Fantasy

The 2020 MLB season remains on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fantasy baseball leagues yet to draft can wait until receiving more clarity on a potential new start date and season length. Others conducting an online draft may prefer to stick to the schedule.

For those still preparing for upcoming drafts, here's a look at my updated rankings (tailored to five-by-five rotisserie leagues). Let's then highlight some sleepers to targets and busts to avoid at their current average draft position (ADP).

      

2020 Top 50 Rankings

1 Mike Trout, OF, LAA

2 Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, ATL

3 Christian Yelich, OF, MIL

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, LAD

5. Mookie Betts, OF, LAD

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, CLE

7. Trevor Story, SS, COL

8. Gerrit Cole. SP, NYY

9. Jacob deGrom, SP, NYM

10. Trea Turner, SS, WAS

11. Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL

12. Juan Soto, OF, WAS

13. Alex Bregman, 3B/SS, HOU

14. Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL

15. J.D. Martinez, OF, BOS

16. Jose Ramirez, 3B, CLE

17. Anthony Rendon, 3B, LAA

18. Max Scherzer, SP, WAS

19. Rafael Devers, 3B, BOD

20. Walker Buehler, SP, LAD

21. Bryce Harper, OF, PHI

22. Starling Marte, OF, ARI

23. Xander Bogaerts, SS, BOS

24. Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU

25. Shane Bieber, SP, CLE

26. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, SD

27. Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL

28. Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS

29. Ozzie Albies, 2B, ATL

30. Jack Flaherty, SP, STL

31. Javier Baez, SS, CHC

32. Yordan Alvarez, OF, HOU

33. George Springer, OF, HOU

34. Gleyber Torres, 2B/SS, NYY

35. Adalberto Mondesi, 2B/SS, KC

36. Pete Alonso, 1B, NYM

37. Austin Meadows, OF, TB

38. Ketel Marte, 2B/SS/OF, ARI

39. Justin Verlander, SP, HOU

40. Blake Snell, SP, TB

41. Jonathan Villar, 2B/SS, MIA

42. Patrick Corbin, SP, WAS

43. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, CHC

44. Clayton Kershaw, SP, LAD

45. Mike Clevinger, SP, CLE

46. Nelson Cruz, DH, MIN

47. Luis Castillo, SP, CIN

48. Manny Machado, 3B/SS, SD

49. Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, CHC

50. Charlie Morton, SP, TB

                

Sleepers

J.D. Davis, 3B/OF, New York Mets

C.J. Cron, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Austin Hays, OF, Baltimore Orioles

Domingo Santana, OF, Cleveland Indians

Ian Happ, 2B/OF, Chicago Cubs

Mitch Keller, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Dylan Bundy, SP, Los Angeles Angels

Michael Kopech, SP, Chicago White Sox

Josh James, SP/RP, Houston Astros

Matt Barnes, RP, Boston Red Sox

            

Busts

Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres

Trevor Bauer, SP, Cincinnati Reds

Joey Gallo, OF, Texas Rangers

Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

Liam Hendriks, RP, Oakland Athletics

Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Houston Astros

Danny Santana, 1B/OF, Texas Rangers

Gavin Lux, 2B/SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

Sean Doolittle, RP, Washington Nationals

             

Sleeper: Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves

Former No. 1 pick Dansby Swanson finally arrived. In his age-25 season, the shortstop made a feasible All-Star case by batting .270/.330/.493 with 17 home runs and seven steals before the break.

Of course, that's not the full story. Shortly after the unofficial midway mark, the Atlanta Braves placed him on the injured list due to a partially torn ligament in his left hand. Clearly not fully right, he returned to bat .194 (19-for-98) with no homers in 27 games.

This cold conclusion turned a celebratory breakout into a mild output. Those looking at Swanson's .251/.325/.422 slash line won't think much of his 263 consensus ADP, per FantasyPros.

And yet, while the hot start alone is enough to bite at such a stunted cost, the batted-ball metrics should compel drafters to reach higher. 

According to Statcast data, courtesy of Baseball Savant, Swanson set personal bests in average exit velocity (89.8 mph), barrels (37) and hard-hit rate (41.6%). This strong quality of contact led him to post a higher expected weighted on-base average (.347 xwOBA) than Fernando Tatis Jr. (.346) and Gleyber Torres (.341).

