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Week 8 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

The grind of the NFL season has taken its toll in recent weeks, especially on the running back position. Aaron Jones, Joe Mixon, and Miles Sanders are among the high-profile running backs who sat out last week’s games due to injuries. All three have been held out of practice so far this week, and are very much questionable for Week 8. Fantasy managers with Jamaal Williams, Giovani Bernard, Giovani Bernard’s mustache, and Boston Scott hope they can get another week of increased production out of their low-cost picks. All three backups posted top-10 fantasy finishes last week. There are also four additional top-18 fantasy backs whose teams are off this week. That means the Week 8 Flex rankings feature plenty of names we would not have expected even just a few short weeks ago.

The Seattle-San Francisco game may see some barely used running backs see significant action. Seahawks running backs Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde, and Travis Homer all suffered injuries in Seattle’s overtime loss in Arizona. I expect Hyde and Homer to play, but time will tell. Meanwhile, Jeff Wilson blew up for three touchdowns in San Francisco’s rout of New England but suffered a high-ankle sprain on his third score that will keep him out for at least four weeks. He joins Raheem Mostert on injured reserve. JaMycal Hasty (51 percent rostered in Fantrax leagues) becomes a very interesting option this week. Keep an eye on the status of Tevin Coleman, however. The 49ers designated the veteran able to return off injured reserve, so he may suit up for this pivotal matchup.


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Ring the Bell

The Kansas City Chiefs host the New York Jets in the most lopsided matchup of the entire NFL season. Vegas lists the Chiefs as 19.5-point favorites, and that seems way too low to me. The Jets have already lost four games by at least 18 points, and have not faced an offense as talented or diverse as Kansas City’s. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has the Chiefs entering Week 8 as the NFL’s best offense based on DVOA. Perhaps Jets CEO Christopher Johnson should make the trip to Kansas City this week and chat Bieniemy up a bit. Maybe pick his brain a little about offensive strategies, find out if he is free for a more formal discussion during the week of January 4th, that sort of thing. I’m just spitballing here.

Anyway, it was hard to glean too much about how the Chiefs will utilize former Jet and recently acquired running back Le’Veon Bell based on last week’s game. The Chiefs ran just 51 offensive plays while riding their defense and special teams to an easy victory in Denver. Bell played 33 percent of offensive snaps, while rookie standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire was on the field for 53 percent. CEH (can we still call him that knowing the “H” is silent?) out-touched Bell 9-6, so it was roughly a 60-40 split in both snaps and touches during their first game sharing backfield duties. I believe Kansas City will integrate Bell into the passing game, and that could begin as soon as this week. Edwards-Helaire has averaged five targets per game but has averaged just 5.54 yards per target without a score. He also dropped a would-be touchdown in last week’s win.

The Chiefs can probably pick and choose how they would like to score touchdowns on Sunday. We know that Bell will be chomping at the bit to stick it to his former team. I fully expect Bell to have a feelgood moment in his first home game at Arrowhead Stadium. Bell may not log more than a dozen or so touches, but that should be plenty enough for him to put up double-digit fantasy points in what should be a lopsided victory. With all of the injuries and uncertainty surrounding several starting running backs this week, I would not hesitate to start both Chiefs running backs in this game. I would consider Edwards-Helaire a low-end RB1, with Bell being a solid Flex play.

Dust Off Ruggs

Henry Ruggs has already exhibited his weekly boom or bust potential in his first four NFL games. His weekly finishes among wide receivers in fantasy points so far are WR42, WR118, WR9, and WR65. That can be maddening for fantasy managers, especially since it seems Jon Gruden and his coaching staff are not allowing Ruggs to create after the catch. The rookie is mostly running fly patterns in an attempt to get behind the defense, but that quickly becomes predictable. I am hopeful that Gruden can get the ball to Ruggs in space and let him create after the catch. Even if he insists on keeping Ruggs a one-trick pony for another week, however, I like the odds of Ruggs making a big play this week in the Raiders’ matchup with the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland tends to leave their corners in one area of the field, choosing not to shadow opposing wideouts. Denzel Ward, Cleveland’s best (and fastest) cornerback, plays on the left side of the formation 95 percent of the time. Ruggs should line up plenty against the combination of Terrance Mitchell and Kevin Johnson quite a bit, and neither can keep up with Ruggs’ 4.27 speed. Safety Ronnie Harrison has been a revelation for Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods in recent weeks. Woods may have Harrison provide bracket coverage on Ruggs when he avoids Ward’s coverage pre-snap. But Harrison himself only runs a 4.63 40-yard dash and had not been very effective before this month. I think Ruggs can make a big play or two in a game with the third-highest implied total on this week’s slate. As such, his placement in my Week 8 Flex rankings is relatively high.

