Fantasy Football: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 11 Patriots Edition

Two Patriot sophomores have locked themselves in as fantasy weapons moving forward

The New England Patriots haven't just turned their season around on the gridiron – they've done so in fantasy as well.

Back-to-back wins over the Jets and Ravens have re-inserted New England in the playoff race, and fantasy owners who have leaned on certain Patriots in recent weeks might have jumped back into their playoff pictures as well. Sunday's matchup against the Texans sets up another potential big week for fantasy Patriots, but only time will tell whether or not they can capitalize. 

Here are the personnel in New England you should start and sit in your fantasy lineups in Week 11.

All scores are calculated using half-point PPR, ESPN standard scoring

Start 'Em: Jakobi Meyers

The debate is over – Meyers is a must-start moving forward.

The second-year receiver is averaging 13.8 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, and he isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Usually big fantasy outputs from receivers can be attributed to touchdowns, which are difficult to rely on, but Meyers still hasn't hauled in a touchdown this season.

Meyers did pick up a passing touchdown on a key trick play on Sunday night, which obviously won't happen every week, but the fact that he's scored in double digits three games in a row is hard to overlook. He leads the Patriots with 37 targets since the bye, and since he hasn't scored a touchdown yet, Meyers' 22.9-point outburst against New York might not even be his ceiling.

The matchup also works in Meyers' favor, since the Texans are allowing the 11th-most points to opposing receivers this season. Considering Meyers will get the majority of New England's targets yet again this week, that can only mean good things.

Fantasy owners can count on Meyers to break double digits again this week, so lock him in as a WR2 or a flex if you have depth on the outside.

Sit 'Em: Cam Newton

Newton has been improving as of late, that can't be denied.

Without him, the Patriots don't string together the close wins over the Jets and Ravens.

Still, he's barely hanging on as a top-20 fantasy quarterback and he has only broken the 200-passing yard threshold once since the bye.

The Texans defense allowed just 5.3 points to Baker Mayfield a week ago, but it is important to note that the game took place in the middle of the same rain storm that hit Foxboro later in the day. In its previous three outings, Houston allowed 25.7 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Two of the three 20-plus point performances in that span came from quarterbacks who threw four touchdown passes. Newton has just three touchdown passes on the entire season, so he may not be able to pick apart the Texans' secondary the same way Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Tannehill did.

Newton's floor remains high because of his ability to break into the end zone on the ground, so owners in two quarterback leagues might still be able to consider playing the former NFL MVP.

However, his limitations as a passer restrict his ceiling, and it's best to avoid starting him this weekend.

Start 'Em: Damien Harris

Like Meyers, Harris has established himself as a major factor in the Patriots' offense moving forward.

Harris picked up his third 100-yard game of the season against the Ravens last week, and he continues to get more looks in the backfield. He was on the field for a season-high 55% of New England's offensive snaps against Baltimore, as Sony Michel is still out and James White continues to sit on the sidelines.

Patriots running backs have historically been difficult to rely on in fantasy. But when Harris is playing this well and his only competition is Rex Burkhead, he has a chance to be a consistent fantasy weapon.

Harris' 12.1 points last week brought his season average to 9.5 per game on the season, and the Texans have allowed 20-plus points to opposing running backs in all but one of their games this season.

Going up against the third-worst run defense in the league can only mean good things for a running back on the up and up, so consider Harris as a solid RB2 if your regulars are hurt or are on bye and a high-end flex for everyone else.

Sit 'Em: N'Keal Harry

Harry made his return from injury last week, and he did almost nothing with his playing time.

The former first round pick played 60 percent of the offensive snaps and did not get a single target. In his last three games, Harry has four targets and 1.1 total fantasy points.

The fact of the matter is that Harry is no longer worth stashing on any fantasy roster, and he hasn't been for some time. After scoring over 9.5 fantasy points twice in the first four weeks, Harry is averaging 0.4 per game in the time since. 

It doesn't matter who he's matching up against – don't start Harry, don't roster Harry and don't entertain adding Harry if injuries strike late in the week.