As the calendar pushes deeper into November and the hits get heavier, this slate of games in Week 11 felt less like football and more like a league-wide triage drill. Depth charts are suddenly as thin as the air in Denver. NFL Red Zone was full of sad, slow music, and everywhere you looked, teams were icing something, taping something, or asking a backup to stretch “just in case.” Even the healthiest contenders learned they’re only one high ankle sprain away from a desperate start by someone claimed off waivers.
Yet through the bumps and bruises, the games themselves delivered plenty of clarity. A handful of teams tightened their grips on division leads while a few pretenders limped out of the race. Both the NFL and dynasty leagues are entering that stage of the season where durability is a skill, depth is a weapon, and momentum can swing as fast as a hamstring can tighten. As the great Rich Dotson once said, “The best ability is availability.”
Sure, Bill Parcells said it first, but Coach doesn’t pay my bills. On to the recap!
NFL Week 11 Recap | Headlines
The week began on Thursday in Foxboro as Drake Maye and the New England Patriots dominated the New York Jets 27-14. The win moved the Patriots to a 9-2 record, owning a two-game lead in the AFC East over the Buffalo Bills. TreVeyon Henderson continued his breakout with two touchdowns on the ground, and another in the air, while Justin Fields played himself out of a starting role. Tyrod Taylor will start for the Jets and their listless offense.
The Buffalo Bills held serve in a thrilling victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 44-32. Josh Allen turned in this year’s top fantasy performance with 3 touchdowns passing and another three on the ground. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay finds itself losers of 3 of its last 4 games heading into a tough matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Los Angeles Rams earned a victory over division rival Seattle Seahawks 21-19. The Seahawks were done in by four costly Sam Darnold interceptions. For the Rams, a pedestrian day for Matthew Stafford, throwing for just 130 yards but 2 touchdowns.
A disappointing season continues for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as they fall to the Denver Broncos 22-19. At 5-5, the Chiefs are a full four games back of the 9-2 Broncos in the AFC West and are far from a lock at even making the playoffs. Despite a huge day from Travis Kelce (9-91-1), the rest of the Chiefs offense continues to look out of sync. On the other side of the ball, Bo Nix and the Denver offense did just enough to come away with the last-second victory at home.
Despite Cam Ward starting to show signs of life, the Tennessee Titans fell to the Houston Texans 16-13. Has C.J. Stroud been the problem in Houston? The Texans’ passing game looks rejuvenated under backup Davis Mills with big games for Nico Collins and rookie Jayden Higgins. The Titans, on the other hand, prove week after week that they’re one of the least talented rosters in the NFL. Hopefully, for Ward’s sake, the Titans can add multiple skill position players this offseason, whether through free agency or the Draft.
Break up the Carolina Panthers! Carolina pulled out an overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons. Bryce Young was the story of the day, throwing for 448 yards and 3 touchdowns against the league’s best passing defense. Tetairoa McMillan lit up the stat sheet with 8 catches for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns. The loss added insult to injury for the Falcons, who lost both Michael Penix and Drake London to injury.
The Baltimore Ravens edged out the Cleveland Browns 23-16. The Browns were finally forced to play rookie Shedeur Sanders at quarterback after Dillon Gabriel left the game with a concussion, and Sanders will be the story going forward. We will soon learn if it will be a case of be careful what you wish for in Cleveland.
In one of the most surprising results of the day, even without Travis Hunter or Brian Thomas, the Jacksonville Jaguars crushed the Los Angeles Chargers 35-6. Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense looked completely lost. Dynasty managers who had any of the Chargers players in their lineups this week—I’m sorry for your loss.
Speaking of being sorry and looking lost, J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings fell to the Chicago Bears 19-17. The drumbeat of disappointment around McCarthy has gotten louder and louder, and for those left rostering Justin Jefferson, it’s become an exercise in frustrating patience. If we’re being fair, Caleb Williams and the Bears offense didn’t look much better when they had the ball, with Williams completing just 50% of his pass attempts en route to 193 passing yards.
On Sunday Night, what could have been a track meet of touchdowns turned into a defensive slugfest as the Philadelphia Eagles outlasted the Detroit Lions 16-9. Are we ready to talk about A.J. Brown losing a step yet? He squeaked all week, but even when his wheel got greased with 11 targets, he only managed to turn that into 7 catches for just 49 yards. The story of the game was the Lions offense’s inability to convert on fourth down. Both Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams had monster games, but it wasn’t enough as they couldn’t punch any drives into the end zone for touchdowns.
