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Week 11 Flex Rankings – A Barrage from Kalen Ballage

2020 has been a unique year for many reasons. But even amidst the countless things that have taken place that we never thought we would see, there are still occurrences that continue to surprise us. Case in point – me featuring Kalen Ballage in my Week 11 Flex rankings. If there was ever a “2020 in a nutshell” moment, this may be it.

Just a few short months ago, Kalen Ballage was close to being laughed out of the league. He had averaged just 2.96 yards per carry in 110 rushes over his first two NFL seasons. That included a 75-yard touchdown, which only underscores how abysmal he was on his other 109 carries. This summer, the Miami Dolphins waived him, then tried to trade him, then waived him again. The New York Jets, led by Ballage’s former coach Adam Gase, signed Ballage in September. However, even the winless Jets and the league’s worst offense cut the cord with Ballage after just three ballgames. The Los Angeles Chargers then signed Ballage to their practice squad. That is likely where Ballage would have languished would it not for multiple injuries to the Chargers running backs. Even still, it was a bit of a surprise when they promoted him two weeks ago.


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Most people believed that Ballage would be little more than an insurance policy behind Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley. But Jackson was hurt on the first play of the game in the Chargers’ Week 9 outing. Los Angeles then elected to feature Ballage over Kelley, and the results were not half bad. Ballage had 69 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, essentially splitting reps with Kelley. Last week, Ballage dominated the bulk of the backfield opportunities. The former Dolphin garnered 23 touches against his old team, while Kelley had just seven and Troymaine Pope failed to touch the football. Ballage cracked the century mark in total yards and has seemingly earned the trust of the coaching staff. On deck for Ballage is a Week 11 contest against his most recent former team, the New York Jets.

The Jets are not the easiest team to run the football against. But they have traded away Steve McLendon and Avery Williamson in recent weeks, and their run defense has taken a bit of a hit as a result. In their most recent outing, they allowed the combination of Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead to combine for 127 yards and a score on 26 carries. If the Chargers attempt anything close to the 41 rushing attempts the Patriots had against the Jets, Ballage should be plenty busy. It may be difficult to project much in terms of efficiency from Ballage, but virtually any running back who can approach and possibly even exceed 20 touches in what figures to be a positive game script is worth considering for your Flex spot this week. I believe he will end up as a weekly RB2 once the dust has settled on Week 11.

Mr. McKissic Goes to Washington

The return of Alex Smith to the gridiron is one of the feelgood stories of our lifetimes, let alone 2020. Smith suffered a gruesome injury that became worse when he suffered from severe infections which nearly resulted in the loss of his leg. His comeback to the field of play is truly inspirational, and the fact that he is a starting quarterback in the NFL just two years later is nothing short of incredible. Yet, as happy as we all are that Smith can once again step on the field and lead an NFL offense, there is one person who is happier than all of us. No, it is not Smith himself, or anyone in his immediate family. I am speaking, of course, about Washington running back J.D. McKissic.

You remember McKissic, right? The guy who had a total of 88 rushes and 70 receptions during his first four years in the league? Yeah, he’s the one. Before Week 4 of this season, his single-game career-highs were as follows:

Targets – 7
Receptions – 6
Receiving yards – 40

Over his last six games, McKissic has averaged 8.8 targets, 6.2 receptions, and 42.2 receiving yards. He is the overall RB22 in half-PPR leagues since Week 4 despite scoring just one touchdown on the season. Since Washington named Smith their starting quarterback, McKissic’s usage has been almost Kamarian. McKissic has been targeted like no other back in the league. Hell, he has been targeted like no other player in the league. McKissic has been targeted a massive 29 times in the last two weeks and has finished as a top-15 back in both of Smith’s starts. If I did not know any better, I would think Smith started McKissic in his fantasy leagues.

