Skip to main content

Roundtable: Which flex WRs should you start and which should you sit?

  • Author:
  • Publish date:

The wide receiver position is as robust as ever, which means fantasy owners potentially have too many guys floating around on their roster to start in flex spots. Who is one non-obvious receiver you would start this week, and who's another that you would sit?

Hate your fantasy team? Draft a new team each week with FanNation's game

Michael Beller -- Start: Justin Hunter. Remember that Justin Hunter breakout we talked about during draft season? Well it just had to marinate for four weeks before it was ready to get cooking. Hunter took over the X receiver position last week, playing 97 percent of Tennessee's snaps in the team's loss to Cleveland. He caught three passes for 99 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, flashing the very skills that made him such an intriguing sleeper back in the summer. His touchdown came from Charlie Whitehurst, so don't downgrade him too much if Jake Locker is out. The Jaguars have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to receivers. Expect Hunter to take advantage.

Week 5 Target Report: Broncos' Thomas proves he's fantasy's top WR

Sit: Terrance Williams. His numbers look great on the surface, but they belie a lack of targets that makes him a hard guy to depend on in fantasy leagues. He has 250 yards and five touchdowns already this season, but has just 26 targets, barely more than five per game. Richard Sherman typically camps out on the offense's right, and the Cowboys will likely do what it takes to get Bryant away from him. That means Williams will likely see a whole lot of Sherman on Sunday. Place him on your bench.

​Kevin Casey -- Start: Allen Robinson.Ben Eagle hit on it when declaring Allen Robinson a breakout candidate. The rookie Jaguar is owned in fewer than 40 percent of leagues, but he’s consistent, has clear chemistry with Blake Bortles and is facing a Titans pass defense far worse than the fantasy numbers show. Cecil Shorts may return, but he’ll be limited, and Robinson is due his first NFL touchdown (or more).

• ​Can you beat an SI writer in FanNation's weekly fantasy football league?

Sit: Brian Hartline. Owners might be tempted to start him after a solid showing in London and Ryan Tannehill’s mojo renewed. Except that was against Oakland, and this week is Green Bay, which boasts an elite set of corners. Much tougher opponent, so expect his numbers to plummet.

Ben Eagle -- Start: Allen Robinson. My love for this guy is well-documented (see above). He's averaged 9.3 targets over the last three weeks, and he's facing a Titans defense that gave up big games to Travis Benjamin, Taylor Gabriel and Miles Austin in Week 5. Who? Exactly. This guys need to be owned -- and started -- in more leagues.

Sit: Riley Cooper. The Giants' corners have been solid all season (11th-fewest fantasy points allowed to wideouts) and he's seemingly fallen behind rookie Jordan Matthews on an offense with a lot of mouths to feed. Eagles-Giants is going to be a shootout, but I don't see Cooper being a primary beneficiary.

David Gonos -- Start: Odell Beckham Jr. The rookie WR looks like a good start again in Week 6 against an Eagles team that is allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers in the league. Beckham’s hamstring held up in his first game last week, and head coach Tom Coughlin has already said he’ll be pushed a little more now.

• ​​Week 6 stat projections | KING: Pick up these three players

Sit: Justin Hunter. Despite the favorable matchup against the Jaguars, you should have enough bench alternatives to avoid him with just two teams on byes. The Titans’ passing game is too inconsistent, and it’s unclear who will be throwing the ball to Hunter at this point. Hunter broke out in Week 5, but it was on three catches of five targets -- his fewest looks all season. The week before he got six targets -- and one catch. His fantasy future is still bright, but he’s a bench player this week. 

Bette Marston -- Start: Markus Wheaton. The Steelers are facing a Browns defense that have given up the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this year, making Wheaton a solid play in deep leagues. Granted, he's only seen two targets in the red zone this season, but Roethlisberger consistently looks his way. Also, check if Joe Haden is playing Sunday -- if not, start him with confidence.

Sit: Allen Hurns. This Allen is not the Jacksonville wide receiver you should be starting (see Robinson, Allen above). He was everyone's favorite waiver wire pickup after a huge breakout game in Week 1, but he's now struggling with a foot injury. With Cecil Shorts due to return for the Jaguars, there's not going to be enough targets for all of the receivers.

• ​NFL Week 6 Power Rankings | Sour Rankings: Worst of Week 5

Eric Single -- Start: Greg Jennings. The return of Teddy Bridgewater lifts all boats in the Minnesota offense, and Jennings has not caught a touchdown since Week 1. Even if he wasn't well past due to find the end zone, he's a more consistent threat for the Vikings’ rookie quarterback than electrifying youngsters Cordarrelle Patterson and Jarius Wright.

Sit: Riley Cooper/Jordan Matthews. Whichever secondary Eagles offensive weapon you have, leave him out of your lineup against the Giants. Nick Foles' struggles and Philadelphia's ability to survive on defense and special teams have saddled the receivers who aren't Jeremy Maclin with a lot of fantasy risk.