Pondering some tough flex choices for your fantasy lineup? Adam Rank sorts through the running backs, receivers and tight ends to present his top 150 flex options each week for the 2024 fantasy football season, with some useful nuggets of analysis sprinkled in. The ranking is based on a 0.5 PPR scoring format.
NOTE: In a typical week, this ranking will be posted on Tuesday. Injury designations will be added, adjusted or removed as teams' official injury reports are made available. The following three designations will be reflected:
- (Q) -- Player is listed as questionable on their team's official injury report.
- (D) -- Player is listed as doubtful on their team's official injury report.
- (OUT) -- Player has been ruled out on their team's official injury report.
I don't mean to be sentimental, but there is something about fantasy drafts. Gathering with your friends you haven't seen for months, maybe even years. Making the same you're taking the Rams punt returner jokes when somebody selects Kyren Williams. It's truly the best time of year. The only thing that is keeping me from being truly verklempt about it is the fact that actual games start this week. I can't wait.
My first piece of advice for you this week is don't make any wild starting-lineup decisions. We might like Buccaneers rookie Jalen McMillan a lot this season, but there is no reason to start him in traditional fantasy football leagues. Well, maybe he makes sense to start if your other receivers are Ja’Marr Chase (hold-in) and Marquise Brown (out with an injury). The point is, you've drafted an amazing team. Let the players you picked early go out and do their thing.
One thing to note before I get to the rankings: I hate leaving Chase off this list, but I find it increasingly difficult to believe he's going to end his hold-in and play against the Patriots in Week 1. That's kind of a shame, given the matchup. But give me Tee Higgins to the moon!
FLEX RANKINGS: 1-50
- Justin Jefferson ranked fifth last season in fantasy points per game despite the fact he had four different quarterbacks throwing him the ball.
- Travis Etienne is one of my leading candidates for fantasy MVP this season. He scored 20-plus points in six games last season, most for a Jaguars running back since my colleague Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011. Etienne forced a league-leading 64 missed tackles on runs last season, per PFF.
- I love Mike Evans this week against a Commanders defense that ranked dead last against the pass last season. Also, keep an eye on Buccaneers rookie receiver Jalen McMillan in this matchup. He might end up being the most-added player after Week 1.
- CeeDee Lamb has a pitch count during practice, but the Cowboys are saying he'll be ready to go for Week 1 against the Browns. All right, good enough for me. No worries about the fantasy WR1 from last season.
- Bill Belichick had high praise for Breece Hall during his COACH show on Underdog Fantasy. Breece was the RB2 in a lot of formats last year and could have an even bigger 2024.
- Christian McCaffrey isn't at the top of my list, and that might be a bit of a shock to you. It's not the calf strain from earlier this summer that led me to rank him 14th, but rather the holdout of Trent Williams. The All-Pro left tackle finalized a new deal on Tuesday, but I'm concerned about the potential rust he could carry into the season after his lengthy absence from the practice field. CMC -- and a lot of 49ers -- were not quite the same during Williams' two-game absence last year. I still recommend you start McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, but just be aware of the context. Brock Purdy might be a tougher sell for me. San Francisco's Week 1 opponent, the Jets, allowed 12.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last season. It's good to have Williams back, but I'd advise some caution with 49ers in fantasy this week.
- Jonathan Taylor scored at least one touchdown in each of his final six games last season. I can't wait to see what he can do this year with a healthy Anthony Richardson.
- Drake London has had 110 or more targets in each of his first two NFL seasons. Imagine what he can do now that he has Kirk Cousins at quarterback. New Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson comes over from the Rams, who had the second-highest target share to wide receivers from 2019 to 2023.
FLEX RANKINGS: 51-100
- Stefon Diggs scored more than 13 points in two of his final 10 games in 2023. I'm sure he's going to get his share of targets after moving on from the Bills to the Texans, but I see him behind teammates Nico Collins and Tank Dell in terms of priority for fantasy purposes.
- Mark Andrews has been a top-five tight end in fantasy points per game in each of the last five seasons. He led the position with 1.4 red-zone targets per game in 2023. I could see that number going up with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson drawing in defenses.
- Dalton Kincaid was second on the Bills in targets last year. Now the team will be replacing the 200-plus targets that departed with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the offseason. Don't be shocked if Kincaid is the TE1 this season.
- I love Rome Odunze this season. And not just because my fantasy teams are named Sublime with Rome Odunze. Rome led the FBS with 21 contested catches last year, per PFF. I like his matchup this week (vs. Titans). I don't feel as good about his matchup in Week 2 (at Texans). But he might just end up as the Bears receiver you want the most at the end of the season.
FLEX RANKINGS: 101-150
- Pat Freiermuth is a sneaky option at tight end this season. I know a lot of people blame new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for Kyle Pitts' struggles during their time together in Atlanta, but unless you somehow end up with Marcus Mariota as the quarterback in Pittsburgh, you should be good. And no, don't you dare say Russell Wilson is at Mariota levels right now. That's not accurate.
- Jaylen Warren is battling a hamstring injury, but he has said he expects to play in Week 1. I'm putting him at RB36 for the moment.
- Buccaneers rookie RB Bucky Irving rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown in the preseason (4.4 yards per rush). The reason Rachaad White scored so many points last year could be attributed to the rushing workload and dump-off passes. Irving is a better receiver and is going to end up with a huge share of the offense's production.
- MarShawn Lloyd did not practice on Tuesday with a hamstring injury. The Week 1 matchup for him isn't great against the Eagles, but if he plays, he could see some work as the backup to Josh Jacobs.
- You really should take a moment and put Dolphins rookie RB Jaylen Wright on your roster, especially if you drafted Raheem Mostert or De’Von Achane. Head coach Mike McDaniel was recently talking about his running scheme, and it sounds like Wright could get into the mix. I understand if you don't like to roster your handcuffs, but this should be an exception.
