5 NFL players that need to step up for their teams in Week 11

The NFL playoffs are approaching and right now it is hard to pick a true Super Bowl favorite. Contending teams all over the NFL are having bad weeks and just as one becomes a favorite, a bad loss occurs.

Having star players step up is a great way for teams to get back to their usual winning ways. Here are five NFL players who must step up in Week 11 to lead their team to victory.

5 NFL players who needs to perform in Week 11

Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are still alive in the NFL playoff race even with a 3-6 record, but they face a tough opponent this week in the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are furious after falling in Miami last week, so they should come in plenty motivated.

Justin Fields could spoil their day once again by stepping up in this home game for the Bears. His most recent performance was arguably his best as he threw for 291 yards and a touchdown in a thrilling Monday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, bad officiating was the story of the night.

Fields was able to play more freely and throw the ball down the field for once. He must keep doing that and also get his first game of the season with at least two touchdown passes for the Bears to pull off the upset.

#4 - D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers

It certainly appears as if Cam Newton will be the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers in Week 11. That means he needs number one receiver D.J. Moore to step up and have a huge game.

Newton needs Moore to be his top target so attention is taken away from Christian McCaffrey having to do it all on offense. Moore's latest game saw him finish with only four catches for 24 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. But he has 701 yards on the season, so he has had some real success.

Both Moore and Robby Anderson truly need to step up for the Panthers to take down a Washington Football Team that just upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCaffrey cannot do it all, and Newton is making his first start of the NFL season.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns

#3 - Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns

Jarvis Landry is the top receiver on the Cleveland Browns now that Odell Beckham Jr. is continuing his NFL career in Los Angeles. That means he needs to start living up to that billing. The Browns' receiving corps has been extremely weak this season, with tight end David Njoku leading the team with 352 receiving yards. Landry is fourth with 219 yards.

Part of the problem is Baker Mayfield not getting his top receiver the ball. However, Landry must find a way to step up and get himself more involved, whether that is running better routes or demanding head coach Kevin Stefanski call plays for him. The Browns cannot have success if all their top receivers are ghosts on Sundays.

#2 - Joe Flacco, New York Jets

Anyone not paying attention to NFL news may be terribly confused as to why Joe Flacco is on this list. But that's because he was named the starting quarterback for the New York Jets this week following Mike White's disastrous outing on Sunday.

Zach Wilson is still not 100 percent so Flacco gets yet another chance to prove he can still be a successful starter in the NFL. His Jets desperately need a win and have a chance against a Miami Dolphins team that has quarterback problems of its own. Flacco simply not turning the ball over would go a long way toward giving the Jets a chance to win.

#1 - Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Saquon Barkley has not played since early October, but reports are emerging that he is on track to play Monday night against Tampa Bay. That would be a huge addition to a New York Giants team looking to slay the defending NFL champions and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Barkley is a former No. 2 overall pick and needs to live up to that by being on the field and getting close to 100 yards per game. Stepping up against the Buccaneers would be his best chance yet in 2021 to prove he is still the same player he was at the start of his NFL career.