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Fantasy football: Week 11 picks

By Ladd Biro, Special to the Rocky

Published November 13, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
Updated November 13, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.

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You don’t need me advising you to start Kurt Warner and Adrian Peterson, or to steer clear of JaMarcus Russell and Ashley Lelie. So I’ll spare you the obvious recommendations, focusing instead on the players typically on the bubble of most fantasy rosters. Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 11.

Watch 'em roll

Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins vs. Cowboys: When these teams met in Week 4, Campbell passed for 231 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He will have to be even better in this one, given the likely absence of Clinton Portis. With Tony Romo back, Dallas should put up the points, forcing Campbell to the air frequently against a secondary that’s in disarray.

Kevin Smith, RB, Lions at Panthers: The rookie has taken firm hold of his backfield, and is coming off the best game of his young career against the Jags. Carolina’s run defense is average at best, so Smith will be leaned on as much as possible to relieve the pressure on the Lions’ quarterback(s). If Detroit can somehow manage to get into the red zone, Smith should get the call.

Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns at Bills: Cleveland’s workhorse has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game this season, though he has managed to score four times. With Brady Quinn set to make his second start, Lewis will be leaned upon again as a steadying force. Buffalo’s rush defense coughed up 144 yards and two scores to the Patriots last week, and won’t stop Lewis from having a terrific outing on Sunday.

Santonio Holmes, WR, Steelers vs. Chargers: I told you to sit him last week against the Colts, and was right. Now get him back in your lineup against the league’s worst pass defense. He and Hines Ward should have little trouble racking up the yards and adding to San Diego’s 17 touchdown passes surrendered.

Donald Driver, WR, Packers vs. Bears: Aaron Rodgers had his worst game of the season last week, but should bounce back nicely at home against a defense that was dissected by none other than Kerry Collins. That’s good news for both Driver and Greg Jennings, who each should have a field day on the frozen tundra.

Roll 'em back

Brett Favre, QB, Jets at Patriots: When the Jets put up 47 points and Favre’s stat line shows just 167 yards and one touchdown, you know something is amiss. Methinks the scruffy one has been ordered to play it safer in the red zone, which Thomas Jones’ owners surely appreciate. In Favre’s second game as a Jet, he posted 181 yards, one score and one interception against the Patriots. Look for similar results this week, especially since both of his starting receivers are nursing minor injuries.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots vs. Jets: The rookie had a fine outing last week against the Bills, but the going gets tougher against the stout Jets run defense. Kevin Faulk is likely to get more touches, particularly on passing downs, further limiting Green-Ellis’ opportunities.

Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens at Giants No, I didn’t foresee McGahee returning from the dead against Houston, but I do expect a much stiffer test for the veteran this week against the solid New York front. This looks like a defensive slugfest, with no one on the Ravens posting solid fantasy stats.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions at Panthers: How do you sit a top five receiver as explosive as Megatron? With great trepidation, to be sure. But if he hadn’t reeled in two long, some might say desperation, heaves by Daunte Culpepper, Johnson would have been blanked last week against the soft Jaguars defense. Now facing one of the NFL’s stingiest secondaries – not to mention a fired-up Julius Peppers who will hound whichever Detroit quarterback is under center – Johnson will be lucky to get even two receptions this week.

Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants vs. Ravens: Over the last four weeks, Burress has been limited to 10 catches for a paltry 90 yards, though he was able to find the end zone twice. What’s worse, he is no longer Eli Manning’s primary target. Add the Ravens’ solid defense to the equation, and Burress is no longer an every-week starter.

Taking a flyer

Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs vs. Saints: As much as Herm Edwards might like to ease his wayward tailback slowly out of the doghouse, he doesn’t have many decent options to choose from. Jamaal Charles is still hobbling on the ankle that limited him to three carries in Week 10, and Kenneth Darby is, well, Kenneth Darby. Look for Johnson to get the most out of a steady dose of carries, now that opponents must respect the Chiefs’ new-look passing attack.

Don't be the bonehead who . . .

. . . sits Jake Delhomme against the Lions. If Delhomme is your primary quarterback, give him a chance to redeem himself from his awful performance against the Raiders (four interceptions, 72 yards passing, just one touchdown). Detroit is the cure-all for any passing attack, and Delhomme has the weapons -- including Steve Smith -- to get back on track in a big way.

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