2020 has been a unique year for many reasons. But even amidst the countless things that have taken place that we never thought we would see, there are still occurrences that continue to surprise us. Case in point – me featuring Kalen Ballage in my Week 11 Flex rankings. If there was ever a “2020 in a nutshell” moment, this may be it.
Just a few short months ago, Kalen Ballage was close to being laughed out of the league. He had averaged just 2.96 yards per carry in 110 rushes over his first two NFL seasons. That included a 75-yard touchdown, which only underscores how abysmal he was on his other 109 carries. This summer, the Miami Dolphins waived him, then tried to trade him, then waived him again. The New York Jets, led by Ballage’s former coach Adam Gase, signed Ballage in September. However, even the winless Jets and the league’s worst offense cut the cord with Ballage after just three ballgames. The Los Angeles Chargers then signed Ballage to their practice squad. That is likely where Ballage would have languished would it not for multiple injuries to the Chargers running backs. Even still, it was a bit of a surprise when they promoted him two weeks ago.
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Most people believed that Ballage would be little more than an insurance policy behind Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley. But Jackson was hurt on the first play of the game in the Chargers’ Week 9 outing. Los Angeles then elected to feature Ballage over Kelley, and the results were not half bad. Ballage had 69 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, essentially splitting reps with Kelley. Last week, Ballage dominated the bulk of the backfield opportunities. The former Dolphin garnered 23 touches against his old team, while Kelley had just seven and Troymaine Pope failed to touch the football. Ballage cracked the century mark in total yards and has seemingly earned the trust of the coaching staff. On deck for Ballage is a Week 11 contest against his most recent former team, the New York Jets.
The Jets are not the easiest team to run the football against. But they have traded away Steve McLendon and Avery Williamson in recent weeks, and their run defense has taken a bit of a hit as a result. In their most recent outing, they allowed the combination of Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead to combine for 127 yards and a score on 26 carries. If the Chargers attempt anything close to the 41 rushing attempts the Patriots had against the Jets, Ballage should be plenty busy. It may be difficult to project much in terms of efficiency from Ballage, but virtually any running back who can approach and possibly even exceed 20 touches in what figures to be a positive game script is worth considering for your Flex spot this week. I believe he will end up as a weekly RB2 once the dust has settled on Week 11.
Mr. McKissic Goes to Washington
The return of Alex Smith to the gridiron is one of the feelgood stories of our lifetimes, let alone 2020. Smith suffered a gruesome injury that became worse when he suffered from severe infections which nearly resulted in the loss of his leg. His comeback to the field of play is truly inspirational, and the fact that he is a starting quarterback in the NFL just two years later is nothing short of incredible. Yet, as happy as we all are that Smith can once again step on the field and lead an NFL offense, there is one person who is happier than all of us. No, it is not Smith himself, or anyone in his immediate family. I am speaking, of course, about Washington running back J.D. McKissic.
You remember McKissic, right? The guy who had a total of 88 rushes and 70 receptions during his first four years in the league? Yeah, he’s the one. Before Week 4 of this season, his single-game career-highs were as follows:
Targets – 7
Receptions – 6
Receiving yards – 40
Over his last six games, McKissic has averaged 8.8 targets, 6.2 receptions, and 42.2 receiving yards. He is the overall RB22 in half-PPR leagues since Week 4 despite scoring just one touchdown on the season. Since Washington named Smith their starting quarterback, McKissic’s usage has been almost Kamarian. McKissic has been targeted like no other back in the league. Hell, he has been targeted like no other player in the league. McKissic has been targeted a massive 29 times in the last two weeks and has finished as a top-15 back in both of Smith’s starts. If I did not know any better, I would think Smith started McKissic in his fantasy leagues.
The crazy part is that McKissic’s insane usage has not taken much away from his backfield mate, Antonio Gibson. Gibson is the overall RB9 over the last two weeks. Given Gibson’s college profile, I did not expect Washington to utilize the rookie as a traditional running back. But they have for the most part, and it has allowed both backs to flourish. Washington hosts Cincinnati in Week 11, which has the look of a Gibson game to me. I do not expect them to play from behind much in this one, which is why I have Gibson ranked higher than McKissic in my Week 11 Flex rankings. However, given his recent usage and the rapport that he has established with Smith, McKissic is not that far behind. Fantasy managers can very easily justify putting McKissic in their Flex spots this week.
