We’re on to Week 2 of the fantasy season! As we look for every advantage this season, the X-factor position is the FLEX. To break it all down, analyst Joel Smyth goes through 10 players in five tiers for your flexes, double flexes or even third-WR slots.
Set & Forget
Mike Evans vs. MIA
De’Zhaun Stribling isn’t better than Mike Evans, but he was playing more snaps in Week 1 before going down with injury. Evans will be relied on even more in San Francisco as long as he’s healthy, and can be a dominant force in the red zone. The 49ers may be frequent visitors to the red area versus a weak Dolphins defense on Sunday. Evans has a TD in four of his last six games with full snaps, that alone making him a good start. With being the WR1 on a San Francisco offense, he’s more of a WR2 than a flex play just one week after being drafted in the WR30s.
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Chuba Hubbard vs. ATL
Hubbard’s fantasy volume, based on expected fantasy points, ranked fifth among RBs in the NFL last week. Jahmyr Gibbs, Kenneth Walker, Javonte Williams and David Montgomery were the only players with a more valuable workload in Week 1. Last season, Hubbard had 16+ opportunities (rush att + targets) in each of his first three games, and 2026 looks very similar. The Falcons defense impressed in Week 1 against the Steelers’ RB duo, but RB1 volume is RB1 volume. Set & forget.
Matchup Starts
Terry McLaurin vs. DAL
Terry McLaurin busted in Week 1, and if we didn’t need to panic the first four times, I wouldn’t now. The first four times I’m referring to are the four games versus Philly from 2024-2025, where McLaurin failed to pass 60 yards or six targets, which he failed to do for a fifth consecutive time in Week 1. He oddly has played Dallas the week or two after, and it’s been much different. One hundred yards and a TD, 12 targets for 60 yards and a TD, and at the end of last year he had 12 fantasy points with Josh Johnson at QB.
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He matches up much better this week than last and should bounce back strong. As a playcaller, you can’t have a bad offensive game and have your WR1 not get the ball; I’d expect David Blough to fix the latter in Week 2.
Jalen Coker vs. ATL
From Deep Flyer to Matchup Start. I am a full believer in Coker, and the overall WR1 week ain’t bad. Would I start him over George Pickens or DeVonta Smith (I’ve been asked)? No, but I do believe Coker is worthy of another FLEX week versus Atlanta. On top of his two-touchdown performance, Coker was close to more, with one catch being a toe-tap at the two-yard line, and another goal-line pass play designed to hit him in the flat that was blown up. His volume has been just as good as his counterpart in Tetairoa McMillan going back to late last year, and Coker brings the touchdown upside along with it.
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Vanilla Tier (~okay)
Bhayshul Tuten vs. DEN
The Broncos defense struggled big time in Week 1, although it is a very talented unit. The biggest issue was the missed tackles, with Kenneth Walker running rampant. Tuten may not be at Walker’s level, but he can make people miss, with only Walker having more total missed tackles forced in Week 1.
The Jaguars offense put up over 30 at the end of last season versus Denver, making Tuten a viable flex this week even if it could be a better matchup.
Jeremiyah Love vs. SEA
Love worked out in Week 1 and put his talent on display. We never want to bench our third-round fantasy pick, but Seattle’s defense certainly makes it tempting when you pair it with Arizona’s RB split and Love’s ramp-up off injury.
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We need Love’s receiving here. Seattle was No. 1 versus fantasy rushing production in 2025 and shut down Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 1. A goal-line TD like he had in Week 1 is unlikely this week, meaning four targets and nine receiving yards won’t cut it versus this defense. Anybody as good as the Cardinals’ top draft pick can make things happen with 12-15 touches; it’s just an uphill battle this weekend.
Booby Traps
Quinshon Judkins vs. TB
We’ve seen this movie before (literally last week)! Going on the road, as big underdogs, versus a good run defense. Not the recipe for success for Judkins. Even with Dylan Sampson going down early with an injury, Raheim Sanders had a 40% route share, keeping Judkins limited in trailing game scripts. With Deshaun Watson set to start once more, I’ll pass on Judkins if possible. After the Browns’ RBs averaged 2.6 yards per attempt last week, there is little faith in a turnaround.
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DK Metcalf vs. NE
There’s been lots of positivity about DK Metcalf’s Week 1 usage, despite his poor performance. I talk usage all the time, and yet, I’m passing on it. Metcalf’s 10 targets are great for anyone; I just don’t believe it’s a sign of the future. Aaron Rodgers still did not have a high WR target% (lots to RBs), as newcomer Michael Pittman Jr. was targeted only three times. I don’t expect Metcalf’s volume to repeat after a 40-pass attempt week.
But say it does. How confident are we that it pays off this week? It’s a tougher matchup versus Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots defense, coming off a day when Rodgers had 5.5 yards per attempt. I don’t want to bank on another big target day after averaging under seven per game last season without Michael Pittman Jr. in Pittsburgh.
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Deep Flyers
Deebo Samuel Sr. vs. MIA
The more San Fran deals with injuries, the more creative it has to get with Deebo Samuel Sr.’s usage. It worked in his first game back, with three red-zone targets turning into a touchdown and 15 fantasy points. He only played 26 snaps, the seventh-most among 49ers skill players, so he’ll have to take advantage of his shortened opportunities, but can pull it off versus the Dolphins defense.
Matthew Golden vs. NYJ
The Packers used sophomore Matthew Golden as the clear No. 2 in Week 1. With 87% of the routes, Golden racked up 12 targets by the end of the game. Watson is still the clear WR1, but the Packers will have plenty of weeks where two, or even three, of their receiving options can hit. Nobody in the NFL had more downfield targets (of 10+ air yards) than Golden’s six in Week 1. If I needed a deeper league option, I’d be sold on Golden.
