Fantasy football flex rankings for Week 17

It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time to break out the flex fantasy football rankings for Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season. If you’re new to the concept of flex rankings, these are simply the combined overall rankings for running back, wide receiver, and tight end for each week during the fantasy football season. These are not suggestions for who to start in your flex spots.

This list is our initial rankings, but it will change a lot throughout the week. If you want all of the latest updates, then be sure to check our staff rankings page.

1. Jonathan Taylor vs. LV (RB1) – Taylor is coming off a “down” week where he still rushed for over 100 yards.

2. Cooper Kupp @BAL (WR1) – He’s only finished outside of the top-12 among wide receivers three times this season.

3. Davante Adams vs. MIN (WR2) – Adams is rolling with three top-two fantasy finishes in his last five games. 

4. Austin Ekeler vs. DEN (RB2) – The Chargers get Ekeler back from the Reserve/COVID-19 List and he’ll be right back in his role as an elite fantasy option.

5. Nick Chubb @PIT (RB3) – Kareem Hunt’s status is up in the air as of Wednesday. If he returns, Chubb will slide down this list to the back-end RB1s.

6. Justin Jefferson @GB (WR3) – Jefferson just put up the best performance against Jalen Ramsey of any wide receiver we’ve seen this season.

7. Dalvin Cook @GB (RB4) – Cook has cleared the COVID-19 protocol and will be back on the field for the Vikings this week.

8. Joe Mixon vs. KC (RB5) – A fantasy hero last week, Mixon figures to see another big workload here.

9. Deebo Samuel vs. HOU (WR4) – The offensive weapon of the year for fantasy football is in a great spot against the Texans.

10. Alvin Kamara vs. CAR (RB5) – Last week was not fun, but Kamara should be a in a better position to produce with Taysom Hill hopefully back under center.

11. Tyreek Hill @CIN (WR5) – The Chiefs really didn’t need Hill to win last week, but they are going to in this one.

12. David Montgomery vs. NYG (RB7) – Montgomery is a true three-down back in a favorable matchup this week.

13. Ronald Jones @NYJ (RB8) – Speaking of favorable matchups, Jones is set up for a massive day against a bad Jets run defense.

14. Najee Harris vs. CLE (RB9) – Harris continues to be one of the league’s most heavily used backs.

15. Aaron Jones vs. MIN (RB10) – We should see another 15 to 20 touches for Jones in a favorable matchup.

16. Josh Jacobs @IND (RB11) – Jacobs has emerged as a three-down option since Jon Gruden’s departure.

17. Stefon Diggs vs. ATL (WR6) – The Bills will get Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis back, but Diggs remains a rock-solid WR1 play.

18. Travis Kelce @CIN (TE1) – If you made it through last week without him, you’ll get Kelce back for what should be a shootout against the Bengals.

19. Antonio Brown @NYJ (WR7) – Brown figures to be the top target with Mike Evans looking unlikely to play. He’s also closing in on several contract incentives.

20. A.J. Brown vs. MIA (WR8) – He’s coming off a massive return performance last week and is set for another big one here.

21. Damien Harris vs. JAX (RB12) – Harris’ fantasy outlook hinges on Rhamondre Stevenson’s status.

22. Sony Michel @BAL (RB13) – Don’t take the bait on Cam Akers. Michel is the clear feature back in Los Angeles.

23. Mark Andrews vs. LAR (TE2) – The Ravens tight end has been an absolute monster down the stretch.

24. Tee Higgins vs. KC (WR9) – He’s topped 100 yards in four of his last five and is coming off one of the best wide receiver performances on 2021.

25. Ja’Marr Chase vs. KC (WR10) – Any week can be a massive one for the rookie star.

26. Diontae Johnson vs. CLE (WR11) – Johnson found the end zone last week and remains one of the most heavily targeted players in the league.

27. Ezekiel Elliott vs. ARI (RB14) – While his touch volume has declined, Elliott’s usage in the red zone keeps him in the front-end RB2 conversation.

28. George Kittle vs. HOU (TE3) – Last week was a dud, but Kittle remains locked in as an elite tight end.

29. Darrel Williams @CIN (RB15) – Clyde Edwards-Helaire looks unlikely, positioning Williams well for front-end RB2 production.

30. Chase Edmonds @DAL (RB16) – Edmonds will slide back if James Conner can get back on the field.

31. CeeDee Lamb vs. ARI (WR12)

32. Rashaad Penny vs. DET (RB17)

33. Devin Singletary vs. ATL (RB18)

34. Javonte Williams @LAC (RB19) – This is a fantastic matchup for Williams. The Chargers just made Rex Burkhead look like Marshall Faulk.

35. Keenan Allen vs. DEN (WR13)

36. Jaylen Waddle @TEN (WR14)

37. Antonio Gibson vs. PHI (RB20)

38. Amon-Ra St. Brown @SEA (WR15) – It doesn’t matter who is under center for St. Brown. The rookie has officially broken out.

