Things are getting more interesting by the minute. Just when you think you have fantasy football figured out, something goes awry. With that, here’s the performers from Week 11 who’ve earned game balls.

QB
Matt Schaub, HOU, 527 passing yards and 5 TDs – Wowzy woo! That’s a big stat line. Unfortunately, many Schaub owners only have him as a backup and didn’t benefit from this tremendous day. In one of my leagues, believe it or not, Schaub is on the waiver wire (but not for long).

Chad Henne, MIA, 354 yards, 4 TDs – Hey, speaking of waiver wire quarterbacks, here’s Chad Henne. He came in for an “injured” Blaine Gabbert to obliterate a previously-stout Texans defense. Henne looks like a safe grab for the coming few weeks too, as Jacksonville seems to have found some passing offense, finally.

RB
Marcel Reece, OAK, 103 rushing yards, 90 receiving yards – It’s rare to put a player who didn’t find the end zone  on the Game Balls list, but Reece’s yardage, especially in PPR leagues, is just too good to ignore. Reece is an absolute must start for as long as McFadden is out. He’s a top 12-type of RB, and will eventually find the end zone too.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, CIN, 101 rushing yards, 1 TD – The Law Firm had been quite pedestrian for quite some time, so likely wasn’t started by many. It had been almost a year since BJGE ran for more than 100 yards, so this may be a trend of things to come for the Bengal running back

WR
Andre Johnson, HOU, 14 catches, 273 yards, 1 TD – Andre Johnson is showing that patience pays off for fantasy owners who took him as their first wide receiver. Down the stretch, Johnson is starting to click as this was his first TD since September.

Justin Blackmon, JCK 7 catches, 236 yards, 1 TD – In shallow leagues, Blackmon is most definitely on waiver wires and even in other leagues, the Jacksonville rookie may have been kicked to the curb after being invisible in the Jags playbook. But, he really clicked with quarterback Chad Henne and is now someone who will be highly sought on the waiver wire.

TE
Rob Gronkowski, NE 7 catches, 137 yards, 2 TDs – Same old same old for Gronk owners, except for one thing. At the end of the game, in a meaningless extra point play, Gronk broke his forearm and is having surgery and will be out 4-6 weeks. Devastating news for the Patriots and his fantasy owners. It was a great run for his owners who still got full value from him. If your league goes deep into the season, hold onto Gronk just in case.

Garrett Graham, HOU, 8 catches, 82 yards, 2 TDs – Despite Owen Daniels playing, the other Texans tight end had a career game. He caught back to back TDs in the fourth quarter and hauled in 8 catches altogether. Graham is very likely on your waiver wire, but this may just be a one week wonder.


GAME-USED SOCK AWARD
The entire Philadelphia Eagles offense. Nick Foles got his first NFL start and it couldn’t have been any worse. With a terrible offense line and a clueless quarterback, the entire offense suffered. Desean Jackson had 2 catches. Lesean McCoy only had 45 yards running and then got a concussion. All this from a team that wanted to scapegoat Mike Vick as the reason for their problems, when the Eagles' problems are pervasive. So, for this reason, the entire Eagles team gets this week’s game used sock.

Follow Jimmy Dinsmore, The Fantasy Geek, on Twitter @fantasy_geek

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JOIN US - Dan Clasgens, James Adams and Stefanie Theobald Sunday (11/18) for our Fantasy Football Watch Party at Eli's Sports Bar in Mason at 1PM

Eli's Sports Bar is our official Fantasy Football Headquarters for this season. It's the only bar in town where you can play in our FREE weekly Fantasy 5 game for your chance for FREE wings for a year and a crack at an invite our Grand Prize fantasy playoff round. Visit any of their three locations - Liberty Township, Mason and Ross - or visit EliSportsBar.com for more details:

WEEK 11 GAME CARD (Print & Play)

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Here's a quick look at some injuries that could impact your fantasy lineup this week…

QB
Ben Roethlisberger (rib, shoulder) – out this week and more; Byron Leftwich starts
Michael Vick (concussion) – yet to be cleared for full physical activity; Nick Foles takes over
Jay Cutler (concussion) – will miss first game of season; long history of concussions
Alex Smith (concussion) – limited in practice, but expects to start Mon vs. CHI

