THE FLEXPERT v14.13 – Week 13 FLEX Rankings & Playoff Tips
Shrink your bench.
Carrying six WRs, if you can only start four, is useless. Those roster spots are better served for immediate team needs and starting lineup maximization. Subterfuge too; Snidely Whiplash levels of dastardly deeds.
Week 13 Ranks: FLEX | QB | RB | WR | TE & D/ST
Week 13: Waiver Wire | RB Adds/Timeshares | WR Adds | TE Pickups
Mayo & Lisa Ann: Rest of Season Outlooks | Breaking into Fantasy
Fantasy Playoffs: Playoff Ranks & Strategy | Best Schedules
If your opponent doesn’t have a tight end and there’s only one decent option in free agency (Charles Clay this week. Whenever a decent TE is playing the Jets/Bears), it’s worth cutting Michael Floyd, and the Michael Floyd types of the world, if they’re not a starter, just to block your opponent. STOP THE PRESSES: TE is a lewd, post-apocalyptic night terror. And if the opposition doesn’t own GRONKKKKK, Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas, Greg Olsen or Delanie Walker (yes, Delanie Walker), then they’ll be scrambling for one of these guys:
Streaming: Week 14 TE Rankings
Kyle Rudolph
Jason Witten
Scott Chandler
Jermaine Gresham
Zach Ertz
Brent Celek
Streaming: Week 15 TE Rankings
Travis Kelce
Charles Clay
Coby Fleener
Owen Daniels
Kyle Rudolph
Jordan Reed
Streaming: Week 16 TE Rankings
Travis Kelce
Coby Fleener
Jermaine Gresham
Tim Wright
Scott Chandler
Eric Ebron
At this point in the season, if a player contributes nothing to your starting lineup, that place on the roster is more valuable taking points away from the competition. It’s not guaranteed to work, I mean, Josh Hill CAN score a TD, however swinging the probability in your favor, even marginally, is one of the few ways to actually impact your odds. Having an awesome team is more effective, still, these little things all add up.
This mindset applies across the board. Want to roster three defenses to be prepared for Weeks 14-16? Go for it:
Week 14 D/ST Rankings
HOU at JAX
DET vs TB
PHI vs SEA
GB vs ATL
SF at OAK
DEN vs BUF (*KYLE ORTON REVENGE!!!)
MIN vs NYJ
STL at WAS
WAS vs STL
SEA at PHI
NE at SD
ARZ vs KC
JAX at HOU
TEN vs NYG
Week 15 D/ST Rankings
BAL vs JAX
STL vs ARZ
NE vs MIA
DET vs MIN
ARZ at STL
TEN vs NYJ
GB at BUF
PHI vs DAL
HOU vs IND
TB at CAR
IND vs HOU
BUF vs GB
KC vs OAK
NYG vs WAS
SEA vs SF
Week 16 D/ST Rankings
GB at TB
DET at CHI
NE at NYJ
PHI at WAS
CLE at CAR
BAL at HOU
MIA vs MIN
TEN at JAX
DEN at CIN
CHI vs DET
BUF at OAK
SF vs SD
JAX vs TEN
ARZ vs SEA
STL vs NYG
You should be stashing one, maybe two of these RBs. If the starter in front of any member of this group goes down, they’ll earn must-start status in the following weeks because of skill or volume, and for some, both. Latavius Murrayand Daniel Herron are fine adds, yet, if they’re just warming your bench, lose’em for an upside handcuff. Now, if they’re one of three RBs you rotate based on matchup, that’s different. In that situation, Murray/Herron/Fringy starter, possess more value to you than any of these backups:
Upside RB Stash Rankings
Juwan Thompson
Alfred Blue
Knile Davis
Joseph Randle
Ka’Deem Carey
Roy Helu
Andre Williams
Carlos Hyde
James Starks
Always pick up RBs in the Thursday/Saturday/Monday games as a preemptive attack on a catastrophic injury. If Matt Forte or DeMarco Murray’s season meets an untimely end next Thursday night, having Ka’Deem Carey and/orJoseph Randle will prove you truly are an IDEAS MAN!!! If you simply have them on your bench and don’t start them, and nothing happens, waive them for someone else the next day. (NOTE: Check your settings, this does not apply in every league.)
