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Pondering some tough flex choices for your Week 17 fantasy football lineup? Adam Rank sorts through the running backs, receivers and tight ends to present his top 150 flex options, 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 his team’s official injury report.
(D) — Player is listed as doubtful on his team’s official injury report.
(O) — Player has been ruled out on his team’s official injury report.
RANKING TIERS
FLEX RANKINGS: 1-50
1. Bijan Robinson , Falcons (vs. Rams | MNF) | RB1
2. Jahmyr Gibbs , Lions (at Vikings | Thursday) | RB2
3. Christian McCaffrey , 49ers (vs. Bears | SNF) | RB3
4. James Cook , Bills (vs. Eagles) | RB4
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown , Lions (at Vikings | Thursday) | WR1
6. De’Von Achane , Dolphins (vs. Buccaneers) | RB5
7. Jonathan Taylor , Colts (vs. Jaguars) | RB6
8. Ja’Marr Chase , Bengals (vs. Cardinals) | WR2
9. CeeDee Lamb , Cowboys (at Commanders | Thursday) | WR3
10. Puka Nacua , Rams (at Falcons | MNF) | WR4
11. Nico Collins , Texans (at Chargers | Saturday) | WR5
12. Trey McBride , Cardinals (at Bengals) | TE1
13. Jaxon Smith-Njigba , Seahawks (at Panthers) | WR6
14. Travis Etienne Jr. , Jaguars (at Colts) | RB7
15. Jameson Williams , Lions (at Vikings | Thursday) | WR7
16. Saquon Barkley , Eagles (at Bills) | RB8
17. RJ Harvey , Broncos (at Chiefs | Thursday) | RB9
18. A.J. Brown , Eagles (at Bills) | WR8
19. Derrick Henry , Ravens (at Packers | Saturday) | RB10
20. Chris Olave , Saints (at Titans) | WR9
21. Michael Carter , Cardinals (at Bengals) | RB11
22. George Kittle , 49ers (vs. Bears | SNF) | TE2
23. Drake London , Falcons (vs. Rams | MNF) | WR10
24. Bucky Irving , Buccaneers (at Dolphins) | RB12
25. Javonte Williams , Cowboys (at Commanders | Thursday) | RB13
26. Michael Wilson , Cardinals (at Bengals) | WR11
27. Courtland Sutton , Broncos (at Chiefs | Thursday) | WR12
28. Josh Jacobs , Packers (vs. Ravens | Saturday) | RB14
29. Rhamondre Stevenson , Patriots (at Jets) | RB15
30. Jauan Jennings , 49ers (vs. Bears | SNF) | WR13
31. Ashton Jeanty , Raiders (vs. Giants) | RB16
32. Zay Flowers , Ravens (at Packers | Saturday) | WR14
33. Chase Brown , Bengals (vs. Cardinals) | RB17
34. D’Andre Swift , Bears (at 49ers | SNF) | RB18
35. George Pickens , Cowboys (at Commanders | Thursday) | WR15
36. Jakobi Meyers , Jaguars (at Colts) | WR16
37. Kenneth Gainwell , Steelers (at Browns) | RB19
38. Mike Evans , Buccaneers (at Dolphins) | WR17
39. Breece Hall , Jets (vs. Patriots) | RB20
40. Woody Marks , Texans (at Chargers | Saturday) | RB21
41. Brock Bowers , Raiders (vs. Giants) | TE3
42. Kyle Pitts , Falcons (vs. Rams | MNF) | TE4
43. Jaylen Warren , Steelers (at Browns) | RB22
44. Brian Thomas Jr. , Jaguars (at Colts) | WR18
45. Stefon Diggs , Patriots (at Jets) | WR19
46. Omarion Hampton , Chargers (vs. Texans | Saturday) | RB23
47. David Montgomery , Lions (at Vikings | Thursday) | RB24
48. Dalton Schultz , Texans (at Chargers | Saturday) | TE5
49. Justin Jefferson , Vikings (vs. Lions | Thursday) | WR20
50. Marvin Harrison Jr. , Cardinals (at Bengals) | WR21
Takeaways:
The Packers rushed for nearly 200 yards against the Bears in Week 16, so I expect Christian McCaffrey to see a steady dose of carries against Chicago in Week 17. See, I can be an objective observer here. But I’m not enjoying the fact that my fantasy championship is coming down to CMC against the Bears. Maybe I should have checked the schedule when I drafted in August.
James Cook also deserves praise, along with the likes of CMC and other fantasy superstars. Cook has rushed for 100-plus yards and at least one touchdown in seven games this season. SEVEN.
Amon-Ra St. Brown was the WR4 in Week 16. I’m sorry, I meant the WR4 for the Lions . Man, that was rough.
Chris Olave scored a season-high 36.8 fantasy points against the Jets. Tyler Shough is really peppering him with targets (16 on Sunday and 25 in the last two weeks). Olave has scored 20-plus points in back-to-back games, with three TD catches in that span.
It was tough waiting for Bucky Irving to return from injury this season, and he’s averaged fewer than eight PPG in the fantasy playoffs. If you’re still alive in your league, he did carry the ball 19 times against the Panthers. That’s pretty good.
We have an Ashton Jeanty sighting! Honestly, the fact he put up a 30 burger against the Texans — the TEXANS — is remarkable. Again, this probably happened for you in your consolation bracket. But still.
Chase Brown was pretty incredible in Week 16, posting nearly 33 fantasy points against the Dolphins. He’s the first player in Bengals history to make two or more TD catches and rush for at least one TD in a single game.
I do like Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift versus the 49ers, who did a nice job against Jonathan Taylor on Monday night. JT scored a touchdown, but he was held to 46 yards on 16 carries. I expect the Bears to run the ball against San Francisco.
George Pickens picked the right week to return to us. He bounced back from a couple quiet weeks with 26 points versus the Chargers and now has a plus matchup against the Commanders.
We’re still not seeing peak Brock Bowers in a bad Raiders offense, but I’m not recklessly sitting him for guys like Gunnar Helm. No disrespect to Gunnar, seeing as I’m a huge Gunner fan. (That’s an Arsenal reference.)
Very thankful for Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell this week. And not just in fantasy. The Lions had basically shut down running backs as receivers out of the backfield this season. But Kenny G was pretty good against Detroit. He rushed for 50 yards, but also had five receptions for 78 yards and a score.
Stefon Diggs was so nice last week (22.8 points against the Ravens). When Drake Maye launched that one deep pass, I was hoping it was for Diggs, but instead we saw a nice grab by Kyle Williams. I really like Williams. But, dude, nobody is starting you in fantasy.
Is this the week Justin Jefferson returns to his usual production? Look, if you made it this far with Jefferson being an anchor in your lineup, keep playing him. I’m going to end up losing a league because of it, but that’s how I roll.