Those newfound skills support his ability to maintain last year's early power gains while improving his batting average. Throw in a handful of steals from someone who poached 10 bases in back-to-back years, and Swanson is a worthwhile middle infielder to target late.

              

Bust: Eduardo Escobar, 2B/3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Few hitters benefited from 2019's power boom more than Eduardo Escobar, who shattered 2018's modest career benchmark of 23 home runs with 35. This came despite just a 22-point uptick in slugging percentage and a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) that depreciated from 118 to 109.

Escobar didn't necessarily get better; the balls just traveled further. He also padded his numbers in 699 plate appearances, the 10th-most among all hitters.

If MLB cuts back to a smaller schedule, durable compilers become less valuable than those with standout skills. Suddenly, you're looking at a 31-year-old with one elite campaign who has yet to bat above .275 in a single season.

On the bright side, a 107 ADP does not demand anyone to truly believe in last season's breakout. It's not an egregious price to pay, preferably in deeper leagues where a stable floor rises in value. Yet drafters are still better off waiting 40 picks to snag Justin Turner, a .297/.378/.508 hitter since the start of 2015. 

              

Sleeper: Jordan Montgomery, SP, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees needed someone to rise to the occasion and claim a spot in their ransacked rotation. Jordan Montgomery answered the call.

Although he relinquished four home runs in four spring outings, the 27-year-old also opened eyes by recording 16 strikeouts to just one walk in 11.1 innings. 

In early March, per George A. King III of the New York Post, Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke strongly of Montgomery's chances to make the starting staff.

"This is a guy that's already had a really strong big league season under his belt," Boone said. "So I'm excited about where he is and feel like he's very much solidifying himself."

Prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018, Montgomery submitted a 3.84 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 182.2 innings. A killer curveball and potent slider steered him to a career 11.9 percent swinging-strike rate, a mark topped by just 21 qualified starters last season.

Even if James Paxton is now able to return by Opening Day, Montgomery should join the fellow southpaw in the rotation alongside Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ. The buzz could build during an extended waiting period, but a 299 ADP still prices him as an end-of-draft dart throw in smaller mixed leagues. 

              

Bust: Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

12 up, 12 down for Monty today 🔥🤩 pic.twitter.com/fDRkzQFPBt

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 10, 2020

Blind player comparisons using last year's results are often a misleading exercise that fails to take certain variables into account. So let's do one of those:

Player A: 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 27.1% K, 8.1% BB, 3.36 FIP

Player B: 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 26.9% K, 9.4% BB, 4.03 FIP

Player C: 4.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 26.2% K, 8.4% BB, 3.99 FIP

Player A is Jake Odorizzi, who is understandably not expected to repeat a career 2019 after tailing off in the second half. His ADP resides at 178.

Player C is Kenta Maeda, who now has a permanent spot as Odorizzi's replacement in the Minnesota Twins' rotation. While home runs remain a concern, the righty no longer needs to worry about the Los Angeles Dodgers limiting his innings. His ADP is three spots above Odorizzi.

Care to take a wild guess at Player B's identity? Hint: Look at the subheader and accompanying image.

This game does not account for Aaron Nola's youth and superior track record. The 26-year-old sports a career 3.49 ERA and 3.45 FIP despite the down 2019. He also, however, never issued a walk rate above 7.1 percent prior to last year's atypical control pains.

Having exceeded 200 innings in consecutive years, Nola has durability on his side. Assuming MLB runs out of time to make up lost games, drafters won't benefit from that skill this season. That especially makes his No. 47 ADP hard to digest when Manny Machado, Anthony Rizzo and Nelson Cruz are still on the board.

Nola should actually improve on last year's ERA and WHIP, so this is a matter of price. On a per-start basis, he's not significantly better than Maeda, David Price, Jesus Luzardo or Julio Urias. All of them carry an ADP outside the top 125. 

             

Note: Advanced statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs unless stated otherwise. All ADP, obtained from FantasyPros, updated as of Thursday, March 19. 

Dynasty fantasy baseball is about more than one season, but you still want to put together a strong team for now.

The 2020 MLB season has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will likely create a shortened regular season. From a fantasy perspective, this means you should select players you can trust to perform at a high level right out of the gate.

The good news is there will still be several high-quality prospects available to help your team out in future seasons.

Here is a look at top players to draft going into 2020.