While we’re at it:
Upside WR Rankings
Davante Adams
That is all.
The rankings will obviously change with injuries and shifts in usage during the coming weeks, but not significantly. There’s so much random chance in winning a Fantasy Football championship, the only thing you can truly control is your preparation. Knowledge leads to calculated risks which places you in best position to get lucky. Trust me, you’ll need luck.
JUST THE TIPS!!!!
Adding players off free agency then dropping them the next day to put them on waivers, so no one can use them is not against the rules – it’s merely frowned upon. Like a friend soiling your hotel toilet instead of their own.
Drop “name” players. If it’s not one of your elite guys, consider them expendable.
Capitalize on newfound opportunity. Ladell Betts has won me title in the past. Like Mike Anderson did before him. I even Marc Bulger’d my way to a championship one season, and that was well after Bulger was washed up.
Don’t fret over the weather. Unless there’s a record-breaking windstorm. You may want to avoid that. Rain or snow, don’t worry about it. Except kickers. Use dome kickers. I honestly don’t care if that’s actually a thing or not, it’s peace of mind. Next year, banish kickers from your league. It’s the only way Cody Parkey will never hurt you again.
Most importantly, remember, don’t f*** up.
#BINGEWATCH
White meat. Dark meat. All will be carved. THANKSGIVING.
WEEK 13 Top 20 QBs (Most Updated QB RANKS)
Andrew Luck
Aaron Rodgers
Peyton Manning
Hunky Tony Romo
Tom Brady
Drew Brees
Mark Sanchez
Ryan Tannehill
Ben Roethlisberger
Zach Mettenberger
Josh McCown
I’m Philip Rivers?
HELLO JOE Flacco. Iron helps him play!
Smokin’ Jay Cutler
Alex Smith
Andy “GINGERVITUS” Dalton
Eli Manning Face
Matt Ryan
Drew Stanton
Russell Wilson
EARLY GAME WATCHABILITY INDEX
CLE/BUF
SD/BAL
NO/PIT
WAS/IND
CIN/TB
TEN/HOU
CAR/MIN
OAK/STL
NYG/JAX
SUICIDE LAYUP
STL over OAK
WEEK 13 D/ST RANKS
***If anyone drops NE D/ST because of its Week 13 matchup with the Packers, use a waiver bid on them to deploy in Week 16 against the Jets.
DET
NYG
STL
HOU
ARZ
MIA
BAL
JAX
IND
MIN
THE REVENGE SOCIETY
Lance Moore vs NO
Pierre Garcon at IND
QUICK READS
The Panthers have given up 14 scores to running backs in 11 games. So, you’d think this’d be the week Jerick McKinnon finally gets into the end zone. McKinnon has touched the ball 140 times and has yet to find pay dirt. Even without garnering goal line opportunities, the probability of this occurring is very, very low, especially considering how good he’s been. Only seven RBs have a better YPC than McKinnon (minimum 100 carries), and he’s Lucky Pierre’dbetween Jamaal Charles and Alfred Morris in elusive rating. Plus, Carolina’s allowed the seventh most 20-plus yard runs and a league high four 40-plus yard scampers. Regression is on the way. The good type of regression.
Let’s say you lost Nick Foles and Carson Palmer in consecutive weeks, and waiver wire whiffed on Mark Sanchezand Josh McCown to replace them. Maybe you just have Matt Ryan or Matthew Stafford and are fed up with either’s inconsistency. I have a solution. His name is Zach Mettenberger, who eerily puts up the same numbers every week. The rook’s tossed two TDs in three of four starts, averaging over 300 yards in those games. And the Texans are far from a difficult matchup. Opposing QBs have scored 15 or more Fantasy points in six straight against ‘em. There’s a bonus too: get Mettenberger now, and ride his soft schedule to a championship, if you need him. After Houston, the Titans close with the Giants, Jets and Jags.
In your mind movies, Ryan Fitzpatrick kills the value of his receivers. Which is somewhat true, unless you’reDeAndre Hopkins, who’s become one of the most consistent options at the position. Likely because the Fitzmagic is aNERRRRDDDDDDDDD and knows his passer rating is 21 points higher tossing it in DeAndre’s direction over Andre Johnson. Hopkins has nine or more targets in five straight, is tied with Jeremy Maclin and Randall Cobb in yards per route run and draws a fairly soft matchup with the Titans. Tennessee’s allowed at least one receiver to score in their past three road games.
