Thursday Night Football, also known as the Game of the Week for Week 11, took a few major hits with injuries to Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, and Cam Taylor-Britt. The bulk of the discussion regarding the game will revolve around Joe Burrow being ruled out and Andrews’ season-ending injury, but there were some bright spots as well. Odell Beckham Jr. had his first 100 receiving yard game since the Conference Championship in 2021, and the Bengals’ ground game looked better than expected, at least prior to the Burrow injury. IDP storylines include Jordan Battle seemingly finally passing Nick Scott on the depth chart and responding with a team-high 10 solos, Trey Hendrickson notching another sack to bring him to 8.5 for the season, and the sack party in the Bengals backfield. However, perhaps the most impressive was defensive tackle Justin Madubuike extending his sack streak to eight games. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.

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IDP Start em, Sit em – Week 11

Start em

Nicholas Morrow (LB – PHI)
Morrow is set to be a starter in the middle for the Eagles again. Nakobe Dean is headed back to IR, which leaves Morrow as an everydown linebacker with easy LB2 value. The LB6 overall between Week 2 and Week 5, Morrow needs to be in starting lineups for as long as Dean is sidelined. Start him as an elite LB2 option for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

DeAndre Houston-Carson (S – HOU)
DHC was excellent in Week 10, recording seven solos, one interception, and one pass defended. Jimmie Ward missed the first two practices of this week and is trending toward being ruled out for the second straight week, putting DHC on the DB3 radar. He does have DB2 upside, as he showed last week, but with the teams on bye this week, he remains a DB3 option. Start him wherever needed as a DB3 for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Christian Harris (LB – HOU)
Christian Harris and Blake Cashman are set to play every down roles for the Texans this weekend. Denzel Perryman has been suspended for a history of illegal hits, and Henry To’oTo’o has missed the first two practices of the week with a concussion and is expected to be ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Harris has been playing a part-time role for much of the season but has proven that he can provide LB2 numbers when given the requisite snaps. Treat him as such for a plus Week 11 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Mark Robinson (LB – PIT)
Elandon Roberts is set to become an everydown player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but with Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb both on IR, Mark Robinson is also set to see an expanded role for the Steel Curtain. The team has various practice squad options to call up to the gameday roster but are expected to give Robinson, a second year player noted for his run-stopping ability, the first crack at holding down the job. We may see Mykal Walker in a rotational role, especially on passing downs, but it would be a surprise if they did not let Robinson prove whether or not he is ready to get it done consistently. Deep league managers should plug him in as a flex2 where possible, while those in shallower formats may want to make the speculative add.

David Mayo (LB – WAS)
Mayo has been solid for Washington since taking over for the injured Cody Barton, most recently recording five solos and two assists against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10. He has posted at least five solos in three of his four games played since Barton went down, making him a high-floor LB2 option. While most will view him as an LB3, he has been productive enough to consider as an LB2 play for Week 11. Start him where possible as an LB2/3 option for a plus Week 11 matchup against the New York Giants.

Sit em

Dennis Gardeck (DE/LB – ARI)
Gardeck got back on the sack sheet in Week 10, recording three solos, two assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. He is up to five sacks on the season, but the sack was his first since Week 4. Gardeck belongs on rosters in deeper leagues but remains someone to leave on benches for Week 11 despite the flash in Week 10. We need to see some more evidence that he has started another strong string of production before re-inserting him in starting lineups. Look elsewhere for Week 11.

Derrick Brown (DT – CAR)
Brown went off with nine solos, one assist, and one tackle for loss in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears. However, Brown is stuck in an odd front that tasks him more with space-eating than creating incessant pressure on the quarterback. Don’t chase the terrific production despite the name equity. Brown has just one sack on the season, and this was the first time he recorded more than two solos since Week 3. Outside of DT leagues, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for Week 11.

Josey Jewell (LB – DEN)
Jewell continues to confound IDP managers, most recently recording three solos and three assists in Week 10. He has shown flashes of the Jewell we all know and love but has been far too inconsistent to trust as anything more than an LB4. He has recorded more than three solos in just three of his eight games played this season, giving him a weekly floor few thought possible entering the season. Jewell should still be on the starting radar in 11 v. 11 leagues, but for those who need an LB3 or better for Week 11, the suggestion here is to look elsewhere despite the plus matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.

Dorian Williams (LB – BUF)
Williams remains in a rotational depth role for the Buffalo Bills, and it appears that the New England Patriots exposing him as a major liability in pass coverage may keep him behind Tyrel Dodson for the rest of the season. He is still a hold in dynasty leagues even if his path to starting became more complicated with the emergence of Terrel Bernard. Williams has played no more than 44 percent of the snaps since his benching, including a zero defensive snap Week 8 immediately following being pulled from Week 7. Look elsewhere for Week 11, while redraft managers should re-evaluate his spot on their rosters.

Justin Simmons (S – DEN)
This suggestion is sure to raise some eyebrows as Simmons has stepped up his play recently, recording an interception in three of his last four games. The interception total could send him to another Pro Bowl, but he has been struggling in coverage, and his tackle count has also been down this season, making it unlikely that he will receive another All-Pro nod. Chasing interceptions is never recommended, and for a name equity star who has recorded just two solos in each of the last three weeks, there is legitimate concern about his floor. He, of course, has DB2 upside, but the tackle count gives him a DB4/5 floor. Tap him as a DB3 option in a pinch, but the suggestion here is to keep him benched for Week 11 unless you are in need of a DB4/flex in an 11 v. 11 league.

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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.