Fantasy studs and duds: Matthew Stafford will stick it to Raiders
Fantasy owners who like to exploit matchups will be disappointed to find three of this season's four worst defenses on bye in Week 11. Even with fewer easy decisions, we've still found a few worth highlighting.
STUDS
QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions: In the three outings since his 405-yard, four-touchdown Week 6, Stafford has failed to top 256 and two. The Oakland Raiders should help. With some of the weakest cornerbacks in the NFL, they’re a top-10 fantasy matchup for quarterbacks.
RB Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins: Miller’s workload might decrease marginally with Jay Ajayi’s arrival, but the incumbent remains a strong fantasy play. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry and scored seven times this year — all coming in the five weeks since the hiring of run-happy head coach Dan Campbell.
WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drops have plagued his efforts, but his whopping 32 targets in two weeks, with eight catches in each and an average of 139 receiving yards, have re-established him as the 2014 stud we knew. Wide receivers have dominated the Philadelphia Eagles, who’ve yielded the third-most fantasy points per game to them.
WR Stevie Johnson, San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers has attempted a league-leading 390 passes. He doesn’t have Keenan Allen or Malcom Floyd to target. Which means Johnson, with at least eight targets in three of his last four games, will step into an even larger role. The Kansas City Chiefs have allowed the second-most PPR points per game to wideouts.
RB Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders: While the Raiders will have trouble stopping the Detroit passing game, they’ll take advantage of a top-10 matchup for running backs. The Lions have allowed a league-high 12 touchdowns on the ground to this position. Murray averages an excellent 4.7 yards a carry.
DUDS
WR T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts: Matt Hasselbeck and not Andrew Luck taking starting snaps lowers Hilton’s ceiling. The Falcons boast one of the league’s best cornerback duos, and they’ll contain Hilton as they have most wideouts.
RB Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Philadelphia Eagles have allowed one rushing touchdown to a running back all season. Martin already yields passing-down work to Charles Sims and will struggle to find work in the second half if Tampa Bay is playing from behind.
WR Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs: Look for the Chiefs to focus their attack on San Diego's league-worst run defense. Underrated cover cornerback Jason Verrett will likely follow Maclin and force QB Alex Smith to look elsewhere.
QB Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals: Dalton has hit his owners hard of late, throwing for 243 or fewer yards in each of his last four games. Arizona’s tough defense against aerial attacks will confound Dalton again.
RB Chris Johnson, Arizona Cardinals: The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed only one back to rush for 100 yards (Thomas Rawls, in a surprise), but receiving backs have enjoyed some success. So as they did against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10, the Cardinals will spread the wealth to Andre Ellington and David Johnson via the pass.
SLEEPERS
WR Tavon Austin, St. Louis Rams: The slasher has disappeared through the air in the last two weeks, combining for six receptions and 20 yards. He logged 66 rushing yards in Week 9, though, and should counter with some big plays against a Baltimore Ravens secondary that has allowed the highest weekly output to receivers in point-per-reception leagues.
TE Jacob Tamme, Atlanta Falcons: Tamme, who has averaged 11 targets, eight receptions and 82 receiving yards in his last two games, while also finding the end zone once. The Indianapolis Colts have yielded at least 79 yards and one score to this position in each of the last four weeks, too.
RB James White, New England Patriots: The Pats’ first game without Dion Lewis was a perfect matchup for LeGarrette Blount. But the Buffalo Bills are much more susceptible to pass-catching backs, as Lewis proved in Week 2 (six catches, 138 offensive yards). White fits that role now, and he could pick up even more work with WR Julian Edelman sidelined.
QB Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans: Four straight slingers have gone 272-plus with two or more TD passes against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a top-10 favorable statistical matchup on the year. Wideout Kendall Wright's return would be a bonus.
RB Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins: Though the backup to Lamar Miller, Ajayi has averaged 8.1 yards per carry in complementary work. This game could get out of hand quickly, and even if it doesn’t, Dallas ranks as a top-five matchup for running backs. Miami’s new one-two punch could go wild with Ajayi serving up high-end flex numbers, at minimum.