The leaves have all but fallen and the temperature is dropping. You know what else is still falling? More players, because of injuries. It’s relentless out there, folks, and like always, we learn to pivot and adapt. The good news is that there are only 2 teams on bye in NFL Week 11. There is a lot to look at, and it’s becoming very apparent which defenses have adapted to their weaknesses and which haven’t. So, let’s dive into the main slate and build a week-winning DFS or FastDraft Flex Six Frenzy lineup.
Week 11 NFL “FastDraft Flex Six Frenzy” Lineup Advice (2025) | NFL DFS Picks
Jaylen Warren (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Speaking of teams that haven’t adapted to their weaknesses, let’s pick on the Cincinnati Bengals with our first running back selection. Pittsburgh Steelers back Jaylen Warren is set up for a big Week 11 against the Bengals. He hasn’t been the most consistent this season, but if there was ever a chance for him to have a spike game, it’s this one. In eight games played, Warren has finished as the RB22 or better, including two finishes inside the top eight. With an offense that has lately been struggling to pass the ball and a frustrated quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, I expect the Steelers to lean on the veteran back.
The Bengals, as mentioned, are still the best possible matchup for fantasy running backs. They’re dead last, allowing the position to score 32.6 points per game. Not only that, but running backs are scoring approximately 11 points over their projected fantasy point total. This is a big game for the Steelers, who are still in first place in the AFC North. A big win over their division-rival Bengals will help them stay on top. Why wouldn’t they lean on their back who can not only break away a run, but also catch a lot of balls out of the backfield? Especially in a Points Per Reception (PPR) format, that means gold for Jaylen Warren this week.
Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers)
RIIICOOO! Here we are in Week 11, and Rico Dowdle continues to absolutely dominate. Despite only starting in six games this season, he sits as the RB10 in PPR scoring. It’s hard to ignore what he’s been able to do since taking over for fellow running back Chuba Hubbard as the Panthers’ RB1. Dowdle has brought a different feel to this Panthers offense. Not taking away anything from Hubbard, but he just doesn’t have what the former Dallas back has been displaying. Rico Dowdle is a power back that can break away, and he will wear defenses down.
The Panthers take on the Atlanta Falcons, who have been a “red light, green light” type of defense. You never know which defense will show up. Last week, they let Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor torch them for 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns, plus 42 receiving yards. While he’s not Jonathan Taylor by any means, Rico Dowdle has been playing very well, and I fully believe that will only continue on Sunday.
Ja’Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals)
Let’s stick with the Bengals-Steelers game that has a solid implied point total of 49. It’s pretty high for an AFC divisional matchup, but the books clearly look at this game as one that will go back and forth. So why Ja’Marr Chase? Since Joe Flacco took over as the starting quarterback five weeks ago, Chase hasn’t finished outside the WR12, and three of those games ended with a top-six finish. But it gets better; in Week 7, Chase finished as the WR1 overall. Against who? You guessed it, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s not rocket science; you play studs against bad defenses, especially ones that they have a reputation for torching. The Steelers are the second-easiest matchup for wideouts, allowing them to score 35 points per game. With that kind of opportunity, plus the 16 receptions, 161 yards, and one touchdown game that he had against the Steelers last time, it’s a cake decision. You’ll spend up for Ja’Marr Chase, no question. But if he finishes this week as the WR1 again against the “Steel Curtain,” and he likely will, it’s well worth it.
Nico Collins (WR, Houston Texans)
Raise your hand if you predicted wide receiver Nico Collins finishing as the WR5 overall with Davis Mills under center for the Houston Texans. Now, put your hand down; you’re lying through your teeth. No one saw this coming. Mills and Collins had a serious connection last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, enough for the wideout to have a top-five finish and Mills to finish as the QB1 overall. Wild, right? As of now, quarterback C.J. Stroud remains in concussion protocol, so it’s hard to say who will be starting. But to be honest, with what I saw last week from Davis Mills, I’m not sure it matters.
The Texans face off against the Tennessee Titans, who are still struggling against the wide receiver position. They are allowing an average of 29.2 points per game to the position, so it seems like a smash play. Get Nico Collins in your lineup as he should have another good game ahead.
Colston Loveland (TE, Chicago Bears)
This one hurts a little, but I don’t want to give you bad information. Colston Loveland very well might be in store for another solid game after being somewhat quiet last week. You can’t help but notice the kid’s athleticism, and he’s getting targets. Even finishing as the TE15 in Week 10, he still caught all four of his targets for 55 yards. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is showing good and bad signs, but he can chuck that football when needed.
Here’s the part that hurts: the Bears take on my Minnesota Vikings, who continue to struggle against the tight end position. Last week, they once again exposed their weakness and allowed tight end Mark Andrews to score. The Vikings remain a bottom-ten defense against tight ends, allowing an average of 12.3 points per game. Some may think it’s a toss-up of a pick, considering Colston Loveland’s slow start, but with the way Minnesota keeps allowing tight ends to score week in and week out, it should be a good day for the rookie.
Theo Johnson (TE, New York Giants)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson is a sleeper pick for a breakout player in the back half of the 2025 NFL season, in my opinion. In the last two weeks, he’s been rock solid, with both games finished inside the top ten. Granted, he seems to be a favorite target for quarterback Jaxson Dart, and with Dart in concussion protocol, I don’t think he plays. But the Giants have to see how well Johnson has been playing and continue giving him work. If the Giants want to compete, they need to get the ball to their playmakers, and right now, Theo Johnson seems to be one of them.
The matchup against the Green Bay Packers is not bad either; the Pack defense is relatively solid, but they, too, struggle against tight ends. They are a bottom-twelve defense, and if you watched that slog of a Monday Night Football game, their weaknesses got exposed by the Eagles once again. Dallas Goedert had six targets and caught four of them for 43 yards. The game itself was gross, but the tight end was one of the highlights for the Eagles. If Jameis Winston can do one thing to help win the game, it should be to target Theo Johnson.
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*Photo Credit: Scott Kinser – USA TODAY Sports*