We ended the week in Vegas as the Raiders got ripped by the Dallas Cowboys 33-16. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens put on an aerial showcase at the expense of the Raiders secondary. The Raiders fell to 2-8 on the season, and they’ll be squarely in play for drafting a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Big Performances
- Three for the Money — It doesn’t get any bigger than Josh Allen’s performance in Week 11. Allen passed for 317 yards and ran for another 40. Despite 2 interceptions bringing his point total down in most leagues, Allen was the top player overall this week on the back of his 6 total touchdowns.
- Run CMC — If it wasn’t for Jonathan Taylor’s mammoth season, we’d all be talking a lot more about the season that Christian McCaffrey is having in San Francisco. The 29-year-old finished with 81 yards rushing, 40 yards receiving, catching 5 passes, and adding 3 total touchdowns.
- “Yippie Ki-Yay, Sean Tucker!” — Now and then, we see a random player put on a fantasy show out of seemingly nowhere, and this week we had it happen with both Sean Tucker and Michael Wilson. Tucker scored 34 PPR points in a loss to Buffalo, rushing for 106 yards and scoring 3 total touchdowns. For Arizona, Michael Wilson exploded with 15 receptions for 185 yards in a game where Jacoby Brissett set the NFL’s all-time mark for completions in a game with 47.
BREAKING NEWS
📊 Our Data Hub is live! Get custom player stats in the Dynasty Nerds App.
📱 Use code data-hub for 20% off any membership!
Notable Injuries & Status Watch
It’s not pretty, folks. Michael Penix re-injured his left knee and will miss the rest of this season. Aaron Rodgers has a fracture in his non-throwing wrist, and his availability for Week 12 is questionable. Dillon Gabriel will miss this week while working through concussion protocol. Finally, Jaxson Dart does have a chance to play this week if he can clear concussion protocol. Check back later in the week for an update.
Josh Jacobs is a question mark for the Packers’ upcoming matchup due to a left knee contusion. Bhayshul Tuten, Emari Demercado, and Jaylen Warren are all nursing injuries, while, in case you missed it, the Broncos placed J.K. Dobbins on IR late in the week with his foot issue. For Dobbins, if it weren’t for bad luck, the kid would have no luck at all, a likely unfortunate end to his promising season.
The biggest injury news of the week is in Atlanta, where, in addition to Penix’s injury, Drake London will likely miss a few weeks with a PCL injury. Fantasy managers who have been counting on London’s WR1 numbers will have to look elsewhere in an attempt to replace his production.
3 Up & 3 Down: Which Dynasty Assets Are Producing And Who Is Letting You Down?
Rising
- TreVeyon and On and On — It’s taken a few frustrating weeks, but the TreVeyon Henderson we’re seeing now is what we’ve all been waiting for. Averaging 30+ PPR points in his last 2 games, we can only hope this usage sticks even when the other Patriots running backs return from injury.
- “Trey Bien!” — Trey McBride hasn’t just been very good, he’s been great. He is now the TE1 overall both in total points and points per game, lapping the field by nearly 4 full points in PPR leagues. McBride has scored over 10 points in all but one game this season and looks to be fully unlocked with Jacoby Brissett at the helm for Arizona.
- “How About Them Cowboys?” — Yes, it’s cliché, but have you looked at what the Dallas passing attack has done this year? CeeDee Lamb? WR10 by points per game. George Pickens? Even better at WR6. Tight end Jake Ferguson? Behind only Trey McBride. At the head of the ship, Dak Prescott is QB8 on a points-per-game basis.
Falling
- “Herb Your Enthusiasm” — There was a power outage for the Chargers’ offense on Sunday. Justin Herbert attempted just 18 passes while throwing for a career-low 81 yards. Yikes. The injuries across the Chargers offensive line continue to mount, and Herbert just isn’t getting enough time to push the ball deep.
- “Pitts and Giggles” — Kyle Pitts, for years, I’ve been saying, “I can’t quit you.” With a two catch for 14 yard output, Pitts failed to score more than 8 PPR points for the third straight week and has scored only one touchdown on the season. With Drake London’s injury, you’d think this would be yet another opportunity to get Pitts some targets, but is anyone truly excited and confident about that happening?
- “Spit and Miss” — Pardon me while I exercise some catchphrase infringement. Ja’Marr Chase? C’mon man… Spitting? Not cool. Suspended for one game? Even worse.
DNA League Trivia | Jacoby Brissett just set the NFL record for most pass completions in a single game. Whose long-standing record did he break? (Answer – tie between Drew Bledsoe and Jared Goff at 45 completions.)