Bad Juju

What’s Halloween weekend without a little Juju? Juju Smith-Schuster, that is. The Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver finally broke out of his mini-slump in Week 7. Smith-Schuster had season highs in routes run, targets, receptions, and receiving yards in Pittsburgh’s win in Tennessee. He finished as a top 30 fantasy receiver last week, and his managers have restored faith in the 23-year old. However, I expect him to struggle this week against the Baltimore Ravens. I have Smith-Schuster behind fellow Steeler wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool in my current rankings based on his individual matchup.

I expect Smith-Schuster to square off against Ravens slot corner Marlon Humphrey on a majority of snaps. Pro Football Focus ranks Humphrey 10th out of 116 cornerbacks in coverage. The two fourth-year players have a limited history against one another in their careers. Smith-Schuster has caught 3-of-5 passes against Humphrey for 49 yards and a touchdown. However, he also has a drop, and Humphrey forced a fumble that essentially won Baltimore a game against their divisional rivals last season. I do not expect Smith-Schuster to thrive in this matchup. Fantasy managers may want to start him given his upside, but I would temper expectations.

Week 8 Flex Rankings

Below are my Week 8 Flex rankings. Several players are currently ranked low simply because I do not expect them to play. If Michael Thomas is deemed healthy for example, he becomes a must-start and moves up significantly. I will update these rankings on Sunday morning but feel free to comment below or on Twitter in the meantime with any questions you may have about your Week 8 lineups.

