Chicago Bears - Fantasy News

Top 5 Fantasy Running Back Sleepers for Week 11

by Adam Markowitz

11/17/17

NFL

Chicago Bears

Benny Cunningham

Several of the NFL's top running back committees had some major shakeups in Week 10 that are causing a massive shift in Projected Fantasy Points totals. Some of these adjustments could prove to be fool's gold while others might be more permanent changes. Week 11 could give us some insight as to what teams are thinking for the rest of the season.

Benny Cunningham (3.04 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Lions: 3.0

The Lions have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns, tied for second-most in the NFL. Benny Cunningham isn't exactly a back you're going to see a lot of on the goal line, but he was on the field for 28 snaps in Week 10, the most he's had all season. A lot of that was due to the fact that the Bears were playing from behind much of the way against Green Bay, but what's to say that won't be the case this week against Detroit, too?

Cunningham has always been a shifty back with the ball in his hands, and three or four touches should be enough to get him to this low Projected Fantasy Points total in Week 11.

Austin Ekeler (6.87 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Bills: 6.5

Is Austin Ekeler set to take over the L.A. backfield from Melvin Gordon? It might feel like a stretch, but Ekeler is averaging 1.2 more yards per rush and 2.3 more yards per reception than the former Wisconsin Badger.

The best part about Ekeler this week against the Bills is that he's up against such a low Projected Fantasy Points total.

We have several ways to post a win here on our Dober Play Card:

Ekeler could find the end zone for the fifth time this season, a logical projection against a Buffalo team that easily leads the league in touchdowns allowed to opposing running backs. He could also simply eat into Gordon's production. Furthermore, Philip Rivers is still in concussion protocol as of Thursday. If Rivers is out, runs and short passes will be the name of the gameplan against Buffalo.

Charcandrick West (4.96 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Giants: 3.5

In case you haven't noticed, the Giants aren't very good. They've lost their last three games by a combined score of 106-45, and all four had something important in common: Backup running backs have put up respectable Dober Fantasy Points totals.

Malcolm Brown and Thomas Rawls both scored 5.7 DFP against Big Blue, while last week Matt Breida scored 12.3 DFP.

That's great news for Charcandrick West. The Chiefs are double-digit favorites at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, and if they don't need to use Kareem Hunt for 25 touches, West could easily blow past his PFP.

Terron Ward (0.33 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Seahawks: 2.5

The Atlanta backfield is dominated by Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman, but with Freeman likely sitting out on Monday night against Seattle with a concussion, Terron Ward will surely have a place in the backfield.

Last week against Dallas, Ward got on the field for the first time and took 17 snaps. Dan Quinn has always preferred splitting his backfield no matter the injury situation, and Ward is going to have his opportunities against Atlanta. This is a low number to beat at just 2.5 PFP, and Ward has a significantly higher ceiling than that in Week 11.

DeAndre Washington (5.55 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Patriots: 5.5

DeAndre Washington splits time with Jalen Richard behind Marshawn Lynch in the Oakland backfield. Normally speaking, it isn't good practice to put a man who may only see 5-10 snaps per game on your Dober Play Card, especially against this high of a PFP.

The circumstances this week are far from normal for Oakland. Estadio Azteca is played at a high altitude, and there's a good chance that Lynch is going to be rotated out of the lineup more often than not, especially on obvious passing downs.

New England also ranks dead last in the NFL in yards per rush allowed at 5.0. Washington is the most likely of the three Oakland backs to break a long one in the open field, and it might only take one moment of brilliance for him to beat his PFP on Sunday.