What We Saw: Week 11

The QB List staff catches you up on everything you missed during Week 11 of the 2020 NFL season.

Ben Brown
What We Saw 3 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Cardinals @ Seahawks
Falcons @ Saints
Lions @ Panthers
Titans @ Ravens
Eagles @ Browns
Bengals @ Washington
Patriots @ Texans
Steelers @ Jaguars
Cowboys @ Vikings
Dolphins @ Broncos
Jets @ Chargers
Packers @ Colts
Chiefs @ Raiders

Packers @ Colts

 

A remarkable 2nd half comeback masterminded by Frank Reich forced overtime, and thanks to a key fumble from Marques Valdes-Scantling, the Indianapolis Colts pushed past the Green Bay Packers to triumph 34-31. It was an unlikely scoreline given the fact that the Packers had raced out to a 28-14 lead at the half thanks to a vintage display from Aaron Rodgers, who threw 3 1st half passing touchdowns. The wily veteran on the other side, Philip Rivers, answered the call and orchestrated 4 scoring drives in the 2nd half to draw the Colts level.

Everyone’s favorite four-eyed kicker, Rodrigo Blankenship, finished the game for the Colts.

 

 

Green Bay Packers

 

Quarterback

 

Aaron Rodgers: 27/38, 311 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 1 FUM, 1 sack | 3 carries, 13 yards

 

Aaron Rodgers (22.74 fantasy points) recovered from losing a fumble on the Packers 1st drive of the game and also throwing an interception in the 1st quarter to pick apart this impressive Colts defense and take a 28-14 lead into half time thanks to 3 wonderful passing touchdowns – 1 each to Robert Tonyan, Davante Adams, and Jamaal Williams.

 

 

It was a different story after the break, however, as the Colts completely nullified the Packers offense, who added just 3 points in the 2nd half. Two straight 3 and outs were followed by a kick-off return lost fumble from Darrius Shepherd. On the next drive, the Packers turned the ball over on downs as Rodgers failed to connect with Jamaal Williams on 4th and 1 at the Colts 34 yard line. That decision proved very costly indeed. Rodgers did lead a 10-play, 86 yard drive at the end to tie the game with just 7 seconds left thanks to a Mason Crosby field goal, however, this was a big opportunity missed for Rodgers to put up huge numbers. He is a safe QB1 option for your fantasy run-in, however.

 

Running Backs

 

Aaron Jones: 10 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD | 4 targets, 4 receptions, 40 yards

Jamaal Williams: 5 carries, 12 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 4 yards, 1 TD

 

There’s room for both these backs to be productive in Matt LaFleur‘s offense – with just 15 carries and 6 targets to backs in the whole game, both Aaron Jones (17.10 fantasy points) and Jamaal Williams (8.60 fantasy points) found paydirt. It is a good thing in the long run for this offense, however, those who have rostered Jones as their RB1 will need to be aware that Williams will continue to compliment him in the passing game, potentially taking away TDs like he did today.

Still, the 5th-round steal out of Texas is the man to own in this running back room.

 

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Davante Adams: 8 targets, 7 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD

Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 55 yards

Robert Tonyan: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD

Equanimeous St. Brown: 1 target, 1 reception, 23 yards

Jace Sternberger: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 23 yards

Alen Lazard: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 18 yards

Marcedes Lewis: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards

 

When Rodgers threw a dime to connect with Davante Adams (23.60 fantasy points) for 33 yards on the very first play of the Packers’ opening drive, you thought the writing was on the wall for the Colts secondary. This Colts passing defense came into the night giving up the 7th fewest points to wideouts but Adams was still good for them, his talent for finding space almost making it seem like the Colts just failed to cover him. The truth is that he just leaves defensive backs for dead.

 

 

Adams’ 2nd quarter TD, coming off a Colts turnover, was his 8th in the last 5 games and his 5oth receiving TD since 2016, which is the most in NFL. Adams is a fantasy beast – a Top 3 fantasy wideout who leads the league in receiving touchdowns. As long as Rodgers is under center, Adams will win you matchups regularly.

 

 

It has been a rollercoaster few weeks for Marques Valdes-Scantling (6.50 fantasy points), who has mixed in 2 huge fantasy weeks with a litany of errors and lapses of concentration. He drew a defensive pass interference call at the end of the half to set up another Packers touchdown, and he also made a crucial 47-yard grab late in the 4th quarter to set up the game-tying field goal. However, he made 2 costly errors again – the 1st was failing to contest a pass from Rodgers in the 1st quarter that ended up being intercepted by Rock Ya-Sin; the 2nd proved fatal, a fumble in overtime that allowed the Colts to set up a game-winning field goal. He just cannot be trusted as a viable fantasy option week in, week out, and he may be in the doghouse next week after these indiscretions. Look for MVS to take a back seat with Alen Lazard (3.80 fantasy points) returning to action this week.

 

 

It was another productive day for breakout tight end Robert Tonyan (15.40 fantasy points), who hauled in all his 5 targets and opened the scoring for the Packers by taking advantage of the Colts’ defense paying too much attention to Adams (can you blame them?!) in the redzone.

