Pondering some tough flex choices for your fantasy lineup? Adam Rank sorts through the running backs, receivers and tight ends to present his top 150 flex options each week for the 2023 fantasy football season, with some useful nuggets of analysis sprinkled in. The ranking is based on a 0.5 PPR scoring format.
NOTE: In a typical week, this ranking will be posted on Tuesday. Injury designations will be added, adjusted or removed as teams' official injury reports are made available. The following three designations will be reflected:
- (Q) -- Player is listed as questionable on their team's official injury report.
- (D) -- Player is listed as doubtful on their team's official injury report.
- (OUT) -- Player has been ruled out on their team's official injury report.
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FLEX RANKINGS: 1-50
- Saquon Barkley, the RB5 in fantasy football last season, lands in my top 10 this week. He had nine games with at least 18 fantasy points in 2022, tied for second-most among running backs.
- Tony Pollard averaged 19.8 fantasy points per game from Week 8 through 18 last season, which ranked third among running backs during that span. His touches, scrimmage yards and fantasy points have increased with each year he's been in the league. I know defenses can change, but the Giants, who host the Cowboys on Sunday night, did allow the fourth-most rushing yards last year.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, my WR6 this week, has averaged 19.1 fantasy points per game since Week 13 of the 2021 season. To put that in perspective, WR1 Justin Jefferson averaged 21.69 points per game last season.
- Chris Olave had 660 unrealized air yards last season, second-most in the league, per PFF. Derek Carr should help in that area. He ranked fourth in air yards per attempt last year.
- A lot of people are out on Rhamondre Stevenson this year, but if you did draft him, you want to make sure my RB10 is in your lineup this week. Yes, Ezekiel Elliott (RB52) had the second-most goal-line touches among running backs in the NFL last year with the Cowboys, but the Stevenson-Elliott pairing feels like James White-LeGarrette Blount all over again. Which will be a good thing for both players as the season plays out.
- Davante Adams is a proven producer, having posted a league-high 14 receiving touchdowns last year. But we have yet to see how he'll mesh with Jimmy Garoppolo. Adams will be going up against a Broncos defense that allowed the third-fewest points to the receiver position last year.
- One offense I'll be watching closely this season: the Ravens' unit, with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. I'm really excited to get J.K. Dobbins (RB14) back in the lineup, as he looked pretty good in camp this summer.
- I was all set to slot Travis Kelce into the No. 2 overall slot until the troubling news came down on Tuesday of his hyperextended knee. Without knowing, at this point, if he'll be playing Thursday, I'll rank him here as if he's operating in a limited capacity -- and I'd still take a limited Kelce as my TE1. (UPDATE: Travis Kelce will not play in the Chiefs' season opener against the Lions, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday.)
- Calvin Ridley hasn't played in a regular season game since Week 7 of the 2021 campaign, but there are high expectations for him entering his first full year with the Jaguars. Head coach Doug Pederson loves to spread the ball around. Jaguars receivers had 64.3 percent of the target share in 2022, which was the fourth-highest mark in the NFL.
- I love Deebo Samuel (WR19). He's one of the most exciting players in the league. But he had more rushing touchdowns (three) than receiving touchdowns (two) last year. It might be more fun to just watch him as a real-life player, as opposed to rostering him on your fantasy team. But it's probably too late to say that to most of you, so ... If you have him on your squad, start him! Yay!
- The toe injury Terry McLaurin (WR37) suffered last month has me nervous, which is why Jahan Dotson (WR20) might be the better value this week. Remember, though, McLaurin had 70-plus receiving yards in four of the final five games last season. He also has recorded 120-plus targets in three straight seasons.
- DeAndre Hopkins is interesting because I love the talent. But A.J. Brown is the only top-20 fantasy wide receiver the Titans have had in the last nine seasons. The Saints, who host the Titans in Week 1, allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers last year.
- You might notice Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy, my WR26 entering fantasy football season, is not included here. He is still recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered late last month, and I do not expect him to be effective if he plays in Week 1.
FLEX RANKINGS: 51-100
- George Pickens, my WR27 this week, averaged 11 fantasy points per game when Kenny Pickett played quarterback for Pittsburgh last season. Pickens also accounted for 33.3 percent of the team's receiving touchdowns in 2022.
- I went into fantasy draft season thinking Breece Hall, coming off an ACL tear, was going to be eased into action with Dalvin Cook taking the bulk of the early work for the Jets, but now I'm not so sure. Cook, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, has been limited in practices since signing with the Jets last month. Head coach Robert Saleh said on Monday that the team is "gonna be smart" with how it uses the running backs.
- T.J. Hockenson, who led all tight ends in routes run last year, matches up against the Bucs' defense in Week 1. Tampa Bay was in the middle of the pack against tight ends in 2022, but Hockenson has averaged a sizzling 18.8 fantasy points per game in Week 1 during his career. Amaze your friends around the water cooler with that nugget.
- As Brandin Cooks gets ready to make his Cowboys debut, now's a good time to remember he's posted at least one 1,000-yard season for each of his four previous teams. Cooks has also logged 110-plus targets in six of his nine seasons.
- Kyle Pitts' 2022 season (28 catches, 356 yards, two touchdowns in 10 games) was a huge bummer. But my TE8 this week did have 17 targets of 20-plus air yards. He was also targeted 5.9 times per game, which was tied for seventh in the league among tight ends. Great for a pass-catcher playing on a Falcons team that is one of the most run-focused in the NFL. He's still a great value if you drafted him.
- Obviously, the Cooper Kupp situation bears monitoring. Head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that Kupp is day to day and mentioned that the star receiver was still in Minnesota seeing a specialist regarding his hamstring issue. Given the uncertainty about Kupp's status, I currently have him at No. 99 on my flex list for Week 1. I haven't added Rams WR Puka Nacua to my fantasy teams just yet. But I'm keeping an eye on things. If Kupp can't go, we can probably expect heavier volume for Tyler Higbee and Cam Akers. (UPDATE: The Rams placed Cooper Kupp on injured reserve on Saturday, a move that will sideline the All-Pro WR for at least the first four weeks of the season.)