       

Dynasty Rankings

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

3. Cody Bellinger, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

5. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

6. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

8. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres

9. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

10. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

11. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

12. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros

13. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

14. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

15. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox

16. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

17. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

18. Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

19. Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees

20. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians

21. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

22. Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Indians

23. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves

24. Walker Buehler, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

25. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox

26. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

27. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

28. Gleyber Torres, 2B, New York Yankees

29. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves

30. Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers

31. Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals

32. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox

33. Yoan Moncada, 3B, Chicago White Sox

34. Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs

35. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals

36. Chris Paddack, SP, San Diego Padres

37. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

38. J.D. Martinez, OF, Boston Red Sox

39. Blake Snell, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

40. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros

41. Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres

42. Mike Clevinger, SP, Cleveland Indians

43. Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics

44. Jack Flaherty, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

45. Ketel Marte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

46. Lucas Giolito, SP, Chicago White Sox

47. Austin Meadows, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

48. Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros

49. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

50. George Springer, OF, Houston Astros

51. Luis Castillo, SP, Cincinnati Reds

52. Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

53. Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros

54. Gavin Lux, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

55. Noah Syndergaard, SP, New York Mets

56. Joey Gallo, OF, Texas Rangers

57. J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

58. Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

59. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

60. Charlie Blackmon, OF, Colorado Rockies

61. Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Angels

62. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

63. Josh Bell, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

64. Chris Sale, SP, Boston Red Sox

65. Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs

66. Giancarlo Stanton, OF, New York Yankees

67. Tyler Glasnow, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

68. Matt Chapman, 3B, Oakland Athletics

69. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels

70. Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

71. Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals

72. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs

73. Mike Soroka, SP, Atlanta Braves

74. Jose Berrios, SP, Minnesota Twins

75. Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox

76. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox

77. Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

78. Jesus Luzardo, SP, Oakland Athletics

79. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros

80. MacKenzie Gore, SP, San Diego Padres

81. Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets

82. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

83. Ramon Laureano, OF, Oakland Athletics

84. Max Muncy, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

85. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

86. Patrick Corbin, SP, Washington Nationals

87. Jorge Soler, OF, Kansas City Royals

88. Jeff McNeil, 3B, New York Mets

89. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

90. Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

91. Tim Anderson, SS, Chicago White Sox

92. Eddie Rosario, OF, Minnesota Twins

93. Josh Hader, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

94. Whit Merrifield, 2B, Kansas City Royals

95. Nick Senzel, OF, Cincinnati Reds

96. DJ LeMahieu, 3B, New York Yankees

97. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins

98. Jonathan Villar, 2B, Miami Marlins

99. Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

100. Casey Mize, SP, Detroit Tigers

         

Top Stars to Watch

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

It's hard to argue with anyone who wants to take Ronald Acuna Jr. with the first overall pick.

The 22-year-old is already one of the best players in the majors, finishing last season with 41 home runs and 101 RBI while leading the league with 37 stolen bases and 127 runs.

There is a strong chance Acuna will be the most productive player in baseball for the next five years.

However, Mike Trout is much more proven and as consistent as nearly anyone in history.

The outfielder has played eight full seasons in the majors and finished in the top four of MVP voting each season, ending in the top two in all but one year. He earned his third AL MVP award last year after hitting .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBI.

The addition of Anthony Rendon could also strengthen the Angels lineup, giving Trout more opportunities for runs and RBI.

With no signs of slowing down, the 28-year-old should be the top pick in dynasty drafts.

      

Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres

Some people want to select unproven prospects early in dynasty drafts, while others want players who have showed they can handle the majors.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is almost the best of both worlds.

At just 21 years old, the shortstop still has a lot of great years ahead of him but proved in 84 games last season that scouts were absolutely right about his ability.

Tatis filled up the stat sheet in 2019 with 22 home runs, 16 stolen bases and a .317 batting average. Adding in his .969 OPS, he likely would've competed with Pete Alonso for the Rookie of the Year award if he didn't get hurt.

Back to full strength in 2020, the young player has a chance to be an elite option this year and beyond.

        

Notable Prospects

Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

As virtually the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, including by MLB.com, Wander Franco will be taken early in dynasty drafts as each manager tries to grab the next big thing.

With a .336 career batting average in the minors, there is a good chance he will succeed in the majors.

The problem is he's just 19 years old in an organization that likely won't rush him to the Show. Franco spent last season in Single-A and has only played 175 total games as a professional.

