DRAFT Week 11 Breakdown and Top Plays
Week 11 signifies the last week of byes, but we’re still faced with a slew of injuries. The good news is that we get different matchups, along with a fresh set of players primed for your DFS lineups. The DRAFT platform has put together a unique format that marries redraft and DFS together into one exciting and different power couple.
Their weekly fantasy contests are not your typical salary cap format. Instead, they offer a series of snake-style draft contests with differing team amounts. You can choose from head-to-head, 3-team, 6-team, 8-team, or 10-team contests, with varying dollar amounts per contest. With each draft, players must select five position players: 1QB, 2RB, and 2WR/TEs. There are no salaries, no ownership percentages, and no large tourneys.
Below I will take a look at some of the best plays of the week, according to league size. You will see multiple references to aFPA, which is our schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. By using aFPA, we remove bias so that we can level the playing field and compare matchups in an "apples-to-apples" manner. One more note: remember that DRAFT is a snake-style format, so you must plan accordingly in larger contest sizes.
H2H
With only two drafters involved, your cumulative score just has to be higher than that of your opponent. Since only 10 players are involved, stick to the elite DFS chalk here.
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady (NE) @ OAK (game in Mexico City)
Play Brady, log out and repeat. He’s always chalk and is especially chalky this week. With the highest over/under of the slate set at 53.5, there will be a ton of points to go around. The Raiders rank 28th in QB aFPA, allowing 19.3 points to the position. Grab some tequila and a huge plate of nachos, and enjoy the points roll in from Mexico City.
Alex Smith (KCC) @ NYG
Fresh off a restful bye, the Chiefs head to New York to face a Giants defense ranked 29th versus opposing quarterbacks. Kansas City’s implied team total sits at 27.75, with a healthy arsenal of weapons at Smith’s disposal. Drafting a Smith-Travis Kelce stack is looking really sweet this week, especially with no salary cap to deal with.
Running Backs
Melvin Gordon (LAC) vs. BUF
Gordon gets a super soft Bills defense against the rush, a unit that allowed a combined 70.8 PPR points to the Saints backfield last week, and over 35 points to RBs in their previous two games. Grab him when you can this week because he should eat at home versus Buffalo.
LeVeon Bell (PIT) vs. TEN
In a home contest against the Titans, Bell is projected to put up the third-highest points among RBs on DRAFT. He currently sits third overall in RB points on the season with an average DRAFT score of 17.46 per week. He’s a no-brainer here.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) vs. ARI
Despite Tom Savage under center for the Texans, Hopkins is still producing WR1 numbers, in fact, he sits atop the WR hill with the highest fantasy point total through Week 10. He gets a home game this week against a Cardinals secondary ranked 23rd in WR aFPA, even with Patrick Peterson. He is ranked first on DRAFT this week among WRs with a projected 14.3 points.
Travis Kelce (KC) @ NYG
The Giants have allowed a TE TD in every single game this season. That should really be enough to draft Kelce this week, but I feel like I have to go over his accomplishments for formality sake. The Chiefs TE has posted the most fantasy points among TEs this season, averaging 13.23 DRAFT points per contest. He’s a beast with a favorable matchup, so draft him.
Antonio Brown (PIT) vs. TEN
We’re all familiar with the Steelers’ home game narrative, and it certainly applies this week. Pittsburgh plays at Heinz Field, against a Tennessee defense ranked 27th in WR aFPA. Brown is second in both PPR points and targets this season, averaging 15.13 DRAFT points a contest.
3-Person Draft
When you enter a contest with only three teams, you’re either picking two players at a time, or you’re in the middle of two drafters doing just that. Same studs apply here; draft accordingly.
6, 8 or 10-Person Draft
Below you’ll find a few more recommendations for Week 11 starters to assist in filling out five-player rosters when more players are involved. You’ll need to dig a bit deeper into the rankings to find a player or two who will out-produce the players your opponents draft.
