Fantasy football rankings 2017: Quarterbacks for NFL Week 11

We’ve finally reached the last bye week! Cam Newton helped many owners win their matchups with his monster game in Week 10. Newton has been up and down this season. He’s had five games over 20 fantasy points and five games under 15 points. His schedule doesn’t look too bad down the stretch with the exception of facing the Vikings. If Newton can continue to develop chemistry with his receivers, we can expect more results like Week 10. Another bonus is the pending return of Greg Olsen. It’s too bad we’ll have to wait until Week 11 to start Newton again.

Kirk Cousins did his best Newton imitation by scoring two touchdowns on the ground in Week 10. It definitely helped his fantasy point total, as he only passed for one touchdown. We’d all like to see him with more consistent production from his wide receivers. It finally looks like a connection is forming with Josh Doctson. At least he has some excellent running backs and tight ends to pass to. His matchup this week is rough, facing New Orleans on the road. But I like his schedule the rest of the way through to Week 16.

Carolina, Indianapolis, Miami, the New York Jets, San Francisco and Tampa Bay have their bye this week. Cam Newton is the biggest loss, as he currently sits among the top ten fantasy quarterbacks. Josh McCown and Jacoby Brissett have played pretty well despite playing on teams that have issues. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Derek Carr should be looked at as bye week replacements.

On the injury front, the biggest concerns are Jameis Winston and Philip Rivers. It’s almost a certainty that Winston will miss Week 11. Tampa Bay wants him to be fully healed before starting and Week 12 seems like the earliest he’ll return. Rivers is in the concussion protocol and it’s questionable that he’ll be ready for Week 11. Kellen Clemens would start, if Rivers can’t return this week.

Here are some minor injuries to keep track of. Brett Hundley is day-to-day with a hamstring strain. Drew Stanton sprained his knee in Week 10. He finished the game but remains day-to-day. DeShone Kizer intends to play through his bruised ribs, that he suffered in Week 10. Jacoby Brissett is on bye but is also in the concussion protocol.

My sleeper pick for Week 11 is Blake Bortles. The matchup against Cleveland is obviously a positive this week. Bortles was asked to pass a lot in Week 10 and that resulted in two interceptions. I don’t see that happening this week because of a return to the ground game. I think Bortles will pass for 280 yards and two touchdowns.

(SK: Scott Kaliska; JG: Jeff Goldberg; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)