Fantasy Football Panic Meter After Week 11: Derrick Henry, Garrett Wilson, Tucker Kraft, Kirk Cousins and More

Week 11 of the NFL season is in the books, and it’s time for another story recapping what happened.

Here, we’ll continue our panic meter series, where we identify players who struggled this past week and then determine how panicked fantasy owners should be. Here’s last week’s story. Also be sure to check out the one-week outlier or here to stay series.

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Running Backs

Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara are the two backs I want to discuss this week.

Henry had another pedestrian fantasy day (by his standards) in week 11. He rushed for 65 yards and a score on 13 carries, while not being targeted in the passing game. Henry had 68 rushing yards and a score on 16 carries and a three-yard catch on his lone target in week 10.

The touchdowns have saved really poor fantasy showings for Henry, but it’s also the third time in four games that he’s been under 75 rushing yards - he has five scores in that span to not look even weaker of a fantasy option.

Henry has got some favorable matchups ahead, but also has one of the toughest strengths of schedule remaining for a RB. With everything considered, I’d put Henry’s panic meter at a 3.

I still think he needs to be starting every week, but because he’s not getting 20+ touches a game, Henry might need to keep scoring to deliver good fantasy results. It might seem crazy to say, but if you are more worried about Henry, dealing him away before your league’s trade deadline might make sense.

While Taysom Hill stole the show for the New Orleans’ offense in week 11, Kamara had a pretty average fantasy showing. He rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries and added 22 receiving yards on four catches and targets. 

It was just the fourth time Kamara finished below 100 total yards in a game this season, with the other three coming from weeks 5-7. He reached 20 touches in a game for the seventh time still.

I’d put Kamara’s panic meter at just a 2. A touchdown in week 11 would have meant Kamara didn’t even make this story. The reason Kamara isn’t at a 1 is because of Hill though. The do-it-all Hill might steal a few touchdowns down the stretch, which obviously caps Kamara’s fantasy ceiling.

He’s still a great starting option every week, so keep him in those starting lineups.

Wide Receivers

Garrett Wilson and Terry McLaurin are the wideouts I’d like to talk about after week 11.

Wilson finished with 18 yards on four catches and eight targets in week 11. He had 41 yards on five catches and six targets in week 10, so he’s really underperformed in back-to-back games.

Wilson had performed fine with Davante Adams around right away, but Adams has either outproduced him or been more targeted in two straight now. I’d still only put Wilson’s panic meter at a 3.

A lot of that has to do with the favorable matchups upcoming. The Jets are likely going to be trailing a bunch, and that should help Wilson not only rack up targets, but deliver good/great fantasy outings. If he struggles mightily in his next game, I might have a different tone, but for now, I’m still sticking with Wilson.

McLaurin played back on Thursday, finishing with just 10 yards on a catch and two targets. It was the lowest amount of catches, targets and yards he’s had in a game so far.

McLaurin has at least 50 yards in all but four games, and in one of those four games he had two scores to deliver a good fantasy score. In other words, McLaurin has been a good fantasy option in eight of his 11 games.

I’d put McLaurin’s panic meter at a 2. He’s got favorable games ahead, and the only real reason to panic is coming off the tough game and having Austin Ekeler, Zach Ertz and Brian Robinson Jr. starting to consistently contribute on offense, while Jayden Daniels has hit a bit of a rookie wall of late.

I’d still trust McLaurin with a starting spot every week, but there’s at least some doubt if he goes up against another top-end defense.

Tight Ends

Tucker Kraft and Travis Kelce are the tight ends worth discussing.

Kraft looked like a breakout fantasy star early in this season, but he’s really slowed down of late. He didn’t have a catch in week 11, while only getting one target.

He only has over four targets once in the past five games, and he has just one game over 35 yards in that span. A couple touchdowns in the middle of that stretch prop him up as a fantasy producer.

Kraft has a pretty average strength of schedule, but I’d be more worried about how he’s performed of late. I’m pretty worried about him, and have him at a 6 on the panic meter.

He’s droppable for some standard leagues out there, but with so many byes in weeks 12 and 14, I think it’d be best to hang on to Kraft. There simply might not be a better waiver TE out there, but Kraft is definitely a risky starting option for the time being.

Kelce had another down game in week 11, finishing with eight yards on two catches and four targets. It was his third time under 20 yards this season.

Kelce had produced at least 60 yards, and scored twice, over the previous three games, and most fantasy owners thought these weak performances were done for the season. He’s got more tough games ahead too, so I’m definitely still a little concerned here.

I’d put Kelce’s panic meter at a 3. Again, he’s another must-start option, but in the really tough matchups, fantasy owners definitely should have some doubts that he can deliver.

Quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins and C.J. Stroud are the quarterbacks I want to write about after week 11.

Cousins was 18-of-27 passing for 173 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in week 11. He was facing a tough Broncos’ defense and was eventually replaced by Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins’ starting job isn’t in danger, but the toughest fantasy matchups are still ones to sit Cousins in apparently. The good thing is that not many tough matchups remain, so Cousins can still be started confidently most weeks.

I’d put Cousins’ panic meter at a 2. Just be mindful of his defensive matchup.

In week 11, Stroud had his most passing yards in the past three weeks, but it still was an underwhelming fantasy score. He was 23-of-34 passing for 257 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Stroud had 26 rushing yards on three scrambles.

He had Nico Collins back on the field, but still wasn’t the QB he was as a rookie, or even at the start of this season. Stroud has one touchdown and three picks over the past three games.

There was a touchdown called back, and the Texans’ offense was pretty good overall, so I actually think it was a positive game for Stroud. His panic meter for me is at a 3.

I think he’ll get going here soon, but with a pretty average schedule ahead, I wouldn’t say he’s a locked-in starter anymore. Like with Cousins, be careful when you start Stroud.