Fantasy managers could be waiting a long time for production, an especially risky move for someone who hasn't proved himself yet at an upper level.

Pick him if he drops, but don't reach for the talented young player.

        

Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

Unlike Franco, Luis Robert started last season in Single-A and made his way up to Triple-A by the end of the year. Across three levels, he produced a .328 batting average with 32 home runs and 36 stolen bases.

He's such a sure thing the White Sox already signed him to a six-year extension worth $50 million before playing a single game in the majors.

The 22-year-old should not only play for Chicago in 2020, but he also has lofty expectations for himself.

"As every young player in the Major Leagues, I want to be Rookie of the Year and win a [World Series] championship," Robert said in January, per Russell Dorsey of MLB.com.

With his skill set, the Cuban has a chance to be a star early in his career.

A torn ligament in Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid's left hand will keep him out of the lineup for an undetermined period of time.  

Per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, the two-time All-Star is currently "evaluating his treatment options."

The 76ers will have to forge on without their franchise center for the time being, and two players stand out above the rest to fill his minutes: Kyle O'Quinn and Mike Scott.

O'Quinn is the more intriguing option of the two and deserves a deeper dive. He got the start the last time the 76ers played without Embiid in a 115-97 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 31. The former Norfolk State star had four points on 2-of-5 shooting, but he also chipped in with 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in his 26 minutes.

O'Quinn's fantasy value comes from his ability to contribute in a variety of ways. Of note, the big man has averaged 4.5 assists in the four contests during which he's played 15 or more minutes. 

Per RotoGrinders' CourtIQ tool, O'Quinn averages 1.14 DraftKings fantasy points per minute when Embiid is not on the floor.

There are a few knocks against his fantasy value sans Embiid.

First, the big man isn't going to soak up much usage even when afforded more court time. Most of the shots will still go to Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Al Horford when they are on the floor. The CourtIQ tool lists O'Quinn's usage at a below-average 16 percent without Embiid.

Second, it's hard to fathom O'Quinn playing much more than half a game at best. He's only averaged 10.3 minutes per game this season and has played more than 18 on just two occasions. He hasn't played more than 27 in any game this year.

And third, he has some competition in the form of Norvel Pelle, per head coach Brett Brown (h/t Justin Grasso of Sports Illustrated).

Ben Detrick, who has contributed to the New York Times and The Ringer, among other outlets, also posted this alarming stat with O'Quinn and point guard Ben Simmons on the floor:

if embiid is going to miss substantial time, philly needs to acquire a stretch 5. kyle o'quinn is a large bearded human, but lineups with him + simmons have been outscored by roughly 20 pts per 100 possessions pic.twitter.com/l3lCSBD12H

— Ben Detrick (@bdetrick) January 8, 2020

O'Quinn also isn't guaranteed a start when Embiid sits. Head coach Brett Brown has other options, including starting Furkan Korkmaz at shooting guard and bumping Tobias Harris to power forward.

He can also go with Mike Scott, which was the case in a 141-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 7. Scott was nearly automatic that night, scoring 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in just 24 minutes.

The 31-year-old dominated the Cavs, but he's largely been quiet for much of the season, shooting just 41.6 percent from the field. He's posted 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per night.

Scott is not as productive as O'Quinn on a per-minute basis. RotoGrinders' CourtIQ tool has him getting 0.72 DraftKings points per minute without Embiid on the court.

On the plus side, Brown hasn't been shy about giving Scott minutes, as the forward has played 20 or more on 15 occasions this season. He's a regular member of the rotation (unlike O'Quinn), and playing time shouldn't be a problem.

Scott can also provide some help on the boards as he's grabbed four or more in seven of the 10 games in which he's played at least 21 minutes.

But he doesn't offer much in the steal and block categories, and the same goes for assists.

Overall, O'Quinn is the better fantasy option, and if he starts to see around 25 minutes of playing time, then he could rack up fantasy points quite quickly.

Scott is a possible season-long and daily option provided he gets starts, but his per-minute production makes O'Quinn the top choice here.

Things just got real. 

It's Week 14 of the NFL season, and for many fantasy managers, that means the playoffs are here. Leaving the wrong player on the bench this week could be brutal...and your flex spot could prove to be your most valuable weapon. 

You may not have drafted this year's best players—Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley is this week's 17th-ranked flex player but had an average draft position (ADP) of 1.06—but being active on waivers this year may have paid off for you big time. Just look at Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, this week's 11th-ranked player. 

