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QB List’s PPR Flex Options is a weekly assembly of some of the better free agents and bubble starters in PPR leagues. The focus is to find someone left on the waiver wire or on benches that could fill into a flex position week-to-week. These are Week Eight’s recommendations.
Running Backs
Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions [ESPN Own: 83% – Start: 50%]: Kerryon Johnson will probably be on this list for the last time as he’s about to eclipse 50% starting percentage this week (at least he hadn’t by the time this article was drafted, technically). Johnson finally completed his breakout in Week Seven putting up 158 yards on 19 rushes and two receptions on three targets for 22 yards. Johnson should see enough passes to stay relevant and compliment his ground game – especially if Matt Stafford needs to dump off against a tough Seattle secondary.
Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts [ESPN Own: 73% – Start: 38%]: We are doubling down on Marlon Mack in Week Eight after predicting his boom in Week Seven where he ran for 126 yards and caught two passes for 33 yards. Mack has been sidelined most of the season with injuries and Week Seven was his first week back in earnest with 56% of the snaps. As he continues to take over he should see an increase in his target share as well — Week Eight against a poor Oakland team has Mack’s fantasy value sky high.
Chris Thompson, RB, Washington Redskins [ESPN Own: 80% – Start: 18%]: Chris Thompson is set to return this week and with it about eight targets or more per game. Thompson is one of the premiere PPR backs in the league and if not for his injury that kept him sidelined for two weeks, he would be in the top three or four in total targets. Throw in just under 10 carries and Thompson is a strong candidate to play against a New York Giants team that just sold off their top run stopper.
Wide Receivers
John Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens [ESPN Own: 76% – Start: 44%]: Although Baltimore’s receiving core is a three-headed beast, John Brown see’s a consistent enough target share and more importantly key looks to get yardage and touchdowns. It is this that separates him from Willie Snead IV for fantasy purposes despite a similar target share. Brown has real highs and real lows – Week Eight looks to be a high.
Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers [ESPN Own: 83% – Start: 41%]: Devin Funchess was targeted a season-high 11 times in Week Seven, bringing his season total to a team-leading 47 targets – one more than Christian McCaffery. Funchess gets a good share of red zone looks and even against a stonewall Baltimore defense, Funchess should still put up a respectable final line.
Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants [ESPN Own: 76% – Start: 35%]: Even with the return of Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard caught 5 receptions on 7 targets. Shepard is a near virtual lock for seven targets per week and that number may only increase as New York’s already terrible defense got a whole lot worse this week with the firesale of Eli Apple and Damon Harrison. New York will be airing it out frequently and Shepard is poised to feast.
Chester Rogers, WR, Indianapolis Colts [ESPN Own: 17% – Start: 6%]: After three straight weeks of 10+ targets, Chester Rogers only had four targets – although to be fair that represented a team-high tied with T.Y. Hilton. Andrew Luck only completed 17 passes in Week Seven and should bounce closer to his season average of 29 completions. Although Indianapolis’ receiving core might get crowded, Rogers has done enough to separate himself as the number two receiver.
Donte Moncrief, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars [ESPN Own: 13% – Start: 3%]: Donte Moncrief has 28 targets in the past three weeks, albeit inconsistently as 25 came from Weeks 5 and 7 with Moncrief laying a fantasy goose egg in Week Six. This level of inconsistency is hard to nail down, but Week Eight presents a good matchup against Philadelphia – it is likely Moncrief is available and could be in for another great week.
Tight Ends
C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals [ESPN Own: 37% – Start: 21%]: C.J. Uzomah managed to have a fantasy relevant week thanks entirely to a touchdown. Uzomah caught his only two passes, although was limited by Andy Dalton only throwing 15 passes last week. Cincinnati has a nice matchup against Tampa Bay and Dalton should throw enough passes to keep Uzomah busy beyond just a touchdown.