Week 11 Flex Rankings
Below are my Week 11 Flex rankings. There are plenty of injured stars, so below is my attempt to read the tea leaves on players like Calvin Ridley, Joe Mixon, Kenny Golladay, and several others. I will update these again on Sunday morning once there is some clarity regarding these players and their likely Week 11 roles.
Rnk PLAYER (TEAM) MATCHUP POS
1 Dalvin Cook (MIN) vs. DAL RB1
2 Alvin Kamara (NO) vs. ATL RB2
3 Davante Adams (GB) at IND WR1
4 Tyreek Hill (KC) at LV WR2
5 DeAndre Hopkins (ARI) at SEA WR3
6 Aaron Jones (GB) at IND RB3
7 Travis Kelce (KC) at LV TE1
8 Julio Jones (ATL) at NO WR4
9 Keenan Allen (LAC) vs. NYJ WR5
10 Derrick Henry (TEN) at BAL RB4
11 Mike Davis (CAR) vs. DET RB5
12 James Conner (PIT) at JAC RB6
13 Miles Sanders (PHI) at CLE RB7
14 Adam Thielen (MIN) vs. DAL WR6
15 Tyler Lockett (SEA) vs. ARI WR7
16 Josh Jacobs (LV) vs. KC RB8
17 Michael Thomas (NO) vs. ATL WR8
18 D'Andre Swift (DET) at CAR RB9
19 DK Metcalf (SEA) vs. ARI WR9
20 James Robinson (JAC) vs. PIT RB10
21 Terry McLaurin (WAS) vs. CIN WR10
22 Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) at MIN RB11
23 Nick Chubb (CLE) vs. PHI RB12
24 Darren Waller (LV) vs. KC TE2
25 Justin Jefferson (MIN) vs. DAL WR11
26 Robby Anderson (CAR) vs. DET WR12
27 Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) at LV RB13
28 Antonio Gibson (WAS) vs. CIN RB14
29 A.J. Brown (TEN) at BAL WR13
30 Calvin Ridley (ATL) at NO WR14
31 D.J. Moore (CAR) vs. DET WR15
32 Melvin Gordon (DEN) vs. MIA RB15
33 Will Fuller (HOU) vs. NE WR16
34 JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) at JAC WR17
35 Cooper Kupp (LAR) at TB WR18
36 Amari Cooper (DAL) at MIN WR19
37 Tyler Boyd (CIN) at WAS WR20
38 Chris Godwin (TB) vs. LAR WR21
39 Diontae Johnson (PIT) at JAC WR22
40 Kareem Hunt (CLE) vs. PHI RB16
41 Jamison Crowder (NYJ) at LAC WR23
42 Jakobi Meyers (NE) at HOU WR24
43 Mark Andrews (BAL) vs. TEN TE3
44 Ronald Jones II (TB) vs. LAR RB17
45 Chase Claypool (PIT) at JAC WR25
46 Giovani Bernard (CIN) at WAS RB18
47 Duke Johnson (HOU) vs. NE RB19
48 DeVante Parker (MIA) at DEN WR26
49 Robert Woods (LAR) at TB WR27
50 Tee Higgins (CIN) at WAS WR28
51 Brandin Cooks (HOU) vs. NE WR29
52 Mike Evans (TB) vs. LAR WR30
53 D.J. Chark (JAC) vs. PIT WR31
54 Todd Gurley (ATL) at NO RB20
55 Travis Fulgham (PHI) at CLE WR32
56 Jarvis Landry (CLE) vs. PHI WR33
57 Jerry Jeudy (DEN) vs. MIA WR34
58 CeeDee Lamb (DAL) at MIN WR35
59 Kenyan Drake (ARI) at SEA RB21
60 Mike Williams (LAC) vs. NYJ WR36
61 Damien Harris (NE) at HOU RB22
62 Christian Kirk (ARI) at SEA WR37
