It’s time for another edition of my weekly flex options article. As we know, fantasy football doesn’t always go according to plan, and last week’s list of flex options was no exception. A common trend within the list was a lack of volume that no amount of efficiency could overcome, so this week we’re chasing players who are going to get touches. With the injuries to big-name starters continuing to pile up, many fantasy managers find themselves needing a spot start from a not-so-big-name player this week. If you’re one of these managers, check out the list of players below that I think will get enough volume to fill the void in your lineup.
Austin Ekeler
Ekeler has quietly been a serviceable fantasy asset this year in PPR and half-PPR formats, seeing around 40-50% of snaps and drawing seven total targets from Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels through two games. He’s been efficient with his touches so far, taking his 10 carries for 48 yards and catching all seven of his targets for 99 yards. This efficiency is a promising sign for a player who many feared might have lost a step following a precipitous dropoff in production last season. The Commanders are 7.5-point underdogs this week at Cincinnati. This should create some negative game script, which favors a pass-catching back like Austin Ekeler. You can start him this week in hopes of five or more targets which should give him a solid floor.
Jerome Ford
Ford saw a significant decrease in snap share last week (from 75% in Week 1 to 44% in Week 2) thanks to the emergence of veteran running back D’Onta Foreman. Perhaps this was a sign of Cleveland taking a hot-hand approach to the running back position, but Foreman’s 3.0 yards per carry average doesn’t suggest his hands were all that warm to me. Whatever it was, the Browns’ running backs have a favorable matchup with the New York Giants this week, who are allowing 5.3 yards per carry on the season. With Cleveland entering the game as big home favorites (6.5 points), I expect there to be enough rushing yards to go around for Ford to return flex value, even if Foreman continues to eat into his workload.
Calvin Ridley
Ridley proved in Week 2 that he belongs in fantasy lineups every week going forward. His WR5 weekly finish was just what you were looking for if you bought into Andy’s Calvin Ridley “My Guy” campaign. Through two weeks, he’s been the clear number-one option, albeit for a Tennesse passing attack that leaves a great deal to be desired. The matchup with the Packers this week isn’t bad, even if he draws shadow coverage from star cornerback Jaire Alexander. With a high ceiling like he showed us in Week 2, fantasy managers should put Ridley in their lineups and leave him there until further notice.
Khalil Shakir
I really like Shakir this week in the Bills’ matchup against the Jaguars on Monday night. He’s been operating heavily out of the slot so far this season, seeing 43 slot snaps through two games. His numbers might not jump off the page, but that’s because the Bills haven’t been throwing the ball much. In Week 1, quarterback Josh Allen ran the ball nine times, resulting in an injured left hand. Last week, playing through injury, Allen ran the ball just twice, making a concerted effort to avoid contact when he did run. Instead, he frequently found Shakir in the short passing game, directing five of his 19 passes Shakir’s way. The Bills pulled away so quickly in that game that they were able to abandon the passing game pretty early, but it was clear that Shakir was an important part of the gameplan going in. If Jacksonville can manage to hang with the Bills a little better than Miami did, Shakir could see plenty of targets and return flex value.
Brian Thomas Jr.
On the other side of this matchup, I’m going back to the well with Brian Thomas Jr. The breakout didn’t happen last week due to low target volume, but Thomas Jr. saved his fantasy performance by once again flashing his top-end talent and athleticism, posting catches of 66 and 28 yards. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has struggled to get the ball into the hands of his receivers thus far, but good things have tended to happen when he targets Brian Thomas Jr. Maybe this is the week he gets the target volume that he deserves in what’s likely to be a negative game script against the Buffalo Bills.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/Pya2u0i
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