Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 20th, at 4:05 PM EST
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Betting Odds: LV +2.5, 41.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr (Start if you must, QB2)
“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” and right now that’s losing. Derek Carr and the Raiders enter Week 11 as losers of three straight. Carr played well enough last week against Indy, completing 24 of 38 attempts for 248 yards and two touchdowns; it was the Vegas defense that let the team down. In the post-game presser, Carr showed signs of emotion and ultimately frustration with how this season has played out:
"I'm sorry for being emotional. I'm just pissed off… what we put our bodies through just to sleep at night."
Derek Carr broke into tears after the Raiders loss vs. the Colts pic.twitter.com/fRymBmclar
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 14, 2022
Carr holds a 5:1 passing touchdown to interception ratio since Week 7, yet the Raiders have only won one game in that span. It won’t get much easier this week, as the Denver defense is allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Though if you’re in a bind with the likes of Tom Brady, Geno Smith, and Tua Tagovailoa on their BYE, Carr may be an option for you.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs (Start, RB1)
Josh Jacobs got back to his RB1 ways, and although the yardage wasn’t necessarily there (78), he did dominate the touch share with 21 carries; and also found the end zone on the ground for the first time since Week 7. He was also targeted eight times in the passing game, catching six balls for 28 yards. This is his backfield, and he’s going to have the chance to piggyback off what he already did to the Broncos earlier this season. In a Week 4 win, Jacobs ran for 144 yards on 28 carries and had two rushing touchdowns.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Davante Adams (Start, WR1), Mack Hollins (Sit), Foster Moreau (Start, TE2)
Like Jacobs, Davante Adams is rightfully back to his WR1 ways after a Week 8 stinker. In his last two games, he’s posted at least nine receptions, at least 14 targets, and over 120 receiving yards with at least one touchdown to speak on. The Denver secondary is elite, allowing the second fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, but Adams has already gone 9 for 101 against them in Week 4. With Hunter Renfrow (oblique) and Darren Waller (hamstring) both placed on IR last week, Mack Hollins and Foster Moreau are set to receive upticks in their target share. Against Indy though, Hollins was a letdown, catching two of six targets for 18 yards. It’s hard to trust him on a weekly basis and should be kept on the bench until he shows some consistency with Renfrow out of his way for the foreseeable future. Moreau had his day saved with a touchdown against the Lions — which is really all you can ask for out of your fantasy TE — as he caught three of four targets for 43 yards. Consider him a streamable TE2 in a week where the likes of Evan Engram, Cade Otton are on their BYE.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Russell Wilson (Start, QB2)
Just when you thought maybe the BYE week would have done Russell Wilson and the Denver offense some good — SPOILER — it didn’t. In the 17-10 loss to the Titans, Wilson completed 21 of 42 attempts for 286 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The only bright side entering Week 11 is that the Vegas defense is allowing the second most fantasy points to QBs this season. If you’re still “riding” with Wilson, this could be a spot where he delivers. If you look back to Week 4 in their first meeting, he was efficient, completing 17 of 25 attempts for 237 yards, with two passing touchdowns and another score on the ground.
Running Backs
Melvin Gordon III (Start if you must, FLEX), Latavius Murray (Sit), Chase Edmonds (Sit)
The Raiders defense is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to RBs this season. The issue this week though, is that your options are Melvin Gordon III, Latavius Murray, or Chase Edmonds. The only option worthy of your time — and that’s a stretch — is Gordon. Against Tennessee, Gordon owned a 53.8% snap rate to Murray’s 31.2%, as well as a 15.4% to 7.7% target share advantage. If you feel inclined to start Gordon, expect nothing more than a FLEX-like return from a back who only has 287 rush yards on 82 attempts in nine games this season; and that’s with Javonte Williams out since the middle of Week 4.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Courtland Sutton (Start, WR3), Jerry Jeudy (Sit), Greg Dulcich (Start, TE2)
With Jerry Jeudy dealing with a mild ankle injury suffered early in the loss to the Titans last week, he’s being tagged as “day to day.” You’ll need to monitor his practice status this week, but even if he is a go, I would be hard-pressed to start him. That would leave Courtland Sutton and Greg Dulcich to receive quite the uptick in targets. Sutton has been a letdown this season, a product of Wilson under center. He’s only had one game with 100-plus receiving yards (122 in Week 2) and has one receiving touchdown this season. Even if Jeudy were to miss this game, Sutton can’t be trusted as anything more than a WR3. Dulcich, the rookie TE who has come on as of late before the BYE, laid a stinker last week. He was targeted only four times, with one reception for 11 yards. With the Raiders giving up the fifth most fantasy points to tight ends this season, Dulcich has a chance to bounce back.