 

 

Indianapolis Colts

 

Quarterback

 

Philip Rivers: 24/36, 288 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 1 sack | 1 carry, -1 yard

Jacoby Brissett: 2 carries, 9 yards

 

Many see this season as Philip Rivers‘ (22.42 fantasy points) last hurrah. If that is so then games like this will be remembered if the Colts reach the Super Bowl this season. Rivers had to summon upon all his experience to dig the Colts out of a 14-point hole at the half against a Packers defense that despite recent vulnerabilities has given up the 4th fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. What really helped was the effectiveness of the Colts running game, allowing Rivers to extend drives and exploit the middle of the field using his tight end grouping. He found Trey Burton in the endzone just before half time to finish off a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

 

 

Rivers found Burton again in the 4th quarter to set up the go-ahead field goal, which was in my opinion his best throw of the day. The play epitomized how Rivers has managed to corral this offense into a coherent unit, something the Colts have missed since Andrew Luck retired. Rivers did turn the ball over once in the 2nd quarter, leading to a Davante Adams touchdown – Rivers, as he has been known to do in these later years, stared down the slot receiver for too long, allowing the defensive line to tip the pass into the arms of Christian Kirksey.

 

 

Rivers is only 26% rostered in Yahoo! leagues. There will be plenty of takers down the stretch after key injuries to quarterbacks in the last few weeks. Rivers faces the porous Houston defense twice in the next month, he has high-QB2 status when thinking about your waiver adds.

 

Running Backs

 

Jonathan Taylor: 22 carries, 90 yards | 4 targets, 4 receptions, 24 yards

Jordan Wilkins: 4 carries, 21 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 15 yards

Nyheim Hines: 6 carries, 2 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 31 yards

 

It has taken a long while in the eyes of fantasy football lovers everywhere, however, let’s all officially welcome Jonathan Taylor (15.40 fantasy points) to the fantasy-relevant club in the NFL. Producing his best performance since the win over Minnesota in Week 2, Taylor rewarded those who resisted the urge to drop him after 3 poor showings with his 3rd 100+ scrimmage yard performance of the season. It wasn’t pretty at times but Taylor showed toughness and determination as he ran the ball straight down the gut of the Packers defense.

 

 

Taylor was given the rock to start the 2nd half and never looked back after amassing 43 yards on 6 straight plays. Sadly, he could not top off his day with a trip to the endzone as a holding penalty (the Colts had a whopping 9 on the day!) nullified a 20-yard touchdown run at the beginning of the 4th quarter. Still, Taylor made enough of an impression on his teammates today to restore our confidence in him.

That being said, it is hard to determine whether this is now Taylor’s time as Frank Reich is committed to the “hot-hand” approach and has an extreme fondness for Nyheim Hines (8.30 fantasy points), especially in the passing game. The Colts have a favorable few weeks ahead so Taylor has plenty of upside as a low-RB2 option in your push for the playoffs. Do not count out Hines, however. Those who have him rostered (and who likely started him as the top waiver wire add of last week) will be seething at this outcome but there is always a caveat of caution with this Colts backfield. Hines should be a solid PPR option down the stretch. It was the 2nd-round pick out of Wisconsin’s turn today, however.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Michael Pittman Jr.: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD

Zach Pascal: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 54 yards

T.Y. Hilton: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 36 yards

Trey Burton: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD

Mo Alie-Cox: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 16 yards

Marcus Johnson: 3 targets, 1 reception, 15 yards

Jack Doyle: 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards, 1 TD

De’Michael Harris: 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard | 2 carries, 19 yards

 

We were gushing with love for rookie wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (15.60 fantasy points) last week after his breakout day against the Titans. Add to that his 1st NFL touchdown this week, a lovely 45-yard catch and weaving run that confirms his potential as a fantasy WR1 the rest of the way. A favorable schedule in a competitive division should help his production down the stretch.

 

 

Frustratingly for Pittman owners, Rivers spread his targets all across the offense. Zach Pascal (8.40 fantasy points, 3 targets), T.Y. Hilton (6.60 fantasy points, 6 targets) and Marcus Johnson (2.40 fantasy points, 3 targets) all failed to make an impact with their opportunities. It is safe to say that this highlights the Colts’ need for a No.1 receiver rather than giving any insight into which of these receivers have the potential to be productive for your playoff push.

The tight end room is equally as murky. The return of Jack Doyle (7.60 fantasy points) today limits the recent upside of Trey Burton (10.50 fantasy points) despite both scoring receiving touchdowns from Rivers. It was Doyle who was called upon in a key redzone moment in the 3rd quarter with the game on the line. Doyle showed safe hands and bravery to bring the Colts back within 4 points. He has the higher ceiling of the 3 tight ends in Indy.

 

 

Mo Alie-Cox (1.60 fantasy points) is completely off the fantasy radar after a fumble today.

 

— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Cardinals @ Seahawks
Falcons @ Saints
Lions @ Panthers
Titans @ Ravens
Eagles @ Browns
Bengals @ Washington
Patriots @ Texans
Steelers @ Jaguars
Cowboys @ Vikings
Dolphins @ Broncos
Jets @ Chargers
Packers @ Colts
Chiefs @ Raiders

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