Week 11 of the NFL season delivered another round of dramatic finishes, breakout performances and injury shakeups that kept fantasy managers on edge. From Josh Allen's six-touchdown eruption to De'Von Achane's explosive workload against Washington, the biggest stars came through while several passing games continued to raise concerns. This week's NFL reactions dive deep into each performance and what it means for your lineups heading into Week 12. For player usage updates and roster context, check out RotoWire's NFL Depth Charts, and don't miss the Weekly Projections to see how the upcoming matchups shape up.
Dolphins 16 Commanders 13
Miami leaned into a run-heavy script against a Washington defense that has been vulnerable on the ground, and the approach paid off. De'Von Achane dominated early and late touches, exploding for 165 scrimmage yards but getting stuffed multiple times inside the 5, costing him a massive fantasy finish. With limited passing volume, Jaylen Waddle led the team with seven targets yet delivered just 52 yards in one of his quieter outings. As has been the case for weeks, Achane and Waddle remain the only consistently reliable fantasy options in this offense. Ollie Gordon added 47 yards and a touchdown on eight carries but remains only a deep-league flex due to his volatile weekly usage.
Washington's lone bright spot was Deebo Samuel, who paced the team with seven catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. His workload has fluctuated all year, but back-to-back games with at least 12.9 PPR points push him back into the weekly WR3 mix. Zach Ertz continued to handle a steady possession role with four catches for 42 yards, keeping him in the low-end streaming conversation. Chris Rodriguez fell short of scoring for a third consecutive week but still controlled the backfield with 15 carries for 79 yards, making him the only Commanders' running back worth considering for fantasy lineups. Meanwhile, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has failed to clear 5.1 PPR points in five straight contests and can be safely dropped in most leagues.
Steelers 34 Bengals 12
The Steelers flipped the script from their recent shootout with Cincinnati and turned this matchup into a one-sided defensive showcase. Kenneth Gainwell delivered the lone fantasy blowup for Pittsburgh after taking over for the injured Jaylen Warren (ankle), piling up 81 receiving yards and two touchdowns. If Warren misses time, Gainwell becomes a must-start option. Aaron Rodgers' wrist injury forced Mason Rudolph into action and continued to limit the passing game, leaving DK Metcalf stuck with just 49 yards. Metcalf remains a volatile flex with TD upside after another quiet game.
Cincinnati's offense had no answers this time around. The Steelers held Ja'Marr Chase to 30 yards and limited the Bengals to a single touchdown scored by Tee Higgins, who remains a strong weekly starter based on usage and talent. Joe Flacco posted his worst performance with the team but still profiles as a borderline QB1 until Joe Burrow returns. Chase Brown cleared 100 scrimmage yards for the fourth consecutive week and continues to cement himself as a dependable RB2.
Bills 44 Buccaneers 32
Josh Allen unleashed a monster fantasy performance with six total touchdowns, reminding managers exactly why they invest early in elite quarterbacks. James Cook added 114 scrimmage yards and a score, showing signs of breaking out of his touchdown slump. Gabe Davis returned to the lineup and produced a usable 40 yards, keeping him on the deeper league stash radar.
Sean Tucker punished anyone who benched him by totaling 140 total yards and three touchdowns in a signature return to form. His role will shrink once Bucky Irving returns, but Tucker should remain rostered in case the team expands his workload. Emeka Egbuka drew nine targets but managed only 40 yards, yet he remains a strong WR2 thanks to reliable volume. Cade Otton cooled off with a 28 yard game but remains in the weekly streaming mix. Tampa Bay leaned run heavy as the game was close until later in the second half, but the offensive balance should stabilize as game scripts normalize.
Texans 16 Titans 13
Houston survived with backup Davis Mills and a last second field goal, but fantasy managers walked away with mixed results. Woody Marks dominated backfield touches but managed only 51 total yards, keeping him in the low end RB2 conversation based on volume alone. Marks may have fully pulled away from Nick Chubb. Nico Collins continued to thrive with Mills, racking up 92 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. Dalton Schultz posted six catches for 51 yards and remains a strong PPR producer, while Jayden Higgins showed signs of becoming the team's clear No. 2 WR after a 4-55 line on seven targets..
