RandBall's Fantasy Football Challenge, Week 11

November 14, 2013 at 3:52AM
Philadelphia Eagles' Nick Foles (9) stiff-arms New York Giants' Mathias Kiwanuka (94) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Guest picker’s QB (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Week 11 of the Page 2 Fantasy Football Challenge is upon us. Each week, a guest picker chooses a QB, WR and RB. The only players off-limits are those selected by the previous week's guest picker. The guest — Matt Lechner, a former TV news executive producer turned digital marketing strategist who spent three summers as a Vikings ball boy — will go head-to-head against Star Tribune writer Michael Rand, who is not allowed to pick anyone projected to score in the top 10 by NFL.com experts at their respective positions:

Matt Lechner'S WEEK 11 FANTASY PICKS

QB: Nick Foles, Eagles

NFL.com QB projection: No. 11

Matchup: Washington

Ten touchdown passes in the past two weeks and he's facing a Washington defense that Christian Ponder just torched — sign me up!

RB: Andre Brown, Giants

NFL.com RB projection: No. 8

Matchup: Packers

Brown's impressive 115 yards and one touchdown performance last week has me sold. I'll take him against a Packers defense that has yielded 375 rushing yards the past two weeks.

WR: Pierre Garcon, Washington

NFL.com WR projection: No. 3

Matchup: Eagles

Garcon faces a Philadelphia defense that is statistically worse than the Vikings. Also, Garcon wasn't arrested this week and he's totaled 291 receiving yards the past two weeks, which is nice.

MICHAEL RAND's WEEK 11 FANTASY PICKS

QB: Andrew Luck, Colts

NFL.com QB projection: No. 17

Matchup: Titans

Luck threw three interceptions against the Rams in a shocking 38-8 loss last week. I say he gets redemption, and then some, this week.

RB: Eddie Lacy, Packers

NFL.com RB projection: No. 16

Matchup: Giants

If Mike McCarthy is smart, the game plan this week will involve as many handoffs to Lacy as humanly possible. Without Aaron Rodgers, this is the Packers' best chance.

WR: A.J. Green, Bengals

NFL.com WR projection: No. 11

Matchup: Browns

Green has gone over 100 yards each of the past five games. I'm betting he'll make it six in a row against Cleveland, and that he'll add a TD catch as well.

SCOREBOARD WEEK 10 FANTASY RECAP (USING NFL.COM DEFAULT SCORING METHOD)

Winner: Michael Rand — Christian Ponder (14.3), Zac Stacy (12.8), Calvin Johnson (20.3). Total: 47.4.

Loser: Jeremy Biermaier — Philip Rivers (13.4), Matt Forte (4.9), Victor Cruz (3.7). Total: 22.0.

Overall standings: Guest pickers 6-4.


Michael Rand’s QB (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Matt Lechner, Page 2 fantasy football
Guest picker (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minneapolis Star Tribune sports Michael Rand. ORG XMIT: MIN1210171625110917
Michael Rand (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
New York Giants running back Andre Brown (35) runs with the ball against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Guest picker’s RB (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Michael Rand’s RB (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Pierre Garcon of the Washington Redskins picks up a 35 yards on first down in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013. (Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)
Guest picker’s WR (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green pulls in a pass during the second half of a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Michael Rand’s WR (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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