It's been six months, and I still think I'm right.
For the record, my wife does not.
For those who live in the Northeast, I don't need to remind you that last winter was particularly harsh. But for those living elsewhere, it was brutal. And so, when the boys' father decided to take his sons skiing during their February break, we decided at the last minute to pack up the girls and head to Florida.
We find a resort on the beach, the weather is a little cold, but nothing compared to what's going on back home. The girls, who were then 3, were having a blast, being on vacation for the first time and being able to process it. Sleeping in a "big girl" bed, eating out at restaurants, we went to a children's play -- their first time seeing live theater -- they loved it all.
But perhaps they enjoyed nothing as much as the pool area. Little social butterflies, my twin girls were. There was a hot tub by the bar that was particularly crowded, since it was colder, and they made fast friends with anyone who was in the water.
Because the trip was so last-minute, we didn't buy any pool toys or anything like that. Every day there seemed to be some around for the girls, either from the pool itself or from other guests who, most likely, didn't feel like hauling cheap swim toys back to wherever they came from and, instead, just left them out for whomever to use.
So I am in the pool with my daughters, and floating in the pool is one of those noodles. They are long, colorful, made of Styrofoam and maybe they cost a couple of bucks at the local store. I've seen them sell for anywhere from a dollar to three.
The girls love these -- they're not yet swimming on their own, they have floaties -- and so I see a few of them just floating in the middle of the pool. No one's around, so I grab them (for the record, because this will become pertinent later in the story, there is nowhere on the premises to buy these). The girls grab onto them and -- I've described this before in a previous column -- they just love being pulled around. They each have a noodle and are riding them like "horseys," we go to the shallow part and they are having "sword fights" with them, the whole thing is a blast. Laughing, giggling and smiles. Lots and lots of smiles.
We are back in the middle of the pool now (it's been about 20 minutes) and I'm pulling them around again when a guy comes up to us.
Guy: Hey, those are mine.
Me: What?
Guy: Yeah, I bought those for my son. (He points to a kid, maybe 6 years old, at the edge of the pool). He wants to play with them now. I'd like them back.
Me: What are you talking about? They were just floating in the middle of the pool.
Guy: Yeah, I know. I left them there.
This makes no sense to me. If he still wanted to use the noodles, why didn't he put them on the side by his chair, where he left his towels and his kid was playing with a shovel and pail. By leaving the noodles in the pool, which people do all the time at resorts, it says to me they are for anyone to play with. The guy then makes a motion as if to say, "give me back the noodles."
Now the girls are getting worried. I see it in their eyes. My youngest (by five minutes, but still, she's the delicate worrier of the two) quietly grips her noodle tight.
Me: How do I know they're yours?
Guy: I bought them at Publix yesterday. You need me to show you the receipt?
Me: So even if they are yours, you gave them up. If you still wanted to use them, why not put them under your chair?
Guy: Because I wanted to leave them so others could play with them.
Me: OK, great. My kids are playing with them now.
Guy: Yeah, but now my son wants them back.
Me: Well, my girls are playing with them now. I'll be happy to bring them over to you when they are done.
Guy: Well, he wants them now, so I'll just take them back now.
And he literally GRABS the noodle out of my daughters' hands. They are 3. They don't know what is going on except, very simply, this: They like something and this person is taking something of "theirs" away.
They start screaming at the top of their lungs, cries of pain. You'd have thought someone was torturing them. They are wailing. I grab onto one of the noodles.
Me: No, you can have them when they're done. You gave them up. They are anyone's to take.
I wish you could have seen this ridiculous picture, two grown men in a swimming pool, grabbing ends of a bright green noodle in some sort of bizarre tug-of-war.
But my daughters are screaming, they are upset and, dammit, I'm right. I'm not letting go.
I mean, what kind of jerk just grabs a toy out of a kid's hand? I am as angry as I have ever been. He is causing my daughters pain. I am looking him over. I can take this guy in a fight, I think.
My wife comes up at this point.
Wife: What's going on?
Me: Guy says these are his noodles, we found them in the pool, the girls have been playing with them and he's trying to take them back.
Wife: So, OK, give them to him.
Thanks, honey.
As I look at her, my hand slightly loosens and the guy, sensing victory, jerks it away, swimming off to his kid, who, upon closer inspection, has the look of a brat. Someone who wants the noodles entirely because someone else is enjoying them. You know the type of kid.
