Quarterbacks — the good, the bad and the ugly — were the storyline this week. From epic performances and healthy victories to head-scratching decisions and interceptions, Week 11 had it all.
League-wide QB struggles
Between injuries and poor performances, quarterbacks across the league struggled to produce for their teams this week.
It started with Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers fracturing his wrist in a Nov. 16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran quarterback does not require surgery, but whether or not he will play next game is questionable.
Fellow veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is also questionable for Week 12. Flacco suffered an AC joint sprain after taking a late hit from T.J. Watt, and it showed in his performance: He completed only 23 of 40 passes for one touchdown in the loss. With starter Joe Burrow still out due to a turf toe injury, Cincinnati’s quarterback situation is looking dire.
Turnovers were another major struggle for the pass throwers this week. Blame fell on Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes when he made a crucial error in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos, giving up an interception that ultimately resulted in a touchdown. Then, he threw two incompletions and was sacked in the fourth quarter to end what would have been the winning drive.
Two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson was not in his usual form as the Baltimore Ravens barely squeaked out a win against the Cleveland Browns. After throwing just one interception so far this season, the Ravens quarterback gave up two this week. Jackson, known for his stellar rushing, ran for 10 yards and did not put up a single touchdown.
In a major fall from grace, Los Angeles Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert recorded a career-low 81 yards in a horrific performance on all sides of the field. Placekicker Cameron Dicker was the only Charger to score, making both of his field goals to log all six of his team’s points.
Perhaps the worst performance from any quarterback came from the Seattle Seahawks’ Sam Darnold. In a 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams Nov. 16, Darnold threw four interceptions and did not find the end zone at all. You could argue that the Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy was worse — with 16 of 32 completions for 150 yards and two interceptions — as his team was defeated by the Chicago Bears.
Shedeur Sanders finally gets the call
After sliding to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, being demoted to third string and then promoted to backup — which resulted in an unfortunate miming incident — Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders finally saw the field.
The moment came in the second half of a Nov. 16 matchup against the Ravens when starter Dillon Gabriel entered concussion protocol. Unfortunately for Sanders, his inexperience on the field showed, completing four of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception. Sanders brought his team within 25 yards of tying the game late in the fourth quarter before throwing three incompletions. The Browns would eventually turn over the ball on downs and lose the game.
If Gabriel does not clear concussion protocol, we may just see Sanders’ first career start. There is hope for the rookie so long as he gets his reps in and earns his teammates’ trust.
What year is it?
If any NFL fan from 10 years ago heard which teams were considered the best in the league, they wouldn’t believe it.
The Broncos continued their red-hot streak with a victory over the Chiefs, improving to a 9-2 record. Quarterback Bo Nix is proving his doubters wrong and has been a fantastic leader for his team. On the other side of the field, few teams can figure out the Broncos’ lockdown defense, which ranks third among all teams. Denver is looking like a playoff-caliber team with six games left to play. However, with a difficult schedule to close out the season compared to their easy start, we will see how the Broncos stack up against more talented teams.
The Indianapolis Colts have taken the league by storm this year, dominating the AFC South with an 8-2 record. The highlight of the team is running back Jonathan Taylor, who’s 1,139 rushing yards should put him at the top of MVP contention. Daniel Jones has been a surprise standout at the position and provides ideal support for his offense. Indianapolis’ offense and defense are the best in the league, making them a near-impossible team to play.
The Colts will be a formidable force for the rest of the season and may just be the team to spoil the Buffalo Bills’ fun in the playoffs this year.
Sit/Start
Another week of the NFL has passed, bringing another round of evaluating improvements, injuries, and how they will shape fantasy management strategies. Here are some suggestions to exploit matchups and possibly maximize fantasy points for this week.
Start
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, DET), (vs. NYG)
Yet another running back is predicted to do well against the New York Giants’ porous run defense. This assumption is not unfounded — the New York Giants’ defensive line, despite boasting a strong quartet of Dexter Lawrence II, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeux and Brian Burns, has allowed a staggering 1,649 yards, with an average of 149 yards per game. The Giants have also allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league so far, and it doesn’t look like they will buck this trend soon. All these factors point toward a breakout game for standout running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Ever since Dan Campbell took over offensive play calling duties in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders, Gibbs has had 181 yards and 27 carries. Expect his workload to increase as Campbell will look to exploit the Giants’ weakness against the ground game using one of the best running backs in the league.
Jacoby Brissett (QB, ARI) (vs. JAX)
In a new version of “NFL stats you can’t believe are real,” Arizona Cardinals backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett officially holds the record for the most completions in an NFL game. Brissett has thrown for more than 250 yards in every game he’s played this season, and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon, especially because Brissett and the Cardinals face the Jacksonville Jaguars, ranked 26th in the league in terms of passing yardage allowed. Expect Brissett to have another strong game and win you your fantasy matchup for the week.
Brock Purdy (QB, SF) (Home vs CAR)
For only the third time since Week 1, the San Francisco 49ers will have their entire offensive cast at their disposal. The return of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and quarterback Brock Purdy was welcomed; the 49ers had their best offensive showing of the season, putting up 42 points against the Arizona Cardinals. High on confidence, the 49ers return home to Santa Clara to face a Carolina Panthers defensive unit that ranks 22nd against passing offense. The 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan have had to adjust their run-heavy scheme because of constant injuries and are attempting more passes this season. Expect this to continue against a struggling Panthers team.
Sit
Joe Flacco (QB, CIN) (Home vs NE)
With news that wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended for one game following an altercation with Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco will lose his favorite target and primary offensive weapon. It’s a major blow against a strong New England Patriots team that will look to dominate Flacco’s Bengals on both sides of the ball — a task made easier without Chase on the field.
Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN) (Away vs. GB)
You have to feel for Justin Jefferson. He has talent, route running and football IQ. He just lacks the elite quarterback that other receivers have had. Despite showing flashes in his first few games, his current quarterback, McCarthy has been floundering lately, throwing eight interceptions in his last five games. Jefferson has had only two 100-yard games this season and hasn’t had more than eight receptions since Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. McCarthy has struggled this season, and because of that, so has Jefferson. Against a Packers defense that has conceded only 13 touchdowns in the entire season — 10th fewest in the league — things don’t look likely to improve for Jefferson unless McCarthy takes a big step up. It may be best to put Jefferson on your bench for this week.
Daniel Jones (QB, IND) (Away vs. KC)
There is no denying that Daniel Jones has undergone a renaissance in Indianapolis. Jones has thrown the fourth-most passing yards this season and has played the supporting role very well to MVP candidate running back Jonathan Taylor. With Taylor’s dominance and recent struggles for Jones, it doesn’t look like he’s poised for a breakout against the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense. The Chiefs are tied for the fewest passing touchdowns allowed in the league at nine and are ranked third in points allowed, making this a tough game for Jones. With all this said, it may be a better idea to place Jones on your bench in favor of a better matchup.
