Determining the starting Flex spot for your roster can be tricky when you’re faced with a handful of middling options in unsettled backfields or undetermined receiver rooms entering the 2024 NFL season.
Here is a closer look at my top 50 Flex options for your fantasy football team entering Week 1.
Top 50 Fantasy Flex Rankings
1) Tyreek Hill, WR | Miami Dolphins (vs. JAX)
2) Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR | Detroit Lions (vs. LAR)
3) Christian McCaffrey, RB | San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYJ)
4) Kyren Williams, RB | Los Angeles Rams (at DET)
5) Bijan Robinson, RB | Atlanta Falcons (vs. PIT)
6) A.J. Brown, WR | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. GB)
7) Justin Jefferson, WR | Minnesota Vikings (at NYG)
8) Breece Hall, RB | New York Jets (at SF)
9) Garrett Wilson, WR | New York Jets (at SF)
10) CeeDee Lamb, WR | Dallas Cowboys (at CLE)
11) Mike Evans, WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)
12) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB | Detroit Lions (vs. LAR)
13) Ja’Marr Chase, WR | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NE)
14) Puka Nacua, WR | Los Angeles Rams (at DET)
15) Travis Kelce, TE | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
16) De’Von Achane, RB | Miami Dolphins (vs. JAX)
17) Malik Nabers, WR | New York Giants (vs. MIN)
18) Rachaad White, RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)
19) Travis Etienne Jr., RB | Jacksonville Jaguars (at MIA)
20) Saquon Barkley, RB | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. GB)
21) Drake London, WR | Atlanta Falcons (vs. PIT)
22) Jonathan Taylor, RB | Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU)
23) Davante Adams, WR | Las Vegas Raiders (at LAC)
24) Sam LaPorta, TE | Detroit Lions (vs. LAR)
25) Alvin Kamara, RB | New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR)
26) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR | Arizona Cardinals (at BUF)
27) Chris Olave, WR | New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR)
28) Michael Pittman Jr., WR | Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU)
29) Jaylen Waddle, WR | Miami Dolphins (vs. JAX)
30) Isiah Pacheco, RB | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
31) Derrick Henry, RB | Baltimore Ravens (at KC)
32) Amari Cooper, WR | Cleveland Browns (vs. DAL)
33) James Cook, RB | Buffalo Bills (vs. ARI)
34) Josh Jacobs, RB | Green Bay Packers (at PHI)
35) Joe Mixon, RB | Houston Texans (at IND)
36) Mark Andrews, TE | Baltimore Ravens (at KC)
37) James Conner, RB | Arizona Cardinals (at BUF)
38) Kenneth Walker III, RB | Seattle Seahawks (vs. DEN)
39) Nico Collins, WR | Houston Texans (at IND)
40) Aaron Jones, RB | Minnesota Vikings (at NYG)
41) Raheem Mostert, RB | Miami Dolphins (vs. JAX)
42) Zay Flowers, WR | Baltimore Ravens (at KC)
43) Deebo Samuel Sr., WR | San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYJ)
44) Rashee Rice, WR | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
45) Dalton Kincaid, TE | Buffalo Bills (vs. ARI)
46) Zack Moss, RB | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NE)
47) DK Metcalf, WR | Seattle Seahawks (vs. DEN)
48) Cooper Kupp, WR | Los Angeles Rams (at DET)
49) DJ Moore, WR | Chicago Bears (vs. TEN)
50) Brandon Aiyuk, WR | San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYJ)
The Top Flex Options To Start in Week 1
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Most may scoff at this suggestion strictly because Daniel Jones is universally labeled as a bad quarterback.
I’m fully aware that — and even expect — Jones to make his handful of mistakes against a blitz-happy Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 1. Yet, it would be disingenuous for me to ignore the elite boom potential rookie WR Malik Nabers has in his pro debut.
The Vikings blitzed on a league-leading 51.5% of defensive snaps last year. To be more specific, Minnesota ran Cover 0 (all-out blitz with man coverage across the board) 133 times last year — an average of 7.8 times per game.
Sure, this led to some big plays for Brian Flores’ defense, but it also helped generate a ton of explosive plays for opposing offenses through the air
The Vikings ranked inside the top 10 of opponent completions for 25+ yards (t-eighth at 35 plays), and 50+ yards (t-10th at four plays) allowed to opposing pass catchers in 2023.
Shaquill Griffin and Stephon Gilmore are 29 and 32 years old, respectively. Neither of the two had a great success rate in man coverage last season.
Do I think Nabers is capable of winning on one of these seven possible opportunities in man coverage with no safety help over the top? Yes.
Do I believe Giants head coach Brian Daboll is capable of dialing up Nabers to capitalize on their opportunities? Yes.
Do I think Jones is capable of connecting on one of two of these shots down the field? Yes, but admittedly, I don’t say yes with as much conviction.
All we need is Nabers to torch one of the members of this secondary on one or two of these occasions, and the talented rookie could make a monster NFL debut in Week 1.
De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins’ backfield was an incredibly productive group from a fantasy perspective last season, with the combination of De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.
Some fantasy managers may be nervous about the addition of explosive rookie running back Jaylen Wright complicating the usage of this backfield, but I’m here to tell you not to overthink this for Week 1.
Achane’s historic efficiency last year at 7.7 yards per carry makes him an elite option entering the 2024 campaign fully healthy. Last season, we all learned that Achane does not require 20+ touches to be a fantasy stud.
In other words, if Achane is healthy… I’m starting him when the matchup is remotely favorable.
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense allowed the most receptions (114) and second-most receiving yards (795) to opposing running backs last year, which is a great thing for an explosive player like Achane, who produced 197 yards and three receiving TDs his rookie season as a pass catcher.