I now turn to my wife. She is in a great mood, smiling, not understanding what that was about. I've been dealing with our daughters all afternoon, trying to entertain them as she's been enjoying a few margaritas and making friends with others at the pool. (My wife makes friends everywhere. It's really remarkable.) I'm fine with this -- she certainly spends a lot more time with our daughters than I do -- but hey, I'm in charge right now and those were our noodles.
Me: What was that?
Wife: What? They were his noodles.
Me: We don't know that for a fact. He just said it was.
Wife: Why would he lie?
Me: Because his bratty kid wants them? Who knows?
Wife: I'm sure they were his.
Me: He gave them up. He left them in the middle of the pool. He even said he left them there so others could play with them.
Wife: OK, so now he wants them back.
Me: It doesn't work like that! You leave something in middle of the pool at a public place like that, it's no longer yours. It's anyone's. First come, first served.
Wife: No, it was his. And he wanted them back.
Me: They weren't his!
The girls have continued to wail throughout this.
Girls: Why? Daddy where's our noodle? I want my noodle! Waaaaaaaa!
Me: Well, I guess it was the boy's noodle and he wanted to play with it.
Girls: Waaaaaaaa!
Wife: Who wants some ice cream?
Eventually, they forgot about it, and maybe an hour later, another couple leaving gave us their toys -- they were leaving that night to go home -- but my wife and I have argued about it to this day. She feels like they are his until he leaves the pool. I say once you leave them floating in the middle of the pool and they go unclaimed for 20 minutes, a half hour, it's fair game. Certainly no ownership that allows him to yank it out of my daughters' hands.
I just remember that feeling as he slunk away with the noodles, my daughters screaming their heads off and nothing I could do. No noodles in sight, they have no interest in any other floating device I can find, they just want their noodles ... and I just felt so helpless. Frustrated, angry, secure in the feeling I had done the right thing and yet ... powerless.
I had that feeling again this past weekend, when my Stern show fantasy team, which had already lost Jordy Nelson (we drafted way early), Arian Foster and Alshon Jeffery for half the season. And now, Julian Edelman is out for the year. I did everything right. I drafted great, played the waiver wire like a champ and yet, I have dropped from first to third and I am nervous about this weekend as I try to patch the team back together once again.
I feel like that's a common sentiment this season -- that helplessness. Jamaal Charles, Le'Veon Bell, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Andrew Luck, Matt Forte, Steve Smith Sr., Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Kelvin Benjamin, Keenan Allen and Dion Lewis are among the studs who are out for the year or have missed significant time, in addition to the ones I mentioned above. It's the worst feeling. Obviously, the pain is nothing compared to what the player himself is going through, but still ... there is no more helpless, what do I do, blood-draining feeling in fantasy than seeing your stud go down in a heap on the field.
My daughters eventually got over it, of course, and ask to this day when we are going back to Florida. And so, too, will all of our teams, one way or the other.
But it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
And I still think I'm right.
Let's get to it. A reminder to always check my flex rankings for specific "start this guy or that guy" questions -- this column is NOT designed to be a pure start/sit column, but rather players I feel exceed or fall short of expectations. Thanks to Jacob Nitzberg and Robert Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information for their help, and a quick note that all stats are for the past five weeks, unless otherwise noted. Here we go:
Quarterbacks I love in Week 11
Derek Carr, Raiders: In honor of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2" opening this week, we start with a group (just like the movie) of the top 24 quarterbacks in fantasy scoring this season and eliminate them one by one.
(NOTE: For the purposes of elimination, these stats are for the 2015 season)
1. Anyone with 10-plus interceptions.
Goodbye to these five signal-callers: Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck (out in Week 11 anyway), Blake Bortles, Joe Flacco and Sam Bradford (unlikely to play).
2. Anyone who hasn't thrown for 300 yards in a game.
So long to four more: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tyrod Taylor.
3. Anyone who does not have a healthy top-15 WR in ESPN standard scoring.
Gone are these eight: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning (on bye), Alex Smith, Kirk Cousins and Jay Cutler.
4. Anyone facing a defense that ranks in the top half of the league in opponent's passer rating.
Sound the cannon for Carson Palmer, Drew Brees (on bye), Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan, Ryan Tannehill and Josh McCown (on bye/no longer starting).
