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 14.
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 13 Record: 2-1
Running Records 18-25 , 42-percent
Keenan Allen | WR, Chicago Bears
Keenan Allen is rostered on 96-percent of teams, and projected to start on 64-percent. He projects as the 54th-highest FLEX player in Week 14. Over the last three weeks, Allen has earned 32 targets and caught 18 of them to go along with three touchdowns. What’s changed? Only the offensive coordinator and the head coach. Now that Brown is in at head coach, Caleb Williams averages over 270 passing yards per game. Allen leads all NFL wide receivers over that stretch with 32 targets. He also ranks No. 16 in Target Share, no. 26 in Air Yards Share, No. 18 in Expected Fantasy Points Per Game, and no. 30 in Red Zone Targets. It’s clear Allen is a favorite safety valve for Williams and has inspired increasing trust from the young rookie.
The San Francisco 49ers allow the No. 4 most fantasy points to wide receivers on the season. San Francisco is favored at home with a respectable 44 projected game total. Allen should get plenty of opportunity to exceed 12.5 fantasy points and bring you to the fantasy playoffs.
Brian Thomas, Jr. | WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr. is rostered on 81-percent of teams and projected to start on 16-percent. He projects as the 63rd-highest FLEX player for Week 14. Thomas is coming off a big week, which could have been even bigger if Mac Jones hit him on any further boom plays. The rookie set a career-high with 10 targets in Week 13 against Houston. Thomas has exceeded 12.5 fantasy points in six of 12 games this season. Thomas ranks No. 14 in Explosive Plays, No. 16 in Receiving Explosive Play Rating, No. 12 in yards after the catch, No. 17 in Formation Adjusted Yards Per Route Run, No. 9 in Yards Per Target, No. 6 in Dominator Rating, and No. 10 in Fantasy Points Per Target. If there’s a player to “buy-high” in dynasty, it’s Thomas.
While there’s not much enticing about the matchup with Thomas and the Jaguars traveling to Tennessee to face off against the Titans (Tennessee allows the No. 29 most fantasy points to wide receivers). Plus, the projected game total is under 40, but Thomas should continue to earn major targets and touches. Perhaps a game where Tennessee isn’t blown out will lead to a more competitive game script for Thomas.
Jonnu Smith| TE, Miami Dolphins
Jonnu Smith is rostered on 11-percent of teams, and projected to start on 3-percent. Smith projects as the 53rd-highest FLEX player for Week 14. Smith has set career-highs in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and is on pace for obliterating his career high in fantasy points per game. Over the last three games, Smith ranks No. 4 in receiving yards and No. 5 in targets among offensive skill players. Smith ranks No. 5 in Target Rate, No. 6 in Red Zone Targets, No. 4 in receptions and receiving yards, No. 2 in yards after the catch, and No. 4 in Yards Per Route Run on the season. Smith has evolved into a focal point of the Miami Dolphins offense.
The Dolphins host the New York Jets in a respectable 44.5 projected game total. While the Jets normally limit tight ends, Smith has played the most out wide snaps of any tight end over the last three weeks, and at a higher rate than Travis Kelce or Brock Bowers. Fire up Smith and ride the Jonnu wave.
Deep Cut: Jonathon Brooks | RB, Carolina Panthers
Jonathon Brooks is rostered on 80-percent of teams and projected to start on 5-percent. He projects as the 126th-highest FLEX player for Week 14, per Sleeper. Brooks is trending upward, and now is the time to bite. The former Longhorn increased his debut role from Week 12 to Week 13. Brooks earned only 8-percent of snaps and two touches in Week 12, but earned 21-percent of snaps and nine touches in Week 13. It’s clear that the coaching staff was willing to increase his role and involvement. Chuba Hubbard struggled mightily in Week 13, which may give even more work to Brooks as we enter Week 14. Hubbard earned zero targets for only the third time this season and rushed for the fewest times since Week 2. The time for Brooks is coming.
The Eagles host the battling Panthers, who are playing for pride and knowledge of the player they have in Brooks. The Eagles allow the No. 14 most fantasy points to running backs and the projected game total of 46 indicates a competitive and higher-scoring matchup, even if the Eagles are favored by 12.
View all Bradley Stalder’s Playerprofiler articles here.