In the following rankings, we're going to focus specifically on point-per-reception leagues. Within that format, we'll examine the 50 flex players you need to start this week to keep your squad in the playoff hunt. 

If a player appears on the Week 14 injury report, his most recent status is included below.  

          

Week 14 PPR Rankings: Top 50 Flex Players

1. RB Christian McCaffrey, CAR (@ATL): 27.5 projected points

2. WR Michael Thomas, NO (vs. SF): 23.7

3. RB Dalvin Cook, MIN (vs. DET): 22.5

4. RB Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. SF) 21.7

5. RB Saquon Barkley, NYG  (@PHI): 19.8

6. RB Leonard Fournette, JAX (vs. LAC): 19.2

7. WR Tyreek Hill, KC (@NE): 19.2

8. RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (@CHI): 18.8

9. RB LeVeon Bell, NYJ (vs. MIA): 18.5

10. WR Davante Adams, GB (vs. WAS): 18.5

11. WR Chris Godwin, TB (vs. IND): 17.8

12. WR Antonio Brown, FA: 17.4

13. RB Aaron Jones, GB (vs. WAS): 17.3

14. WR Mike Evans, TB (vs. IND): 17.1

15. TE Travis Kelce, KC (@NE): 16.9

16. WR DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (vs. DEN): 16.7

17. RB Todd Gurley, LAR (vs. SEA): 16.6

18. WR Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. SEA): 16.5

19. WR Tyler Lockett, SEA (@LAR): 16.4

20. RB Nick Chubb, CLE (vs. CIN): 16.4

21. WR Julian Edelman, NE (vs. KC): 16.3

22. WR D.J. Moore, CAR (@ATL): 16.2

23. WR Calvin Ridley, ATL (vs. CAR): 16.2

24. WR D.J. Chark, JAX (vs. LAC): 16.1

25. RB Derrick Henry, TEN (@OAK): 15.7

26. RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (vs. TEN): 15.4

27. WR Keenan Allen, LAC (@JAX): 15.3

28. WR Stefon Diggs, MIN (vs. DET): 15.2

29. TE George Kittle, SF (@NO): 15.2

30. WR Amari Cooper, (P) DAL (@CHI): 15.0

31. RB Miles Sanders, PHI (vs. NYG): 15.0

32. RB Melvin Gordon, LAC (@JAX): 14.9

33. WR Allen Robinson, CHI (vs. DAL): 14.8

34. WR Jarvis Landry, CLE (vs. CIN): 14.8

35. WR Odell Beckham Jr, CLE  (vs. CIN): 14.6

36. WR John Brown, BUF (vs. BAL): 14.4

37. WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (@CLE): 14.2

38. WR DeVante Parker, MIA (@NYJ): 14.0

39. RB Chris Carson, SEA (@LAR): 14.0

40. TE Zach Ertz, PHI (vs. NYG): 13.8

41. RB Phillip Lindsay, DEN (@HOU): 13.8

42. WR Christian Kirk, ARI (vs. PIT): 13.6

43. TE Hunter Henry, LAC (@JAX): 13.6

44. WR Courtland Sutton, DEN (@HOU): 13.6

45. WR Robert Woods, LAR (vs. SEA): 13.4

46. RB Kenyan Drake, ARI (vs. PIT): 13.3

47. RB Mark Ingram, BAL (@BUF): 13.2

48. RB Austin Ekeler, LAC (@JAX): 13.1

49. WR Michael Gallup, DAL (@CHI): 13.1

50. WR Jamison Crowder, NYJ (vs. MIA): 13.0

          

For yet another week, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey leads the PPR flex position rankings, to no one's surprise. He has 12 rushing touchdowns on the season and has added another four scores through the air.

Particularly lethal in PPR formats, the 23-year-old touches the ball an average of 24 times again when you take rushing and receptions into account. 

Christian McCaffrey has more yards from scrimmage (1,811) through 12 games than the last 4 RB to win @NFL MVP.

Adrian Peterson
LaDainian Tomlinson
Shaun Alexander
Marshall Faulk@NFLResearch

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 2, 2019

There are only three games this season in which McCaffrey has not found the end zone, and one was Week 13 against Washington. But he will be a bell cow for his team in Week 14 against the Falcons.

What about if you weren't able to land the Stanford product at his ADP of 1.03 this year?

