We’re on to Week 10 of the fantasy football season! As we look for every advantage this season, the X-factor position is the FLEX. To break it all down, analyst Joel Smyth goes through eight players in the consensus rankings flex zone for your flexes, double flexes, or even third WR slots.
Set & Forget
Blake Corum vs. ARI
Blake Corum has been a top-20 fantasy RB in five consecutive weeks as his role continues to eat into Kyren Williams’ workload. Even so, he’s being ranked outside the top 20 in the consensus … versus an Arizona defense? In this economy?
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The Cardinals, led by Carson Beck and Reggie Virgil, are 10-point underdogs at home. Over the last month, Corum has been best when the Rams control the game and avoid obvious passing situations, which gives him a healthy amount of volume even as an RB2. He’ll be listed as an RB2 on the depth chart, but he should be treated as if he’s a team’s starter in fantasy football.
Ollie Gordon II vs. IND
The passing attacks in this matchup may set the game back a generation. The good news is Ollie Gordon II should be set up to see a lot of rushing volume against a bottom-five RB defense in Indianapolis. Miami is in the rare spot where, although it is starting a sixth-round QB with zero game experience, it is only a three-point underdog on the road. That’s what happens when a team sells everyone at the deadline. The Dolphins should be able to keep this one close and ride their RB on the ground.
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Flex Starts
DJ Moore vs. NYJ
I believe Moore is being a little bit underrated because of last week’s low output and his early season injuries. First off, everyone struggles against Minnesota. I’ve found it best to trash those games from my mind completely for fantasy’s sake. Second, Moore’s volume has been quietly impressive when healthy, actually ranking eighth-best on a per route basis.
He’s had two games where he’s left early, but when he’s on the field, he’s being targeted plenty by one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on a top-five offense. The game script may not be in his favor here, but Moore should be able to capitalize early to return FLEX value.
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Jalen Coker vs. NO
For a short while, Coker was too good for this article, but he’s back in style this week after a disappointing stretch. Coker is a volume WR, and that should play out well on Sunday when the Panthers (the fastest-paced team in the NFL) play the Saints (the second-fastest-paced team in the NFL). It’s a game projected to be close, high-scoring and the Panthers will face a defense that ranks bottom-five versus wideouts this season. If Carolina can protect Bryce Young from Chase Young and company, Coker should be able to produce on his volume much better than the last few weeks.
Double Flex Only
Jordan Addison vs. GB
Kirk Cousins is a Viking, and Justin Jefferson is saved! But what about Jordan Addison? Well, in the first eight games of his NFL career, the only eight with Cousins, Addison averaged 15.8 PPR PPG, and 12.8 when Justin Jefferson was available! If this were 2023 again, you’d be confused why he is in the double-flex section. Well, less confused this year, as Addison has failed to be fantasy relevant, but I believe he can pay off in deeper leagues this week with the addition of Cousins and the absence of Carson Wentz. The touchdown potential alone boosts his value tremendously. Cousins’ final game in Minnesota was against the Green Bay Packers, where the rookie Addison was targeted eight times, bringing in seven receptions for 84 yards and a TD.
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Corey Kiner vs. DET
A starting running back on a good offense that isn’t being played in most leagues is rare. I believe Kiner should be getting more love. The receiving role isn’t there, but the Detroit Lions rushing defense has benefited from the schedule so far, as the “third-ranked RB defense” is actually 14th versus rushing fantasy points when adjusted to the RBs they’ve faced. With Stevenson and Henderson out, Kiner is the clear trusted RB in an offense that has averaged the second-most offensive points since Week 4. Kiner had the red-zone touchdown run last week and we’re hoping for another one to come overseas.
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Booby Traps
Tyler Allgeier vs. LAR
It isn’t just that Carson Beck is making his first career start, but that the Cardinals offense is without every single starting WR, Allgeier’s running mates and their left tackle. Everybody’s hurt … except for Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett on the other side. You can’t score points if you can’t stay on the field, and I worry mightily about the Cardinals offense being able to do just that. Allgeier and the other Cardinals can always score in garbage time to return FLEX numbers, but I don’t love banking on that unless you’re truly desperate.
The Rams’ run defense already ranks top-five this season versus fantasy RBs and grades out as one of the biggest OL-versus-DL run advantages of the week, even with their star players missing games to start the year.
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Jakobi Meyers vs. TEN
Meyers is ranked inside the top 30 WRs this week, which is understandable given the Titans defense and the team dealing players away at the deadline. However, that same thing can work against him. Meyers has run 33 routes in the fourth quarter this season … that is less than Brandin Cooks. He can hit if he finds his way into the end zone, but in comparison to Parker Washington, Meyers is much more volume-reliant, making less big plays after the catch and near the end zone. He still only had three of eight games with over four targets this season and will need Cam Ward to help him out on Sunday against Jacksonville’s new and improved defense.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
