Start Em Sit Em Week 2: Ideal Flex Players You Must Start

Oftentimes, flex players can make or break your fantasy matchup. A strong showing by the complementary running back you slotted in the flex position or the WR No. 4 you placed there can help you sneak past your buddy who was favored by five points. 

Week 1 started a few fantasy trends worth monitoring, and have led to these three players being the ideal flex starts in Week 2. 

Dexter McCluster

McCluster caught six passes for 82 yards on 10 targets in the Chiefs' Week 1 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Though he was primarily used as a gadget player in the running game last season, he seems have to have formulated a fine rapport with quarterback Matt Cassel, and Romeo Crennel seems to be enamored with his YAC ability. 

Though the Bills held the Jets to 3.3 yards per rush on Kickoff Weekend, expect Kansas City to give McCluster a few carries while targeting him often in the passing game. 

Buffalo's secondary was torched by Mark Sanchez and Co., so this is a good matchup for all the Chiefs, especially for a guy like McCluster who will be running short routes in the flat and will be working against weaker slot cornerbacks. 

Expect him to near between 10-15 touches, ideal for a flex guy.

Chris Johnson 

Yeah, yeah, Johnson ran the ball 11 times for four yards against the Patriots. Understood. While he'll never rekindle the 2,000-yard magic of 2010 and may have a hard time regaining the trust of fantasy owners, he certainly should not fall off the fantasy map. 

Yet. 

He faces a San Diego Chargers team that held Darren McFadden and Co. to a mere 45 yards on 20 total rushes. 

Oh no, another thoroughly disappointing performance on the horizon for Johnson, right? 

Not so fast. 

McFadden caught 13 passes for 86 yards and nearly scored a touchdown on a dump off from Carson Palmer. Now, much of that could have been a result of the ineptitude of the Raiders' offense, but it seems as though San Diego is fine with giving up the short check down. 

In the flex spot, Johnson's a fine start this week.

Andrew Hawkins

Hawkins displayed his quick burst and impressive speed in the Bengals 44-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. 

He led the team with eight catches for 86 yards and was second to A.J. Green with nine targets. 

The lightning fast slot option has the ability to make swift lateral cuts, but demonstrated a tendency to simply move north and south against the Ravens—a good sign for fantasy owners. 

There's not much dancing in his game. 

While one can't expect Hawkins to outperform Green every week, it's important to note that he seems to be the team's go-to bubble and tunnel screen wideout, a guy that'll get his fair share of touches every week. 

Playing the Browns, a team that'll be without Joe Haden, expect Hawkins to piece together another fine day in the fantasy realm.

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