The Titans remain a tough watch offensively. Calvin Ridley's season-ending fibula injury and Chimere Dike's concussion left the receiving corps depleted. Tony Pollard's inefficiency continued, making Tyjae Spears the more attractive weekly flex due to his passing game role after posting 31 receiving yards on five receptions. Van Jefferson scored the lone touchdown but is not a realistic fantasy option. This offense offers few dependable contributors for the fantasy playoffs.
Bears 19 Vikings 17
Chicago escaped with another close win, but fantasy managers had little to celebrate. D'Andre Swift handled solid volume and rushed for 90 yards, keeping him in the top-20 RB mix despite lacking receiving work in this game. Kyle Monangai scored the only touchdown but had less than two yards per carry, leaving him a game-script dependent flex. The passing game sputtered again, with Cole Kmet leading the team at just 45 yards while no other Chicago receiver topped 41 yards. DJ Moore managed only 18 yards and has now posted back-to-back brutal fantasy lines, making him extremely difficult to trust. Rome Odunze (2-41) also struggled and has delivered multiple down games in the last five weeks, reinforcing how unreliable this passing attack has become. Caleb Williams continues to mix elite spike weeks with too many low-end outings, leaving him as a volatile boom-or-bust fantasy option.
Minnesota's offense offered little for fantasy managers once again. Justin Jefferson delivered another modest outing with 61 yards, while Jordan Addison needed a blown coverage late in the fourth quarter to salvage his 20-yard performance with a touchdown. Addison's talent is unquestioned, but his fantasy value has cratered with J.J. McCarthy under center, leaving him as a TD-dependent flex play. Aaron Jones once again dominated the backfield, turning 19 touches into 81 efficient yards and solidifying himself as a dependable top-24 option. Jordan Mason punched in a short touchdown but handled only six carries, keeping him firmly in a complementary role behind Jones and tough to trust in fantasy.
Packers 27 Giants 20
Green Bay won on the road but suffered a potentially significant loss when Josh Jacobs exited with a knee injury. Emanuel Wilson stepped in with 49 scrimmage yards and a touchdown and would become a priority waiver add if Jacobs misses time. Jordan Love fought through a shoulder issue to throw two touchdowns and remains a viable superflex starter. Christian Watson delivered a two-touchdown week with 46 yards, though his volatility keeps him a boom-or-bust fantasy play. Romeo Doubs (4-53) maintained his steady target share and remains a safe floor option.
The Giants had Jameis Winston under center. and Isaiah Hodgins immediately stepped into a significant role with 57 yards on six targets and could become a desperation PPR depth option if his usage sticks after being elevated to the active roster. Wan'Dale Robinson led the team with nine targets but produced only 36 yards, though he remains a weekly flex in PPR formats. Tyrone Tracy looked electric on his way to 139 scrimmage yards, while Devin Singletary stole fantasy value with two short touchdowns. Both RBs are borderline RB2 options, based on volume. Theo Johnson produced only 35 yards and stays in the TE streamer bucket.
Panthers 30 Falcons 27
Bryce Young shocked the fantasy world by throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns in the best game of his season. Managers should not expect this to repeat, but the outburst gave Tetairoa McMillan a massive 130-yard, two-touchdown performance. Xavier Legette added a score of his own. McMillan maintains a solid weekly floor, while Legette is too inconsistent to trust aside from a desperation option. Rico Dowdle logged 100 scrimmage yards and continues to remain in RB1 consideration thanks to steady all-around usage.
Atlanta remains unpredictable and suffered multiple injuries, including Michael Penix and Drake London with knee injuries. London (7-119) was having another strong performance before exiting and remains an elite weekly starter when healthy. Bijan Robinson erupted early and finished with 143 total yards and two touchdowns, reminding fantasy managers of his elite ceiling. Kyle Pitts managed only 14 yards despite the favorable matchup and is increasingly difficult to trust. If Penix misses time, Kirk Cousins offers little fantasy upside and potentially drags down the entire offense.
