This is Preston Evans, your Fantasy Homeboy here. You can catch all of my content on X @PJ2082 and check out all of the great content by our outstanding crew on the Fantasy In Frames website and on YouTube. Here are my Fantasy Football Flex Plays for Week 8 (2023).
#1 Demario Douglas Vs. The Dolphins
He got a whole lot of buzz during the offseason, showed a few flashes but suffered a concussion in Week 5 against the Saints. He came back last week and got six targets and hauled in four of them for 54 yards. He is ranked 16th in separation and is seeing a 31% snap share which I think will increase. The Dolphins are giving up 233 yards to opposing offenses which ranks them 20th against the pass. Now Jalen Ramsey is supposed to be coming back so that is factored in but I dont think it will stop the Douglas train. The Pats wide receiver core is not the greatest and this rookie is explosive and he gets open. You can flex him with confidence this week.
#2 Kendrick Bourne Vs. The Dolphins
Bourne is also a good flex-worthy play against this same Miami defense. He has hauled in 34 receptions on 54 targets this season so far and looks to be Mac Jones’s number 1 receiver in this offense. Mac Jones had a solid performance last week against the Bills and should continue this week against the Dolphins. In order to do so he will be depending heavily on the performance of Bourne. Plug him in as a flex play in your deeper leagues.
#3 Josh Palmer Vs. The Bears
Josh Palmer is in a good spot this week playing against the Bears. He put up his best game of the season so far, with five receptions on seven targets for 133 yards and a touchdown against a great pass defense in the Chiefs that are number 6 per game against the pass. Not only was he playing against a top-10 pass defense he also put in work against L’Jarius Sneed for most of the game. Palmer has filled this number two role very well since Mike Williams went down. The opportunities are there, seeing a 77% snap share and he is tied to a top-five quarterback that is more than likely going to carve the Bears up this week. Lock and load Palmer this week in your flex and put a huge smile on your face cause he is in line to have a huge day.
#4 Pierre Strong Vs. The Seahawks
As we all know Jerome Ford went down last week. He suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain against the Colts. Now there still is a possibility that he might play. If he plays then this flex option might not be any good but if he doesn’t then you should be able to start Strong as a flex. Pierre Strong has had snap shares of 14.3%, 11.3%, and 13.4% in weeks 2 through 4. This was with Ford and Hunt out there with him. His snap share increased to 30.1% last week when Ford was ruled out. He saw eight carries and had a 15.4% route participation. The touchdowns went to Kareem Hunt, but I’m quite sure managers are already plugging Hunt in as an RB2. Strong should carve up enough of a roll to be a valuable flex option with his increased snap share and receiving chops against this Seahawks’ defense that is ranked 6th against the run.
#5 Dameon Pierce Vs. The Panthers
I know that Pierce has not lived up to all of the expectations that we have had for him all offseason, but this could be a get-right game for him. He is going up against the 31st-ranked defense playing the run. Pierce has seen the majority of the touches this season and coming off the bye I don’t see that changing. Singletary will cut in and take some of the work but I think Pierce is still the main guy. He will bounce back this week so if you have been benching him, I completely understand but this week is not the week for it. He will make a smash flex option this week and the only reason he is not a good RB2 this week is because of Singletary but you can feel comfortable with him in the flex.