(Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire)
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 Four’s recommendations.
Running Backs
Tarik Cohen, RB, Chicago Bears [ESPN Own: 62% – Start: 11%]: Tarik Cohen has been involved in about 40% of Chicago’s offensive plays this season, although has yet to break double-digit touches in any single game. Week Four against a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed running backs to run rampant and allow shootouts in all three matchups this season. Cohen is Chicago’s change-of-pace back and although he has not received the number of targets many expected in the pre-season – his PPR floor will remain high week-to-week.
Javorius Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens [ESPN Own: 56% – Start: 25%]: Javorius Allen has had his fantasy value boosted by securing a rushing touchdown in each week this season. Allen has been targeted 17 times (11th most for running backs) and has seen his snap count increase week-to-week culminating with his presence in 54% of Baltimore’s offensive snaps.
Jalen Richard, RB, Oakland Raiders [ESPN Own: 6% – Start: 1%]: Jalen Richard has been a wild ride in each of the first three weeks. In Week One he had 10 targets, 0 targets in Week Two, and 7 targets in Week Three. Which usage Oakland plans to pursue is unclear and Richard’s snap count has ranged from 12% in Week Two to 50% in Week One. Richard is a fringe boom or bust in deeper leagues, but has signficiant upside if he is on the field.
Wide Receivers
Quincy Enuwa, WR, New York Jets [ESPN Own: 64% – Start: 22%]: In PPR leagues, there are few players with as much upside as any player on the bubble. He is the 12th most targeted wide receiver with a total of 29 targets, bringing in 12. Although it has not translated widespread success, his consistent high-volume workload makes him a week-to-week flex play regardless of opponent and is a touchdown away from a season top-20 ranking.
John Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens [ESPN Own: 58% – Start: 24%]: John Brown has seen a massive uptick in targets since Week One, now only three targets behind team leader Michael Crabtree. Brown has a great matchup against a porous Pittsburgh defense and should see close to ten targets in Week Four and several red zone looks.
Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals [ESPN Own: 60% – Start: 26%]: Tyler Boyd is the clear #2 receiver behind A.J. Green and has 21 targets on the season (only four fewer than Green). Green was forced out of Week Three with a groin injury that he is expected to continue nursing in Week Four. Boyd has broken off for several large gains in each game and remains a threat opposite Green in what is expected to be a shootout against Atlanta.
Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers [ESPN Own: 86% – Start: 36%]: Targets turn into receptions. Randall Cobb has been targeted 27 times, but has only pulled in 17 (4 of 11 in Week Three with a fumble). Cobb’s catch rate should tick back up from 2018’s 63% rate to his career 70% rate, improving his PPR value. Stay the course with Cobb in your flex.
Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants [ESPN Own: 73% – Start: 23%]: Evan Engram is out for 2-4 weeks with an MCL sprain and Sterling Shepard should be the first recipient of those six or so targets. Expect close to ten targets while Engram is out, making a strong case for PPR play.
Tight Ends
George Kittle, WR, San Francisco 49ers [ESPN Own: 82% – Start: 59%]: With Jimmy Garoppolo out for the season, C.J. Beathard will be filling in and Kittle should be an outlet for Beathard as he needs to dump off plays. Kittle is already the fourth most targeted tight end and should continue to see consistent work against the Los Angeles Chargers.