2012 NFL Fantasy Football Week 16: Flex Play Rankings/Projections

If you happened to draft Brandon Lloyd this past summer like I did, you’ve probably been shaking your head when watching the Patriots play on prime-time television the past two weeks, as the veteran has looked like a Pro Bowl star. In that time, Lloyd has been targeted a whopping 25 times, hauling in 17 receptions for 279 yards a score and even picking up a fumble recovery in the end zone for another touchdown.

Problem is, many of you didn’t have him in your lineup, let alone on your team at this point, after Lloyd struggled throughout the season and was demoted out of two-receiver sets against the Dolphins and Colts.

Outside of Wes Welker and Lloyd suiting up each week, the Patriots have been plagued by injury at the receiver position, and with Rob Gronkowski out, it’s opened the door for Lloyd to be a relevant option in the passing game.

Will it continue as New England plays Jacksonville this weekend? Why not, as it would stand to benefit New England to have Lloyd playing well, as he possesses a threat to defenses as a weapon on the outside that can stretch the field. While the Patriots figure to make quick work of the Jaguars, Lloyd is worth starting in your lineup this week as at least a flex play start.

DeAngelo Williams A Must-Start?

 Now that Mike Shanahan has finally settled on one running back, we can easily point our fingers towards Carolina as the most frustrating backfield to trust in fantasy football. That said, with Jonathan Stewart out with ankle problems, DeAngelo Williams is being used as the main option at running back.

Expect Cam Newton and Mike Tolbert to continue to take away goal-line opportunities from Williams, but over the past two weeks, Williams has over 50 yards both running and receiving each week. Not only that, but Williams has a touchdown reception in both games and has a total 39 carries over the past two weeks.

Finally one of the Panthers' two talented running backs is getting enough touches to show us that they are still an effective option when given a chance. As long as Stewart is out, we should trust Williams as no less than a must-start flex play option against the Raiders defense.

1	Adrian Peterson	at Texans
2	Arian Foster	Vikings
3	Calvin Johnson	Falcons
4	Alfred Morris	at Eagles
5	Andre Johnson	Vikings
6	Julio Jones	at Lions
7	Marshawn Lynch	49ers
8	Knowshon Moreno	Browns
9	C.J. Spiller	at Dolphins
10	DeMarco Murray	Saints
11	Steve Smith	Raiders
12	Victor Cruz	at Ravens
13	Brandon Marshall	at Cardinals
14	A.J. Green	at Steelers
15	Jamaal Charles	Colts
16	Ray Rice	Giants
17	Vincent Jackson	Rams
18	Randall Cobb	Titans
19	Dez Bryant  (I)	Saints
20	Roddy White	at Lions
21	Trent Richardson	at Broncos
22	Darren McFadden	at Panthers
23	Doug Martin	Rams
24	Mike Wallace	Bengals
25	Matt Forte	at Cardinals
26	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	at Steelers
27	Frank Gore	at Seahawks
28	Demaryius Thomas	Browns
29	Michael Crabtree	at Seahawks
30	Eric Decker	Browns
31	Reggie Bush	Bills
32	Stevan Ridley	at Jaguars
33	LeSean McCoy (I)	Redskins
34	Chris Johnson	at Packers
35	Wes Welker	at Jaguars
36	Miles Austin	Saints
37	Steve Johnson	at Dolphins
38	Brandon Lloyd	at Jaguars
39	Vick Ballard	at Chiefs
40	David Wilson	at Ravens
41	DeAngelo Williams	Raiders
42	Marques Colston	at Cowboys
43	Pierre Garcon	at Eagles
44	Sidney Rice	49ers
45	Reggie Wayne	at Chiefs
46	Cecil Shorts	Patriots
47	Torrey Smith	Giants
48	Mikel Leshoure	Falcons
49	Michael Turner	at Lions
50	Danario Alexander	at Jets
51	Antonio Brown	Bengals
52	Shonn Greene	Chargers
53	Beanie Wells	Bears
54	Darren Sproles	at Cowboys
55	Hakeem Nicks (I)	at Ravens
56	T.Y. Hilton	at Chiefs
57	Mike Williams	Rams
58	Jeremy Maclin	Redskins
59	Anquan Boldin	Giants
60	Lance Moore	at Cowboys
61	Justin Blackmon	Patriots
62	Josh Gordon	at Broncos
63	Danny Amendola	at Buccaneers
64	James Jones	Titans
65	Ahmad Bradshaw (I)	at Ravens
66	Steven Jackson	at Buccaneers
67	Alex Green	Titans
68	Brandon Gibson	at Buccaneers
69	Jason Avant	Redskins
70	Kenny Britt	at Packers
71	Jacquizz Rodgers	at Lions
72	Jonathan Dwyer	Bengals
73	Montell Owens	Patriots
74	Rod Streater	at Panthers
75	Greg Jennings	Titans

Week 16 Standard Rankings – QB | RB | WR |  Waivers | Start – Sit |