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott (DAL) vs. PHI
Sure, he had a rough Week 10, but Prescott should bounce back this week in a high scoring tilt with the Eagles. No Ezekiel Elliott in the lineup means more rushing touchdown upside for Prescott, and more opportunities to throw the rock, too. The sophomore QB is averaging 20.5 DRAFT points per game and is projected to put up 18.3 on Sunday night.
Russell Wilson (SEA) vs. ATL
In true Wilson fashion, he’s coming in hot in the second half of the season. He leads all QBs in total fantasy points and is the highest-projected signal-caller on DRAFT this week. Seattle gets a home contest versus Atlanta on Monday night, with 23.75 implied points for the Seahawks. He’s a must draft from here on out.
Derek Carr (OAK) vs. NE
Here’s my one contrarian-ish QB pick this week, which allows you to draft more points from position players while others take QBs. Carr’s last really good outing was in Week 7, but the Raiders QB should put up some solid numbers this week. The Patriots are ranked 31st in the NFL when it comes to opposing QBs, allowing an aFPA of 19.9 to the position. Carr is projected for 17.1 DRAFT points this week, which bests his average of 15.63 this season.
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt (KCC) @ NYG
Hunt still hasn’t reached the end zone since September, but this is an excellent week for us to see his TD dance moves. He’s up against a Giants run defense ranked 26th versus enemy RBs, allowing an aFPA of 25.2. Despite the lack of TDs, Hunt averages 18.12 DRAFT points per game and is projected to score a respectable 15.2 on Sunday.
LeSean McCoy (BUF) @ LAC
After two rough weeks, some may be scared to roster McCoy, but I’m in. He has a rookie QB under center against a Chargers defense that is soft versus the run. LA ranks 27th when it comes to the rush, allowing an aFPA of 26.0 points to opposing backfields. A green QB plus an easy defense is a recipe for big RB points this week.
Tevin Coleman (ATL) @ SEA
With Devonta Freeman in the concussion protocol and likely to miss this week's game, Coleman is a great play in Week 11. On DRAFT, he is projected as the RB9 on the week with 13.9 points. The Seahawks are tougher against the pass than the run, which could create plenty of opportunity for Coleman. He’s a guy you can grab later in your drafts while stocking up on chalk early.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Dez Bryant (DAL) vs. PHI
Bryant is coming off a horrendous week but should rebound nicely on Sunday night at home. Philly’s secondary sits 25th versus opposing wideouts, with one of the leagues softest corners in Ronald Darby most likely covering Bryant.
Michael Crabtree (OAK) vs. NE
While some gravitate towards Amari Cooper, I’m a Crabtree gal. He has 22 fewer targets this season than Cooper, yet sits above him in fantasy points by 14.5. This week, both New England and Oakland travel to Mexico City, so no real advantage there. However, the Patriots defense has been weak this season in their WR coverage, coming in ranked 29th in WR aFPA. Crabtree makes a great choice in contests over four teams.
Mike Evans (BUC) @ MIA
Back from a one-week suspension for fighting, Evans should prevail over a porous Miami secondary—a unit that allowed 364 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns to wideouts in their last two contests. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been underwhelming under center for the Bucs but has the potential to throw bombs. The Dolphins sit 18th when it comes to WRs with an aFPA of 31.6 PPR points.
Sterling Shepard (NYG) vs. KC
The Giants’ No. 1 WR makes a solid choice in larger contests this week, as he gets a home tilt against the Chiefs. He’s been sharing the spotlight with rookie TE Evan Engram, but this week they face a team ranked fourth in TE aFPA. Shepard should see the bulk of the passing game, as New York’s aFPA versus WRs is the second-worst in the NFL this season.
Update (Nov. 19): Shepard (migraines) is a game-time decision.
Rob Gronkowski (NE) @ OAK
Unless he parties too hard in Mexico City, Gronk should have an excellent game in Week 11. New England’s implied total is set at 30—the largest points projected on this week’s slate. The Raiders rank in the middle of the league in TE aFPA, but Gronk is just a tough one to cover when healthy. DRAFT projects 11.1 points this week, which makes him a prime candidate for the larger contests.
