Preston’s Flex Plays for Week 1 (2024)
IT’S FINALLY FOOTBALL TIME!!!!!!!
This is Preston Evans, your Fantasy Homeboy, here to give you my Top Four Flex Plays for Week 1. Good luck with all your leagues this season!!!! You can catch all of my content on Twitter/X @PJ2082 and check out all of the great content by our outstanding crew on the Fantasy In Frames website and on YouTube.
Tyjae Spears
2023 Stats
- Rush Attempts/Yards/YPC: 100/453/4.5
- Receptions/Yards: 53/385
- Total TDs: 3
- Standard Fantasy Points: 101.6
- Half PPR: 127.8
- PPR: 153.8
Week 1 Opponent
- Chicago Bears
My number one Flex Option is Tyjae Spears. As you all know, Spears is in a backfield that will be split between him and Tony Pollard. I don’t believe that he will be number one in that backfield, but I do believe that he will have week-to-week standalone value. He is a back who can catch out of the backfield, and he proved in college and last season that he is an outstanding runner between the tackles.
The Titans play the Bears in week 1. Now, at the end of the regular season in 2023, the Bears were the stingiest defense in the NFL against the run, but the thing that will make Spears a valuable flex option is the fact that he is a very good pass catcher and is explosive after the catch. He is a great flex option this week.
Michael Wilson
2023 Stats
- Targets/Reception/Yards: 58/38/565
- Yards Per Reception: 14.9
- Receiving TDs: 3
- Standard Fantasy Points: 76.5
- Half PPR: 95.5
- Full PPR: 114.5
Week 1 Opponent
- Buffalo Bills
My second flex option is Michael Wilson. Wilson is a second-year receiver who was forced into the number-one receiver role last season for the Arizona Cardinals. He had a few spike weeks in that role, and we saw the potential when Murray returned from his injury. The path has been cleared for Wilson to grab a chokehold of the number two receiver in this offense. His biggest game was last season, week 4, against the 49ers. Against the Niners, he received 7 targets, caught all of them and scored twice, and this was without Kyler Murray and with the coverage focused on him, as he was playing the number one role.
The Bills finished last season as the seventh rank defense against the pass, only giving up 196.6 yards per game against opposing offenses. Going into this season, the Bills are missing a few pieces that were responsible for that stingy pass defense from last season. Kyler will carve them up this week, and I believe Wilson will get his as well, with the defense focusing on Marvin Harrison Jr.
Jaleel McLaughlin
2023 Stats
- Rush Attempts/Yards/YPC: 76/410/5.4
- Receptions/Yards: 31/160
- Total TDs: 3
- Standard Fantasy Points: 75
- Half PPR: 90.5
- Full PPR: 106
Week 1 Opponent
- Seattle Seahawks
My third Flex for the week is Jaleel McLaughlin. With Samaje Perine getting cut from the team, McLaughlin will play a massive role in Sean Peyton’s offense. Bo Nix has proven through his college career that he is a check-down artist, and McLaughlin is a great pass catcher. Sean Peyton has historically loved using his running backs in the passing game. Last season, McLaughlin ranked number 10 among running backs in yards per carry. While operating as the number two running back in this offense, McLaughlin will hold tremendous standalone value this season.
This week, the Broncos are teeing off against the Seahawks. The last time we saw Seattle on the field last season, they ranked 31st against the run. The Seahawks’ run defense gave up 138.4 yards against opposing offenses in the run game. With new head coach Mike MacDonald, the defense might be a little better, but not right away. So, in Week 1, McLaughlin will make a great flex play against this friendly run defense.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
2023 Stats
- Targets/Receptions/Yards: 93/63/628
- Yards Per Reception: 10
- Receiving TDs: 4
- Standard Fantasy Points: 86.8
- Half PPR: 118.3
- FullPPR: 149.8
Week 1 Opponent
- Denver Broncos
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a smash flex option this week and possibly throughout the season. Smith-Njigba has a good path to breaking out this year, with Lockett another year older. This week, Lockett is also nursing an injury, even though he will still play as of right now. The Seahawks have a new OC who has shown that he will push the ball downfield. This is the complete opposite of what Smith-Njiba had last season. Don’t be surprised by Smith-Njigba’s breakout this season.
The ‘Hawks are going up against the Denver Broncos, who ranked 22nd in passing yards per game. At the end of the 2023 regular season, they gave up a friendly 233.6 yards per game to opposing offenses in the air. JSN is a great play in the flex spot this week and in future weeks.