8 Big-Name Players You Shouldn't Trust in Week 11

Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona Cardinals

I continue to be right about him, even if nobody acknowledges it: Andre Ellington is one of the most overrated running backs currently in fantasy football. Our NEP data knows it: Ellington is currently the 6th-ranked fantasy back in the NFL, but resides at 39th in our Total NEP metric among running backs with at least 50 carries. Ellington has been horrendously ineffective as a runner, which has more than outweighed his phenomenal receiving totals. The only reason he has at all been feasible as a fantasy option is his sustained volume of touches; no one else in the Arizona backfield is worth anything.

Yet, if that's one of your player's only upsides, I shudder to think of the decisions you make about keeping them in the lineup when considering their downsides. This week, that includes the nigh-impenetrable Detroit Lions rush defense, who rank a distant 1st in the NFL in Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP. The Lions have smothered opposing fantasy backfields in the last five weeks, only allowing 60 or more rushing yards twice in that span, and allowing just one rushing touchdown. Ellington's forte isn't running, though; it lies in receiving. Still, with Drew Stanton starting under center, I'd imagine the Lions will stack the box and force Arizona to throw deep in order to beat them. Ellington is a weak play this week.