PlayerProfiler is home to the award winning redraft rankings and tools. Our Player Rankings are second to none, and the World Famous Draft Kit contains detailed player write ups and cheat sheets to help You dominate fantasy drafts! Check it out. Below, Bradley Stalder identifies premium fantasy football flex players for fantasy Week 16.
In this weekly flex plays article, I identify three players outside the top 50 projected FLEX starters who will “win” the FLEX. How do I define “winning” the FLEX position? If a player earns at least 12.5 points in half-point PPR scoring, that’s a “win.” Anything less is a loss. I also identify one player outside the top-100 in projected points for the week as my long-shot, double-or-nothing score. Throughout the season, I’ll offer players I think will “win” the FLEX each week, and update how I did last week as accountability.
Week 15 Record: 0-3
Running Records 19-30 , 39-percent
Malik Nabers | WR, New York Giants
Malik Nabers is rostered on 98-percent of teams, and projected to start on 84-percent. He projects as the 55th-highest FLEX player in Week 16. Nabers has not earned fewer than eight targets in a game since Week 1 of the season. He is the only thing going right for the New York Giants. On the season, Nabers ranks No. 1 in Target Share, No. 1 in Expected Fantasy Points per game, No. 1 in Dominator Rating, No. 3 in Unrealized Air Yards, and No. 4 in Air Yards Share. The major question for Nabers – both for the remainder of 2024 and the 2025 season – is quarterback play. The Giants are now on their fourth quarterback of the season. Nabers cannot access the fantasy ceiling that fantasy managers want in the playoffs. However, he should still make FLEX lineups.
Despite a 40.5 projected game total between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants, expect Nabers to continue to get peppered with targets. Even without the touchdown last week, Nabers would have exceeded the floor of 12.5 fantasy points. Be not afraid.
Jalen McMillan | WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jalen McMillan is rostered on 13-percent of teams and projected to start on one-percent. He projects as the 80th-highest FLEX player for Week 16. McMillan has earned at least six targets in four of his last six games. Over the last two weeks, McMillan has nine receptions on 13 targets for 134 yards and two touchdowns. McMillan has entered into a more full-time role with Chris Godwin’s injury, earning at least 60-percent of snaps in each of his last six games. It’s clear Baker Mayfield is looking downfield for McMillan and in the end zone. Only Terry McLaurin and Davante Adams have scored more touchdowns than McMillan the last two weeks.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are four-point favorites in a 48-point projected game total, as they travel to Dallas to square off against the Cowboys. This game is the highest projected total on the week, and fantasy managers should ride the wave with McMillan at FLEX.
Devonta Smith | WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Devonta Smith is rostered on 98-percent of teams, and projected to start on 87-percent. Smith projects as the 72nd-highest FLEX player for Week 16. The formula is simple for the Eagles: pass to AJ Brown and Smith. Dallas Goedert is on injured reserve, and is not expected back in Week 16. Saquon Barkley is also reportedly dealing with “something minor.” Smith ranks No. 9 in Target Share, No. 11 in Yards Per Team Pass Attempt, No. 12 in Dominator Rating, and No. 25 in Target Separation. Smith has finished as a top-12 wide receiver three of the last six games, coming off a dominant Week 15 performance where he caught 11 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets.
The 3.5-point favorite Philadelphia Eagles travel to Washington in a modest 45.5 projected game total. Last week, reports of Jalen Hurts’ fractured finger emerged and caused panic among fantasy managers that Hurts would continue his inconsistency passing the ball. However, he put those to rest, feeding families with Smith and Brown both finishing as top-12 wide receivers in Week 15. Continue to play Smith for his targets and production in what could be a strong inter-divisional matchup.
Deep Cut: Kimani Vidal | RB, LA Chargers
Kimani Vidal is rostered on 19-percent of teams and projected to start on one-percent. He projects as the 171st-highest FLEX player for Week 16, per Sleeper. With J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve, Vidal’s snaps have increased from the 17- to 27-percent range up to a season-high 67-percent in Week 15. Vidal hasn’t handled more than eight touches in a game on the season, but the Chargers face a tough Denver defense in Week 16 where they may have to utilize Vidal’s elite speed, burst, and agility to move the ball on early downs.
The Broncos allow the No. 11 most fantasy points to running backs. The last time Vidal faced the Denver Broncos, he totaled a season-high 51 total yards, scored a touchdown, and finished as the No. 21 running back for fantasy.
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