The crazy part is that McKissic’s insane usage has not taken much away from his backfield mate, Antonio Gibson. Gibson is the overall RB9 over the last two weeks. Given Gibson’s college profile, I did not expect Washington to utilize the rookie as a traditional running back. But they have for the most part, and it has allowed both backs to flourish. Washington hosts Cincinnati in Week 11, which has the look of a Gibson game to me. I do not expect them to play from behind much in this one, which is why I have Gibson ranked higher than McKissic in my Week 11 Flex rankings. However, given his recent usage and the rapport that he has established with Smith, McKissic is not that far behind. Fantasy managers can very easily justify putting McKissic in their Flex spots this week.

Week 11 Flex Rankings

Below are my Week 11 Flex rankings. There are plenty of injured stars, so below is my attempt to read the tea leaves on players like Calvin Ridley, Joe Mixon, Kenny Golladay, and several others. I will update these again on Sunday morning once there is some clarity regarding these players and their likely Week 11 roles.

RnkPLAYER (TEAM)MATCHUPPOS
1Dalvin Cook (MIN)vs. DALRB1
2Alvin Kamara (NO)vs. ATLRB2
3Davante Adams (GB)at INDWR1
4Tyreek Hill (KC)at LVWR2
5DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)at SEAWR3
6Aaron Jones (GB)at INDRB3
7Travis Kelce (KC)at LVTE1
8Julio Jones (ATL)at NOWR4
9Keenan Allen (LAC)vs. NYJWR5
10Derrick Henry (TEN)at BALRB4
11Mike Davis (CAR)vs. DETRB5
12James Conner (PIT)at JACRB6
13Miles Sanders (PHI)at CLERB7
14Adam Thielen (MIN)vs. DALWR6
15Tyler Lockett (SEA)vs. ARIWR7
16Josh Jacobs (LV)vs. KCRB8
17Michael Thomas (NO)vs. ATLWR8
18D'Andre Swift (DET)at CARRB9
19DK Metcalf (SEA)vs. ARIWR9
20James Robinson (JAC)vs. PITRB10
21Terry McLaurin (WAS)vs. CINWR10
22Ezekiel Elliott (DAL)at MINRB11
23Nick Chubb (CLE)vs. PHIRB12
24Darren Waller (LV)vs. KCTE2
25Justin Jefferson (MIN)vs. DALWR11
26Robby Anderson (CAR)vs. DETWR12
27Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC)at LVRB13
28Antonio Gibson (WAS)vs. CINRB14
29A.J. Brown (TEN)at BALWR13
30Calvin Ridley (ATL)at NOWR14
31D.J. Moore (CAR)vs. DETWR15
32Melvin Gordon (DEN)vs. MIARB15
33Will Fuller (HOU)vs. NEWR16
34JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT)at JACWR17
35Cooper Kupp (LAR)at TBWR18
36Amari Cooper (DAL)at MINWR19
37Tyler Boyd (CIN)at WASWR20
38Chris Godwin (TB)vs. LARWR21
39Diontae Johnson (PIT)at JACWR22
40Kareem Hunt (CLE)vs. PHIRB16
41Jamison Crowder (NYJ)at LACWR23
42Jakobi Meyers (NE)at HOUWR24
43Mark Andrews (BAL)vs. TENTE3
44Ronald Jones II (TB)vs. LARRB17
45Chase Claypool (PIT)at JACWR25