Jaguars 35 Chargers 6
Jacksonville showed the good side of its uneven season by steamrolling the Chargers behind 47 rushing attempts. Travis Etienne led the way with 73 yards and two touchdowns, while Bhayshul Tuten added 74 yards and another score as the ground game took over. Etienne remains a locked in top-20 RB, while Tuten still needs steadier volume before he can be trusted as a weekly option. Jakobi Meyers was the only pass catcher to exceed 25 yards, posting 64 and profiling as a potential WR3 as he'll settle in as a reliable possession target.
The Chargers delivered a true dud in a game that got away from them early. Keenan Allen led the team with 53 yards in an otherwise forgettable offensive showing. Oronde Gadsden and Ladd McConkey combined for 10.4 PPR points but should not be downgraded given their strong recent track records. Kimani Vidal exited with a thigh injury and was trending toward a down week, but he remains a matchup dependent RB2 with a wide range of outcomes. I expect the Chargers will be just fine after this surprisingly bad effort and a cross-country road trip.
Rams 21 Seahawks 19
The Rams picked up a big win over Seattle, but the offense was far from sharp. Kyren Williams handled only 12 carries yet turned them into 91 yards and a touchdown, and his combination of volume and red-zone efficiency continues to lock him in as a top fantasy option. Davante Adams played through an oblique injury and managed just a one-yard touchdown on eight targets, making it likely the injury limited him more than expected. His production should rebound in the coming weeks. With Matthew Stafford attempting just 28 passes, Puka Nacua's eight targets were in line with expectations, and he turned them into 93 yards on seven catches. It was not one of his monster outings, but it was the kind of strong floor on which game managers can rely.
Seattle fans are left wondering how different this game might have looked had Sam Darnold not thrown four interceptions with no touchdowns. The turnovers are a genuine concern as the Seahawks push toward the NFL playoffs, as this offense can't reach its ceiling if Darnold keeps giving possessions away. Despite the struggles under center, Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his outstanding season with another 100-plus-yard performance and remains one of the most reliable receivers in fantasy football. The backfield remained split as usual, but Kenneth Walker finally snapped his five-game streak of sub-10 PPR outings with 111 scrimmage yards and a goal-line touchdown. He remains a shaky flex play with occasional upside. The surprise of the game was AJ Barner, who drew 11 targets and caught 10 passes for 70 yards. As talented as he is, this spike in usage looks like an outlier rather than something fantasy managers should expect weekly.
49ers 41 Cardinals 22
The 49ers welcomed back Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall, giving them one of the rare weeks this season with their full offensive core healthy. San Francisco took full advantage by dropping 41 points on Arizona. With a balanced approach, Purdy threw for just 200 yards but delivered three touchdown passes for an excellent fantasy day. Christian McCaffrey dominated once again with 121 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns, reaffirming his status as an elite weekly RB1. George Kittle tied for the team lead with six targets and turned them into 67 yards and two touchdowns, and while his weekly volume fluctuates, his ceiling keeps him firmly in the elite tight-end tier. Pearsall saw only three targets and failed to gain a yard, though his role should grow now that he's back on the field. Jauan Jennings added four catches for 54 yards but, with everyone healthy, profiles more as a high-floor depth option for fantasy.
Fantasy managers investing in the Cardinals benefited from extreme negative game script, which forced Jacoby Brissett to attempt 57 passes, completing an NFL-record 47 for 452 yards and two touchdowns. With Marvin Harrison sidelined after an appendectomy, Michael Wilson commanded a massive 18 targets, catching 15 for 185 yards in a breakout performance. If Harrison misses next week, Wilson looks like a borderline must-start option. Trey McBride once again thrived without Kyler Murray, posting 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown to maintain his place as fantasy's top tight end. Greg Dortch also made the most of the pass-heavy script, catching all six targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. His production was volume-driven, but he remains a viable consideration for fantasy lineups if Arizona stays pass-heavy.