RnkPLAYER (TEAM)MATCHUPPOS
1Derrick Henry (TEN)at CINRB1
2Dalvin Cook (MIN)at GBRB2
3Kareem Hunt (CLE)vs. LVRB3
4Davante Adams (GB)vs. MINWR1
5Alvin Kamara (NO)at CHIRB4
6Jonathan Taylor (IND)at DETRB5
7Ezekiel Elliott (DAL)at PHIRB6
8Mike Davis (CAR)vs. ATLRB7
9Todd Gurley (ATL)at CARRB8
10Jamaal Williams (GB)vs. MINRB9
11Kenny Golladay (DET)vs. INDWR2
12Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC)vs. NYJRB10
13Tyreek Hill (KC)vs. NYJWR3
14Keenan Allen (LAC)at DENWR4
15Calvin Ridley (ATL)at CARWR5
16Tyler Lockett (SEA)vs. SFWR6
17A.J. Brown (TEN)at CINWR7
18Boston Scott (PHI)vs. DALRB11
19Julio Jones (ATL)at CARWR8
20Stefon Diggs (BUF)vs. NEWR9
21Josh Jacobs (LV)at CLERB12
22Justin Jefferson (MIN)at GBWR10
23Mike Evans (TB)at NYGWR11
24Darrell Henderson (LAR)at MIARB13
25Robby Anderson (CAR)vs. ATLWR12
26DK Metcalf (SEA)vs. SFWR13
27Cooper Kupp (LAR)at MIAWR14
28James Conner (PIT)at BALRB14
29Darren Waller (LV)at CLETE1
30Giovani Bernard (CIN)vs. TENRB15
31Ronald Jones II (TB)at NYGRB16
32George Kittle (SF)at NETE2
33Myles Gaskin (MIA)vs. LARRB17
34Adam Thielen (MIN)at GBWR15
35Chris Carson (SEA)vs. SFRB18
36Brandon Aiyuk (SF)at SEAWR16
37Tyler Boyd (CIN)vs. TENWR17
38Marquise Brown (BAL)vs. PITWR18
39David Montgomery (CHI)vs. NORB19
40Melvin Gordon (DEN)vs. LACRB20
41Travis Fulgham (PHI)vs. DALWR19
42D.J. Moore (CAR)vs. ATLWR20
43Allen Robinson (CHI)vs. NOWR21
44Robert Woods (LAR)at MIAWR22
45Jarvis Landry (CLE)vs. LVWR23
46Travis Kelce (KC)vs. NYJTE3
47Amari Cooper (DAL)at PHIWR24
48Diontae Johnson (PIT)at BALWR25
49Tee Higgins (CIN)vs. TENWR26
50DeVante Parker (MIA)vs. SFWR27
51Darius Slayton (NYG)vs. TBWR28
52Hunter Henry (LAC)at DENTE4
53Rob Gronkowski (TB)at NYGTE5
54Devin Singletary (BUF)vs. NERB21
55Le'Veon Bell (KC)vs. NYJRB22
56Scott Miller (TB)at NYGWR29
57Henry Ruggs (LV)at CLEWR30
58Mark Andrews (BAL)vs. PITTE6
59Leonard Fournette (TB)at NYGRB23
60CeeDee Lamb (DAL)at PHIWR31
61T.Y. Hilton (IND)at DENWR32
62Tre'Quan Smith (NO)at CHIWR33
63A.J. Green (CIN)vs. TENWR34
64Justin Jackson (LAC)at DENRB24
65Chase Claypool (PIT)at BALWR35
66Mike Williams (LAC)at DENWR36
67La'Mical Perine (NYJ)at KCRB25
68Cole Beasley (BUF)vs. NEWR37
69Sterling Shepard (NYG)vs. TBWR38
70Jonnu Smith (TEN)at CINTE7
71Rashard Higgins (CLE)vs. LVWR39
72Jerry Jeudy (DEN)vs. LACWR40
73D'Andre Swift (DET)vs. INDRB26
74Jared Cook (NO)at CHITE8
75J.K. Dobbins (BAL)vs. PITRB27
76Dallas Goedert (PHI)vs. DALTE9
77Demarcus Robinson (KC)vs. NYJWR41
78Wayne Gallman (NYG)vs. TBRB28
79Hayden Hurst (ATL)at CARTE10
80JaMycal Hasty (SF)at SEARB29
81Damien Harris (NE)at BUFRB30
82James White (NE)at BUFRB31
83Denzel Mims (NYJ)at KCWR42
84Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB)vs. MINWR43
85Zack Moss (BUF)vs. NERB32
86Mike Gesicki (MIA)vs. SFTE11
87Corey Davis (TEN)at CINWR44
88JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT)at BALWR45
89Jalen Reagor (PHI)vs. DALWR46
90Curtis Samuel (CAR)vs. ATLWR47
91Kendrick Bourne (SF)at SEAWR48
92Trey Burton (IND)at DETTE12
93Marvin Jones (DET)vs. INDWR49
94Jimmy Graham (CHI)vs. NOTE13
95Evan Engram (NYG)vs. TBTE14
96T.J. Hockenson (DET)vs. INDTE15
97Nelson Agholor (LV)at CLEWR50
98Robert Tonyan (GB)vs. MINTE16
99Joshua Kelley (LAC)at DENRB33
100Deonte Harris (NO)at CHIWR51
101Noah Fant (DEN)vs. LACTE17
102Darnell Mooney (CHI)vs. NOWR52
103John Brown (BUF)vs. NEWR53
104Greg Ward (PHI)vs. DALWR54
