Fantasy Football: Week 11 Running Back Rankings

MIAMI, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- You won't be seeing Devonta Freeman, Melvin Gordon, or Matt Forte this weekend in fantasy football lineups.

But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of attractive options available to help you earn a Week 11 victory. With the Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, and Denver Broncos serving Week 11 bye weeks, it's time to eye your roster and decide if you should start someone on your bench or look toward the waiver wire.

Take a look at my top 30 running backs for Week 11. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

DeMarco Murray will continue his resurgence as one of the league's best backs Sunday on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. The Tennessee Titans stud battles a defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Murray has at least 100 yards from scrimmage and/or a score in every game this season. His 10 touchdowns rank third among running backs. New England Patriots workhorse LeGarrette Blount is on a tear, coming off of a three-touchdown performance in Week 10. I love Blount against the San Francisco 49ers, the worst defense against fantasy football running backs. The 49ers are allowing the most points and have allowed an NFL-leading 13 scores to the position. Blount's 12 touchdowns lead all running backs. He has scored half of them in his last three games. Both of these running backs can be started confidently as RB1s.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart has a great matchup in the Thursday night game. Stewart and the Panthers host a New Orleans Saints unit allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. The Saints have also allowed 11 scores to the position this season. I have Stewart ranked as a low-end RB1 in deeper leagues, because I expect him to end his two-game scoring drought. Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill should have a nice Sunday against a Buffalo Bills defense that has allowed 10 scores to running backs. Hill has scored in three consecutive games and is an easy RB2 play.

LONGSHOTS

Look for Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell to see a lot of work against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the heavy workload, I expect Crowell to find some room against a defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. The Steelers have also allowed 10 scores to running backs this season. Crowell should provide low-end RB2 production. Green Bay Packers veteran James Starks should be a consideration for an RB2 start on your fantasy squad, especially if you are slim because of the bye week. Starks faces the Washington Redskins, a unit that has allowed 11 scores to running backs.