Fantasy football success can hinge on many decisions, but the toughest one may be who to start in the flex spot. 

There are multiple ways of decoding fantasy relevant information each week to determine your most viable flex option (RB/WR) from your roster. Here, I will compare the Week 15 fantasy prospects of two players you might be considering in your flex spot: Gus Edwards and Allen Robinson.

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Gus Edwards (BAL)

After the Ravens realized halfway through the season (too long), that Alex Collins is always a snap away from fumbling and not the back that would open up the offense, they turned to Gus Edwards, who, like rookie phenom Phillip Lindsay, was a undrafted free agent. However, unlike Lindsay, Edwards is what the consensus likes to call a “plodder”: a two-down back that offers limited upside in the passing game. In fact, on the year, Edwards only has one reception in 8 games and it went for 7 yards.

Last week, the Ravens played the Chiefs. They had to play keep up with one of the league’s most potent offenses and while Edwards carried the ball 16 times, he was not the back the Ravens depended on to catch passes or even take goal line carries. The back the Ravens turned to was Kenneth Dixon. Dixon’s strengths are catching the ball out of the backfield and making people miss, on both run and pass plays. Edwards lacks in both of those areas but excels in running through contact and having enough wiggle to get to the second level of the defense.

The Ravens play Tampa Bay this week, again one of the league’s more explosive offenses. Look for Edwards to get the bulk of the carries between the 20s on first and second down. But if (or, more likely, when) this game turns to a shootout, Dixon will be the back with the most upside in the Ravens backfield this week.

Allen Robinson (CHI)

Robinson was brought to Chicago to be the Bears No. 1 receiver, but he hasn’t even sniffed WR1 status in 13 games, only producing double-digit fantasy points in two games in standard scoring leagues.

But Robinson has a couple of things going for him as he is far and away the most talented pure wide receiver on this team. He caught just one pass in 2017 due to injury, his fourth NFL season. His previous 3 years in the league, Robinson caught 201 balls for 2,831 yards and 22 TDs with most of his production coming despite the mostly subpar quarterback play of Blake Bortles.

Robinson has caught 48 passes for 615 yards and 4 TDs in 2018 so far, nowhere near his career high in stats. However, he still shows the same ability to be a big play receiver. The Bears play Green Bay this week at home and the Packers are coming off a week where they fired their head coach and proceeded to take out an entire season’s worth of offensive frustration against the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears just shut down the Rams with their defense and run game last week winning 15-6. The week prior though, the same defense allowed 30 points to the New York Giants. The Bears will have to compete with an Aaron Rodgers-led offense in Week 15 making yet another late season push to the playoffs. Allen Robinson should get plenty of looks this weekend in what looks to be a higher scoring game against a leaky Packers defense.

Verdict

I wouldn’t flex Edwards unless you’re more desperate than the wet bandits. Meanwhile, all things considered, A-Rob is a viable flex option in Week 15 with a decent chance of topping 80 yards and/or score a touchdown.