63 Marvin Jones (DET) at CAR WR38
64 Salvon Ahmed (MIA) at DEN RB23
65 Kalen Ballage (LAC) vs. NYJ RB24
66 Marquise Brown (BAL) vs. TEN WR39
67 Hunter Henry (LAC) vs. NYJ TE4
68 J.D. McKissic (WAS) vs. CIN RB25
69 Leonard Fournette (TB) vs. LAR RB26
70 Rex Burkhead (NE) at HOU RB27
71 Jonathan Taylor (IND) vs. GB RB28
72 Hayden Hurst (ATL) at NO TE5
73 T.J. Hockenson (DET) at CAR TE6
74 Emmanuel Sanders (NO) vs. ATL WR40
75 Rashard Higgins (CLE) vs. PHI WR41
76 Nyheim Hines (IND) vs. GB RB29
77 Tim Patrick (DEN) vs. MIA WR42
78 Carlos Hyde (SEA) vs. ARI RB30
79 Curtis Samuel (CAR) vs. DET WR43
80 Antonio Brown (TB) vs. LAR WR44
81 Noah Fant (DEN) vs. MIA TE7
82 Corey Davis (TEN) at BAL WR45
83 Dallas Goedert (PHI) at CLE TE8
84 Michael Pittman (IND) vs. GB WR46
85 Darrell Henderson (LAR) at TB RB31
86 Jalen Reagor (PHI) at CLE WR47
87 Eric Ebron (PIT) at JAC TE9
88 A.J. Green (CIN) at WAS WR48
89 Breshad Perriman (NYJ) at LAC WR49
90 Josh Reynolds (LAR) at TB WR50
91 Rob Gronkowski (TB) vs. LAR TE10
92 Allen Lazard (GB) at IND WR51
93 Michael Gallup (DAL) at MIN WR52
94 J.K. Dobbins (BAL) vs. TEN RB32
95 La'Mical Perine (NYJ) at LAC RB33
96 Jamaal Williams (GB) at IND RB34
97 Henry Ruggs (LV) vs. KC WR53
98 T.Y. Hilton (IND) vs. GB WR54
99 Jakeem Grant (MIA) at DEN WR55
100 Nelson Agholor (LV) vs. KC WR56
101 Denzel Mims (NYJ) at LAC WR57
102 Mecole Hardman (KC) at LV WR58
103 James White (NE) at HOU RB35
104 Randall Cobb (HOU) vs. NE WR59
105 Chase Edmonds (ARI) at SEA RB36
106 K.J. Hamler (DEN) vs. MIA WR60
107 Latavius Murray (NO) vs. ATL RB37
108 Austin Hooper (CLE) vs. PHI TE11
109 Mike Gesicki (MIA) at DEN TE12
110 Jared Cook (NO) vs. ATL TE13
111 Keelan Cole (JAC) vs. PIT WR61
112 Zach Pascal (IND) vs. GB WR62
113 Hunter Renfrow (LV) vs. KC WR63
114 Jonnu Smith (TEN) at BAL TE14
115 Le'Veon Bell (KC) at LV RB38
116 Russell Gage (ATL) at NO WR64
117 Willie Snead (BAL) vs. TEN WR65
118 Danny Amendola (DET) at CAR WR66
119 Jordan Wilkins (IND) vs. GB RB39
120 Phillip Lindsay (DEN) vs. MIA RB40
121 Malcolm Brown (LAR) at TB RB41
122 Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) at SEA WR67
123 Dalton Schultz (DAL) at MIN TE15
124 Alex Collins (SEA) vs. ARI RB42
125 Damiere Byrd (NE) at HOU WR68
126 Logan Thomas (WAS) vs. CIN TE16
127 Robert Tonyan (GB) at IND TE17
128 N'Keal Harry (NE) at HOU WR69
129 Kenny Golladay (DET) at CAR WR70
130 Gus Edwards (BAL) vs. TEN RB43
131 David Moore (SEA) vs. ARI WR71
132 Tyler Higbee (LAR) at TB TE18
133 Demarcus Robinson (KC) at LV WR72
134 Chris Conley (JAC) vs. PIT WR73
135 Tony Pollard (DAL) at MIN RB44
