In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Bleacher Nation Fantasy:
The battle for first place in the NFC East didn’t result in one of the most fantasy-friendly games. The surprising Washington Commanders had a chance to go into Philadelphia and take control of the division. Instead, Saquon Barkley had 2 rushing touchdowns and Jalen Hurts added 1, and it was enough for a 26-18 victory on Thursday night. The Eagles won their sixth straight game to improve to 8-2 and Washington dropped to 7-4. Here are the Friday FAQs.
Was letting Saquon Barkley fall to the end of round one a mistake?
It sure was. Many are regretting letting Barkley fall that late. This is the best team and offensive line he has played with. While Hurts has vultured touchdowns, it hasn’t mattered. Barkley had a dominant performance and now leads the NFL with 1,137 rushing yards for the season. He finished with 26 carries for 146 yards and caught 2 passes for an additional 52 yards. His Utilization Score of 8.5 going into the game is sure to rise. A.J. Brown caught 5 passes for 65 yards and DeVonta Smith caught 4 passes for 29 yards.
What happened to the Washington wide receivers?
The Eagles have done a great job limiting wide receivers, but Washington barely tested the cornerbacks. The Commanders came out with a run-heavy approach, and the passes went to running backs and tight ends. Terry McLaurin was targeted just twice and caught 1 pass for 10 yards. Noah Brown was targeted 4 times and caught a 4-yard pass. It was a nightmare game if you started them.
Was there anything positive for Washington?
Brian Robinson made his return after missing two games due to a hamstring injury. He looked good and had an impressive touchdown run. Robinson rushed 16 times for 63 yards and caught a 9-yard pass. Austin Ekeler led the team in targets with 9, catching 8 passes for 89 yards. Zach Ertz had 2 receptions until the final drive in the fourth quarter and finished with 6 catches for 47 yards with a touchdown. He also caught a two-point conversion.
Jayden Daniels had another bad game. What happened?
Daniels has faced two good defenses in the span of five days after facing the Steelers this past Sunday. The rookie passed for 191 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He rushed for only 18 yards on 7 carries. Daniels never looked comfortable, was under pressure, and has rushed for 23 yards on 10 carries the last two weeks. The rookie injured his ribs on Oct. 20 against the Panthers, and it could be affecting his ability to run.
How do the other rookie qbs project in week 11?
What else is in today’s newsletter?
- Stat of the Day:
- Watercooler: Buy/Sell/Hold
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Buy This Buffalo Bill
- By Geoff Ulrich
Stat: Khalil Shakir is fourth in the league in Yards after the Catch (YAC)
The Bills enter Week 11 with a very banged-up receiving core. Dalton Kincaid injured his ankle in Week 10, and Amari Cooper’s wrist is still not right.
Maybe it’s time for Khalil Shakir to step up and ascend into a true WR1 for fantasy. The idea isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Shakir has been the epitome of efficiency this season, converting 48 of his 54 targets into catches—an insane 89% efficiency rating.
Pundits would point to his low aDOT or lack of air yards (11% team share on the season), but Shakir’s ability in the open field makes up for the fact that he generally only gets targeted on shallow routes. The third-year WR is fourth in yards after the catch this season and second in the league among all WRs, trailing only Ja’Marr Chase—despite catching 18 fewer passes than Chase (and ranking just 11th in receptions among WRs this season).
Shakir also leads all WRs in yards after the catch (YAC) per game (45.2). While he ranks just WR27 (12.6 ppg, full PPR) the Buffalo WR has several competitive games on the schedule coming up which could push his target rate and downfield usage up. If you’ve been disappointed with his lack of upside, just note that the ingredients are there for some bigger games in the second half of the season.
Where does he rank in our consensus Week 11 Rankings?
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The latest analysis and insights from our merry band of football nerds:
🇺🇸 In a different salute to service, Week 11 Love/Hate reintroduces us to a retired Air Force man trying to rekindle his love for fantasy football.
👀 Ian, Dwain, and Freedman run through their rankings risers, fallers, and start/sit questions.
🐻 What will the Chicago Bears’ offense look like with a new OC?
🎯 Wheels up for Marvin Harrison Jr.? Cooterdoodle’s Buy, Sell, Hold makes the case on MHJ.
🤔 Who should I start? Check out our updated rankings.
💪 Jake Trowbridge and Geoff Ulrich bring you The Flex, with plenty of laughs and good fantasy/betting intel.
🥊UFC 309 is BIG: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic highlights a fantastic card.
