Empty the Bench

When it comes to fantasy football matchups, there are opposing defenses you’re 95% certain will be exploited for bountiful fantasy points by studs and borderline starters alike. Then there are defenses, like the one currently being trotted out there by the winless Detroit Lions, that are simply gargantuan sieves whose potential to surrender a massive haul for your team cannot be denied.

And so is this case this week for owners of just about any relevant skill player on the Carolina Panthers.

The Lions defense, which is giving up over 30 points a week (only the Rams are worse at 31.3), is simply atrocious. They’re allowing an average of 161.2 rushing yards (31st overall) and 244.9 passing yards (29th overall) per. Detroit’s “defense” has recorded two interceptions all season long (two!) and just 17 sacks. Last week they allowed Maurice Jones-Drew to score 3 TDs, and opposing quarterbacks are regularly setting career-best marks in efficiency and QB Rating.

They’re playing with little-to-no pride, and worst of all a few players don’t even seem to care. They’re patsies, especially on defense, and should be taken advantage of every week. That’s why you’ll see Jake Delhomme, DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, and the Carolina DEF ranked higher than normal. Williams and Smith, especially, should go bonkers on Sunday. In general, the position ranks are pretty aggressive this week, but hey, that’s what you come to us for, right?

The NY Jets travel to the New England to take on the Patriots tonight; set your lineups accordingly.

Fantasy Week 11 - Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints @ KC
2. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals @ SEA
3. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos @ ATL
4. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles @ CIN
5. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts vs. HOU
6. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers @ PIT
7. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys @ WSH
8. Brett Favre, New York Jets @ NE
9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs. DEN
10. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers vs. DET
11. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. CHI
12. Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. BAL
13. Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NO
14. Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins vs. OAK
15. Matt Cassel, New England Patriots vs. NYJ
16. Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns @ BUF
17. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD (Check Status)
18. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins vs. DAL
19. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills vs. CLE
20. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. MIN

Rest of the Week 11 fantasy football ranks after the break…

Fantasy Week 11 - Top 30 Running Backs

1. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers vs. STL
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ TB
3. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles @ CIN
4. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears @ GB
5. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. DET
6. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons vs. DEN
7. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys @ WSH
8. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills vs. CLE
9. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins vs. OAK
10. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans @ IND
11. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ PIT
12. Thomas Jones, New York Jets @ NE
13. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ JAX
14. Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals @ SEA
15. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants vs. BAL
16. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans @ JAX
17. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TEN
18. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams @ SF (Check Status)
19. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts vs. HOU
20. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. DET
21. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints @ KC (Check Status)
22. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions @ CAR
23. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
24. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns @ BUF
25. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NO
26. Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts vs. HOU
27. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens @ NYG
28. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks vs. ARZ
29. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots vs. NYJ
30. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins vs. OAK

Fantasy Week 11 - Top 36 Wide Receivers

1. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals @ SEA
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals @ SEA
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts vs. HOU
4. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons vs. DEN
5. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos @ ATL
6. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers vs. DET
7. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys @ WSH
8. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans @ IND
9. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers vs. CHI
10. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins vs. DAL
11. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
12. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NO
13. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions @ CAR
14. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills vs. CLE
15. Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos @ ATL
16. Randy Moss, New England Patriots vs. NYJ
17. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints @ KC
18. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals vs. PHI
19. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans @ IND
20. Laveranues Coles, New York Jets @ NE
21. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ PIT
22. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles @ CIN
23. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers vs. DET
24. Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. NYJ
25. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets @ NE
26. Plaxico Burress, New York Giants vs. BAL
27. Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals @ SEA
28. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers vs. CHI
29. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns @ BUF
30. Matt Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TEN
31. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings @ TB
32. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints @ KC
33. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
34. Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints @ KC
35. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. MIN
36. Mark Bradley, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NO

Fantasy Week 11 - Top 15 Tight Ends

1. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NO
2. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys @ WSH
3. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ PIT
4. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans @ IND
5. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins vs. DAL
6. Kellen Winslow, Jr., Cleveland Browns @ BUF
7. Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos @ ATL
8. Kevin Boss, New York Giants vs. BAL
9. Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans @ JAX
10. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears @ GB
11. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens @ NYG
12. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings @ TB
13. Dustin Keller, New York Jets @ NE
14. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders @ MIA
15. Billy Miller, New Orleans Saints @ KC

Fantasy Week 11 - Top 15 Team Defenses

1. Tennessee Titans @ JAX
2. New York Giants vs. BAL
3. Philadelphia Eagles @ CIN
4. New York Jets @ NE
5. Carolina Panthers vs. DET
6. Baltimore Ravens @ NYG
7. Chicago Bears @ GB
8. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
9. Tampa Bay Bucs vs. MIN
10. Minnesota Vikings @ TB
11. Green Bay Packers vs. CHI
12. Arizona Cardinals @ SEA
13. Miami Dolphins vs. OAK
14. Indianapolis Colts vs. HOU
15. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TEN