136 Joshua Kelley (LAC) vs. NYJ RB45
137 Mark Ingram (BAL) vs. TEN RB46
138 Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB) at IND WR74
139 Kyle Rudolph (MIN) vs. DAL TE19
140 Frank Gore (NYJ) at LAC RB47
141 Greg Ward (PHI) at CLE WR75
142 Sammy Watkins (KC) at LV WR76
143 Alexander Mattison (MIN) vs. DAL RB48
144 Deejay Dallas (SEA) vs. ARI RB49
145 Brian Hill (ATL) at NO RB50
146 Marvin Hall (DET) at CAR WR77
147 Trey Burton (IND) vs. IND TE20
148 Adrian Peterson (DET) at CAR RB51
149 Gerald Everett (LAR) at TB TE21
150 Boston Scott (PHI) at CLE RB52
151 Devontae Booker (LV) vs. KC RB53
152 Jalen Guyton (LAC) vs. NYJ WR78
153 Jordan Akins (HOU) vs. NE TE22
154 Greg Olsen (SEA) vs. ARI TE23
155 Mo Alie-Cox (IND) vs. GB TE24
156 Devin Duvernay (BAL) vs. TEN WR79
157 Joe Mixon (CIN) at WAS RB54
158 Leviska Shenault (JAC) vs. PIT WR80
159 Marcus Johnson (IND) vs. GB WR81
160 Steven Sims (WAS) vs. CIN WR82
161 Matt Breida (MIA) at DEN RB55
162 Olamide Zaccheaus (ATL) at NO WR83
163 Cam Sims (WAS) vs. CIN WR84
164 Tyler Eifert (JAC) vs. PIT TE25
165 Anthony Firkser (TEN) at BAL TE26
166 Benny Snell (PIT) at JAC RB56
167 Darren Fells (HOU) vs. NE TE27
168 Dontrelle Inman (WAS) vs. CIN WR85
169 James Washington (PIT) at JAC WR86
170 Drew Sample (CIN) at WAS TE28
171 Andy Isabella (ARI) at SEA WR87
172 Cam Akers (LAR) at TB RB57
173 Dan Arnold (ARI) at SEA TE29
174 Tre'Quan Smith (NO) vs. ATL WR88
175 Chris Herndon (NYJ) at LAC TE30
176 Isaiah Wright (WAS) vs. CIN WR89
177 Myles Boykin (BAL) vs. TEN WR90
178 KhaDarel Hodge (CLE) vs. PHI WR91
179 Malcolm Perry (MIA) at DEN RB58
180 Auden Tate (CIN) at WAS WR92
181 Alshon Jeffery (PHI) at CLE WR93
182 Richard Rodgers (PHI) at CLE TE31
183 Rodney Smith (CAR) vs. DET RB59
184 Travis Homer (SEA) vs. ARI RB60
185 Ian Thomas (CAR) vs. DET TE32
186 Harrison Bryant (CLE) vs. PHI TE33
187 Irv Smith (MIN) vs. DAL TE34
188 Jacob Hollister (SEA) vs. ARI TE35
189 Mack Hollins (MIA) at DEN WR94
190 Deonte Harris (NO) vs. ATL WR95
191 Kenny Stills (HOU) vs. NE WR96
192 Quintez Cephus DET) at CAR WR97
193 David Njoku (CLE) vs. PHI TE36
194 Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) vs. PHI WR98
195 Jalen Richard (LV) vs. KC RB61
196 Ryan Izzo (NE) at HOU TE37
197 Adam Humphries (TEN) at BAL WR99
198 Samaje Perine (CIN) at WAS RB62
199 Julian Edelman (NE) at HOU WR100
200 Austin Ekeler (LAC) vs. NYJ RB63
If you enjoyed Mick’s Week 11 Flex Rankings, make sure to check out the rest of our Week 11 Analysis for more help in optimizing your lineups.
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