RB
Ryan Mathews (neck) – returned to practice on Fri, but will be GTD vs. DEN (4PM)
Darren McFadden (ankle) – along with backup Mike Goodson out for Week 11
Demarco Murray (foot) – not going to return this week; Felix Jones remains starter
Darren Sproles (hand) – made back on to practice field; will be GTD vs. OAK (4PM)
Fred Jackson (concussion) – DNP Thursday night vs. MIA; Week 12 status unclear
Michael Turner (wrist) – listed as questionable after being limited all week; risky play
Rashard Mendenhall (Achillies) – expected to start SUN night vs. BAL
Ben Tate (hamstring) – will miss his third straight game in Week 11

WR
Calvin Johnson (knee) – not expected to be limited despite questionable tag
Julio Jones (ankle) – swelling kept him out of practice; he is a GTD vs. ARZ (1PM)
Antonio Brown (ankle) – has been ruled out for Sunday; Hopes to return by Week 13
Brandon Lloyd (knee) – continues to be limited thru week, but has yet to miss game time
Wes Welker (ankle) – returned to practice on Friday expected to start vs. IND
Greg Jennings (groin, abdomen) – out for a sixth straight week; could practice soon
Pierre Garcon (foot) – practiced some this week; all signs point to him be active Sunday
Darrius Heyward-Bey (hamstring) – injured in Wed practice; will be GTD vs. NO (4PM)

TE
Owen Daniels (back) – still dealing with sore back and will be GTD vs. JCK (1PM)
Rob Gronkowski (hip) – playing at high level despite injury and will start vs. IND
Aaron Hernandez (ankle) – has been ruled out for fourth straight game

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QUARTERBACKS
Stud – Carson Palmer (OAK): Few fantasy football quarterbacks are as hot right now as the Raiders’ signal caller. Palmer has totaled 58 fantasy points over his last two contests and is now set to face a Saints’ secondary that has allowed six 300-yard games and six QB’s to throw for multiple touchdowns on the season.

Dud – Phillip Rivers (SD): Rivers shined last week against a weak Bucs’ passing defense, but now is set to face a Broncos’ D that forced him into six turnovers earlier this season. The Charger could throw for a couple of scores and get some garbage time production, but we don’t trust him enough to him in our top 12 players at the position in this week’s rankings.

Sleeper – Andy Dalton (CIN): The second-year passes is coming off a career-high four TD’s last week against the Giants and now has broke 25 fantasy points in five of his last eight games, including three of his last four road tilts. The Chiefs have allowed multiple TD passes in all but two of their contests and will do so once again here.

RUNNING BACKS
Stud – Steven Jackson (STL): Jackson broke the 100-yard mark for the first time and scored only his second TD of the season last week against a typically stingy 49ers’ defense. Now he gets a Jets’ defense that has watched nine RB’s to score and seven runners to reach double digit fantasy points this season.

Dud – Rashad Jennings (JCK):  In his four starts since Maurice Jones-Drew went down Jennings has yet to reach 60 yards rushing and has watched his involvement in the passing game decrease each week. Now he squares off against a Texans’ defense that hasn’t allowed a TD to running back since MJD did it in Week 2.

Sleeper – Marcel Reece (OAK): After being reluctant to recommend Reece a week ago, we feel better about it this time around as it appears that Taiwan Jones isn’t going to be much of factor. With Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both sidelined at least one more week, Reece should have plenty of chances for success against a Saints defense that has ceded 24.4 fantasy points per game.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Stud – Steve Smith (CAR): It’s hard to put a receiver as a “Stud” when they have yet to find the end zone this season, but this could be the week the veteran finally hits paydirt. Only two teams have allowed more fantasy points to wideouts than Tampa Bay, who has given up nine scores to the position.

Dud – Torrey Smith (BAL): The Ravens’ receiver has scored three times over the past two weeks and appears to be back on track, but now he has to go on the road to face a Steelers’ defense. Neither of those factors spells good news for Smith. Over the past five weeks only Denver has allowed fewer fantasy points to wideouts than the Steelers and Smith has yet to break 52 yards and scored in just one of his four road tilts this year.

Sleeper – Dwayne Bowe (KC): Bowe has baffled owners most of the season and the Chiefs’ offense at times has been anemic, but with 19 targets over the past two weeks he’s getting look and the Bengals have given up 354 yards and three scores to wide receivers over their last three. Garbage time production could pay dividends.

TIGHT END
Stud – Antonio Gates (SD): The Chargers tight end has made his way in to the end zone three times over his last two meeting with the Broncos and has now scored four touchdowns over his last four contests after being held without a touchdown in the season’s first five weeks.

Dud – Vernon Davis (SF): Since he hasn’t scored since Week 3 and has a grand total of 101 receiving yards over his last four games it’s hard to keep Davis in fantasy lineups versus a Bears’ defense that has allowed just one tight end to cross the goal line all season.