Congrats, Derek Carr ... you are the Week 11 Katniss Everdeen! Tied for the most passing touchdowns during the past four weeks and with multiple passing touchdowns in every game during that span, Carr is locked in this week as an elite play against a Lions team that has given up at least 15 fantasy points to every QB it has faced this season. Start Carr and may the stats be ever in your favor.
Cam Newton, Panthers: Frankly, I'm just jealous I can't dance. At all. Money at home this season (250 pass yards per game, 45 rushing yards per game and 14 total touchdowns in five games), Cam will sadly bring my beloved Redskins (giving up 17 points per game to QBs on the road this season) back down to earth. An easy top-five play for me.
Tony Romo, Cowboys: Not a lot of Romo stats to throw at you, since he's played only one full game, but putting him here because I'm not worried about rust. Going against the Dolphins' 20th-ranked pass defense that's giving up an average of 20 points a game to opposing QBs in the past four games, Romo is an immediate top-10 play for me.
So you're telling me there's a chance: In his past two home games, Matthew Stafford has been Jim Bob Cootacular: 330 passing yards per game and six total touchdowns, and I expect the good times to Cooter right along against a Raiders secondary that has given up the most passing yards per game on the road this season, multiple passing scores in each road game and no one in the secondary who can cover Calvin Johnson. ... Not counting the game he left early due to injury, Ryan Fitzpatrick now has four straight games with multiple touchdown passes and has had 10 days to prep for a Texans team traveling on a short week. ... The Bucs have actually been really good against the run (second best) while struggling in the secondary (22nd against the pass), so I could see Mark Sanchez (or Sam Bradford, if he somehow plays) being useful here for those in a bye week pinch.
The price is right: For those of you playing daily fantasy on sites like DraftKings, I like all of the players mentioned above, but here are a few other players I like this week, specific to their price. All prices quoted are from DraftKings.com.
Death, taxes and Tom Brady. There are only three things in this nutty world you can count on, and Tom is one of them, throwing for at least 275 yards and two touchdowns in all nine of his games this season. No other QB has done it in more than six. At home on Monday night, he's worth ponying up for his $8,500 price tag. ... I've already mentioned Carr (just $6,300!) and Matthew Stafford ($5,400!), but Blake Bortles at $5,900 against a banged-up (and not good to begin with) Titans secondary is pretty interesting, too. ... If Mark Sanchez gets the start, he's just the $5,000 minimum. ... Given his struggles and price tag, I expect Aaron Rodgers to be very low-owned and could see him as a solid tournament play. He traditionally plays very well against Minnesota. ... Case Keenum is the minimum $5,000, and if the Ravens stop him, it'll be the first QB they've stopped all season. I could easily see the Ravens load the box to stop Todd Gurley, leaving Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt with some one-on-one matchups.
Quarterbacks I hate in Week 11
Kirk Cousins, Redskins: Actually, now that you asked ... no. I do not like that. I'm speaking of your matchup, of course. Saints game heroics aside, the fact remains there are only six quarterbacks who have thrown more interceptions than Cousins this season. The Panthers are tied for the most picks in the league and allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs. You attack Carolina on the ground (18th versus the run), so expect a conservative approach on the road, heavy on run plays.
Russell Wilson, Seahawks: Oh, he'll be fine, but with the low passing totals this season, his fantasy value has been salvaged by his rushing. San Francisco has allowed the fourth-fewest yards per carry to opposing QBs this season (73 yards on 26 carries) and has not allowed a rushing TD to a QB. The 49ers held Wilson to just 11 points earlier this season, and while this game is in Seattle (San Fran has played much better defense at home), the 49ers have had two weeks to prep for this game. I see a game in the teens, just not a lot more, keeping him outside my top 10 for the week.
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins: Since the Cowboys' Week 6 bye, they've allowed just 225 yards per game and two total TDs to QBs, tied for the fewest in the league in that span. In fact, Dallas is just one of five teams not to allow more than two passing scores in a game this season, and the only QB to top 300 yards against the Cowboys is Drew Brees. Ryan Tannehill is not Drew Brees.
