If the Bengals beat the Ravens -- and they're currently 7-point favorites -- in the early slate of games on Sunday, the Chargers will clinch the AFC's #5 seed and have nothing to play for vs. the Broncos in the late slate. And it sure sounds like there's a chance that HC Brandon Staley will rest starters in that case. "Once we find out about that game, then we'll make the appropriate decisions moving forward," Staley said Wednesday. The Chargers are notably 2.5-point underdogs right now, suggesting the oddsmakers are at least baking in some chance of starters not playing. We'll continue to keep an eye on the situation, but guys like QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams carry elevated risk in Week 18 fantasy lineups.
Chargers HC Brandon Staley plans to play starters in Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. A win would lock up the AFC's #5 seed for the Chargers, meaning a Round 1 game vs. the Jaguars or Titans. A loss would open the door for the Ravens to take the #5 seed with a win over the Bengals. That'd push the Chargers down to #6 and mean a Round 1 game vs. Cincinnati. “Our approach is definitely going to get shot to win this ballgame and play as well as we can play heading into the playoffs,” Staley said. “I think that there’s certainly an advantage to be in the No. 5-seed, from where I stand, so we’re going to try and get there.” Staley did add that he'd consider sitting banged-up players. But, as of now, we're projecting full playing time for QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for just 212 yards in Sunday's win over the Rams. It was a fairly efficient outing, though, with lower passing volume than usual. Herbert threw just 28 times, his fewest of the season and 14.3 fewer than his per-game average entering the week. Herbert completed 21 (75%) and averaged 7.5 yards per attempt. The 2 TDs marked a big improvement over the previous 4 games, though, doubling his TD total for that span. It was just Herbert's 7th multi-TD game of the year. He'll close out the regular season against a Denver defense that's been toughest in the league on QB scoring.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for just 235 yards on 24-of-31 passing in Monday night's win at Indianapolis. It was his lowest yardage total since Week 10 (at San Francisco) and his 2nd-fewest attempts of the season. L.A. leaned run over a 2nd half it controlled. Herbert dropped back 22 times vs. 12 designed runs in the 1st half. For the game, he logged just 5 more dropbacks (36) than team run plays (31). We'd bet on a Week 17 rebound in passing volume against a Rams defense that sits 7th in Football Outsiders' run-defense DVOA and 21st against the pass.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for 313 yards in Sunday's narrow victory over the Chargers. But he added 2 INTs and no TDs, falling short of 10 fantasy points in many formats. WR Keenan Allen led the receiving with 8 catches for 86 yards among 9 targets. WR Mike Williams added 4-67 on 8 targets. WR Josh Palmer caught all 5 of his looks for 49 yards. It was Herbert's 3rd straight game with more than 300 yards and fewer than 2 TDs. Next comes a Colts defense that allowed 460 yards to Kirk Cousins on Saturday and 7 combined TD passes over the past 2 games.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert posted his 2nd-largest passing-yardage total of the season Sunday, throwing for 335 yards in a loss to the Raiders. He completed 28 of 47 throws (59.6%), finding WR Keenan Allen for the offense's only TD. Allen posted a 6-88-1 receiving line on a team-high 14 targets. WR Josh Palmer led the team with 7 catches among 11 targets and totaled 60 yards. TE Gerald Everett added 5 catches for 80 yards among 6 targets. The Chargers host Miami in Week 14. We'll see whether WR Mike Williams (ankle) can make it back for that contest.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for 274 yards and 3 TDs in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. Herbert hit WR Keenan Allen, WR DeAndre Carter and RB Austin Ekeler for TDs. The 1-yarder to Ekeler with 15 seconds left won the game. Ekeler (15) and Carter (10) combined for 53.2% of Herbert's pass attempts and 51.4% of his completions for the game. Carter caught 7 for 73 yards. WR Josh Palmer went 5-56 on 7 targets. Allen finished with 5 receptions for 49 yards. TE Gerald Everett added 4 catches for 18 yards on 4 targets. The Chargers get a soft Raiders defense in Week 13.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert posted a season-high 9.3 yards per pass attempt in Sunday night's loss to the Chiefs, finishing with 280 yards on 23-of-30 passing. He got WR Mike Williams back only briefly, as Williams tweaked his sprained ankle after just 1 target. WR Keenan Allen, however, racked up 5 catches for 94 yards among 8 targets in his most extensive action of the season. Allen had appeared for abbreviated stretches in just 2 previous games because of a nagging hamstring injury. There's room for Herbert to be a fantasy difference maker the rest of the way, with the league's 2nd-best remaining QB schedule.
Chargers WRs Mike Williams (ankle) and Keenan Allen (hamstring) are active for tonight’s game vs. the Chiefs. Both guys were limited in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices and upgraded to full participation on Friday. Their presence is excellent news for QB Justin Herbert.
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