Ravens 23 Browns 16
This game played out like a classic AFC North battle, where records and talent levels mean little. Lamar Jackson had one of his worst outings as a pro, throwing for 193 yards with two interceptions and managing only 10 rushing yards. Since returning from his hamstring injury, Jackson has not delivered the elite fantasy production managers expect, though the hope is that he stabilizes soon. Derrick Henry finally broke through with a rare 100-yard rushing performance and added a touchdown, but he has not consistently been a dominant force this season. Mark Andrews posted just 32 receiving yards on three catches, yet he delivered an excellent fantasy day thanks to a 35-yard game-winning touchdown run, keeping him on the TE1 border despite the uneven yardage. Zay Flowers was the lone bright spot in the passing game, leading the team with three catches for 78 yards and remaining a solid weekly floor option with occasional upside.
There is not much positive to say about the Browns' offense. Although Cleveland stayed competitive throughout, the defense carried the load, and the team failed to score an offensive touchdown. Dillon Gabriel exited with a concussion, forcing Shedeur Sanders into action. As usual, Quinshon Judkins had little room to work and managed only 59 yards on 17 carries, as the lack of supporting cast continues to limit his fantasy ceiling. Cedric Tillman was the only receiver to surpass 26 yards, finishing with a 3-52 line, and every other Cleveland pass catcher carries significant weekly downside. If Sanders starts next week, expectations should be extremely low; in this game, he completed just four of 16 passes with an interception while taking two sacks.
Broncos 22 Chiefs 19
No Denver player produced a strong fantasy performance, but it did not matter as the Broncos handled their division rivals and improved to 9-2 on the season. It appeared the team did not want to overwork RJ Harvey after losing J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending foot injury. Serving as the lead back, Harvey got 11 rushing attempts and three targets, totaling 50 scrimmage yards. Fantasy managers investing in Harvey were likely frustrated when Jaleel McLaughlin scored the team's lone touchdown on a short run. Troy Franklin and Courtland Sutton both saw eight targets, but Franklin outperformed Sutton with 84 yards compared to 59. Franklin has now out-targeted Sutton the last five weeks, and with defenses focusing more on Sutton, this trend may continue. Pat Bryant also emerged with six targets, catching five for 82 yards. He is not yet a trustworthy fantasy option, but it is clear coach Sean Payton has a development plan for the talented young receiver.
For Kansas City, it is becoming clear the team does not fully trust its rushing attack. Despite a neutral game script throughout, Kareem Hunt logged 14 carries while the team attempted 45 passes. Denver countered by sitting in zone coverage, and Patrick Mahomes struggled to sustain drives. The Chiefs' only touchdown came from Travis Kelce, who posted a strong 9-91-TD receiving line. Aside from a 61-yard catch by Tyquan Thornton, no other Kansas City wideout topped 40 yards. Rashee Rice delivered a disappointing six catches for 38 yards but remains a strong rest-of-season option given his role. Xavier Worthy continues to be more of a flex play, which was reflected in his three catches for 25 yards. Hunt added 62 scrimmage yards and a touchdown, and as long as Isiah Pacheco remains sidelined, he stays in the high-floor fantasy conversation.
Injuries
- Drake London suffered a knee injury.
- Josh Jacobs injured his knee, and Emanuel Wilson served as the lead back.
- Jaylen Warren suffered an ankle injury.
- Calvin Ridley left with a fibula injury and is done for the year.
- Kimani Vidal injured his thigh.
- Aaron Rodgers left with a wrist injury, and Mason Rudolph finished the game. There are concerns that Rodgers may have a slight break in his wrist.
- Michael Penix suffered a knee injury, and Kirk Cousins took over.
- Chimere Dike sustained a concussion.
- Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion, and Shedeur Sanders took over.
Conclusion
Week 11 reminded us once again that the NFL rarely delivers a predictable script, with key injuries and shifting roles impacting playoff-bound fantasy teams. Elite producers like Allen, Robinson and Achane reinforced their weekly anchor status, while other backfields and receiving corps grew even murkier. Whether it's identifying which emerging receivers are here to stay or managing injury fallout, staying proactive is the key. Keep an eye on RotoWire's NFL Weekly Recap and Injury Report to stay ahead as the fantasy stretch run heats up.
