Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Commanders vs. Dolphins Week 11 Madrid Game (2025)

Fantasy football start em, sit em lineups advice for Commanders vs. Dolphins game on Sunday morning Week 11 (2025). NFL matchups analysis and starts/sits.

We head to Madrid, Spain for the finale of the NFL’s 2025 International Series featuring a matchup between the Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins.

Both of these squads enter with disappointing 3-7 records. The Commanders have had a hard time thriving without quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and the duo will remained sidelined for this one. Miami carries some positive momentum overseas, as their Week 10 upset of the Buffalo Bills was undoubtedly their biggest victory of the season.

Thanks for joining us for this special International Series edition of Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em, focusing on who to start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench. Let’s dive into this matchup from Spain for Week 11 of the season. Good luck in 2025 fantasy football, RotoBallers!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins

Sunday November 16, 9:30 AM ET – Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain

Notable Fantasy Injuries:

Jayden Daniels – Out (Elbow)
Terry McLaurin – Out (Quad)

Matchups We Love

QB Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t been the best QB option in recent weeks, as he has finished outside the top-18 at the QB position in four of the past five weeks. However, Tagovailoa can be started as a QB1 in some 16-plus team leagues this week. The Commanders have given up the fifth-most fantasy points to QBs this year and have allowed a top-10 fantasy QB finish in five straight games.

Tua connects with Jaylen Waddle to extend the Dolphins lead!

BUFvsMIA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/QqEieKpsDL

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

WR Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle has been a set-it-and-forget-it WR1 option since Tyreek Hill (knee) has gone down. He has totaled over 80 receiving yards in five of the last six games and has scored over 15 PPR fantasy points in four of those six contests. Therefore, Waddle should be started as a WR1 in all formats this week. Washington has given up the third-most fantasy points to WRs this season.

TE Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz hasn’t finished as a top-12 fantasy option in four straight weeks. However, the 35-year-old could start as a TE1 in 14-plus team leagues this week against the Dolphins. Ertz has caught at least four passes in three straight games, and Miami has given up the sixth-most receptions per game to opposing TEs. So, he’ll be a safer option this week.

Matchups We Hate

WR Deebo Samuel Sr.

With four straight finishes outside the top-26 at the WR position, Deebo Samuel is no longer a must-start WR2. His numbers aren’t as strong with Marcus Mariota under center, and this matchup against the Dolphins isn’t the best. Miami has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game and the fewest receiving yards per game to WRs. That makes Samuel more of a WR3.

Other Notable Matchups

QB Marcus Mariota

Mariota has finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in two of his four starts this year. That included finishing as the overall QB12 last week behind a two-touchdown performance. Therefore, Mariota could be worth starting as a QB1 in some 16-plus team leagues. The Dolphins have allowed a top-14 fantasy QB in seven of nine games.

RB De’Von Achane

Fantasy managers should continue to start De’Von Achane as an RB1. He just scored a season-high 40.2 PPR fantasy points last week and has finished as a top-12 fantasy RB in three straight weeks. As a result, you are starting Achane in every format.

RB De’Von Achane ranks 2nd in the NFL in rush yards after contact (634) this season — trailing only Jonathan Taylor.#PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/H9gipED4wS

— Dolphins Muse (@DolphinsMuse) November 11, 2025

Commanders RBs

It’s best to stay away from all Commanders RBs in this game. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has scored under six PPR fantasy points in five straight games. Jeremy McNichols only played 32% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 10, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. hasn’t played more than 38% of the team’s offensive snaps in any game this season.

However, if fantasy managers had to pick any of these RBs, Rodriguez is likely your best bet. He led Washington’s backfield in Week 10 before leaving the game early due to a shoulder injury. Considering Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network believes that Rodriguez will have a key role in Sunday’s game, he could be a flex play in deeper leagues.

Washington Commanders Start/Sit Matchups

See the full stats in our Fantasy Football Matchup Ratings Projections

Player
Start/Sit
Matchup
Rating ▾

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR
Start
110.1

Marcus Mariota, QB
Risky Start
103.1

Zach Ertz, TE
Risky Start
102.9

Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB
Risky Start
102.8

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB
Sit
101.1

Jeremy McNichols, RB
Sit
101

Chris Moore, WR
Sit
100.7

Jaylin Lane, WR
Sit
98.4

Robbie Chosen, WR
Sit
97.8