PPR Options: Week One

(Photo by  Robin Alam/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 One’s recommendations.

Running Backs

Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions [ESPN Ownership – 46%]: Despite Detroit signing LeGarrette Blount, drafting Kerryon Johnson, and Ameer Abdullah…existing, Theo Riddick is again set to be the team’s pass-catching back. The New York Jets should have a pliable enough defense to allow Riddick to break off a few decent receptions, enough to warrant a flex start. Riddick should be owned in nearly all PPR leagues and certainly be started in more than 3% of leagues (I’m just going to assume that there are more PPR leagues than that with ESPN).

Latavius Murray, RB, Minnesota Vikings [ESPN Ownership – 46.8%]: Although Latavius Murray is playing behind Dalvin Cook and despite Murray never being much of a PPR threat, his usage could still be one that benefits a PPR manager. Murray looks to be a touchdown vulture and take a bulk of the snaps if Minnesota gets up quick on San Francisco. Cook is back from an ACL injury and Minnesota should look to rest him when able to ease him into action.

Mike Gillislee, RB, New Orleans Saints [ESPN Ownership – 6.6%]: While Alvin Kamara broke out aided by 86 targets, Mark Ingram also received 60 targets in 2017. Ingram is suspended in Week One, opening the door for Mike Gillislee to get some looks and goal line work. It’s generally too early in the season to make a play like Gillislee, but if you find yourself in need Gillislee could be a sneaky play in Week One against a porous Tampa Bay defense.

Wide Receivers

Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions [ESPN Ownership – 59%]: Kenny Golladay is set to break out this season for Detroit after an injury-plagued rookie season. He should be an outside threat opposite Marvin Jones Jr. and should eclipse the 48 targets he received last season. Detroit is a good matchup against the New York Jets who had one of the leagues worst secondaries and with Golladay stretching the field is in line for some big plays and red zone looks.

Keelan Cole, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars [ESPN Ownership – 56%]: The use of Jacksonville’s wideouts are still questionable after the injury to Marquise Lee, but Keelan Cole‘s 475 yards and three touchdowns in the final five weeks of last season when both Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns went down with injury paint a picture of what Cole’s ceiling could be this year. The Giants had one of the leagues worst defenses in 2017 and Cole should feast from the get-go.

Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears [ESPN Ownership – 28%]: After Allen Robinson, the second most targeted player is still undetermined. Chicago is expected to throw frequently under head coach Matt Nagy and rookie Anthony Miller has a good shot at being that guy. If Chicago falls behind against Green Bay, expect Mitch Trubisky to be throwing even more – Miller stands a good shot at raking in PPR.

Quincy Enuwa, WR, New York Jets [ESPN Ownership – 9%]: In a similar situation, Quincy Enuwa will be backing up Robby Anderson as New York’s second receiver. Enuwa missed all of 2017 with a neck injury and missed two weeks in early August with an undisclosed injury, but should be set for Week One. While Anderson is covered up by Darrius Slay, Enuwa should be able to get open for a consistent target share.

Albert Wilson, WR, Miami Dolphins [ESPN Ownership – 3%]: DeVante Parker is officially out for Week One on an already starved receiving unit. Miami is expected to fare poorly against a strong Tennessee team, so Wilson could be in line for plenty of garbage time targets as he takes Parker’s role during Week One.