Oakland's Josh Jacobs has been a success story this season, with five games of more than 100 yards under his belt. He reliably sees an average of 18 carries per game and is a must-start flex player in his Week 14 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. 

But what if your problem, lucky you, isn't that you don't have enough quality starting options but you have some tough decisions to make regarding who remains on your bench?

This week, Buffalo wideout John Brown, expected to get 14.4 points, has a favorable matchup against a Baltimore Ravens defense that has been giving up 228.5 yards per game to opposing receivers, and the fifth-most receptions in the NFL. 

Meanwhile, you can look for an expected 13.1 points from Dallas Cowboys wideout Michael Gallup this week when he and his team take on the Chicago Bears, which will likely earn him the start in flex spots across fantasy leagues. 

As for tight ends, some fantasy managers with stellar rosters have the ability to field a starting tight end and a flex tight end, but it's rare.

If injuries have decimated your wideout or running back groups, consider that three big-name tight ends—Gerald Everett (knee), Austin Hooper (knee) and Evan Engram (foot)—will make their way back to active status.

If you're looking for a solid sleeper pick this week, Rams tight end Tyler Higbee had a career day for receiving yards in Week 13 when Los Angeles took on the Arizona Cardinals.

In fact, the Rams, despite taking a step back on offense this year, are home to lots of this week's top players, from wideouts Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods to running back Gurley.  

The Dolphins' Mike Gesicki has turned into a late-season bloomer for many fantasy managers, with two touchdowns in as many games in Weeks 12 and 13. 

If you're still torn about who to start in your flex spot this week after considering the ranking above, remember to plug your players into an advice tool and consider who their primary matchup will be.

With the playoffs on the line, it's worth taking extra care when setting this week's lineup.  

      

Rankings via Fantasy Football Calculator and current as of Dec. 2. 

Will Fuller V returned to the lineup Thursday after a three-game absence and barely missed a beat.

Against the Indianapolis Colts, the Houston Texans wide receiver was used early and often, finishing with seven catches for 140 yards. 

He truly shined with a pair of huge plays, one for 44 yards and another for 51:

.@DeshaunWatson, that was pretty.

44 yards on the mark to @Will_Fuller7! #WeAreTexans

📺: #INDvsHOU on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/I6INVckndX pic.twitter.com/x5xbd7kmQy

— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2019

.@DeshaunWatson and @Will_Fuller7 connect VERY DEEP. #WeAreTexans

📺: #INDvsHOU on @NFLNetwork | @NFLonFOX | @PrimeVideo
How to watch: https://t.co/I6INVckndX pic.twitter.com/YfWkjDDlYA

— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2019

These long passes are the types of plays we have come to expect from the speedster since his rookie season, as he beats defenders down the field and often gets into the end zone.   

Of course, Fuller has been more than just a deep threat this season as Deshaun Watson has looked his way all over the field. In the first six weeks before his hamstring injury, the 25-year-old averaged eight targets and 5.5 receptions per game.

His Week 5 effort turned heads with 217 receiving yards and three touchdowns, but he has been a valuable part of the offense all year long alongside DeAndre Hopkins. More big games are coming as long as he can stay on the field.

Now that it looks like he is at full strength, he should be an impactful player for the rest of the year and possibly a must-start player every week. The wideout has a near limitless ceiling, and his floor is higher than many think thanks to his heavy usage, including 11 targets against the Colts.

Even with tough pass defenses upcoming in the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, Fuller deserves serious consideration in fantasy lineups. 

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner is dealing with a shoulder injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, meaning that Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds are next in line on the depth chart.

And fantasy football players are likely questioning which back has the higher upside in his stead. Let's break it down. 

One good way to analyze this situation would be to look back at Week 9 when Conner also missed time. Here's what that looked like.  

• Samuels: Eight carries for 10 yards; 13 receptions for 73 yards.
• Trey Edmunds: 12 carries for 73 yards. 

Samuels can clearly make an impact in the passing game. That gives him a lot of additional value, especially in point-per-reception (PPR) formats. He has 16 receptions while starting the past two games, piling up 84 receiving yards in the process.

Jaylen Samuels' weekly PPR finishes in his four starts over the last two seasons: RB14, RB14, RB15, RB10

— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) November 7, 2019

Lock in Samuels as a low-end RB2 in all formats. If he's available in your league, he's your top priority. 

