Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings: Last-Minute Outlook for Flex Players

Fantasy football has expanded greatly over the years in terms of popularity, but it has also added wrinkles, such as the inclusion of flex players.

By now, most fantasy leagues utilize a flex spot, which is an extra running back or wide receiver—and sometimes tight end—meant to increase scoring and place more emphasis on skill-position players.

Picking a flex player to insert into the lineup is often the most difficult decision on a weekly basis due to most owners having myriad options. Because of that, matchups usually come into play more so than they do with top backs and receivers, since they belong in the lineup no matter what.

With that in mind, here is a top-100 ranking of the best running back and wide receiver plays in fantasy football for Week 2, along with further analysis regarding some of the most intriguing options.

Rank	Player	Position	Team	Opponent
1	LeSean McCoy	RB	PHI	IND
2	Jamaal Charles	RB	KC	DEN
3	Demaryius Thomas	WR	DEN	KC
4	A.J. Green	WR	CIN	ATL
5	Arian Foster	RB	HOU	OAK
6	Marshawn Lynch	RB	SEA	SD
7	Calvin Johnson	WR	DET	CAR
8	Giovani Bernard	RB	CIN	ATL
9	Matt Forte	RB	CHI	SF
10	Jordy Nelson	WR	GB	NYJ
11	Montee Ball	RB	DEN	KC
12	Julio Jones	WR	ATL	CIN
13	Dez Bryant	WR	DAL	TEN
14	Randall Cobb	WR	GB	NYJ
15	Alfred Morris	RB	WAS	JAC
16	Frank Gore	RB	SF	CHI
17	Eddie Lacy	RB	GB	NYJ
18	Brandon Marshall	WR	CHI	SF
19	Emmanuel Sanders	WR	DEN	KC
20	Cordarrelle Patterson	WR	MIN	NE
21	DeMarco Murray	RB	DAL	TEN
22	Andre Johnson	WR	HOU	OAK
23	Shane Vereen	RB	NE	MIN
24	Michael Floyd	WR	ARI	NYG
25	Percy Harvin	WR	SEA	SD
26	Knowshon Moreno	RB	MIA	BUF
27	Alshon Jeffery	WR	CHI	SF
28	Marques Colston	WR	NO	CLE
29	Kendall Wright	WR	TEN	DAL
30	Mike Wallace	WR	MIA	BUF
31	Chris Johnson	RB	NYJ	GB
32	Julian Edelman	WR	NE	MIN
33	Doug Martin	RB	TB	STL
34	Pierre Garcon	WR	WAS	JAC
35	Vincent Jackson	WR	TB	STL
36	Kelvin Benjamin	WR	CAR	DET
37	Chris Ivory	RB	NYJ	GB
38	Toby Gerhart	RB	JAC	WAS
39	Terrance West	RB	CLE	NO
40	Roddy White	WR	ATL	CIN
41	Larry Fitzgerald	WR	ARI	NYG
42	Rashad Jennings	RB	NYG	ARI
43	C.J. Spiller	RB	BUF	MIA
44	T.Y. Hilton	WR	IND	PHI
45	Reggie Bush	RB	DET	CAR
46	Andre Ellington	RB	ARI	NYG
47	Jeremy Maclin	WR	PHI	IND
48	DeSean Jackson	WR	WAS	JAC
49	Brandin Cooks	WR	NO	CLE
50	Reggie Wayne	WR	IND	PHI
51	DeAndre Hopkins	WR	HOU	OAK
52	Zac Stacy	RB	STL	TB
53	Dwayne Bowe	WR	KC	DEN
54	Fred Jackson	RB	BUF	MIA
55	Joique Bell	RB	DET	CAR
56	Mark Ingram	RB	NO	CLE
57	Michael Crabtree	WR	SF	CHI
58	Victor Cruz	WR	NYG	ARI
59	Wes Welker	WR	DEN	KC
60	Ryan Mathews	RB	SD	SEA
61	Darren Sproles	RB	PHI	IND
62	Keenan Allen	WR	SD	SEA
63	Pierre Thomas	RB	NO	CLE
64	Shonn Greene	RB	TEN	DAL
65	Eric Decker	WR	NYJ	GB
66	Darren McFadden	RB	OAK	HOU
67	Riley Cooper	WR	PHI	IND
68	Justin Hunter	WR	TEN	DAL
69	Terrance Williams	WR	DAL	TEN
70	Steven Jackson	RB	ATL	CIN
71	Carlos Hyde	RB	SF	CHI
72	Trent Richardson	RB	IND	PHI
73	Anquan Boldin	WR	SF	CHI
74	Allen Hurns	WR	JAC	WAS
75	Greg Jennings	WR	MIN	NE
76	Lamar Miller	RB	MIA	BUF
77	Golden Tate	WR	DET	CAR
78	Andrew Hawkins	WR	CLE	NO
79	Jeremy Hill	RB	CIN	ATL
80	Stevan Ridley	RB	NE	MIN
81	Ahmad Bradshaw	RB	IND	PHI
82	Danny Woodhead	RB	SD	SEA
83	Brian Quick	WR	STL	TB
84	Khiry Robinson	RB	NO	CLE
85	Jarrett Boykin	WR	GB	NYJ
86	Benny Cunningham	RB	STL	TB
87	Isaiah Crowell	RB	CLE	NO
88	Jonathan Dwyer	RB	ARI	NYG
89	Bishop Sankey	RB	TEN	DAL
90	Sammy Watkins	WR	BUF	MIA
91	Mike Evans	WR	TB	STL
92	Bobby Rainey	RB	TB	STL
93	Rod Streater	WR	OAK	HOU
94	Robert Woods	WR	BUF	MIA
95	James Starks	RB	GB	NYJ
96	Malcom Floyd	WR	SD	SEA
97	Marqise Lee	WR	JAC	WAS
98	Dexter McCluster	RB/WR	TEN	DAL
99	Donnie Avery	WR	KC	DEN
100	Donald Brown	RB	SD	SEA

