Flex Options for Week 3 (Fantasy Football)
And we’re back for another week of flex options!
Last week’s hits included J.K. Dobbins, Keenan Allen, and Cedric Tillman (barely). As always, we’ll look for players who are ranked outside the top 24 in the fantasy footballers’ rankings but who I expect to return at least flex value this week for your lineups. Here’s who I picked out this week:
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
The Dead Sea used to be alive before BILL CROSKEY swam in it. Old Bill finds himself as the de facto RB1 in Washington after Austin Ekeler suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Question marks still remain – Bill saw just four touches last week – but the opportunity certainly seems to be right there for the taking.
This week, he draws a favorable matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. As 3.5-point home favorites, I anticipate a run-heavy game script that should allow Croskey-Merritt to get fed early and often. If you’ve been riding the hype train with Bill, this is your chance to fire him up in your lineups. I like his chances of finishing as a top-24 RB this week and improving on his current RB28 ranking.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Allgeier is often regarded strictly as a handcuff to Bijan Robinson, but I believe he’s got true flex upside this week in a dream matchup with the Carolina Panthers defense. Bijan should eat too, as he’s currently ranked as the top RB in the fantasy footballers’ rankings, but I believe there will be plenty of work left over for Allgeier. Look no further than what the duo did last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Bijan led the way with 163 scrimmage yards, but Allgeier chipped in 80 yards on 17 touches and scored the only TD of the contest. In two games against Carolina last season, Allgeier posted 30 total touches for 177 scrimmage yards and a TD. 13.6 fantasy points per game is a solid average, and you’ll gladly take that in your flex spot this week.
He’s not Bijan Robinson from a talent perspective, but this take boils down to Carolina’s run defense not being able to stop anybody, much less one of the best 1-2 rushing duos in the league. You can definitely start Allgeier this week in a “super-plus” matchup.
Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Allen is going to be a mainstay in this series until he gets the rankings respect that he deserves! He’s the WR11 through two weeks, and his 17 targets are tied with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Garrett Wilson. It’s not a great matchup on paper this week against a tough Denver Broncos pass defense, but Allen runs a lot of his routes from the slot and is unlikely to draw much attention from Broncos’ standout corner Patrick Surtain II. This game has a healthy 45.5 point over/under, with the Chargers entering as 2.5 point home favorites. Allen could keep it rolling and post another top-20 week at the position, but if nothing else, he represents a solid floor in your flex spot with the target volume that he’s seeing. His WR37 ranking is too low for a player averaging 8.5 targets per game.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Waddle is the polar opposite of a high-floor flex option, but in a matchup with Buffalo this week, where Miami enters as 12-point underdogs, it’s safe to assume they are going to be passing quite a bit. Waddle was effective last week, catching five of six targets for 68 yards and a TD. I can’t promise the same level of effectiveness this week, nor can I promise that he will get through the game without injury, but when he’s on the field, I expect him to get looks as the Dolphins try to keep pace in this game.
It’s always a crapshoot, but you can start Waddle this week as a boom/bust flex option. He’s well ranked at WR40, but he’s not going to finish anywhere near there. He will either catch a big TD and finish inside the top 20 or totally bust and be well outside the top 50.
Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
This one is more of a feel play, being that Hunter hasn’t done all that much on the field to earn a starting spot in your lineup yet. The one thing I will say is that he’s been involved thus far, seeing eight and six targets in his first two contests, respectively. He doesn’t have many yards to show for it, with most of his work coming on screens and underneath routes so far. The good news for Hunter is that’s where Houston’s defense is vulnerable. Their pass rush is stellar, and their secondary takes away big plays down the field, but that leaves room for plenty of short receptions. Tampa Bay managed to move the ball this way against Houston on Monday Night, and Emeka Egbuka found the endzone on a short screen play in the second quarter.
I expect Jacksonville to employ Hunter in a similar way, while Brian Thomas Jr. gets shadowed by All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr.. If it plays out this way, Hunter should see plenty of targets on short routes. Enjoy the receptions if you play in a PPR league, and don’t be surprised to see him score his first NFL TD this week… just a feeling.