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 breaks down premium fantasy football flex plays for fantasy Week 9.
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 than that 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 8 Record: 4-1
Running Records 14-14 , 50-percent
Josh Downs| WR, Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs is rostered on 30-percent of teams, but only projected to start on 1-percent. He projects as the 58th-highest FLEX player in Week 9. Joe Flacco is now the starting quarterback for the Colts. In the three games Joe Flacco has played with Downs this season, Downs averages eight receptions on 10 targets for 72 receiving yards and 0.67 touchdowns for an average of 15.2 fantasy points. Downs might be an undersized slot receiver, but he’s played big all season. Downs ranks No. 20 in fantasy points per game, No. 8 in Target Rate, No. 12 in red zone targets, and No. 1 in Route Win Rate. Michael Pittman has had ups and downs this season, but Downs has remained the most consistent target, no matter who has been behind center for the Colts.
With the Colts expected to play from behind on the road against the Minnesota Vikings in a competitive 46.5 projected game total, expect Downs to continue to be the focal point of the Colts passing offense.
Calvin Ridley | WR, Tennessee Titans
Calvin Ridley is rostered on 91-percent of teams and projected to start on 48-percent. He projects as the 67th-highest FLEX player for Week 9. Ridley exploded in the first quarter against the Detroit Lions in Week 8, finishing with 10 receptions on 15 targets for 143 receiving yards. That was his second top-seven receiving finish on the season. Ridley has earned eight or more targets in three straight games. Now, with DeAndre Hopkins traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, Ridley’s Target Share got a major shot in the arm. Ridley ranks No. 2 in Target Depth, No. 3 in Air Yards Share, No. 7 in Air Yards, and NBo. 23 in Target Share among wide receivers this season. Mason Rudolph has only marginally outperformed Will Levis on an efficiency basis, but seemed to get the ball comfortably to Ridley in Week 8.
The Tennessee Titans square off against the New England Patriots in Week 9. The Pats have allowed the No. 5 most fantasy points to wide receivers on the season. Odds makers favor the Titans at home, and in a positive matchup, expect Rudolph to take shots in Ridley’s way.
David Njoku | TE, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku is rostered on 93-percent of teams, and projected to start on 62-percent of them. Njoku projects as the 66th-highest FLEX player for Week 9.
NOTE: This is the first TE FLEX recommendation this season.
Amari Cooper is long gone, and Njoku has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. Since the Cooper trade, Njoku has averaged 7.5 receptions on 10.5 targets for 68 receiving yards and a TD per game. Njoku has played at least 82-percent of snaps and finished as a top-eight TE. Obviously, Njoku is a must-start TE, but he’s also FLEX viable moving forward – especially in TE premium leagues. Njoku ranks No. 5 in Target Rate, No. 4 in fantasy points per game, and No. 3 in Dominator Rating.
The Browns are two point underdogs at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers allow the No. 9 most fantasy points to TEs. Njoku has averaged a 25-percent Target Share over the last three weeks, and set a season-high 10.7 ADOT with Jameis Winston at quarterback in Week 8. Fire up Njoku in the FLEX.
Deep Cut: Jalen Coker | WR, Carolina Panthers
Jalen Coker is rostered on zero-percent of teams and projected to start on zero-percent. Coker projects as the 125th-highest FLEX player for Week 9, per Sleeper. With Diontae Johnson traded to Baltimore, Coker stepped up in a big way. The undrafted free agent played a season-high 69-percent of snaps and earned six targets. He turned them into 78 yards and a touchdown – all of this with struggling sophomore quarterback Bryce Young. Coker ranked No.4 among WRs in PFF Receiving Grade for Week 8 and ran a healthy 33 routes. Playing mostly in the slot should allow Coker to continue to earn consistent targets. Coker’s 98th-percentile Burst Score is an elite trait that should keep him on the field.
Carolina is a seven-point home underdog against a struggling New Orleans Saints squad. However, the Saints may be getting back quarterback Derek Carr, which would be positive for the overall Game Script and shootout potential. Coker may very well be the best wide receiver on the Panthers by a wide margin – which puts Coker well on the deep FLEX radar moving forward.
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