As for Edmunds, he should get some run with rookie Benny Snell Jr. dealing with a knee injury. He showed off some upside in Week 9 when he had 12 touches for 87 yards.

Yes, Samuels is the safer choice for fantasy players giving his past performances and his ability to make plays in the passing game. Edmunds is more of a high-risk desperation play for your flex if you find yourself in dire straits. 

Edmunds may be worth rostering as a handcuff going forward, especially if Conner's injury woes persist. But Samuels is the player you'll want to prioritize. 

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Josh Gordon had a nondescript debut for the Seattle Seahawks as they beat the San Francisco 49ers 27-24 in overtime on Monday Night Football.  

Russell Wilson only targeted Gordon twice, and he had two receptions for 27 yards.

Josh Gordon's first catch with the @Seahawks is a clutch third down conversion! @JOSH_GORDONXII

📺: #SEAvsSF on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/SlB0VGjZhH pic.twitter.com/EOYVMvUcOd

— NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2019

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll spoke highly of Gordon's work behind the scenes as he received a crash course in the team's offensive scheme.

"He did really well," he told reporters Saturday. "He was very impressive in terms of picking stuff up, studying overtime. He fit in really well. He's a really good athlete. You can really tell that he's got a lot of potential to be a big-time player, so it was fun seeing him on the practice field. He did a nice job."

Still, counting on the 2013 All-Pro to make a huge impact this early into his Seattle tenure was unrealistic.

The trouble with projecting Gordon's value going forward is that it's unclear whether his role will be significantly bigger than it was against the Niners.

The #Seahawks considered Josh Gordon a post/go receiver when they acquired on waivers. He’s had two important catches on posts/slants.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) November 12, 2019

Seattle already has a good primary wideout in Tyler Lockett, and DK Metcalf is the downfield threat most projected him to be coming out of college. Metcalf's 18.1 yards per reception were seventh-most in the NFL entering Monday's game.

Lockett was on the bench in overtime, and ESPN's Lisa Salters reported on the broadcast he had a lower left leg injury, which provides a storyline to follow in the days ahead. Lockett's availability for Week 12—Seattle has a bye for the upcoming week—and beyond obviously alters the calculus for Gordon.

Assuming the Seahawks' leading receiver will be good to go against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 24, Gordon is likely the team's No. 3 option in the passing game.

Taking a gamble on Gordon might be worthwhile with the fantasy playoffs rapidly approaching because impact players can be difficult to find on the waiver wire at this point. But based on Monday's results, inserting him into your starting lineup for Week 12 is too risky.

After losing Andrew Luck to a surprise retirement before the season, the Indianapolis Colts have to go further down the depth chart with Jacoby Brissett ruled out for Sunday's Week 10 game against the Miami Dolphins because of a knee injury.

Brian Hoyer is the next man up at quarterback after signing a three-year deal before Week 1, giving the offense a reliable and experienced option under center.

The 33-year-old won't be considered a top fantasy option on his own, but he has put up big enough numbers as a starter to allow others to be productive. Hoyer has topped 300 passing yards in six of his last eight games with at least 30 passing attempts.

He also impressed in relief of Brissett in Week 9 with three touchdown passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Though we didn't see much of him over the past couple of years with the New England Patriots, he knows how to help an offense.

Indianapolis also benefits from getting to face a Dolphins defense that ranks 29th in yards allowed (402.4 per game) and tied for 28th in passing touchdowns allowed (19).

This could limit the damage to the other pass-catchers on the roster, most notably Zach Pascal, who's taken over as the team's top aerial target with T.Y. Hilton sidelined by a calf injury. Pascal recorded seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers last week.

Consistency will likely still be an issue, but if you need a boom-or-bust option at receiver, he should be considered for your lineup, especially with wideout Parris Campbell also ruled out for the Miami game.

Tight ends Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle should stay involved in the offense, but there might not be enough yards or touchdowns to go around to make either fantasy-relevant. Other options like Devin Funchess will likely fall out of favor and can be avoided.

Meanwhile, Marlon Mack could struggle to find many open lanes with plenty of extra attention from defenses, though he faces a Dolphins defence in Week 10 that has surrendered the fourth-most points to running backs.

        

Still can't figure out your fantasy football lineup for the week? Check out Your Fantasy Fire Drill with Matt Camp, and he'll solve your problems live. Submit your questions and tune in every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET, only on the B/R app.