Sit/Start Week 11: Reviewing All the Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Cowboys@Lions

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, November 17th at 1:00 pm EST

Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI

Betting Odds: DAL -3.5, 51.5 Total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: J.D. McKissic

 

Dallas Cowboys

 

Quarterback

• Dak Prescott (Start/QB1)

 

Although the Cowboys are only 5-4 and barely leading the NFC East, Dak Prescott needs to be at least in the MVP conversation, if not in the lead. The Cowboys lackluster record has nothing to due with their QB’s performance as he is leading or in the top three for each advanced statistic. Prescott is first in QBR, EPA (which is expected points added per play), and a completion percentage above expectation (for QBs with at least 150 attempts). He is second in Football Outsiders DYAR, which measures a player’s performance compared to replacement level at their position. Finally, Prescott is third in average intended air yards per pass, meaning he has been this efficient while pushing the ball down the field consistently. Jason Garrett’s obsession with the run game has hurt the Cowboys in the win column each week. They need to let Prescott carry them down the stretch and into the playoffs starting this week. The Lions are the 23rd ranked passing defense by DVOA and have been in shootouts all year. Prescott will be able to move the ball around with ease. Prescott has made himself a ton of money, but he has earned every penny.

 

Running Back

• Ezekiel Elliott (Start/RB1)

 

Ezekiel Elliott should also eat this week. The Vikings defense posed a difficult matchup last week but that didn’t stop the Cowboys from forcing the run. This week, they will have much more success. The Lions rank 20th against the run by DVOA and most of their defensive line rotation is on the injury report. Zeke is also having a strong season, though not as impressive as Prescott’s. Zeke is second in DYAR for running backs, only behind a certain Christian McCaffery (heard of him?) and is sixth in Success Rate (which measures an RB’s ability to gain necessary yardage). You were never benching him, but you can start Zeke with confidence this week.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight End

• Amari Cooper (Start/WR1)
• Michael Gallup (Start/Flex)
• Jason Witten (Start/bleh)

 

So if you haven’t caught on by now, the Cowboys offense has been pretty good. The Cowboys are the top of the league in offensive DVOA. That in conjunction with Prescott’s stellar play leads to the receiving group scoring fantasy points. Amari Cooper has finally put it all together this year. The inconsistency has disappeared and he is second in DYAR (wow all three of them). Cooper also has a 13.3 aDOT, which is 23rd in the NFL. Against this Lions defense, he is a must-start. Michael Gallup has developed into a solid number two option in the passing game. He is just behind Cooper in aDOT at 12.2 and is gaining YAC higher than expected. With number two options, you want great matchups to feel confident in starting them. This is one of those. We all know who Jason Witten is at this point. He is extremely unsexy for fantasy but is somehow TE12 on the year. If you have him you probably have to start him with all the injuries and terrible options at TE. There are worse matchups to play him against, so go ahead and hit submit lineup though we all will get a little sick doing it.

 

Detroit Lions

 

Quarterback

• Matthew Stafford (Start/Injured?)
• Jeff Driskel (Stream if deep league)

 

Please be ok Matthew Stafford, please be ok. It is truly a shame that Stafford had to be held out last week and potentially longer. He is playing the best football in his career. Stafford led the entire NFL in average intended air yards and was seventh in DYAR. The Lions pass game was efficient and utilized Stafford’s underappreciated arm strength. If Stafford is healthy enough to play, he is an easy start against the Cowboy’s 18th ranked pass defense in a game that could turn into a shootout. There will be better streaming options in most leagues, but Jeff Driskel is a decent option in deeper leagues. Driskel is not afraid to throw deep and adds some nice rushing value. With the Lions likely to be playing from behind, Driskel should be able to put up some fantasy points.

 

Running Backs

• J.D. McKissic (Start/Flex)
• Ty Johnson (Injury?)

 

Ty Johnson left the Lions week 10 game with a concussion in the first half. This bumped J.D. McKissic into a nearly full-time role with him playing 70% of the snaps (Johnson played 14%). Paul Perkins was used on some early down situations but was not up to the task which opens the door for the Lions to potentially bring in another back for that role. If the Lions do not find anyone, McKissic will be in line for a large workload and this game should lean into his strength as a pass-catcher. The Lions will be trying to keep up with the Cowboys (especially if Driskel is starting), so McKissic offers some Flex appeal against the Cowboys middle of the road run defense. If Johnson can go (or the Lions sign another back), McKissic will lose carries but the targets will still be there. Johnson has failed to impress with the starting role and the concussion has made the backfield even murkier. Monitor his injury status throughout the week.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight End

• Kenny Golladay (Start/WR2)
• Marvin Jones (Start/Flex)
• Danny Amendola (Sit)
• T.J. Hockenson (Sit)

 

Because of Stafford’s resurgent season, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones have leveled up into week in and week out starters. Golladay leads the NFL in aDOT at 16.5 yards and Jones is also in the top 25. Both receivers are top 12 in DYAR with Jones at sixth and Golladay 12th. With Driskel in at QB, they both were able to put up usable games because of Driskel’s tendency to push the ball in his limited starts. With how well they’ve played, you need to keep them in the lineup but I moved them into WR2 and Flex because of the potential downgrade at QB. If Stafford plays, then all aboard. Danny Amendola and T.J. Hockenson have taken a back seat to the two stud receivers. With Driskel potentially making another start, I would move off of these two for more stable offenses.

-Frank Costanzo (@FrankQBList; Reddit: Zzzonked92)