6 Waiver Wire Guys Who Could Be Solid Flex Plays

Every week, there are always new players to pick up in fantasy football.

Whether it's from injuries, breakout performances or a lack of a performance from certain players, there are always different players to key in on each week.

Week 3 was relatively kind in terms of injuries, but there were more than a few performances that should have caught your eye.

Finding a solid flex player can be a trying task. There are your core group of players, but sometimes you find yourself deciding between a few players for who to start there.

There are six players on this list who should help nail down that position on your roster. With that said, there are certainly better players for PPR leagues versus standard leagues.

Let's begin with a running back from the Denver Broncos.

All scoring info, points-against info and ownership stats courtesy of Yahoo standard leagues. 

Jamaal Charles, RB, Denver Broncos

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Yahoo Ownership: 33 percent

Depending on the size of your league, Denver Broncos running back Jamaal Charles could be a decent flex play.

Averaging 10 touches per game (with the majority coming in the running game), Charles is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 47.3 rushing yards per game and finally found the end zone in Week 3.

He's far from a safe option, but when he touches the ball, he's proved that he can gain positive yardage.

Should Charles ever get an uptick in work, it will only be a plus considering his success with so few touches.

Keep that in mind that if you're in a PPR league, Charles doesn't do much in the receiving game.

Alex Collins, RB, Baltimore Ravens

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Yahoo Ownership: 2 percent

While it came during garbage time in a putrid performance by the Baltimore Ravens, running back Alex Collins looked like the only player on offense that could do anything in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

On nine carries, Collins managed to run for 82 yards.

Again, this came in garbage time against the Jags' second-string defense, but Collins could have shown enough to get more touches in the weeks ahead and could eventually supplant Terrance West or Buck Allen—remember, West did fumble in Week 3.

This is a situation to monitor throughout the week leading up to Week 4, but if the Ravens make a change or if there is talk of giving Collins more work, he could be like Jamaal Charles: a lower-end flex play.

He's out there in essentially every single league.

Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers

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Yahoo Ownership: 20 percent

In fantasy football, it's all about opportunity.

Or in the case of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess, extra opportunities.

In Week 3, fellow wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin left the game early with a knee injury.

However, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Benjamin did avoid a major knee injury and should be fine.

That doesn't mean Benjamin won't miss any time necessarily, though. If Benjamin misses a week or two, Funchess is instantly put into the No. 1 wide receiver role.

Remember: Tight end Greg Olsen is out for a while, too.

In Week 3, Funchess had four receptions for 58 yards. That's a pretty safe floor if Benjamin misses time.

For Week 4, Funchess will go up against the New England Patriots. The Patriots will most likely win this game, but the Panthers should be playing from behind. Thus, they'll need to throw.

That's where Funchess comes in.

If you're in need of a flex play in Week 4, give Funchess a look should Benjamin miss any time.

Duke Johnson, RB, Cleveland Browns

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Yahoo Ownership: 52 percent

Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson is owned in the majority of leagues, but for the ones he's not, listen up.

When Johnson touches the ball, things tend to happen—like in Week 3.

In just eight touches, Johnson had 104 total yards.

That's the issue with Johnson: He needs more touches.

After three straight games of nothing but losing, the Browns should look to give one of their more dynamic playmakers the ball.

Other than that, rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer does treat Johnson as a safety valve.

If you're not in a PPR league, don't bother with Johnson—that's where almost half of his production comes from.

If you're in a PPR league, pick up Johnson. He's a solid flex play right now.

Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants

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Yahoo Ownership: 35 percent

The New York Giants offense finally showed some life, albeit in the fourth quarter of their Week 3 game.

During their near comeback, the Giants sought out wide receiver Sterling Shepard often as he finished the game with seven receptions on 10 targets for 133 yards and a touchdown.

The return of fellow wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the ghost that is Brandon Marshall will allow Shepard to ball out more often as defenses will hone in on stopping Beckham.

If the first three games are any indication, it looks like the Giants should be trailing often this season and have almost no running game.

The Giants will be at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 and host the Jason Verrett-less Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5.

Shepard is going to make for an excellent flex/WR3 play the remainder of the season, but he has more upside than that.

Go get him.

Wendell Smallwood, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

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Yahoo Ownership: 4 percent

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles broke his arm and tore his ACL in the Week 3 matchup with the New York Giants.

Quick sidebar: Um, ouch.

With that injury putting Sproles out for the season, it's time for the next man up.

While the Eagles do have fellow running back LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood's role will also increase.

During the Week 3 game, Smallwood had 12 carries and also saw two targets, catching one of them.

With Blount, Smallwood and Corey Clement, the backfield is a bit of a mess, but Smallwood appears to be a guy capable of running away (no pun intended) with the majority of the snaps moving forward.

He's available in almost any league, so give him a shot. He's a low-end flex until things get figured out, but he's worth a pickup.