Standings | Nerds App League Snapshot
Current Standings:
Dynasty Rankings (from Nerds App):
Contender Rankings (from Nerds App):
Week 11 Highlights
Rich Dotson’s roster got the win, albeit in shaky fashion, with a 123.06 to 100.68 victory over Jon Glosser. Rich’s team went under the median score, earning only one victory point this week and falling back a bit toward the rest of the pack. I wrote last week that QB is likely Rich’s Achilles heel, and with a dud game from Justin Herbert, that may just be the case. Rich is now going to have to survive an injury to Drake London if he hopes to stay at the top. Meanwhile, Jon falls to 9th place, just one win above the potential cut line.
In a battle at the bottom of the standings, Matt Cooper beat Taylor Christianson 143.89 to 52.22. Taylor took his 20th loss in a row and continues to be actively selling whatever assets he has left, while Matt’s team treads water, likely now losing Bhayshul Tuten and Aaron Rodgers from his already thin lineup. Both teams have some pieces to help rebuild, but the question will be, who gets to make that happen? Remember, two of the three must be voted out, so one of these two won’t have the opportunity to see their roster through to 2026.
Keith Ensminger’s team continues its surge with a 163.82 to 117.10 win over John Hammersmith. For Keith, his team has climbed back up to .500 at 11-11, but remains on the outside looking in of the playoff picture for the moment. For John, like Matt and Taylor, it is simply a question of who the NerdHerd will choose to save. With a record of 5-17 and fading fast, he is a lock to finish in the bottom 3 teams.
“Pistol” Peter Monahan dropped the hammer on Doc Mitchell this week, besting him 191.58 to 151.07. Peter’s team nickname on Sleeper is “Josh Allen and Bijan Robinson!”, and that moniker was never more true than in Week 11. Those two players combined for over 80 points in our scoring, and the outcome was never in doubt. These two teams are separated by only one game atop the standings as our second and fourth seeds, so there’s a good chance this matchup will happen again in the playoffs.
Poor Nick Piovano. His roster looks like the hospital scene in Saving Private Ryan, with 11 players out or on injured reserve. Mychal Warno’s team took full advantage, winning 138.41 to 109.96. At 13-9, Mychal’s team is our sixth seed but now up only 2 games on Keith Ensminger. The good news? Mychal’s roster is one of the healthiest in the league, and with Christian McCaffrey in the lineup, he’s going to be tough to overtake.
Matchup of the Week | Garret Price vs. Jared Wackerly
Final Score: 152.48 to 149.33
Whether on the podcast or on Sleeper, it’s always fun when these two face off. This week’s matchup between Garret and Jared was another story in their friendly rivalry, with Jared’s team taking a last-minute victory over Garret 152.48 to 149.33. Jared’s team just continues to find ways to win each week, and this week’s hero was Tre Tucker, scoring a garbage-time touchdown to get the nod over Garret’s squad.
The late-game missed reception by CeeDee Lamb was the killer that would have kept Garret’s team afloat, but the Cowboys’ decision to kneel out the game from Las Vegas’s red zone was just salt in the wound. As our third and fifth seeds, we’ll likely see these two meet up later in the playoffs, much like Peter and Doc.
🔗 Keep Building Your Dynasty
Manager Spotlight | Interview With Jon Glosser | @Glosser13
Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and how long have you been with Dynasty Nerds?
I’m from Buffalo, NY, and grew up a big sports fan, but I have never been loyal to one team. The Bills were past their Super Bowl years by the time I was even 10. I gravitated towards players at a young age. Barry Sanders and Dan Marino were my guys; just seeing them play made me like players more than teams. I’ve been with Dynasty Nerds since 2016, so I’m coming up on a 10th anniversary as a content creator for the no. 1 Dynasty Fantasy Football website.
Your team has hit a patch of bad luck, and you’re only one win ahead of being in the bottom three. What’s your strategy? Do you have any moves to stave off elimination?
Yeah, my team has been pretty rough this year. Do I get a bit of grace for being the IDP guy? Built this team around the two prominent positions in QB and TE, and losing both Kincaid and LaPorta is the potential end, putting me in the bottom three. I’m not sure any trade at this point will be able to make up for that loss of production, combined with misses on both Kaleb Johnson and Luther Burden in the rookie draft.
I have been debating pulling the trigger on a few offers over the past few weeks, but as a realist, I’m not sure anything is out there that saves you when you are playing with this level of a depleted roster. At this point, I might just have to remain loyal to the Nerds as I have over the past decade and set up the next manager for success without moving significant future draft capital.
