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 12.
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 11 Record: 2-1
Running Records 16-21 , 43-percent
Jauan Jennings | WR, San Francisco 49ers
Jauan Jennings is rostered on 3-percent of teams, but only projected to start on 1-percent. He projects as the 53rd-highest FLEX player in Week 12. Jennings ranks as the WR12 in fantasy points per game on the season. In his second game back from a hip injury, Jennings earned 11 targets and caught 10 for 91 yards against the Seahawks. Jennings played the Brandon Aiyuk role, and will continue to do so as Aiyuk remains out of the lineup with an ACL tear. The fifth-year vet ranks No. 17 in Target Rate, No. 15 in Red Zone Targets, No. 4 in Yards Per Route Run, and No. 15 in Yards Per Target. He is the downfield-winner for the San Francisco 49ers. Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey mostly operate closer to the line of scrimmage.
The 49ers face the Green Bay Packers, who have allowed the No. 11 most fantasy points to wide receivers on the season. Volume plus a moderate matchup should prove valuable again to Jennings. Jaire Alexander left Week 11’s game with an injury, which is worth monitoring entering this game.
Javonte Williams | RB, Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams is rostered on 89-percent of teams and projected to start on 35-percent. He projects as the 56th-highest FLEX player for Week 12. Just when fantasy gamers thought Audric Estime would get the majority of run in the Denver Broncos backfield, Williams went back to his normal workload. Williams handled 13 touches for 87 total yards and a TD in Week 11’s drubbing of the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran back may not have a stranglehold on the backfield, but his usage in the passing game is what has kept him on the fantasy radar. Williams ranks No. 5 in targets, No. 6 in receptions, No. 8 in Target Share, and No. 10 in receiving yards among running backs.
The Denver Broncos are favored by 5.5 in Week 12’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders rank No. 6 in running back points allowed on the season. That sets up as a positive game script and matchup for Williams to get into 12.5-plus point zone.
Austin Ekeler| RB, Washington Commanders
Austin Ekeler is rostered on 88-percent of teams, and projected to start on 26-percent. Ekeler projects as the 60th-highest FLEX player for Week 12. Even with Brian Robinson active, Ekeler handled the majority of snaps in Week 11. He ranks No. 2 among running backs in receiving Explosive Play Rating and No. 11 in overall Explosive Play Rating. The Commanders also run the No. 4 most run plays per game, buoyed by Jayden Daniels’ rushing alongside Ekeler and Robinson. Ekeler has quietly put up a resurgent season. He ranks No. 5 in fantasy points per opportunity, No. 5 in receiving yards, No. 1 in Yards Per Touch, and No. 3 in yards per reception.
With Jayden Daniels reportedly dealing with numerous nicks and injuries, Ekeler has proven to be a safety outlet for Washington. Dallas is a juicy matchup. The Cowboys allow the No. 3 most fantasy points to running backs and No. 4 most receiving fantasy points to running backs. Fire up Ekeler yet again.
Deep Cut: Alec Pierce | WR, Indianapolis Colts
Alec Pierce is rostered on 2-percent of teams and projected to start on 1-percent. He projects as the 102nd-highest FLEX player for Week 12, per Sleeper. Pierce has scored 14 or more points in half-point scoring four different weeks. He is a full-time, outside winner. Pierce is the definition of boom-bust.
The Detroit Lions are a Super Bowl contender. Perhaps their one weakness is allowing fantasy points to wide receivers. They rank as the No. 3 team in allowed wide receiver scoring on the season. With much attention given to Michael Pittman and Josh Downs out of the slot, expect some shots to Pierce by Anthony Richardson in the highest projected scoring game total of Week 12.
View all Bradley Stalder’s Playerprofiler articles here.