Sleeper – Dwayne Allen (IND): Allen has been filling in nicely with Coby Fleener sidelined and now has 12 catches for 162 yards over the last three games. With the Patriots likely putting points on the board, the Colts will have to air it out. New England has given up six TE touchdowns on the season and seven tight ends have either hit 70 yards and/or scored against them on the season.

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FANTASY 101
--NOW OR NEVER: There’s only a few weeks of regular season action left in 2012 fantasy football. For some now is the time for drastic measures. If you are sitting at the top of your league’s standings you don’t want to mess too much with your nucleus, but some final tweaking and adding insurance to your roster is not a bad idea. However, if you are a bubble team you may need to something more. Taking a chance on high-risk, high-reward scenarios may be your only chance for success. Bottom line, the further you are from the top at this point of the season the more chances you need to be taking.


TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
(Looking at some trends that indicate good things for this week and beyond)

--QB  Josh Freeman (TB): When the Bucs hit their bye in Week 5 Freeman had five TD passes, four interceptions and zero 300-yard games. In the five games since he’s thrown for multiple TD’s in every game, averaged 293.4 yards per game and been picked off just once.  His remaining schedule lacks a lock down defense and includes matchups with the Panthers, Saints and two with the Falcons, all of which could be shootouts. Freeman enters Week 11 as the 12th ranked fantasy quarterback in total points. If he keeps this pace up there’s no doubt he’ll finish a top 10 fantasy quarterback by year’s end, especially given all the injuries.

--QB Peyton Manning (DEN): Denver has been friendly thus far to Manning. In four games played in the Mile High City, the Broncos’ signal caller has tallied 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions playing in front of the home crowd. The Chargers, who are paying a visit this week, have been stringy to quarterbacks most of the year as they’ve allowed the fifth fewest points to fantasy quarterbacks. However, Manning broke 300 yards and threw for three TD’s against them in San Diego earlier this year and appears to be poised for another big day.

--RB Daniel Thomas (MIA): With Reggie Bush struggling, Thomas has seen his role increasingly grow with the Dolphins’ offense. Thomas possesses a 2:1 advantage in snaps over the last three games and seeing an increase in his targets out of the backfield. In the past two games alone he’s caught seven passes, making him a viable PPR lineup option. Now this week he faces a Buffalo defense that has watched running backs hit the end zone 16 times in nine games this season. Bush remains the superior fantasy option, but Thomas is a low-end RB2 versus the Bills in Week 11.

--WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (OAK): DHB has come alive of late, becoming a deep threat for quarterback Carson Palmer. He has been targeted 24 times over the past four games and has reached 74 yards and/or squad in each of those outings, including a five-catch, 82-yard performance last week. Owners could look for him for flex help this week if he is able to go versus a New Orleans secondary that allows 31.8 fantasy points per game to the position.

FANTASY INFIRMARY
--Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder, ribs): Pittsburgh will be without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this week and likely much longer. Doctors have advised him not to play until his rib is completely healed which could be as long as six weeks. Roethlisberger has a history of playing through injuries, but unlike some of his ankle and leg injuries of the past this injury appears to be a bit more debilitating. Byron Leftwich is in line to start for the Steelers with Charlie Batch serving as his backup in Roethlisberger’s absence.

--Alex Smith (concussion): San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith has passed his concussion tests and has been cleared for non-contact drills. He should return to the practice field on Thursday and barring setbacks should be able to start in Monday night’s game versus the Bears. With one TD pass or less in five of his last seven contests Smith shouldn’t be counted on as fantasy option in this tough matchup even if he plays.

--Jay Cutler (concussion): Although head coach Lovie Smith indicated that quarterback Jay Cutler is “getting better” the Bears are not optimistic that they will have Cutler available for Monday night’s game with the 49ers. Cutler has a long history of concussion issues dating back to his playing days at Vanderbilt which raises additional concern. Former Redskins and Raiders’ signal caller Jason Campbell will get the nod if Cutler can’t go.

--Darren McFadden (ankle): Though the team has still not clearly defined a time frame for injured running back Darren McFadden, FOXSports.com’s Jay Glazer tweeted Wednesday that the team originally viewed the ankle injury as a 2-4 week issue.  It is unlikely that McFadden will play in Week 11 and it appears as if Week 12 is far from a lock either. Marcel Reece will continue to serve as the team’s primary running back in DMC’s absence. Owners should continue to stash McFadden away in hopes of him providing a playoff spark against what is a very favorable slate of games. 

