NFL Week 17 fantasy football flex rankings: Top 150 playoff options for championship week

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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.

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