Running backs I love in Week 11
Darren McFadden, Cowboys: What Romo hurts in terms of McFadden's usage, he makes up for in boyish charm! That "aw shucks" smile! Wait, what? He makes up for in a more effective offense. Since their Week 5 bye, the Dolphins have allowed 24.4 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs, most in the NFL.
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks: It has been a tough year for Marshawn, for Marshawn owners and for fantasy analysts who said he was going to fall off the cliff last year (ahem). But that should change Sunday, as Lynch gets the only team he's had 100 yards rushing against this season. (Another reason I am down on Wilson is I believe Lynch has an effective game.) San Francisco is 21st against the run and Lynch, who has scored in three of his past four, should find the sledding much easier on Sunday.
Charcandrick West, Chiefs: The Chark-nado, as only Robert Flores and I call him, is getting fed like me at a place where you get fed a lot. What is that? A buffet? More than 120 yards from scrimmage and a TD in three straight, his volume (averaging 22 rushes a game in that span) keeps his floor high and his matchup -- the Chargers give up the fourth-most yards per carry and the most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs -- provides tons of upside. Plus, Jon Hein is using him against me this week in our matchup, which guarantees he goes off.
Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: You had me at "Redskins." No team has allowed more yards per rush this season or rushing yards per game in the past five than Washington. Meanwhile, Stewart has been all that and a bag of kitty litter. Since the Panthers' Week 5 bye, the only player with more carries and rushing yards than Stewart is Adrian Peterson. Stewart has at least 20 rushing attempts in five straight games, the longest streak by any player this season. Plus, Jon Hein is also using him against me. And I'll be watching the games with him Sunday while all this happens. Frankly, the whole thing is super annoying.
So you're telling me there's a chance: Last time the Patriots faced the Bills, Tom Brady threw the ball 59 times and Dion Lewis had nine targets on the way to a six-for-98 day. He probably won't throw that much, but there's also no Julian Edelman. Danny Amendola will get most of that love, but some targets should go to James White, who should be more involved this week and is a flex play with upside. ... With Brock Osweiler on the road making his first start, I expect the Broncos to lean more on the run game, making Ronnie Hillman an interesting play against Chicago's 22nd-ranked run defense. ... I know it hasn't been pretty lately, but Doug Martin has gotten at least 22 touches in five of his past six games and that kind of volume against Philly's 29th-ranked run defense should pay dividends. ... Jay Ajayi has earned more work after the past two weeks and while he's behind Lamar Miller, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get double-digit touches against a Cowboys team allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
The price is right: For those playing daily, I like all the running backs I just mentioned (Charcandrick West is just $4,500!) but specific to DraftKings.com, here are some values I like.
Latavius Murray is a just a good play, period, facing a Lions squad that's 24th against the run and has allowed the most rushing touchdowns. But at just $5,600, he's an even better buy. ... You never want to count on scoring TDs, but if you had to pick one guy to get into the end zone this weekend, Lamar Miller now has one touchdown in every game since the Dolphins' Week 5 bye and takes on a Cowboys group that has allowed the third-most rushing touchdowns this season. He's $6,200. ... Even in a PPR format, I believe LeGarrette Blount is a bargain at $5,000, as is Darren McFadden at $5,000. I prefer McFadden to Blount in DraftKings' PPR scoring. ... Also, I know I already mentioned him, but Jonathan Stewart at $4,400 should be in a lot of cash game lineups. ... After scoring at least nine points in the first three games he played this season, Bilal Powell is practicing in full this week and should get some work for the Jets. At just $3,000, he's a solid punt play who should get double-digit points, if you are looking for low upside but semi-safe cap relief.
Running backs I hate in Week 11
T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars: Even if he plays -- he's banged up and it's a short week -- he has 18 red zone carries this season and zero red zone rushing touchdowns.
Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead, Chargers: Speaking of no red zone touchdowns, Gordon doesn't have a touchdown, period. The Chiefs are ninth against the run and allow the second-fewest points. As for Woodhead, the Chiefs also allow the second-fewest receptions and receiving yards to RBs and have coughed up just one receiving touchdown to opposing running backs this season.
Antonio Andrews, Titans: If you have to start a Titans running back he's the one, but the Jags are not a pushover here. Jacksonville has allowed just 3.3 yards per carry this season, best in the NFL, and only one running back has had more than 80 yards against them (Doug Martin in Week 5).
Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, Bengals: Podcast fans know how I feel about Cincy these days. And after Week 10's Monday night debacle, it doesn't get any easier. The Cards allow the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game and are tied for the seventh-fewest rushing touchdowns allowed in the NFL this season.
Wide receivers I love in Week 11
Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, Raiders: See Carr, Derek.
Danny Amendola, Patriots: It shouldn't be that easy, but for the Patriots, it is. After leading the Patriots in receptions and targets last week, Amendola will get more playing time following Julian Edelman's injury. New England has the most slot receptions and second-most slot touchdowns this season and gets to face a Buffalo group that allows the seventh-most receptions and is tied for the sixth-most receiving touchdowns allowed to opposing WRs this season.
Mike Evans, Buccaneers: Just imagine if he could catch! In his four games since the Buccaneers' bye, Evans ranks fourth in receptions and has the second-most receiving yards in the NFL since Week 7. Volume keeps Philly's tough pass defense at bay.
Jordan Matthews, Eagles: So, Sam Bradford is averaging 24 completions per game. And just for giggles, because that's what we're about here at TMR HQ, let's go under the assumption that Philly goes a little more conservative with Mark Sanchez under center. Last year, in the six games in which Sanchez completed at least 20 passes, Matthews caught 33 passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns. Matthews' season really took off once Sanchez came in, and facing the Bucs' 22nd-ranked pass defense , the 6-foot-3 Matthews will have no problem against the 5-foot-10 Alterraun Verner.
Stevie Johnson, Chargers: The Chiefs have a good run defense and a strong linebacking corps, but one thing you can do, Peyton Manning notwithstanding, is throw on them. The Chiefs have allowed the most receiving yards and the third-most receiving touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season.
So you're telling me there's a chance: Rishard Matthews, believe it or not, leads the Dolphins in receiving yards, touchdowns and 20-plus-yard receptions, and he now has at least 50 yards in five straight and in seven of his past eight. ... Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt, in that order, are this week's winners in the "who gets to face Baltimore's most fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers defense." ... With Josh Norman and Peanut Tillman playing great defense on the perimeter, teams have taken to challenging overmatched slot corner Bene Benwikere. That's who Jamison Crowder, who scored last week and has tied for the team lead in targets the past two weeks, will face. ... I already mentioned Crabtree and Cooper, but what about Andre Holmes for a deep-league look? Just three catches in the past three weeks, but all three have gone for scores, and his average target depth is more than 15 yards downfield, highest on the Raiders. The Lions allow the highest completion percentage on deep throws this season.
The price is right: For those playing daily, I like all the wideouts I just mentioned (Amendola is just $4,000!), but specific to DraftKings.com, here's some values I like.
He's boom or bust, no doubt, so I'd want to use Chris Givens only in a tournament setting. But facing his former team, I like Givens' chances of getting loose for one, as the Rams have been burned for eight different pass plays of at least 20 yards in just the past four weeks. ... There should be a lot of work for Jeremy Maclin against San Diego's 28th-ranked pass defense. He's just $5,000. ... With Patrick Peterson all over A.J. Green, I can see extra love going to Marvin Jones, and at $4,300 he doesn't need a massive game to be worth it. ... Allen Robinson is a No. 1 wideout in a plus matchup with Tennessee's banged-up and burnable secondary, yet his $7,000 price tag suggests he's just a No. 2. There's upside there.
Wide receivers I hate in Week 11
Kamar Aiken, Ravens: Expected to be matched up with Janoris Jenkins, who helped hold Alshon Jeffery in check last week, Aiken should not have a lot of success. The Rams have not allowed a wide receiver to score since Week 5, and have allowed just three receiving scores to WRs all season. In addition, the Rams have allowed just the third-fewest receiving yards and second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing WRs this season, so Aiken is outside my top 30.
Donte Moncrief, Colts: He has five touchdowns this season, all in games started by Andrew Luck. In the two games Matt Hasselbeck has played, Moncrief has just seven catches for 78 yards combined on 12 targets. The Falcons, meanwhile, have allowed the fourth-fewest catches and yards per game to opposing WRs, and just three receiving touchdowns, tied for second fewest.
DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, Redskins: See Cousins, Kirk. Facing off with Josh Norman and Peanut Tillman, I expect both to struggle, as I mentioned in the Jamison Crowder note. Crowder and Jordan Reed, not these two, should get the majority of opportunities against a Panthers defense that allows the lowest completion percentage on throws to WRs this season and the second lowest on deep passes (32.8 percent).
Tight ends I love in Week 11
Jason Witten, Cowboys: You know who is happy Tony Romo is back? Jason Witten. In the two games with Romo at QB this season, Witten had eight and seven catches, his top two single-game totals this season. His only TD this season came in Week 1 with Romo at QB. And get this: The Dolphins just gave up more than 200 yards to tight ends last week against Philly.
Delanie Walker, Titans: Leading Tennessee in receptions, receiving yards, targets and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns, Walker is an obvious top-10 guy this week facing a Jaguars squad that allows the most yards per catch to opposing tight ends.
Jordan Reed, Redskins: Normally an every-week starter, I'm putting him here because you might be scared off due to the matchup. It's not ideal, of course, but Carolina has allowed at least 50 yards or a score to an opposing tight end in five straight games. Reed continues to get a lot of looks from Cousins, including two scores last week.
So you're telling me there's a chance: The "start your tight end against the Raiders" rule has slowed down a little in recent weeks, but they did give up another touchdown last week, making it 10 TDs allowed to opposing tight ends as we head into Week 11, putting Eric Ebron on the TE2 radar. ... Coby Fleener got 15 targets in the two games Matt Hasselbeck started this season (Weeks 4 and 5), had a combined 11 for 92 yards and a touchdown and now gets the Falcons, who are top 10 in most fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. Remember, Rob Chudzinski is calling the plays now and he has traditionally liked using his tight end quite a bit. Fleener is available in more than 70 percent of leagues.
The price is right: For those playing daily, I like all the tight ends I just mentioned (Fleener is just $3,200!), but specific to DraftKings.com, here are some values I like:
With Julian Edelman gone, Rob Gronkowski's usage should increase, but his price has gone down, to just $7,700. He should be in flex consideration as well, even if you roster another tight end. ... I'm generally not a huge fan, but Julius Thomas could work Thursday night, facing a Titans team that allows the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Thomas is just $3,500. ... It's been a tough year for us Travis Kelce owners, but hopefully that changes against a Chargers team that is top 10 in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends and has given up four tight end scores in their past three games. Kelce is $4,700.
Tight end I hate in Week 11
Antonio Gates, Chargers: Only one tight end has more than 35 receiving yards in a game versus the Chiefs this season (Tyler Eifert in Week 4), and the most fantasy points in a game by an opposing tight end against KC this season is seven. The Chiefs have allowed the fewest receiving yards per game and have given up just two receiving touchdowns to a tight end all season. By the way, Gates struggling against KC is not new. He has not had five receptions in a game against the Chiefs since Week 1 of 2010, and has not reached 100 yards versus KC since Week 12 of 2009.
Defenses I love in Week 11
Arizona Cardinals: Did you see Monday night? Me too. The Bengals are traveling on a short week.
Carolina Panthers: See Cousins, Kirk.
So you're telling me there's a chance: Both of the teams playing tonight, Jacksonville and Tennessee, are the top two teams in terms of most fantasy points allowed to opposing defenses. This should be a sloppy game. ... The Texans not only looked good on Monday night, they are the sixth-best scoring defense in the past five weeks.
The price is right: For those playing daily, I like all the defenses I just mentioned (the Texans are just $2,500), but specific to DraftKings.com, here are some values I like:
The Seahawks are pricey at $4,000, but at home against San Francisco, I think they'll be worth it. ... The Chiefs are the second-best scoring defense during the past five weeks, are just $2,600 and get to go against a banged-up Chargers offensive line. ... For tournament play, I could see the Vikings being very low-owned, and they're the third-best scoring defense in the past five. With Aaron Rodgers struggling and not 100 percent healthy, the Vikes should be a value at just $2,300.
Defense I hate in Week 11
Cincinnati Bengals: Defenses facing Arizona have scored five or fewer points in seven of nine games, including negative points in four games.
Matthew Berry -- The Talented Mr. Roto -- wants you to know that overall, he is pro-noodle. He is a paid spokesman for DraftKings.com and the creator of RotoPass.com, a website that combines a bunch of well-known fantasy sites, including ESPN Insider, for one low price.