Now is no time for bench mistakes, unless you’ve clinched already. Then this is the perfect week to choose poorly. Get it out of your system.
There’s a dirty little secret floating around Fantasy Football circles that owners have been exploiting for years. And you don’t realize it until you’ve rostered the guy. Fred Jackson is really good. And consistent; don’t sleep on his consistency. He’s the prototype RB2… when he’s healthy. Which he appears to be at the moment. Jackson has a touchdown or 100 total yards in four of his last five games with double-digit touches, and he’s been integrated in the Bills’ passing attack more than ever before, hauling in 60-percent more catches per game this season than his career rate. Yes, he’ll lose touches to Anthony Dixon, but Jackson’s always split touches with someone. It’s never mattered. And, facing a Browns squad that’s allowed the fourth most rushing yards in 2014, even 15 touches will produce Top 20 RB numbers.
Some were pensive slotting Delanie Walker into their starting lineup against the Eagles in a touch matchup. However with so few tight ends as heavily involved in their team’s offense as Walker, there’s safety in his usage. In three games with How’s your Mettenberger, Walker’s seen nine targets in two and five in the other. He only played a quarter and a half in that one. He’s the primary look. For the week he’s my fifth ranked tight end, the rest of the season too.
Could you use 20-plus points from your QB? Who couldn’t? That’s why you need to be running Ryan Tannehillthrough your lineup. Tannehill has posted 20-plus Fantasy points in four of eight games. Expect that stat to become “five of nine” after his gravy matchup against the Jets; the most generous squad to opposing pivots. And the best news, this is a primetime game. If there’s been one consistent bet to make all season, it’s the over in primetime. It’s blown past the number 29 of 37 times in 2014. So expect the ’Phins to be scoring, with Tannehill doing a ton of damage.
Lost in the commotion of Calvin Johnson’s return has been Golden Tate’s general awesomeness. Over the last month, GT3’s produced WR1 PPR totals and high end WR2 standard numbers. And the encouraging part is that he’s not relying on touchdowns to generate Fantasy points. There’s safety in yardage, scores for Tate are bonus points. He’s cracked the 100 yard barrier in six of eight games, and dominates everyone in football in yards after the catch, it’s what’s earned him at least one reception of 28-yards in each of his past five games. Bad News for the Bears, who’ve given up the third most passing plays of 20 yards or longer.
Four and half: the average number of sacks Carolina had given up the four weeks entering its bye. They also turned the ball over 11 times in that stretch, averaging 14 points per game. Outside of Jacksonville, the Panthers have been THEE team to stream against lately. Enter Minnesota, who are already a Top 10 unit limiting Fantasy QBs, but are very capable of generating sacks in bulk as well. Now, they only managed to take down Aaron Rodgers once Sunday, but had averaged four sacks per contest in the five games previous. They’re widely available if you’re stuck, and in Daily formats, make a cheap, contrarian alternative in tournament play.
You gotta give Andre Ellington credit. Despite two brutal matchups with the Lions and Seahawks, he’s remained a viable option because of his involvement in the Cards’ passing game. Ellington’s third in RB receptions, and traveling to Atlanta should only inflate his total. The Falcons are the second softest opponent a running back can draw, but they’re especially terrible in the flats. Atlanta’s given up the fifth most receptions to RBs, the fourth most receiving yards and the second most red zone touches. This plays perfectly into Ellington’s skills.
I unsuccessfully ran Alex Smith through my lineup in Week 2. He threw no touchdowns. It hurt, and confused me. Smith attempted 42 passes against Denver; he’s averaged 28.5 in the other 10 games. You’d think with the increased opportunity, he would have fluked into a score or two. That screams aberration. So, I’m going back to the well. If there’s one thing Smith’s guaranteed to do against the Broncos, it’s run; he’s averaging 47 yards on the ground in the past three with Denver, never falling below 42 in any one game. That’s basically a free TD with his legs.