46Giovani Bernard (CIN)at WASRB18
47Duke Johnson (HOU)vs. NERB19
48DeVante Parker (MIA)at DENWR26
49Robert Woods (LAR)at TBWR27
50Tee Higgins (CIN)at WASWR28
51Brandin Cooks (HOU)vs. NEWR29
52Mike Evans (TB)vs. LARWR30
53D.J. Chark (JAC)vs. PITWR31
54Todd Gurley (ATL)at NORB20
55Travis Fulgham (PHI)at CLEWR32
56Jarvis Landry (CLE)vs. PHIWR33
57Jerry Jeudy (DEN)vs. MIAWR34
58CeeDee Lamb (DAL)at MINWR35
59Kenyan Drake (ARI)at SEARB21
60Mike Williams (LAC)vs. NYJWR36
61Damien Harris (NE)at HOURB22
62Christian Kirk (ARI)at SEAWR37
63Marvin Jones (DET)at CARWR38
64Salvon Ahmed (MIA)at DENRB23
65Kalen Ballage (LAC)vs. NYJRB24
66Marquise Brown (BAL)vs. TENWR39
67Hunter Henry (LAC)vs. NYJTE4
68J.D. McKissic (WAS)vs. CINRB25
69Leonard Fournette (TB)vs. LARRB26
70Rex Burkhead (NE)at HOURB27
71Jonathan Taylor (IND)vs. GBRB28
72Hayden Hurst (ATL)at NOTE5
73T.J. Hockenson (DET)at CARTE6
74Emmanuel Sanders (NO)vs. ATLWR40
75Rashard Higgins (CLE)vs. PHIWR41
76Nyheim Hines (IND)vs. GBRB29
77Tim Patrick (DEN)vs. MIAWR42
78Carlos Hyde (SEA)vs. ARIRB30
79Curtis Samuel (CAR)vs. DETWR43
80Antonio Brown (TB)vs. LARWR44
81Noah Fant (DEN)vs. MIATE7
82Corey Davis (TEN)at BALWR45
83Dallas Goedert (PHI)at CLETE8
84Michael Pittman (IND)vs. GBWR46
85Darrell Henderson (LAR)at TBRB31
86Jalen Reagor (PHI)at CLEWR47
87Eric Ebron (PIT)at JACTE9
88A.J. Green (CIN)at WASWR48
89Breshad Perriman (NYJ)at LACWR49
90Josh Reynolds (LAR)at TBWR50
91Rob Gronkowski (TB)vs. LARTE10
92Allen Lazard (GB)at INDWR51
93Michael Gallup (DAL)at MINWR52
94J.K. Dobbins (BAL)vs. TENRB32
95La'Mical Perine (NYJ)at LACRB33
96Jamaal Williams (GB)at INDRB34
97Henry Ruggs (LV)vs. KCWR53
98T.Y. Hilton (IND)vs. GBWR54
99Jakeem Grant (MIA)at DENWR55
100Nelson Agholor (LV)vs. KCWR56
101Denzel Mims (NYJ)at LACWR57
102Mecole Hardman (KC)at LVWR58
103James White (NE)at HOURB35
104Randall Cobb (HOU)vs. NEWR59
105Chase Edmonds (ARI)at SEARB36
106K.J. Hamler (DEN)vs. MIAWR60
107Latavius Murray (NO)vs. ATLRB37
108Austin Hooper (CLE)vs. PHITE11
109Mike Gesicki (MIA)at DENTE12
110Jared Cook (NO)vs. ATLTE13
111Keelan Cole (JAC)vs. PITWR61
112Zach Pascal (IND)vs. GBWR62
113Hunter Renfrow (LV)vs. KCWR63
114Jonnu Smith (TEN)at BALTE14
115Le'Veon Bell (KC)at LVRB38
116Russell Gage (ATL)at NOWR64
117Willie Snead (BAL)vs. TENWR65
118Danny Amendola (DET)at CARWR66
119Jordan Wilkins (IND)vs. GBRB39
120Phillip Lindsay (DEN)vs. MIARB40
121Malcolm Brown (LAR)at TBRB41
122Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)at SEAWR67
123Dalton Schultz (DAL)at MINTE15
124Alex Collins (SEA)vs. ARIRB42
125Damiere Byrd (NE)at HOUWR68
126Logan Thomas (WAS)vs. CINTE16
127Robert Tonyan (GB)at INDTE17
