Fantasy football flex flyers: Jalen McMillan, Patrick Taylor Jr. could deliver in week 16

Most fantasy football leagues are in their semifinals, with only four teams remaining. While the bye weeks are over, injury issues continue to cause lineup concerns. For those who have survived and advanced, there is less competition for available players in free agency. However, there may be overlooked players who remain available after waivers expire this week.

If you still need streaming, the following players can be added and started in an instant. Maybe you already have one of them on your list, and these insights may influence whether you start them this week.

Players are listed in order of lineup usage preference and analysis is based on PPR scoring. Percentages listed are from CBSSports.com.

Jalen McMillan, WR, TB (49 percent listed): The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie is breaking out at the most important time of the season, and you can add and start him right away as a fantasy WR3. In each of the last two games, he recorded 18-plus fantasy points, fueled by three total touchdowns. Over the past four weeks, the Dallas Cowboys have ranked 29th in fantasy points per game. plays allowed for wide receivers. McMillan plants his flag as the clear no. 2 WR for a Buccaneers offense that is surging right now.

Patrick Taylor Jr., RB, SF (48 percent): The 49ers are down to Taylor as the likely starter. The Three Niners running backs are already on injured reserve, and Isaac Guerendo is unlikely to play this week due to injury. The San Francisco offense can bounce back in Miami, and any RB that starts for them has the potential to post decent fantasy totals. Taylor models as a physical runner who should be a drive finisher for the 49ers. Miami has allowed 12 rushing TDs to RBs, tied for fourth most in the league.

Brenton Strange, TE, JAX (33 percent): Strange briefly blitzed on the fantasy radar earlier this season with two double-digit PPR appearances before officially breaking onto the scene last week with an 11-reception outing. The Las Vegas Raiders rank 29th in receptions allowed to TEs, so Strange can be safely streamed in Week 16. He’s working through a shoulder injury, but reports suggest Strange should play this week.

Jalen Coker, WR, CAR (14 percent): Xavier Legette (hip) is not expected to play this week, pushing Coker into a prominent role in the Carolina passing game alongside Adam Thielen. Coker is dealing with a quad injury, but limited practice status suggests availability against the Arizona Cardinals. Coker finished with 110 receiving yards — including an 83-yard TD catch — last week against Dallas. Coker was targeted six-plus times in three of his previous four games played. He has a 70.3 WR/CB matchup grade on Pro Football Focus for Week 16 against Cardinals cornerbacks, which qualifies as “Good.” He also gets a pretty good fantasy draw against Tampa Bay’s pass defense in Week 17.

Chig Okonkwo, TE, TEN (6 percent): Although already known as a sleeper candidate who never delivered, Okonkwo is at least temporarily back on the fantasy map based on last week’s outing and a good Week 16 game. He caught eight of 10 targets last week and the Colts ranked No. 30 in FPPG that allowed tight ends. With Mason Rudolph taking over as the starting QB for the Tennessee Titans, Okonkwo is positioned to provide at least adequate fantasy production this week.

Calvin Austin III, WR, PIT (9 percent): With George Pickens out and Russell Wilson always able to deliver an accurate deep ball, Austin has some statistical promise against the Ravens. He finished in double figures in PPR points in three of the last four games, with long receptions of 30-plus yards in two outings. Baltimore’s pass defense has been less leaky in recent weeks, but still ranks 29th in receiving yards allowed to WRs this season.

Tim Patrick, WR, DET (5 percent): Apparently, many fantasy players don’t think Patrick’s three TD receptions in the last two games are reasons to get him. Sure, the TD output doesn’t seem sustainable, but Patrick was targeted 15 times in the last two games. The Detroit Lions also have a lot of defensive injuries and may need to pass the ball often on offense to win games.

Marquise Brown, WR, KC (24 percent): Starting Hollywood Brown comes with a high level of risk, considering he hasn’t played a single game in a Chiefs uniform yet. But he looks set to make his debut against the Texans this week and could potentially make an immediate impact with his downfield abilities. Houston has allowed an AFC-high 19 TD passes to WRs, and Patrick Mahomes could benefit from the late-season addition of a big-play weapon.

Mahomes is averaging a career low in yards per carry. match (239.1), per completion (10.0) and projected air yards per attempts (6.3), so he’ll likely want to welcome Brown into the mix quickly. Any player coming off such a long layoff has a limited ceiling. But you can add Brown now, and if he performs well, start him in Week 17 while keeping him off an opponent’s roster during the fantasy playoffs.

(Photo by Jalen McMillan: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)