PPR WEEK 13 FLEX RANKINGS
NOTE: PPR scoring only truly affects outliers. PPR Ranks and Standard Ranks are similar with the exception extreme reception magnets like Pierre Thomas, Benny Cunningham & Darren Sproles (PPR Positive) and the stonehanded Alfred Morris, Frank Gore & Stevan Ridley (PPR Negative).
Week 13 Ranks: FLEX | QB | RB | WR | TE & D/ST
Week 13: Waiver Wire | RB Adds/Timeshares | WR Adds | TE Pickups
Mayo & Lisa Ann: Rest of Season Outlooks | Breaking into Fantasy
Fantasy Playoffs: Playoff Ranks & Strategy | Best Schedules
SHUNNED!!!: Ray Rice
RE-RESHUNNED: Adrian Peterson
Probable: Pierre Thomas (Rib), Gio Bernard (Hip)
Questionable: Reggie Bush X (Ankle), Matt Asiata (Concussion), Arian Foster (Groin), Latavius Murray, Dexter McCluster (Dizzies), Rod Streater (Hip)
Doubtful [Not Ranked]: Montee Ball (Groin), Khiry Robinson (Forearm), Ronnie Hillman (Foot)
Out: Antone Smith (Leg), Allen Robinson (Foot), Brandin Weber Cooks (Thumb)
CUT [Unlikely to ever be seen again]: Santonio Holmes, Jason Avant, Austin Pettismile
CUT [but now back]: Ben Tate, LeGarrette Montez Blount
BACK!!!!!!!!: Josh Gordon (Reefer Madness)
Le’Veon Bell
Demaryius Thomas
Antonio Brown
Dez Dispenser Bryant
Andre Ellington
Eddie Lacy
Jamaal Charles
Matt Forte
DeMarco Murray, Present
#GRONKSMASH!!!!!
C.J. Anderson
A.J. Green
Josh Gordon
T.Y. “Gene Mean” Hilton
Jordy Nelson
Jimmy Graham
Calvin Johnson
The New ODB, Odell Beckham Jr.
Money Mike Evans
Emmanuel Sanders
Randall Cobb
Julio Jones
Justin Forsett
Arian Foster
Rashad Jennings
LeSean McCoy
Golden Tate III
Brandon Marshall
Alshon Jeffery
Kelvin BenJAMIN’
Denard Dog Robinson
Julius Thomas
Greg Olsen
Marshawn Lynch
Oh, hai Mark Ingram (Special Guest Rank: Fantasy Pros Consensus)
Fred Jackson
Shane Vereen
Mike Wallace
Brandon LaFell Sexwell
Mohamed Sanu
Kenny Stills to Pay the Billz
Julian Edelman
DeAndre Hopkins
Jordan Matthews
Jeremy Maclin
Roddy White
Anquan Boldin
DeSean Jackson
Alfred Morris
Delanie Walker
Isaiah Crowell
Tre Mason
Gio Bernard
Jeremy Hill
He went to Jerick McKinnon
Martavis Bryant
Keenan Allen
Jarvis Landry
STEVE SMIFF SEÑOR
Sammy Watkins
Percy Harvin a Time
Vincent Jackson
Dolphins Starting RB
Ryan Mathews
Frank Gore
Charles Dice Clay
Joique Bell
Darren Sproles
Daniel Herron
Charles Johnson
Reggie Wayne
Marques Colston
Andrew Hawkins
Justin Hunter
Eric Decker
Michael CRABPEOPLE!!!
Trent Richardson (Special Guest Rank:Fantasy Pros Consensus )
Pierre Thomas
Latavius Murray
Antonio Gates
TRAVIS KELCE!!!!!!!
Coby Fleener
Martellus Bennett
LeGarrette Montez Blount
Steven Jackson
DeAngelo Williams
Bishop Cranky
Anthony Dixon
Terrance West
Reggie Bush X
Andre Johnson
Cecil Shorts III
Rueben Randle
John Brown
Pierre Garçon
Dwayne Bowe
Doug Baldwin
Terrance Williams
Michael Floyd
Kendall Wright
Kenny Britt
Torrey Smith
James Jones
Malcom Floyd
Stedman Bailey
Eric Ebron
Mychal Rivera
Larry Donnell
Jason Witten
Alfred Blue
Benny Cunningham, and his wife, Oprah
Charles Sims
Andre Williams
Darren McFadden
Jonathan Stewart
Chris Ivory
Roy Helu Jr.
