The Tennessee Titans host the Houston Texans in Week 11 action this Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Titans are coming off a bye, and they have several players working their way back from injury. They’ve lost four of their last five games, and in the last meeting between these teams, the Texans shut out the Titans.
The Texans, meanwhile, have won three of their last five, and are still playing well even without C.J. Stroud under center. He’s been ruled out this week, but Davis Mills has filled in nicely for him so far. However, without Stroud on the field, what is the fantasy value of the Texans’ skill players?
Let’s take a look at which players to start and sit in fantasy football from this Week 11 division rivalry.
Start: WR Nico Collins
Last week, with Mills under center, Collins set season highs with 15 targets, resulting in seven catches for 136 receiving yards. The chemistry between Collins and Mills is undeniable, and they’ll be facing a skimpy Titans’ secondary that allows the 8th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in the NFL. Especially without L’Jarius Sneed, the losses of Jarvis Brownlee and Roger McCreary create huge gaps, and Collins will have no trouble exploiting those gaps.
Sit: RB Tony Pollard
The Texans have the top-ranked run defense in the NFL. Pollard has only been mildly effective this season, and Tyjae Spears is taking advantage of every opportunity he’s given to take over the starting role. Pollard’s veteran decision-making and solid hands keep him in the role for now, but Spears is close on his heels. There’s no reason to start either Pollard or Spears this week against a team that holds strong against the run.
Start: RB Woody Marks
In contrast, the Titans’ run defense is full of holes. Last week, Marks had 16 touches to Nick Chubb’s six in the Texans’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chubb is still going to get touches, but Marks has the potential for a true breakout game against a Titans team that allows a league-high 14 total touchdowns to running backs. Marks has also exceeded 80 scrimmage yards in three of his last six games, scoring four touchdowns in the same span.
Sit: WR Calvin Ridley
Ridley returned to practice in a limited capacity this week, but even if he plays on Sunday, he’s not worth starting in your fantasy league. Cam Ward can’t get the ball down the field behind his current offensive line, and the Texans have the fourth-ranked pass defense in the NFL. They are top-five against wide receivers in fantasy points, and with Ridley still nursing an injury, he will likely be ineffective even if he gets on the field.
Sleeper: TE Dalton Schultz
Last week, Schultz recorded a season-high 11 targets from Davis Mills. He’s caught at least five passes in six of the last seven games. His consistent involvement makes him worth starting this week, and even though the Titans have allowed just three touchdowns to tight ends, the roster isn’t the same as it was in the last meeting between these teams. The Titans will be heavily focused on getting pressure on Davis Mills, and if they aren’t careful, the linebackers will lose Schultz in the pass rush, leaving him wide open in the slot. He has the potential to steal the show this week.