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QB List’s PPR Flex Options is a weekly assembly of some of the better free agents 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 Five’s recommendations.
Running Backs
Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions [ESPN Own: 32% – Start: 5%]: Theo Riddick‘s ceiling has a pretty substantial cap as he’s averaging only about one-third of Detroit’s snaps and rushed only five times this season. Still, he has the fifth most targets for a running back (27), bringing in 21 in four weeks. Riddick has yet to bring in less than three receptions per game and has a season-high of nine receptions. Riddick is expected to be used often against Green Bay setting up a serviceable workload in Week Five.
Dion Lewis, RB, Tennessee Titans [ESPN Own: 90% – Start: 54%]: A bit of a risky play in Week Five given Dion Lewis‘ lack of on the ground production thus far this season (3.3 YPC), but in PPR league’s Lewis will have the edge over Derrick Henry. Lewis out snaps Henry 160 to 106. Henry has 10 more carries, but Lewis has 15 more receptions and out-targets Henry by 17 (Lewis has only missed three passes all year). Lewis could be in for a sneaky good game against an ailing Buffalo defense.
Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets [ESPN Own: 61% – Start: 25%]: Much like Derrick Henry, Bilal Powell is in a near timeshare with Isiah Crowell, but sets himself apart by taking more snaps and acting as the clear receiving back. Although not as pronounced, Powell has 21 targets on the season (only bringing in ten) and a lack of touchdowns has left his fantasy value depressed – that all could change quickly against Denver.
Wide Receivers
Quincy Enuwa, WR, New York Jets [ESPN Own: 61% – Start: 20%]: 21 – the number of targets separating Quincy Enuwa from the next most targeted New York receiver, Robby Anderson, and the number of receptions that Enuwa has through Week Four. Enuwa has 37 targets on the season and is the top receiver on a lackluster Jets offense, but is still only started in 20% of ESPN leagues. Although he doesn’t have the same big play or red zone presence many other top receivers have, Enuwa is a high floor player worthy of your consideration.
Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals [ESPN Own: 75% – Start: 46%]: Tyler Boyd has matched A.J. Green lockstep for four weeks, culminating in a league-leading 15 targets in Week Four. Its growing clearer that Boyd is a compliment to Green – not just a beneficiary of Green’s talent and Boyd’s looks should continue to yield results even in Week Five against a much tougher Miami defense.
John Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens [ESPN Own: 70% – Start: 30%]: To-date, John Brown‘s success has come from down the field looks, now averaging 22.5 yards per receptions. His ability to repeat this feat week to week is a result of a consistent workload (30 targets) as he only has brought in 15 of those targets. His fantasy value is further shaky because it is booned by three touchdowns, but Brown’s upside is undeniable with Joe Flacco consistently looking his way.
Jamison Crowder, WR, Washington Redskins [ESPN Own: 49% – Start: 6%]: Jamison Crowder has four targets in each of his first three games, a result of Alex Smith spreading the ball around pretty evenly between Crowder, Jordan Reed, Josh Doctson, and Paul Richardson. Richardson is expected to miss Week Five and Doctson is still nursing a shoulder injury – meaning Crowder could see an increased workload in Week Five against a plum horrible New Orlean’s defense. Any Washington receiver could be a good play in Week Five, my money is on Crowder.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Green Bay Packers [ESPN Own: 1% – Start: 0.2%]: My Week Five Taylor Gabriel pick is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who shot up in value with injuries to Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison. Valdes-Scantling subbed in for Cobb last week and should see an uptick in targets with Allison likely out with a concussion. He will split targets with Davante Adams and Jimmy Graham and will face a tough Detroit secondary, but Valdes-Scantling has sleeper written all over him.
Tight Ends
Ricky Seals-Jones, WR, Arizona Cardinals [ESPN Own: 21% – Start: 14%]: Ricky Seals-Jones is up there as one of Arizona’s go-to receivers with 19 targets (Larry Fitzgerald has 24 and Christian Kirk has 20). Although Fitzgerald is likely to play on Sunday, he has been generally ineffective this season (as has Arizona’s offense in general) – Seals-Jones has an opportunity to capitalize on a terrible San Francisco defense, making him streamer worthy in Week Five.