Toby Gerhart
Bobby November Rainey
Allen Hurns
Andre Holmes
Hollywood Chris Hogan
Markus Cream of Wheaton: NOW WITH EXTRA GLUTEN!!!
Miles Austin 316
Nasty Nate Washington 666
Wesley Welker
Marqise Lee
Greg Jennings
Shonn Greene
Theo Riddick
Juwan Thompson
Travaris Cadet
Carlos Hyde
Owen Daniels
Kyle Rudolph
Zach Ertz
Heath Miller
Jermaine Gresham
Brent Celek
Jordan Cameron
Scott Chandler
HEY VERN Davis
Dr. Jacoby Jones
Jermaine Kearse
Davante Adams
Devin Hester
Robert Woods
Brian Hartline
Preston Parker
The Walls of Jerricho Cotchery
LOUIS MURPHY!!!!
Tavon Austin
Cordarrelle Patterson
Eddie Royal
Jonas Gray
Knile Davis
Branden Oliver
Doug Martin
Chris Johnson
Devonte Freeman
Joe Banyard
Joseph Randle
Christine Michael
Ben Tate
Chris Polk
Lorenzo Taliaferro
Bryce Brown
Benard Pierce
Dri Archer #DANGERZONE
Marcel Reece
Rod Streater
Lance Moore
Jace Amaro
Garrett Graham
Tim Wright
Harry Douglas
Riley Cooper
Donte Moncrief
Brice Butler
Fake John Brown
Travis All About the Benjamins
Hakeem Nicks
Taylor “Sledgehammer” Gabriel
Stevie Johnson
Jarius Wright
Andre Roberts
Niles Paul
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Jacob Tamme
Andrew Quarless
Anthony Fasano
Clay Harbor
Levine Trololo
Jim Dray
Cody Latimer
Andre Caldwell
Ace Sanders
Cole Beasley
Kenbrell Thompkins
Junior Hemingway
Frankie Hammond
Jeremy Kerley
T.J. Graham
Marlon Brown
Corey Washington
Dane Sanzenbacher
Brandon Lloyd
Chris Givens
Jarrett Boykin
Country Music Sensation Griff Whalen
Ryan Broyles
Corey Fuller
Brian ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND IT’S TYMS FOR A CHANGE
Danny Amendola
Chase Ford
Brandon Myers
Marcedes Lewis
Crockett Gillmore
Jeff Cumberland
James Casey
Richard Rodgers
Ladarius Green
Tony Moeaki
Daniel Fells
Brandon Pettigrew
Brandon Bostick
Chris Gragg
Rhett Ellison
Vance McDonald
Josh Hill
John Carlson
Ben Watson
Paul Richardson
Michael Bush
Vincent Brown
Brandon Tate
Ted Ginn Jr.
Damien Williams
Maurice Jones-Drew
Matt Asiata
Jonathan Grimes (Or, Grimey, as he likes to be called)
James Starks
Jacquizz Rodgers
Donald Brown
Mike James
Dexter McCluster: Telling you not to LOL and Drive
Ronnie Brown
John Khun
Bilal POWWWWell
Jordan Todman
Super Storm Johnson
Ricardo Lockette
Denarius Moore
Brandon Gibson
Lance Dunbar
Mike Tolbert
Ka’Deem Carey
Brandon Bolden
Robert Turbin
Cedric Peerman
DeAnthony Thomas
Leon Washington, The Professional
Fozzy Wozzy Whittaker
Daniel Thomas
Silas Redd
Marion Brice
Stepfan Taylor
Zac Stacy. Film Credits: “Super Mario Bros.” as Goomba
Kyle Juszczyk
Chris Ogbonnaya
Jackie Battle
James White
Darrel Young
Jalen Parmele
WORST PLACE!!!
Oh, hai Mark Ingram
Lamar THRILLER
Second Worst RB of all time, Trent Richardson
Jared Cook
The Fantasy Sports Network has a new lineup of programming for the 2014 Fantasy Football season! More info is available right here.
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