemson is expected to score 42+ points, odds are good that Higgins gets back on track. At a nearly $2,000 discount compared to most of the other top wide receiver talents on the slate, Higgins looks like a nice option to fit in the top running backs without sacrificing too much upside.
CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma ($9,600)
Of the many top wide receivers on this slate, Lamb has the best combination of floor and upside. Oklahoma has dominated all but three games this season. Texas and Texas Tech both kept it within 10 points and Kansas State pulled the upset last week. In these three competitive games, Lamb has averaged 7.3 catches for 164 yards and 2.3 touchdowns per game. His usage has been completely different in competitive games. Oklahoma is favored by just 14.5 points at home against a talented Iowa State offense that should be able to keep it interesting. This is a spot where Lamb has 40-point upside and a higher floor than his game log would indicate.
Others to Consider
There are so many high-upside tournaments options at the position this week, we will list a few of them here and keep the write-ups short.
Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State ($8,300) The reasonable price tag on Aiyuk along with his proven upside make him an attractive GPP option in a potential shootout against USC. The future pro has three games this season with 120+ yards and at least one touchdown.
Michael Pittman, USC ($8,600) Pittman has a strong 58-792-8 line this season. He has averaged just under 100 yards and almost a touchdown per game. He has had a pair of 30+ point fantasy games this season, so the upside is obviously there.
Devin Duvernay, Texas ($9,500) Duvernay has at least six catches in every single game this season and gets a ton of volume in this Texas offense. In four of eight games this season, he has had at least 8 catches for 100+ yards and at least 1 touchdown.