Trending Wide Receivers and Running Backs- Week 11

The NFL can be a confusing place at times with teams changing on a weekly basis. Some clubs simply masquerade as contenders while others just have side steps. Within that immense confusion, players also find themselves up and down each and every week.  

With the fantasy football playoffs on the horizon, continuing to find that key player outlook has been very beneficial for your starting lineup. Entering week 11 of the season, we have found another group of players to covet and others to avoid. Let’s review this week’s edition of trending players in hopes to secure wins to help lock a playoff bid.   

Trending Up

Josh Jacobs (OAK)

Surprising to say the least that we haven’t mentioned the Raiders Josh Jacobs that much so far this season. While we had our reservations about the potential output for this rookie at the start of the year, we can no longer stay silent on the ability and production he’s been able to amass. Josh Jacobs has been absolutely fantastic in his rookie campaign and we view the remainder as fabulous.

The Raiders have climbed back into respectability in the standings and have a glorious schedule on the docket. Over the final six weeks of the fantasy season, Jacobs will see clubs that hold weaker to nonexistent run defenses. While Jacobs has been a staple in your starting lineup, his trend is soaring through the roof.

Randall Cobb (DAL)

Heading back to the offseason, out affinity for Randall Cobb was reinvigorated when he signed on with the Dallas Cowboys. Believing he would be the final piece in this pass attack to lift Dallas over the top, it hasn’t come to fruition just yet. However, seeing what could be accomplished last week when the target share was plentiful, Cobb didn’t let his team down.

With that said, there should always be concern for Cobb to be a standard 10-point player on a weekly basis, but given the recent productivity, Dallas has no choice but to feed the horse. Matchups will obviously aid in when to start Cobb, but for our appetite, we like where this is heading. Cobb is an acute rising player.  

Brian Hill (ATL)

Finding players to replace those lost to injury is the staple of fantasy football. The Falcons got word that Devonta Freeman will miss at least the next couple contests with an injury and will be replaced by Brian Hill. Gaining a gleaming endorsement from his coach already to carry the load, any running back with half talent on this offense will get their shots.

Hill isn’t an exceptional talent that will make highlight reel plays consistently, but he has more than enough ability to help your squad in the point department. Even as the Falcons have been one of the worst teams in the league, this offense continues to move the ball and put up statistics. Hill was a top waiver add this week and is too a very high trend for output.   

Christian Kirk (ARZ)

When the Cardinals drafted Kyler Murray, we thought Larry Fitzgerald would have perhaps one last fantastic showing. While Fitzgerald hasn’t produced like we would’ve thought, Christian Kirk is quietly asserting himself as the go-to target now that he’s back to full health. Head Coach Kilff Kingsbury clearly wanted to feature Kirk a week prior, and he delivered over and beyond.

Moving forward it’s hard to argue that this pass attack won’t go through Murray and Kirk. For a club that is likely set to miss the postseason, young coaches like to form their roster for the next season late in the year. Kingsbury will overuse Kirk and a few others to see what he indeed has on this roster to help with the build this offseason. As chemistry builds between quarterback and receiver, Kirk will be a monster down the stretch. Very high trend up for the Cardinals Christian Kirk.

Trending Down

David Johnson (ARZ)

While we know we’ve mentioned the Cardinals David Johnson on the down trend at least once before, at risk of sounding like a broken record, we have no choice but to voice our displeasure. Johnson has been nothing short of a grave disappointment and we see nothing to suggest it will improve anytime soon. Johnson looks overweight, slow, and hobbled in all his cuts and runs leaving us with a sour taste.

It’s no coincidence that the Cardinals traded for Kenyan Drake before the deadline, as they too know that Johnson isn’t at full health. This could perhaps be a situation where Johnson continues to see limited touches as they hide what the real issue is. Nevertheless, DJ is again a player we can’t trust and moving down the board very fast.    

Kenny Stills (HOU)

When the Texans traded for the services of Kenny Stills, we had some level of optimism that something positive would be the result. Needless to say, it hasn’t translated on the field as of yet. Adding more gas to the fire, Houston is rumored to clear Will Fuller from his hamstring injury which will undoubtedly reduce Stills targets.

Even though our outlook on Stills appears to be negative, he still will hold that deep shot presence on this offense which could be exploited a handful of times per game. However, trusting a player with this type of role is never conducive to statistical achievement. We place Stills on the trend down for appropriate reasons, but leave the door open for matchup potential. Either way, better options do exist.      

Ty Johnson (DET)

Admittedly, we were excited when the Lions were forced to play Ty Johnson as the running back replacement. While we get that fact that Kerryon Johnson possesses more talent, Ty Johnson should’ve been viewed as the better scheme fit. While we still stand firm on that evaluation, more wrong we couldn’t have been on his productivity.

The Lions at this point are in complete disarray with Matthew Stafford watching from the sidelines. Looking to be the same this week, Johnson may join Stafford holding clipboards unless by some miracle he clears concussion protocol. Even if Johnson manages to suit up for this contest and upcoming matches, he’s already proven to be unreliable when given the chance. JD McKissic appears to have the safer floor and we can’t preach the good tune of Ty Johnson any longer.

Alshon Jeffery (PHI)

Nothing is more frustrating than placing trust in a player and not seeing it come to pass. While we totally get that injuries are part of the game and impossible to predict, the overall landscape of what Alshon Jeffery hasn’t done is glaring. Outside of week one and week six, Jeffery has been a ghost for fantasy relevance and is again on the wrong side of playing this week.

To make matters even worse, the schedule for Jeffery doesn’t provide warm feelings that high end production will be the constant. The Eagles continue to struggle to move the ball with this depleted receiving core, making Jeffery an easy double team for the opposition. Until further notice, Jeffery is in our dog house and we don’t foresee letting him out