Fantasy Football Week 16 Rankings: Final Outlook for Sunday's Flex, PPR Players

Fantasy football goes to a bold place where no other game dreams of going. Weary of the randomness Week 17 festers on an already random activity, most leagues simply ignore its existence.

As a common courtesy to players seeking a rightful champion, a final week occasionally soiled by resting stars gets wiped off the fantasy schedule. This leaves Week 16 as the final battle for championship participants.

The joke's on anyone expecting a clear-cut, predictable resolution this weekend. These final flex rankings for standard and point-per-reception (PPR) leagues account for matchups and playing trends, but this maddening recreation rarely goes according to plan.

Rank	Standard	PPR
1	Antonio Brown, WR, PIT	Antonio Brown, WR, PIT
2	David Johnson, RB, ARI	David Johnson, RB, ARI
3	Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN	Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL
4	Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE	Allen Robinson, WR, JAX
5	Doug Martin, RB, TB	Brandon Marshall, WR, NYJ
6	Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL	DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU
7	Allen Robinson, WR, JAX	Julio Jones, WR, ATL
8	Brandon Marshall, WR, NYJ	Matt Forte, RB, CHI
9	DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT	Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE
10	DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU	Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN
11	Charcandrick West, RB, KC	Mike Evans, WR, TB
12	Matt Forte, RB, CHI	Jeremy Maclin, WR, KC
13	Julio Jones, WR, ATL	Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA
14	Mike Evans, WR, TB	Eric Decker, WR, NYJ
15	Todd Gurley, RB, STL	Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN
16	Sammy Watkins, WR, BUF	Sammy Watkins, WR, BUF
17	Martavis Bryant, WR, PIT	Doug Martin, RB, TB
18	Darren McFadden, RB, DAL	Martavis Bryant, WR, PIT
19	Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA	Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA
20	Eric Decker, WR, NYJ	DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT
21	Denard Robinson, RB, JAX	Charcandrick West, RB, KC
22	Jeremy Maclin, WR, KC	Brandin Cooks, WR, NO
23	Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN	Kamar Aiken, WR, BAL
24	Lamar Miller, RB, MIA	Greg Olsen, TE, CAR
25	Frank Gore, RB, IND	Denard Robinson, RB, JAX
26	Brandin Cooks, WR, NO	Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI
27	Tim Hightower, RB, NO	Golden Tate, WR, DET
28	Chris Ivory, RB, NYJ	Todd Gurley, RB, STL
29	Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA	Calvin Johnson, WR, DET
30	Kamar Aiken, WR, BAL	Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA
31	Greg Olsen, TE, CAR	A.J. Green, WR, CIN
32	Christine Michael, RB, SEA	Lamar Miller, RB, MIA
33	Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI	Darren McFadden, RB, DAL
34	Calvin Johnson, WR, DET	Delanie Walker, TE, TEN
35	Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA	Michael Floyd, WR, ARI
36	Karlos Williams, RB, BUF	James White, RB, NE
37	A.J. Green, WR, CIN	Randall Cobb, WR, GB
38	Eddie Lacy, RB, GB	Bilal Powell, RB, NYJ
39	Golden Tate, WR, DET	Emmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN
40	Delanie Walker, TE, TEN	Allen Hurns, WR, JAX
41	Allen Hurns, WR, JAX	Tim Hightower, RB, NO
42	Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, CAR	Frank Gore, RB, IND
43	Michael Floyd, WR, ARI	Julius Thomas, TE, JAX
44	Emmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN	Willie Snead, WR, NO
45	James White, RB, NE	John Brown, WR, ARI
46	Randall Cobb, WR, GB	Rueben Randle, WR, NYG
47	Ted Ginn Jr., WR, CAR	Javorius Allen, RB, BAL
48	Ameer Abdullah, RB, DET	Chris Ivory, RB, NYJ
49	Bilal Powell, RB, NYJ	Zach Miller, TE, CHI
50	Rashad Jennings, RB, NYG	Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN

Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

He remains too involved in the Indianapolis Colts offense to truly bottom out and merit a bust branding, but Frank Gore hasn't met expectations. 

The ageless wonder has aged horribly this year, netting a career-low 3.6 yards per carry. Barring two superb games, he'll finish below 4.0 for the first time in his 11-year career.

“I didn’t think it would be like this, especially when you have the players they put on this roster,” Gore told ESPN.com's Mike Wells. “A lot of things haven’t gone our way this season. We just haven’t gotten it done.”

Adding Gore and Andre Johnson to an already prolific offense led by Andrew Luck was supposed to make Indianapolis an offensive juggernaut. Instead, it rates No. 26 in total offense, yet volume has kept the ineffective veteran fantasy-relevant.

Despite still searching for his first 100-yard rushing outing of the season, Gore ranks No. 17 in NFL.com scoring among running backs. Josh Moore of 4for4football.com showed the reason for the solid rank:

Gore's ability to finish as top-20 back says more about the decaying position riddled with injuries and timeshares. Like a fast-food chain, he's just there. He's usually no more than a flex play for someone thin on alternatives, but the Miami Dolphins relinquish 4.6 yards per carry and the second-most NFL.com fantasy points to running backs.

While Danny Woodhead's four touchdowns isn't an attainable goal, Rashad Jennings went from useless to offering 102 total yards against Miami during Week 14. Gore isn't the reason anyone made it this far, but he could be the one who seals the deal.

A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Gary Landers/Associated Press

Fantasy gamers are often advised to trust their studs. Benching A.J. Green before Monday night, however, is far from a crazy move.

AJ McCarron's first start didn't go well for the Cincinnati Bengals receiver. Against the San Francisco 49ers, who allow 8.1 yards per pass attempt, Green mustered one 37-yard catch on three targets. The understudy quarterback now must combat the Denver Broncos' No. 1 passing defense.

Even with Andy Dalton at the helm, the Broncos are an uncomfortable matchup for anyone besides the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whether he's covered by Chris Harris or Aqib Talib, Green will encounter a top-flight cornerback.

This isn't to say everyone should sit Green, as few will have the luxury of a superior option. After all, this is a wideout with five 1,000-yard campaigns in as many seasons. He also showed much better rapport with McCarron when they connected for 115 yards and a touchdown versus the Steelers.

Don't expect a grand return, but don't ignore the notion of sitting him if he's blocking a Kamar Aiken or Tyler Lockett from starting.

Darren McFadden, RB, Dallas Cowboys 

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Darren McFadden didn't take over as the Dallas Cowboys starting running back until Week 7. He still ranks No. 8 with 898 rushing yards, averaging 19 carries since assuming the top spot.

Perhaps learning a lesson after overworking DeMarco Murray last year, Dallas has eased McFadden's workload recently. The 28-year-old has accrued 49 carries over the past four games, but it didn't stop him for notching consecutive 100-yard outings.

As he searches for his first 1,000-yard season since 2007, the Cowboys will have little choice but to feed him all afternoon. According to DallasCowboys.com's Nick Eaton, wide receiver Dez Bryant will not suit up against the Buffalo Bills:

McFadden ousted Joseph Randle as Dallas' primary rusher one game before Bryant's return from an injury sustained in Week 1. The rusher compiled 29 handoffs for 152 yards and a touchdown in a 27-20 loss to the New York Giants, overcoming three Matt Cassel interceptions.

He must circumvent a putrid passing offense, which makes him Buffalo's top priority. But McFadden is also one of the league's best bets to reach 20 rushes, preserving his positioning as a low-end No. 1 back.