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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 Six’s recommendations.
Running Backs
Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets [ESPN Own: 68% – Start: 37%]: With Isiah Crowell a game-time decision, it is looking more and more likely that Bilal Powell takes a featured role in Week Six. Powell’s targets are wildly inconsistent week-to-week, but the value is there. Powell is a good mix of rushing workload and receiving on a good week, Week Six against Indianapolis should be a good week.
Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts [ESPN Own: 59% – Start: 28%]: Nyheim Hines is the eighth most targeted running back this season and despite only receiving a few carries per game has parlayed himself into a must-own PPR back. Indianapolis has a cushy matchup against the New York Jets this week and Hines will be there to reap the benefits.
Tarik Cohen, RB, Chicago Bears [ESPN Own: 75% – Start: 33%]: Yes, I am making this recommendation on the heels of a career game and overall blowout for the Chicago Bears, but I believe that this is an example of how Cohen will be used moving forward. Even if he does not get the big breakaways or rushing attempts, his Week Four seven receptions on eight targets will be exceedingly useful in PPR leagues as he repeats it. There is more risk in streaming Cohen than the above two, but has a massive ceiling depending on his usage.
Wide Receivers
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Green Bay Packers [ESPN Own: 4% – Start: 0.4%]: As of Saturday morning both Randall Cobb and Gerinomo Allison are still questionable. If one or neither is unable to play, Marquez Valdes-Scantling would once again have sneaky value. Valdes-Scantling demonstrated in Week Five that he is a competent receiver going 68 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks [ESPN Own: 87% – Start: 35%]: Despite having been back for two weeks, Doug Baldwin has not been as involved in Seattle’s offense as many would have expected. Week Five’s one target was likely an outlier, even on this pass-first team, Baldwin should certainly be started in more than 35% of leagues as he has the potential to lead Seattle in targets and be a second-half contributor to fantasy teams – a Week Six matchup against Oakland should be a great place to start.
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Atlanta Falcons [ESPN Own: 61% – Start: 26%]: While many have taken stock in Calvin Ridley after his ridiculous Week Three, Mohamed Sanu has kept chugging along as the second most targeted receiver in Atlanta. Sanu is a good bet to see about 6-7 targets each game and a touchdown in any given week. A Week Six match against a league-worst Tampa Bay passing defense makes for a solid streaming opportunity.
Chester Rogers / Ryan Grant, WR, Indianapolis Colts [ESPN Own: 10% / 20% – Start:4% / 5%]: T.Y. Hilton is out for Week Six, paving the way for Chester Rogers and Ryan Grant to succeed once again. In Week Five without Hilton, Rogers finished with eight receptions on 11 targets for 66 yards — Grant finished with six receptions on nine targets for 58 yards. Both will be key components in Indianapolis’ offense as Andrew Luck will throw the ball 40+ times this week and the two are unowned commodities.
Donte Moncrief, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars [ESPN Own: 15% – Start: 3%]: One of the best jokes from this past week’s ‘The Good Place’ as they started to decide that Blake Bortles might actually know what he’s doing. Certainly, Donte Moncrief is not complaining after receiving 15 targets in Week Five. While those targets came out from Dede Westbrook, it was a result of Moncrief’s ability to turn fewer targets into success. Although his target share is inconsistent, he is a good bet for a few red zone looks and satisfactory yardage.
Tight Ends
David Njoku, WR, Cleveland Browns [ESPN Own: 71% – Start: 37%]: David Njoku‘s target share has finally yielded results after five weeks (34 total targets representing the second most on the team). Njoku is averaging 6.8 targets per game (8 per game if you remove Week Three as an outlier, where he had two targets). Njoku still does not have a touchdown yet, but his rapport with Baker Mayfield should make it happen sooner than later.