Yards Per Gretch: Week 11

by Ben Gretch (gretch) Last Updated 2018-11-17 17:33:57 Premium Content Part of the product Combo Lite

Ben Gretch, Editor in Chief of Fantasy Insiders, takes an ultra-high resolution look at the upcoming NFL week. If you haven’t yet been introduced to Ben’s level of thinking, get ready for great takes loaded with analytical insight.

Week 11

Week 10 was the week of the mid-priced RB, with Nick Chubb, Aaron Jones, and David Johnson outpacing the elite backs at a discount. This was likely a reminder to many that we shouldn’t be too tied to one lineup-building structure, given paying up for RBs has been a popular strategy all season.

If that provides even a slight shift away from the top backs in Week 11, it’ll be welcomed, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Week 11 again has a ton of enticing higher-priced RBs, and doesn’t appear to have quite as much upside down the position that Week 10 had. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some cheaper names to look at, but I’ll by and large be stacking my lineups with at least two of the six or seven most expensive RBs on the slate, and hoping some of the field chases last week’s winning lineup construction.

Exploitable Situations

The issue is choosing between the high-priced RBs, which is like being a kid in a candy store. Alvin Kamara has scored 8 times in four games since New Orleans’ bye. Melvin Gordon gets a plus matchup with a Denver defense missing linebacker Brandon Marshall, and Austin Ekeler got just three touches last week. Ezekiel Elliott gets Atlanta and their unwillingness to guard RBs in the passing game, while Christian McCaffrey ’s been showing off his upside over the past two games. And David Johnson and James Conner provide some salary relief without sacrificing much ceiling. But there’s only one guy I know for sure right now I won’t be fading.