39. Hunter Renfrow @IND (WR16)

40. Tyler Lockett vs. DET (WR17)

41. Cordarrelle Patterson @BUF (RB21)

42. Rob Gronkowski @NYJ (TE4)

43. DK Metcalf vs. DET (WR18)

44. Amari Cooper vs. ARI (WR19)

45. Brandin Cooks @SF (WR20)

46. Michael Pittman vs. LV (WR21) – Carson Wentz’ status will impact Pittman’s fantasy outlook. Stay tuned. 

47. Odell Beckham @BAL (WR22)

48. DeVonta Smith @WAS (WR23)

49. Dallas Goedert @WAS (TE5)

50. DJ Moore @NO (WR24)

51. Melvin Gordon @LAC (RB22)

52. Marquise Brown vs. LAR (WR25)

53. Saquon Barkley @CHI (RB23) – Barkley’s fantasy stock continues to drop. 

54. Zach Ertz @DAL (TE6)

55. Christian Kirk @DAL (WR26)

56. D’Onta Foreman vs. MIA (RB24)

57. Van Jefferson @BAL (WR27)

58. Terry McLaurin vs. PHI (WR28)

59. AJ Dillon vs. MIN (RB25)

60. DeVante Parker @TEN (WR29)

61. Russell Gage @BUF (WR30)

62. K.J. Osborn @GB (WR31)

63. Dawson Knox vs. ATL (TE7)

64. Michael Carter vs. TB (RB26)

65. Elijah Mitchell vs. HOU (RB27) – Mitchell has a chance to return this week. If he does, he’ll move up.

66. Brandon Aiyuk vs. HOU (WR32)

67. Dare Ogunbowale @NE (RB28)

68. Tyler Boyd vs. KC (WR33)

69. Darnell Mooney vs. NYG (WR34)

70. Michael Gallup vs. ARI (WR35)

71. Rex Burkhead @SF (RB29) – Don’t get too carried away by last week’s performance. The larger body of work in 2021 suggests Burkhead is just a flex option.

72. Jarvis Landry @PIT (WR36)

73. Devonta Freeman vs. LAR (RB30)

74. Jakobi Meyers vs. JAX (WR37)

75. Chase Claypool vs. CLE (WR38)

76. Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. MIN (WR39)

77. Kendrick Bourne vs. JAX (WR40)

78. Kyle Pitts @BUF (TE8)

79. Jordan Howard @WAS (RB31)

80. Jerry Jeudy @LAC (WR41)

81. Allen Lazard vs. MIN (WR42)

82. Kareem Hunt @PIT (RB32)

83. Dalton Schultz vs. ARI (TE9)

84. Jeff Wilson vs. HOU (RB33)

85. Hunter Henry vs. JAX (TE10)

86. A.J. Green @DAL (WR43)

87. Mike Gesicki @TEN (TE11)

88. Tony Pollard vs. ARI (RB34)

89. Marvin Jones @NE (WR44)

90. Gerald Everett vs. DET (TE12)

91. Joshua Palmer vs. DEN (WR45)

92. Zay Jones @IND (WR46)

93. Jamaal Williams @SEA (RB35)

94. Robby Anderson @NO (WR47)

95. Cole Beasley vs. ATL (WR48)

96. Kadarius Toney @CHI (WR49)

97. Ke’Shawn Vaughn @NYJ (RB36)

98. Marquez Callaway vs. CAR (WR50)

99. Braxton Berrios vs. TB (WR51)

100. Boston Scott @WAS (RB37)

101. Mike Davis @BUF (RB38)

102. Pat Freiermuth vs. CLE (TE13)

103. Kenny Golladay @CHI (WR52)

104. Donovan Peoples-Jones @PIT (WR53)

105. Rashod Bateman vs. LAR (WR54)

106. Laquon Treadwell @NE (WR55)

107. Devontae Booker @CHI (RB39)

108. Isaiah McKenzie vs. ATL (WR56)

109. Courtland Sutton @LAC (WR57)

110. T.Y. Hilton vs. LV (WR58)

111. Jared Cook vs. DEN (TE14)

112. Duke Johnson @TEN (RB40)

113. Tyler Higbee @BAL (TE15)

114. Gabriel Davis vs. ATL (WR59)

115. Mark Ingram vs. CAR (RB41)

116. Tim Patrick @LAC (WR60)

117. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. MIA (WR61)

118. Emmanuel Sanders vs. ATL (WR62)

119. Justin Jackson vs. DEN (RB42)

120. Noah Fant @LAC (TE16)

121. Byron Pringle @CIN (WR63)

122. Chuba Hubbard @NO (RB43)

123. Antoine Wesley @DAL (WR64)

124. Allen Robinson vs. NYG (WR65)

125. Cole Kmet vs. NYG (TE17)

126. Derrick Gore @CIN (RB44)

127. Dontrell Hilliard vs. MIA (RB45)

128. Mecole Hardman @CIN (WR66)

129. Ameer Abdullah @NO (RB46)

130. Tyler Conklin @GB (TE18)

131. Keelan Cole vs. TB (WR67)

132. Tyler Johnson @NYJ (WR68)

133. Foster Moreau @IND (TE19)

134. Breshad Perriman @NYJ (WR69)

135. Kalif Raymond @SEA (WR70)

136. Rhamondre Stevenson vs. JAX (RB47)

137. Nico Collins @SF (WR71)

138. Quez Watkins @WAS (WR72)

139. Tre’Quan Smith vs. CAR (WR73)

140. James Proche vs. LAR (WR74)

141. Latavius Murray vs. LAR (RB48)

142. DeSean Jackson @IND (WR75)

143. Adam Humphries vs. PHI (WR76)

144. Brandon Bolden vs. JAX (RB49)

145. Craig Reynolds @SEA (RB50)

146. James Washington vs. CLE (WR77)

147. C.J. Uzomah vs. KC (TE20)

148. Nyheim Hines vs. LV (RB51)

149. Myles Gaskin @TEN (RB52)

150. Tevin Coleman vs. TB (RB53)