105Eric Ebron (PIT)at BALTE18
106Danny Amendola (DET)vs. INDWR55
107Michael Gallup (DAL)at PHIWR56
108Latavius Murray (NO)at CHIRB34
109Jerick McKinnon (SF)at SEARB35
110Harrison Bryant (CLE)vs. LVTE19
111Jakobi Meyers (NE)at BUFWR57
112Braxton Berrios (NYJ)at KCWR58
113Tim Patrick (DEN)vs. LACWR59
114Preston Williams (MIA)vs. SFWR60
115Zach Pascal (IND)at DETWR61
116Hunter Renfrow (LV)at CLEWR62
117Mecole Hardman (KC)vs. NYJWR63
118Phillip Lindsay (DEN)vs. LACRB36
119Gus Edwards (BAL)vs. PITRB37
120Nyheim Hines (IND)at DETRB38
121Rex Burkhead (NE)at BUFRB39
122Russell Gage (ATL)at CARWR64
123Golden Tate (NYG)vs. TBWR65
124Malcolm Brown (LAR)at MIARB40
125Damiere Byrd (NE)at BUFWR66
126Adam Humphries (TEN)at CINWR67
127Marcus Johnson (IND)at DETWR68
128Alexander Mattison (MIN)at GBRB41
129Anthony Miller (CHI)vs. NOWR69
130Josh Reynolds (LAR)at MIAWR70
131Adrian Peterson (DET)vs. INDRB42
132Irv Smith (MIN)at GBTE20
133Tyler Johnson (TB)at NYGWR71
134Drew Sample (CIN)vs. TENTE21
135Tevin Coleman (SF)at SEARB43
136Dalton Schultz (DAL)at PHITE22
137Gerald Everett (LAR)at MIATE23
138Greg Olsen (SEA)vs. SFTE24
139Gunner Olszewski (NE)at BUFWR72
140Travis Homer (SEA)vs. SFRB44
141Michael Pittman (IND)at DETWR73
142Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN)vs. LACTE25
143Jeff Smith (NYJ)at KCWR74
144David Moore (SEA)vs. SFWR75
145Corey Clement (PHI)vs. DALRB45
146Matt Breida (MIA)vs. SFRB46
147Willie Snead (BAL)vs. PITWR76
148Isaiah Ford (MIA)vs. SFWR77
149Frank Gore (NYJ)at KCRB47
150David Njoku (CLE)vs. LVTE26
151Brian Hill (ATL)at CARRB48
152Cordarrelle Patterson (CHI)vs. NOWR78
153K.J. Hamler (DEN)vs. LACWR79
154Tyler Higbee (LAR)at MIATE27
155Tony Pollard (DAL)at PHIRB49
156Dion Lewis (NYG)vs. TBRB50
157Jalen Guyton (LAC)at DENWR80
158Will Dissly (SEA)vs. SFTE28
159Anthony Firkser (TEN)at CINTE29
160Ian Thomas (CAR)vs. ATLTE30
161Miles Boykin (BAL)vs. PITWR81
162Tyler Kroft (BUF)vs. NETE31
163AJ Dillon (GB)vs. MINRB51
164Chris Herndon IV (NYJ)at KCTE32
165Deejay Dallas (SEA)vs. SFRB52
166James Washington (PIT)at BALWR82
167Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE)vs. LVWR83
168Jalen Richard (LV)at CLERB53
169Cole Kmet (CHI)vs. NOTE33
170Kyle Rudolph (MINat GBTE34
171Jakeem Grant (MIA)vs. SFWR84
172Samaje Perine (CIN)vs. TENRB54
173Austin Carr (NO)at CHIWR85
174Trent Taylor (SF)at SEAWR86
175Kyle Juszczyk (SF)at SEARB55
176Benny Snell (PIT)at BALRB56
177Devontae Booker (LV)at CLERB57
178Devin Duvernay (BAL)vs. PITWR87
179Jordan Wilkins (IND)at DETRB58
180Justin Watson (TB)at NYGWR88
181Jeremy McNichols (TEN)at CINRB59
182Richard Rodgers (PHI)vs. DALTE35
183Jack Doyle (IND)at DETTE36
184Royce Freeman (DEN)vs. LACRB60
185D'Ernest Johnson (CLE)vs. LVRB61
186KhaDarel Hodge (CLE)vs. LVWR89
187Cameron Brate (TB)at NYGTE37
188Malik Taylor (GB)vs. MINWR90
189Van Jefferson (LAR)at MIAWR91
190Darrius Shepherd (GB)vs. MINWR92
191Nick Boyle (BAL)vs. PITTE38
192Gabriel Davis (BUF)vs. NEWR93
193Trenton Cannon (CAR)vs. ATLRB62
194Jason Huntley (PHI)vs. DALRB63
195Isaiah McKenzie (BUF)vs. NEWR94
196Ryan Izzo (NE)at BUFTE39
197Byron Pringle (KC)vs. NYJWR95
198Mo Alie-Cox (IND)at DETTE40
199Jesse James (DET)at ATLTE41
200Dontrell Hilliard (CLE)vs. LVRB64

If you found Mick’s Week 8 Flex Rankings helpful, make sure to check out the rest of our NFL Week 8 Slate of Analysis.


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