Adrian Peterson

Week 11 fantasy football recap: Jameis Winston, Doug Martin, Thomas Rawls all surprise

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:40 p.m. ET

Ryan Fowler

Having a rough fantasy football week 11? Think about the Ravens' season. They've now lost their starting quarterback, Joe Flacco, to a torn ACL, top wide receiver, Steve Smith, to a torn Achilles, top running back, Justin Forsett, to a broken arm, and a defensive leader, Terrell Suggs, to a torn Achilles. That's not to mention also missing their top rookie receiver (Breshad Perriman), former starting tight end (Dennis Pitta) and center (Jeremy Zuttah).

Forsett sideline with the busted arm is another painful reminder of how early-round fantasy running back production has whiffed more times than not. Here's the top 12 running backs drafted on FOXSports.com based on average draft position and their Week 11 point production:

Ugly, right? Now, here's the Week 11 leading scorers at running back heading into Sunday night football:

The Best of Week 11

Cam Newton – 41.4 FP vs. Redskins (ADP – 6th Round)

Over his past three games, Newton is averaging 34.6 fantasy points per game. Of his 21 completions, five were for touchdowns – to five different receivers. His favorite targets against the Redskins were a rookie receiver and a NFL special teams returner by trade turned wide receiver by necessity. The rest of his fantasy football schedule is very favorable with games against the Giants and Falcons to win it all.

Jameis Winston – 39.8 FP vs. Eagles (ADP – 13th Round)

Winston is only the third rookie quarterback to throw five touchdowns in a game. Like Newton, his five scores were to five different receivers. Heading into the game, the Eagles pass defense had allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. It’s only the fourth time this season Winston has scored more points than his FPPG average of 18.2.

Doug Martin – 23.5 FP vs. Eagles (ADP – 9th Round)

Martin averaged 27.4 fantasy points per game during a three game stretch weeks 4, 5 and 7. However, over the last three weeks scored 27.4 fantasy points total. He was trending downward heading into a matchup against the Eagles’ rush defense which allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. His 235 rush yards – 16 shy of his personal best (2012, OAK) - were also 2 yards short of tying Barry Sanders' record for most without a TD

Ahmad Bradshaw – 21.2 FP vs. Falcons (ADP – N/A)

The Colts’ RB was a sneaky stream start with Matt Hasselbeck behind center. It didn’t take long for the veteran quarterback to realize check-downs to Bradshaw were his friend against the Falcons. He only touched the ball 13 times, but scored twice for Indianapolis.

Darren McFadden – 17.9 FP vs. Dolphins (ADP – 13th Round)

If you haven't learned by now, reports out of Cowboys camp just can’t be trusted in terms of fantasy football relevance. McFadden placed on the injury report late last week had owners scrambling to the waiver wire to pick up the likes of Robert Turbin and Rod Smith – both signed by Dallas within the last week. So, DMC – bad groin and all – goes out and runs all over the Dolphins for 129 yards on 29 carries with two receptions for 40 yards. He’s averaged 24 carries per game since taking over as the Cowboys starting running back.

Thomas Rawls – 40.5 FP vs. 49ers (ADP – N/A)

After he was questionable most of the week, Marshawn Lynch (abdomen) was a mid-afternoon scratch from the Seahawks tasty matchup against the 49ers. So, the rookie running back out of Central Michigan picked up where he left off the last time he started. In his previous three starts, Rawls averaged 18-19 carries for 107 yards with a touchdown. His 30 carries were the most by a Seahawks running back since November 2011 (Lynch – 32).

Spencer Ware - 23.1 FP vs. Chargers (ADP - N/A)

Proof once again that every running back will run over the Chargers rush defense. He rushed 11 times for 96 yards with two rushing touchdowns.

Jeremy Hill - 2 Touchdowns vs. Cardinals

Thomas Rawls' 30 carries, 209 yards is 2nd-biggest rushing day in #Seahawks' history. Shaun Alexander's 266 in 2001 vs OAK at Husky Stadium
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) November 23, 2015

He's alive! I don't know if 13 carries for 45 yards is a positive sign when Bernard is hogging so many touches via the pass game, but Hue Jackson's decision to give Hill some goal-line work is a great sign with the weather turning cold.

J.J. Nelson - 24.2 FP vs. Bengals

Derek Carr - 7.6 FP vs. Lions

Heading into Week 11, the Lions had allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks - 20.0. To be fair, the Raiders mid-season schedule has been a little rough at Steelers, home Vikings, at Lions (w/ the uber-early PST kickoff) over the last three weeks, but Carr posted his worst fantasy performance since he was knocked out of the game with an injury during Week 1. It's also his first full game without a touchdown pass.

Amari Cooper - 1.4 FP vs. Lions

Lamar Miller - 7.5 FP vs. Cowboys

Chris Ivory - 5.5 FP vs. Texans

Allen Hurns - 4.9 FP vs. Titans

Jimmy Graham - 6.9 FP vs. 49ers

The Ugly of Week 11