Fantasy football advice, Week 11: Who to start/sit for Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns

The playoff push gets more intense in Week 11, and fantasy owners have less and less room for error as the season goes on. More than ever, sleepers and busts need to be accounted for over the course of every game to avoid making a season-dooming mistake. When the Steelers square off against the Browns, several notable players who garner fantasy consideration need to be accounted for.

Pretty much everyone. The Browns present a dream matchup for the Steelers’ big three of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell, even though Brown could be kept busy by the coverage of Joe Haden. Despite that, Brown is capable of logging ample yardage regardless of who covers him, and fantasy owners should have no hesitation starting the NFL’s leader in catches. Should the Steelers jump out to a big, early lead, expect another massive outing from Bell.

Though there is upside to be had from the Steelers’ complementary weapons, but even with Darrius Heyward-Bey and Markus Wheaton sidelined, fantasy owners would be playing with fire if they started Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers, Ladarius Green or Jesse James. Each of the four should remain on benches in all formats unless the situation is absolutely dire. Green is worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues, but he is not at the point where he can be trusted to start.

Terrelle Pryor is the next No. 1 receiver to face Pittsburgh’s bottom-five pass defense, and there is plenty of room for him to succeed if the Browns have to abandon the running game to keep pace with an explosive Steelers offense. Even if it were a close contest, it is unlikely that the Browns become run-heavy due to their inability to generate yardage on the ground in recent weeks. Even in a middling matchup against the Steelers, it would surprise no one if their struggles to run the football continued. Corey Coleman and Gary Barnidge are upside plays at their respective positions due to their matchup at hand.

Cody Kessler isn’t worth starting amid such a deep quarterback position across the fantasy spectrum, and the tandem of Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell can remain on benches.