You do an amazing job in your role as the Director of IDP at Dynasty Nerds. Tell us a little about IDP leagues and how you got into them?
Thanks, man, very much appreciated. I’ve always been a defensive guy playing organized football growing up. When I found IDP fantasy football, I knew I had a slight competitive edge just from seeing the game differently. I’ve always enjoyed scouting players during their college years and not being afraid to draft them ahead of their perceived ADP before the hype gets out of control.
In 2015, IDP Dynasty Fantasy Football took off for me when No Position Left Behind scoring was implemented. These were the first leagues to reward IDPs as much as offensive skill-position players. For reference, in the initial startup draft, which to this day was the most ridiculous draft I’ve ever been a part of, it was a 70-round draft that took only 5 days to complete. J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald were top-20 overall picks. The love of the game and knowing 11 other people loved the defensive side of football as much as me really just set the wheels in motion for what has become IDP fantasy football now.
If someone reading this is interested in trying IDP, any suggestions for them?
My best advice is not to be afraid of it. The common misconception is that it’s more work. I love it so much because it adds a layer to how you can build a team. If every NFL team were chasing the same four positions every season, it wouldn’t be the most fun as a fan. I have personally found success building dynasty teams led by players like Myles Garrett and Brian Burns this season, who are on arguably two of the worst teams in the NFL.
It also brings more interest to the games that aren’t as popular to the typical fan. A primetime matchup between two teams with poor offenses might not even be worth watching, but if that team has a double-digit sack defensive end or a 100+ tackle linebacker, you might find more interest in it. Lastly, the single best piece of advice is to come to Dynasty Nerds IDP hub and check out all the great content we provide to keep you ahead of the competition!
Do you have anything to say to the Nerd Herd or any trash to talk to your opponents this week? Anything at all you would like to say, this is your forum.
I apologize to the Nerd Herd for not taking down the great Rich Dotson on one of his off weeks with only 123 points scored. I genuinely love the Dynasty Nerds team, the brand, and everything we have built together over the last decade. I’m not in any position to talk trash with me looking at starting Jackson Hawes at TE in Week 12, plus who can trash-talk Peter? He’s the nicest guy!
I look forward to seeing how the rest of the season plays out, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this league and give our Nerd Herd a chance to see how we approach the game as managers over a full season.
Elimination Watch | Bottom 3 in the Danger Zone
The Danger Zone
- Taylor Christanson (2-20) – Same as it ever was. Taylor is playing a dangerous game as a last-place lock. Funny point to mention here – Taylor’s team has by far the most points scored against with 1794.59. No other team has had more than 1700 points scored against them!
- John Hammersmith (5-17) – Perhaps the team with the bleakest future, John’s team needs all the help it can get. Can Brian Thomas’s value rebound? What to do about Tua? Will RJ Harvey ever produce consistently? Can Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers get healthy and play together next season?
- Matt Cooper (5-17) – What to do at quarterback for Matt? Dillon Gabriel likely doesn’t start next season, and, for very different reasons, neither does Aaron Rodgers. If J.J. McCarthy can’t turn it around, this squad’s manager is going to be hard-pressed to compete without any startable quarterbacks.
Looking Ahead | Week 12 Preview
- If Keith Ensminger wants to have any shot at making the playoffs, the road goes through Mychal Warno. The two face off in Week 12. Jared Wackerly gets this week’s honor of an easy victory in a matchup against Taylor Christianson. Rich Dotson faces off against Doc Mitchell in a matchup of 1 vs 2, with Doc’s team heavily favored. Can the boss pull a rabbit out of his hat?
- In the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Indianapolis Colts in what could be a must-win game for Andy Reid’s team. A loss would drop the Chiefs to a losing record. In the late window, we’ll be treated to Shedeur Sanders’s first start as the Browns face the Raiders while the Eagles travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys. The Cowboys will be coming off a short week, but they play much better at home than on the road.
- The Sunday and Monday Night Football games bring intriguing matchups. First, Tampa Bay travels to the City of Angels to play the Rams. Can the Bucs stem their recent tide of losses or will the Rams reign supreme? Finally, on Monday, we’ll find out if the Panthers are truly for real as they travel to San Francisco to take on the San Francisco 49ers.
🔥 Take Control of Your Dynasty Today
Want to see where your lineup stacks up? Start building like the pros with our most powerful tools and resources:
👉 It’s time to take control of your dynasty and see where your lineups truly rank.
Trivia Answer | There are 2 possible answers: Drew Bledsoe and Jared Goff at 45 completions. (click to return)