Week 2's Most Intriguing Flex Plays

Frank Gore

He may be 31 years of age, but San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He has eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards and run for at least eight touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. Based on his Week 1 performance, there is reason to believe that Gore can reach those levels once again in 2014.

Gore's 16 rushes for 66 yards against the Dallas Cowboys last week may seem modest, but he looked quite explosive at times and seems to be 100 percent healthy. The former University of Miami star even passed a major milestone in Week 1, according to ESPN Stats and Info:

The only real concern as it relates to Gore is the presence of rookie back Carlos Hyde. He racked up 50 yards on seven totes along with a touchdown against the Cowboys. Gore is still the clear No. 1 guy, though, with Hyde serving as a great change-of-pace complement.

Based on head coach Jim Harbaugh's comments after the Dallas game, courtesy of the Niners' official Twitter account, he still plans to hitch his wagon on Gore:

"

Jim Harbaugh on Frank Gore not slowing down in his 10th season: “Never believe in expiration dates.” #Gore10k

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 8, 2014"

There is no doubt that Gore has a fantastic matchup in Week 2, as the 49ers will face the Chicago Bears. Chicago was gashed for nearly 200 yards on the ground in a Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills. A host of backs did the damage for Buffalo, and San Francisco could do something similar with its impressive stable of rushers.

Gore leads the way, though, and he figures to get the majority of the touches in the red zone. The Bears didn't show any signs of competence against the run in Week 1, and that bodes extremely well for Gore's prospects.

Dwayne Bowe

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

After sitting out Week 1 due to a suspension, Kansas City Chiefs No. 1 wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is back in the fold this week. His return comes at an ideal time for KC, as it is currently 0-1 with the Denver Broncos looming in Week 2. The Chiefs are big underdogs on the road, especially after losing soundly to the Tennessee Titans at home last week.

Bowe's 2013 production was certainly disappointing, as he caught just 57 passes for 673 yards and five touchdowns. That marked his worst statistical year since 2009, and it tempered the expectations of fantasy owners entering 2014.

As mediocre as Bowe was at times last season, there is a lot to like about him from a fantasy perspective this week. For starters, Bowe is clearly excited to be back, as evidenced by his comments, courtesy of KCChiefs.com's Pete Sweeney:

In addition to that, Bowe is also healthy after dealing with a finger ailment during training camp, according to Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star:

Perhaps most importantly, though, the odds are pretty good that the Chiefs will be playing from behind in this game. Head coach Andy Reid will likely make a concerted effort to get the ball in running back Jamaal Charles' hands after getting away from him last week, but Denver is inevitably going to put up some points.

Fantasy points don't discriminate between meaningful plays and garbage time, and there is a solid chance that Bowe will clean up during the latter. After the KC offense struggled so much in Week 1, Bowe should be a point of emphasis. He may not be a WR1 or WR2, but he is definitely worth a look as a flex play in Week 2.

Chris Ivory

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The New York Jets have remained respectable for the past few seasons due largely to their stout defense and strong running game. Those were key components in their Week 1 win over the Oakland Raiders, and they will have to be good in those areas to beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 as well.

Green Bay is going to put some points on the board, but Gang Green can neutralize the Pack's offense to some degree by grinding out yardage on the ground and milking the clock. Chris Johnson may be the starter in name, but Chris Ivory may be the biggest key to New York's success.

Ivory rushed for 102 yards on just 10 carries last week, including a 71-yard touchdown romp. His physicality proved troublesome for the Raiders, and it may be even tougher on a Packers defensive front that was pushed around by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.

Green Bay allowed 207 rushing yards last week, while the Jets are currently No. 1 in the league in terms of rushing offense. That is a great combination from Ivory's perspective, and it should make him a good, sneaky flex play.

Ivory was particularly effective late against the Raiders, and he should be used in a similar manner in Week 2. According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Jets head coach Rex Ryan is a big fan of the dynamic that Ivory brings to the offense.

"You love just handing it to the big back and let him roll," he said.

With quarterback Geno Smith still settling in as an NFL starter, one can only assume that Ryan will lean heavily on the running game. If Green Bay struggles to tackle like it did in Week 1, Ivory could be in line for a big day Sunday.

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