Man is it getting tight around here. In all of my leagues, 80 percent of teams are no more than two games above or below .500. Speaking with friends in other leagues, the same thing is going on everywhere. Maybe it is the number of injuries plaguing everyone. Maybe it is the state of fantasy football nowadays.
The one thing to realize is it is more important than ever to know the waiver wire and know the right matchups. You can’t blindly just toss your biggest names anymore. The teams that are going to separate themselves are the ones that play the smartest.
With that being said, below are consensus tiers between Yahoo, ESPN, and CBS. They will help you decide who to play and who to sit.
Good luck out there… and when in doubt, always bet against the Jaguars.
Brian Reddoch is a CraveOnline reporter and rabid fan of all teams Seattle. You can follow him on Twitter @ReddReddoch or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook .
Photo Credit: Getty
Week 11 Fantasy Football Rankings
Quarterbacks
Pick Him Up ASAP: Case Keenum, Texans
Yahoo has him 13th, ESPN has him 17th, and CBS has him 8th. With questions in the running game, it makes sense for the Texans’ to continue to air the ball out. This week he has the very favorable matchup against the Raiders. I would roll the dice.
With injuries all over the NFL, it is worth to stash the Packers’ Scott Tolzien and the Bucs’ Mike Glennon (only if you have space) as they may come in handy.
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Quarterbacks
Be Afraid, Be a Little Afraid: Tom Brady, Patriots
While he seems to have his mojo back, he is going against a tricky Carolina team.
Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Quarterbacks
Worth a Second Look: Nick Foles, Eagles
Foles (when not concussed) has been a top 5 QB for the past two months. Not only is he worth stashing, he’ll be worth starting this week against Washington.
Photo by Gregory ShamusGetty Images
Quarterbacks
Outlier: Joe Flacco, Ravens
ESPN has him projected as the 6th best QB this week against Chicago. Yahoo and CBS don’t even have him as a top 15 guy. I don’t see what Bristol sees.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Quarterbacks
Top Tier: Drew Brees, Russell Wilson , Peyton Manning
2nd Tier: Nick Foles, Robert Griffin III, Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton
Shaky starts: Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Case Keenum, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton, Jason Campbell, Colin Kaepernick, Joe Flacco
Bye Week Only: Mike Glennon, Josh McCown, Geno Smith, Phillip Rivers, Alex Smith, Eli Manning, Scott Tolzien
Don’t Bother: Ryan Tannehill, Chad Henne, Christian Ponder, Terrelle Pryor
Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images
Running Backs
He’s Back: Frank Gore, 49ers
He never really went away but this week he is going against the New Orleans ‘We give up 5 yards a play” Saints. Harbaugh is too smart not to run it down their throats.
Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
Running Backs
Reverse Jinx Notice: Chris Johnson, Titans
When we write off the Titans back, he comes back with a good week. When expected to do great, CJ flops. See last week against the Jaguars for latest evidence. So, in the spirit of my trip this past week, let’s do a little reverse voodoo and proclaim Chris Johnson done for the season. He will be completely useless this week against the Colts. Horrendous.
Photo by Michael Thomas/Getty Images
Running Backs
I Told You So … Maybe: Andre Ellington, Cardinals
Hopefully, you got on the Ellington express and have been enjoying his new role in the team. This week he is going against the paper Jaguars.
Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Running Backs
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
ESPN and Yahoo have him 19th and 20th respectfully, so he is a bubble candidate this week. The Lions don’t give up many rushing touchdowns, but if you are looking to gamble a bit then bet on Bell. The numbers don’t back it up, but he has big game potential here.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Running Backs
Top Tier: Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, Reggie Bush , Knowshon Moreno, Marshawn Lynch
2nd Tier: Frank Gore, Ben Tate, Eddie Lacy, LeSean McCoy, Ray Rice, Ryan Matthews, Andrew Ellington, Giovanni Bernard
Shaky starts: Le’Veon Bell, Alfred Morris, Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Steven Ridley, Andre Brown, Brian Leonard, Danny Woodhead, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Fred Jackson, Steven Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew
Bye Week Only: Lamar Miller, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Joseph Randle, Darren Sproles, Trent Richardson, CJ Spiller, Chris Ivory, DeAngelo Williams, Donald Brown,
Don’t Bother: Jacquizz Rodgers, Shonne Greene, James Starks, Mike Tolbert, Roy Helu, DeMarco Murray, Rashard Mendenhall
Photo by David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images
Wide Receivers
Goose Egg Potential: Roddy White, Falcons
Raise your hand if you think Revis will have a problem covering White with a bum ankle? Are you willing to risk the fantasy season on it?
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Wide Receivers
World of His Own: Calvin Johnson, Lions
Officially, everyone is suspect compared to Megatron.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Wide Receivers
Outlier: Riley Cooper, Eagles
CBS has Cooper projected 9th, but Yahoo doesn’t even have him cracking the top 25. Do they know something we don’t? It does seem like he has more success with Foles than Michael Vick [insert your own joke here].
Photo by Drew Hallowell/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images
Wide Receivers
He’s Back: Percy Harvin, Seahawks
Wilson finally has a top wideout to target (all due respect to Golden Tate). Expect equal numbers as Tate as Wilson loves to spread the love.
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Wide Receivers
Breakout Potential: Antonio Brown, Steelers
Brown has been hovering just below the century mark in yards per game. This week he goes against the Lions who give up a ton of yards to wideouts. CBS has him projected the lowest at #11 so expect a big game.
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Wide Receivers
Under-owned: Michael Floyd, Cardinals
He is questionable to start but if he does, he is a good play against JAX if you need a wideout. At the least he is worth stashing. In Yahoo he is only owned in 64% of leagues.
Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Wide Receivers
Top Tier: Calvin Johnson
2nd Tier: Andre Johnson , AJ Green, Antonio Brown, Vincent Jackson, Wes Welker, DeSean Jackson, Brandon Marshall, Pierre Garcon, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Alshon Jeffery, Golden Tate, Percy Harvin, Victor Cruz, Cecil Shorts III
Shaky starts: T.Y. Hilton, Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Riley Cooper, Josh Gordan, Keenan Allen, Jordy Nelson, Mike Wallace, Torrey Smith, Harry Douglas
Bye Week Only: Kenny Stills, Ted Ginn Jr., Michael Floyd, DeAndre Hopkins, Steve Johnson, Mike Wallace, Danny Amendola, Hakeem Nicks, Marques Colston, Emmanuel Sanders, Brian Hartline
Don’t Bother: Aaron Dobson, Dwayne Bowe, Denarius Moore, Marvin Jones, Eddie Royal, Doug Baldwin, Brandon LaFell
Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Tight Ends
Top Tier: Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski , Julius Thomas, Jordan Cameron
2nd Tier: Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, Coby Fleener, Martellius Bennett, Charles Clay, Greg Olsen
Shaky starts: Jordan Reed, Tony Gonzalez,
Bye Week Only: John Carlson, Tim Wright
Don’t Bother: Any one else.
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images