--Greg Jennings (groin, abdomen): The Packers have already ruled Jennings out for Week 11, but the head coach Mike McCarthy did offer some reason for hope for his fantasy owners on Wednesday. He is "a lost closer than any of us thought he'd be at this time," McCarthy said during his weekly press conference. Jennings has been limited to just three games in 2012 due to injuries. Look for James Jones and Randall Cobb to continue to see increased workloads with Jennings sidelined.  

Injuries to Watch: Wes Welker (ankle), Aaron Hernandez (ankle), Antonio Brown (ankle), Pierre Garcon (foot), Darren Sproles (hand)


FRIENDLY SCHEDULES AHEAD
(Here’s a quick glance at teams with the top 5 most favorable matchups in fantasy for Weeks 14-16)

--QB: Rams, Texans, Eagles, Bucs, and Baltimore

--RB: Giants, Jets, Dolphins, Broncos, Chiefs

--WR: Eagles, Chiefs, Saints, Ravens, Rams

--TE: Ravens, Browns, Eagels, Jaguars, Packers

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Here's a look at some great fantasy reads from around the web for Week 11:

Weekly Average Cheatsheet (FantasySportsCentral.com) - average weekly cheatsheet with many sites included.

Weekly Projections (FOXSports.com) - Weekly stat projections, projected fantasy points and rankings by position. Powered by WhatIfSports.

Fantasy Trade Value Chart - (CBSSports.com) Dave Richard unveils his Trade Value Chart to help owners make the best deal possible.

2012 Strength of Schedule (FFToolbox.com) - Ranking each player's schedule broken down by week.

Player History (FFToday.com) - Game-by-game lifetime player fantasy points against the team they are playing this week including all game logs

Fantasy Football Sleepers (KFFL.com) - They break down the fantasy football sleepers of the week

NFL Skinny (Yahoo.com) - The Skinny will provide an early look at the matchups for the coming week.

Matchup Reports - (JunkyardJake.com) - Game-by-game look at each player including a star ranking.

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GSI.com's Stefanie Theobald offers a few names for you to consider adding to your fantasy team...

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There were several significant injuries again this week around the NFL…

QB
Jay Cutler (thumb) – surgery on your throwing hand is never good, out indefinitely
Matt Hasselbeck (elbow) - elbow showed no structural damage; questionable vs. TB

RB
Adrian Peterson (ankle) - MRI showed a Grade 1 high ankle sprain, could cost him time
Fred Jackson (calf) – his status for Week 12 is up in air, keep tabs on developments
Shonn Greene (ribs) – appears as if he’ll be able to play through injury
James Starks (knee) – limited, but is participating and hopeful to play Thursday

WR
Greg Jennings (knee) – it appears as if it’s just a bruise, he should be fine
Deion Branch (hamstring) – left MNF game vs. KC, but did return to action
Darrius Heyward-Bey (neck) – injury appeared more serious than it was on Sunday
Donald Jones (ankle) – season in jeopardy after suffering serious ankle injury

TE
Jake Ballard (elbow) – Giants are hopeful he can play through the ailment

Fantasy Football, NFL fantasy advice, postgame injury report, week 11, nfl injuries

PICKUP OF WEEK
Shaun Hill (DET) – The Lions’ quarterback leads the league with 45 pass attempts per game and has a ton of weapons around him. With Matthew Stafford’s return to the lineup in question, Hill makes for a nice replacement for owners that have had problems under center. It amazes me that he is currently available in 53 percent of fantasy leagues played on CBSSports.com.

QB
Matt Hasselbeck (SEA) – averaged 350 yards over last two weeks
Chad Henne (MIA) – injury not as serious as previously believed
Tony Romo (DAL) – could return by Week 15 or 16

RB
Keiland Williams (WAS) – Portis’ setback keeps hi value high
Mike Goodson (CAR) – Back-to-back 100-yard efforts in terrible offense
Maurice Morris (DET) – Likely to start over Jahvid Best Thursday vs. NE

WR
Mario Manningham (NYG) – Giants’ top healthy wideout for next few weeks
Blair White (IND) – Gains value after Austin Collie suffers setback
Nate Washington (TEN) – Getting targets as Randy Moss continues to disappoint
Robert Meachem (NO) – Starting to gain steam in Saints’ offense

TE
Joel Dreessen (HOU) – Continues to benefit from Owen Daniels’ injuries
Jimmy Graham (NO) - Look for him to be more involved with Shockey banged up

DEF
Browns (CLE) – Our weekly matchup play vs. Carolina

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