Fantasy Football Week 8: Flex and PPR Rankings

Fantasy football owners are always looking ahead on the schedule, and the Week 8 flex and points-per-reception rankings have finally arrived.

Over half the fantasy season is gone, and winning now is imperative to your attempt to make the playoffs. Owners must start the best players at each position and maximize the use of the flex position.

Here are the overall flex and PPR rankings for Week 8. When in doubt, start the higher-ranked player on each list.

Flex Rankings

Rank	Player
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
3	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
4	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
5	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
6	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
7	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
8	Antonio Brown, PIT, WR
9	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
10	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
11	Julius Thomas, DEN, TE
12	Le'Veon Bell, PIT, RB
13	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
14	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
15	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
16	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
17	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
18	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
19	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR, WR
20	Doug Martin, TB, RB
21	Giovani Bernard, CIN, RB
22	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
23	Ronnie Hillman, DEN, RB
24	Steve Smith, BAL, WR
25	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
27	Alfred Morris, WAS, RB
28	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
29	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR
30	Martellus Bennett, CHI, TE
31	Branden Oliver, SD, RB
32	Ben Tate, CLE, RB
33	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
34	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
35	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
36	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR
37	Trent Richardson, IND, RB
38	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
39	Torrey Smith, BAL, WR
40	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND, RB
41	DeSean Jackson, WSH, WR
42	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI, WR
43	Doug Baldwin, SEA, WR
44	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
45	Tre Mason, StL, RB
46	Justin Forsett, BAL, RB
47	Greg Olsen, CAR, TE
48	Percy Harvin, NYJ, WR
49	Reggie Wayne, IND, WR
50	Marques Colston, NO, WR

One of the most interesting flex options in Week 8 will be St. Louis Rams running back Tre Mason. After surpassing both Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham on the depth chart, Mason racked up an impressive 18 carries for 85 yards and one touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks run defense.

St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher has been known to ride the hot hand at running back in the past, and Mason should expect a hefty workload in Week 8 against the 18th-ranked run defense (allowing 117.7 yards per game) of the Kansas City Chiefs.

When asked about his success Sunday, Mason told Mark Inabinett of The Huntsville Times, “We knew we had all the pieces to the puzzle, but we didn't think the puzzle was going to be this hard to get put together. But we found it, we put it together and it was a nice picture.”

If Mason gets a similar workload, he should be able to surpass 100 yards rushing and find the end zone once again.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Fantasy owners looking for a WR3 or flex also should consider New Orleans wide receiver Marques Colston. The veteran caught six passes for 111 yards but was unable to score a touchdown.

Colston is one of Brees' favorite targets. With the quarterback starting to find his offensive rhythm, he should expect a bump in targets, receptions and yards. Against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, the potential shootout would be great news for the Saints receiver.

While it will be tough to top 111 yards, six receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown is a realistic expectation for Colston.

PPR Rankings

Rank	Player
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
2	Demaryius Thomas, Den, WR
3	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
4	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
5	Antonio Brown, Pit, WR
6	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
7	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
8	Julius Thomas, DEN, TE
9	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
10	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
11	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
12	Le'Veon Bell, PIT, RB
13	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
14	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
15	Steve Smith, BAL, WR
16	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
17	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
18	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
19	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
20	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR, WR
21	Ronnie Hillman, DEN, RB
22	Doug Baldwin, SEA, WR
23	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
24	Percy Harvin, NYJ, WR
25	Giovani Bernard, CIN, RB
26	Doug Martin, TB, RB
27	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR
28	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
29	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
30	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
31	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
32	Martellus Bennett, CHI, TE
33	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
34	DeSean Jackson, WSH, WR
35	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
36	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI, WR
37	Greg Olsen, CAR, TE
38	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
39	Sammy Watkins, BUF, WR
40	Wes Welker, DEN, WR
41	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
42	Branden Oliver, SD, RB
43	Michael Floyd, ARI, WR
44	Golden Tate, DET, WR
45	Alfred Morris, WSH, RB
46	Roddy White, ATL, WR
47	Pierre Garcon, WSH, WR
48	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR
49	Marques Colston, NO, WR
50	Reggie Wayne, IND, WR

Last week, I mentioned Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman as a possible flex start against the tough San Francisco 49ers. This week, he is worth a start in PPR formats as a flex or even a RB2.

Hillman carried the ball 14 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns, and he also racked up four receptions for another 29 yards. While Hillman would have been a stud in any format, the extra six points in PPR leagues will be a major factor if he doesn’t score two touchdowns on Thursday against San Diego.

The Chargers have a tough defensive unit allowing just 106.9 yards rushing per game, but Hillman has been finding the open lanes. With Peyton Manning leading the most dangerous pass offense in the league, Hillman should see plenty of work.

Expect 15 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground and another five receptions for 40 yards from the Broncos running back on the short week.

Another player to watch as a possible PPR flex option is Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin. In the first game since Percy Harvin was traded, Baldwin was targeted 11 times and caught seven receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown.

While Baldwin might not match these numbers on a week-to-week basis, he will likely be a main target for quarterback Russell Wilson moving forward. The possible workload will be there if Baldwin can take advantage.

Against Carolina and the team’s 22nd-ranked pass defense (allowing 250.7 yards per game), Baldwin owners should expect seven receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.

*Stats via NFL.com.