128N'Keal Harry (NE)at HOUWR69
129Kenny Golladay (DET)at CARWR70
130Gus Edwards (BAL)vs. TENRB43
131David Moore (SEA)vs. ARIWR71
132Tyler Higbee (LAR)at TBTE18
133Demarcus Robinson (KC)at LVWR72
134Chris Conley (JAC)vs. PITWR73
135Tony Pollard (DAL)at MINRB44
136Joshua Kelley (LAC)vs. NYJRB45
137Mark Ingram (BAL)vs. TENRB46
138Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB)at INDWR74
139Kyle Rudolph (MIN)vs. DALTE19
140Frank Gore (NYJ)at LACRB47
141Greg Ward (PHI)at CLEWR75
142Sammy Watkins (KC)at LVWR76
143Alexander Mattison (MIN)vs. DALRB48
144Deejay Dallas (SEA)vs. ARIRB49
145Brian Hill (ATL)at NORB50
146Marvin Hall (DET)at CARWR77
147Trey Burton (IND)vs. INDTE20
148Adrian Peterson (DET)at CARRB51
149Gerald Everett (LAR)at TBTE21
150Boston Scott (PHI)at CLERB52
151Devontae Booker (LV)vs. KCRB53
152Jalen Guyton (LAC)vs. NYJWR78
153Jordan Akins (HOU)vs. NETE22
154Greg Olsen (SEA)vs. ARITE23
155Mo Alie-Cox (IND)vs. GBTE24
156Devin Duvernay (BAL)vs. TENWR79
157Joe Mixon (CIN)at WASRB54
158Leviska Shenault (JAC)vs. PITWR80
159Marcus Johnson (IND)vs. GBWR81
160Steven Sims (WAS)vs. CINWR82
161Matt Breida (MIA)at DENRB55
162Olamide Zaccheaus (ATL)at NOWR83
163Cam Sims (WAS)vs. CINWR84
164Tyler Eifert (JAC)vs. PITTE25
165Anthony Firkser (TEN)at BALTE26
166Benny Snell (PIT)at JACRB56
167Darren Fells (HOU)vs. NETE27
168Dontrelle Inman (WAS)vs. CINWR85
169James Washington (PIT)at JACWR86
170Drew Sample (CIN)at WASTE28
171Andy Isabella (ARI)at SEAWR87
172Cam Akers (LAR)at TBRB57
173Dan Arnold (ARI)at SEATE29
174Tre'Quan Smith (NO)vs. ATLWR88
175Chris Herndon (NYJ)at LACTE30
176Isaiah Wright (WAS)vs. CINWR89
177Myles Boykin (BAL)vs. TENWR90
178KhaDarel Hodge (CLE)vs. PHIWR91
179Malcolm Perry (MIA)at DENRB58
180Auden Tate (CIN)at WASWR92
181Alshon Jeffery (PHI)at CLEWR93
182Richard Rodgers (PHI)at CLETE31
183Rodney Smith (CAR)vs. DETRB59
184Travis Homer (SEA)vs. ARIRB60
185Ian Thomas (CAR)vs. DETTE32
186Harrison Bryant (CLE)vs. PHITE33
187Irv Smith (MIN)vs. DALTE34
188Jacob Hollister (SEA)vs. ARITE35
189Mack Hollins (MIA)at DENWR94
190Deonte Harris (NO)vs. ATLWR95
191Kenny Stills (HOU)vs. NEWR96
192Quintez Cephus DET)at CARWR97
193David Njoku (CLE)vs. PHITE36
194Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE)vs. PHIWR98
195Jalen Richard (LV)vs. KCRB61
196Ryan Izzo (NE)at HOUTE37
197Adam Humphries (TEN)at BALWR99
198Samaje Perine (CIN)at WASRB62
199Julian Edelman (NE)at HOUWR100
200Austin Ekeler (LAC)vs. NYJRB63

If you enjoyed Mick’s Week 11 Flex Rankings, make sure to check out the rest of our Week 11 Analysis for more help in optimizing your lineups.


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