Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 11: Falcons vs. Buccaneers

It’s sad vs. sadder in this NFC South matchup. Or sadder vs. saddest. Whatever, there’s nothing to like in Falcons-Bucs.

by Daniel Kelley

Nov 17, 2013, 11:50 AM UTC

Kevin C. Cox

There might be no two sadder teams in the NFL this season than the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it's nice of them to put all their sad in one place Sunday as Atlanta travels to Tampa Bay for a 1 p.m. ET game. Following that theme of sadness, there's not a lot to get excited about in fantasy between the two teams, either:

Falcons

Start in every league: ...

Start if you're desperate: Matt Ryan, Harry Douglas, Tony Gonzalez, Matt Bryant

Bench: Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers, Roddy White, Defense/special teams

Sorry, there's no one that needs to be a starter on this Falcons team. Ryan has had his three worst games of the season in his last three, with seven interceptions against only three touchdowns. ... After 32 points in his first two games following the injury to Julio Jones, Douglas has only 10 in his last two games combined. He's been the most reliable Falcon, but that isn't saying a lot. ... Gonzalez sandwiched a 14-point game in Week 9 between a pair of two-point outings, and the "two" has been far more his 2013 norm than the "14." Couple that with his lingering injury and he's extremely difficult to count on. ... Bryant has been mostly on target this season, but the team's offense has struggled so much that his chances have been limited.

There’s been nothing to like about Jackson or Rodgers since Jackson’s return from injury. Neither has done much, either in quantity or quality. Until they prove something, they’re both stay-aways. ... Similarly, White should stay on every single fantasy bench until he proves he can perform at any sort of decent level. If that means you miss a good outing, then you miss a good outing. Better a week too late than a week too early. ... Even against a Bucs team that is on its 53rd running back and with a rookie quarterback, the Falcons’ defense is just too awful to use.

Buccaneers

Start in every league: Vincent Jackson, Defense/special teams

Start if you're desperate: Tim Wright

Bench: Mike Glennon, Brian Leonard, Bobby Rainey, Tiquan Underwood, Rian Lindell

Congratulations on being the star in an otherwise barren wasteland, Jackson. Of course, even Jackson has 10 total points in his last three outings. That comes on the heels of 23 and 25 points in Weeks 6 and 7, respectively. That is who Vincent Jackson is, though, and anyone who drafted him knew what to expect and isn’t allowed to complain now. Just run him out there and hope. ... The Buccaneers’ defense isn’t great, but its high points are better than the Falcons’, and there’s more potential there.

Wright has been a pleasant surprise since his playing time increased, and could put a good game together. On the flip side, he only had one catch a week ago, and there’s a lot of risk.

Glennon has had four double-digit scoring games, and only three interceptions, since inheriting the starting job, but has yet to blow anyone away. There’s surely something better on the waiver wire. ... Either Leonard or Rainey might be good in the long run, depending on how they are used, but it’s unlikely that both will have value, and it’s tough to say which it will be right now. Wait and see. ... Underwood leads the league in hair height; otherwise he’s little more than an extra wide receiver. ... Lindell hasn’t missed since Week 3, but there just aren’t enough scoring opportunities in Tampa.