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Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 15

Easton Stick vs. Aidan O’Connell. This is, uh…., not what we signed up for. After 14 up-and-down Thursday contests, this week’s offering is the NFL version of going through the motions. It is what it is. Regardless, the FullTime Fantasy Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 15 breaks down this week’s contest from a fantasy and sports betting perspective.

After losing Justin Herbert for the rest of the season, the Chargers are now riding out the clock. A new regime now seems inevitable for Los Angeles. Additionally, Easton Stick will make his first NFL start on streaming TV against an equally moribund Raiders franchise.

As for Vegas, they hit rock bottom last week, losing their third consecutive game by a paltry 3-0 score. Both teams sit at 5-8 in the mediocre AFC West.

However, on the bright side, there’s no way these two teams will score fewer points than last week. Right?

The Chargers opened as 3-point favorites. However, when news of Herbert’s season-ending injury hit, the line shifted oppositely. Las Vegas now stands as a field-goal favorite. Conversely, the total plummeted 8.5 points from its opening of 42.

Matchup 

TEAM	OFFENSE	PASS	RUSH	YDS/PLAY	POINTS
Los Angeles Chargers	17	10	26	14	16
Las Vegas Raiders	29	22	32	26	28

Both of these teams have faced more than their fair share of adversity.

Brandon Staley faces a lot of scrutiny as the Chargers have been one of the most under-achieving teams in the AFC. The addition of offensive coordinator Keelen Moore from Dallas has not panned out as expected. The Chargers have been an average offense that will surely plummet without Herbert under center.

Meanwhile, the Raiders have a brief resurgence under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. However, after three consecutive defeats with three total touchdowns scored, that success is a distant memory.

Las Vegas has rushed for an NFL-worst 1,048 yards. A struggling offensive line plays a big part in the struggles. But making matters worse, the Raiders will be without star RB Josh Jacobs, who will miss this game with a quad injury.

Las Vegas Offense

Further hampering the offense is QB Aidan O’Connell. The fourth-round rookie has thrown just four touchdowns in seven games…

How will Thursday’s Chargers vs. Raiders game go?

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Week 11 DFS: Wide Receiver Report

The wide receiver story from last week had two chapters. The first was the high-scoring battle between the Lions and Chargers, leading to Keenan Allen (11/175/2) posting his second monster showing of the year while Amon-Ra St. Brown (8/165/1) finished fourth in fantasy points (30.50). The second verse came via the right arm of Dak Prescott. CeeDee Lamb (11/165/2) fell ten yards behind Allen, giving him the runner-up prize for the week. The rise of the Cowboys’ passing attack led to Brandin Cook (9/173/1) finishing third for the week. Six other wideouts scored between 21.00 and 26.50 fantasy points in PPR formats. Here are the top five wide receivers by scoring average after 10 weeks:

• Tyreek Hill (25.03)
• Keenan Allen (22.84)
• A.J. Brown (22.61)
• CeeDee Lamb (22.13)
• Stefon Diggs (20.28)

Also, before we get into the Week 11 DFS: Wide Receiver Report, check out the QB Report, RB Report, and TE Report.

Elite Options

Tyreek Hill, MIA (DK – $9,300/FD – $9,800)

The Dolphins’ passing offense sputtered in two challenging road games vs. Philadelphia (216/1) and Kansas City (193/1) in Week 7 and Week 9. But Hill still had a floor of eight catches while working closer to the line of scrimmage (11/88/1 and 8/62 – one 20-yard catch ~ 7.9 yards per reception). From Week 5 to Week 8 (8/181/1, 6/163/1, 11/88/1, and 8/112/1), he scored in each game, leading to 30.10 FPPG in DraftKings scoring. His top three scores in fantasy points (44.50, 30.70, and 32.10) came in odds weeks of the NFL schedule. Hill has double-digit targets in four consecutive starts (10, 15, 13, and 10).

Las Vegas continues to play better than expected defending wide receivers (6th – 109/1,318/7 on 173 targets). No team gained more than 175 yards from their wideouts. Their defense allowed 22 touchdowns (11 passing) over 105 possessions, with quarterbacks gaining 6.6 yards per pass attempt. Their success has been helped by a favorable pass schedule (Kenny Pickett, Jordan Love, Mac Jones, Tyson Bagent, Tommy DeVito, and Zack Wilson). Amon-Ra St. Brown (6/108) is the only wide receiver to gain more than 100 yards. 

The Raiders will have their hands full defending the run vs. Miami, inviting some winning big plays off play-action passes for Hill. Their top three cornerbacks for Las Vegas allowed a high catch rate. But they’ve minimized the damage in big plays. Hill’s quickness and ability to get open should shine through in this matchup. I expect a minimum of one long score, most likely against Marcus Peters (29/287/3 on 32 targets – per PFF) due to his gambling mentality. On the downside, Hill must score 37.00 fantasy points to fill his salary bucket. Bet on his floor (26.70 fantasy points) while understanding that Miami is a much better offense at home.

CeeDee Lamb, DAL (DK – $9,200/FD – $9,200)

Over the past three weeks, Dak Prescott upped his passing game, leading to 1,082 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 36.7 passes per game (31.7 over his first six starts). As a result, Lamb has three consecutive elite games (12/170/2, 11/191, and 11/165/2), thanks to a spike in his targets (14, 16, and 14). He finished 1st, 2nd, and 2nd in wide receiver scoring over this span. That lifted him to fourth (199.20 fantasy points) for the year. He is on pace to catch 128 passes for 1,981 yards and nine touchdowns. Last year, 24 of his 107 catches gained at least 20 yards. Lamb already gained 20 yards on 22 receptions in 2023.

Carolina has the fourth-best…

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Week 10 DFS: Wide Receiver Report

The theme for last week in the DFS market was the Houston Texans’ passing game, highlighted by the success of Tank Dell (6/116/2 – 1st) and Noah Brown (6/153/1 – 3rd). CeeDee Lamb (11/191) finished second, giving him explosive stats (23/349/2 on 30 targets) over the past two weeks. Three other wideouts (Amari Cooper – 24.90, Stefon Diggs – 22.60, and Diontae Johnson – 22.00) scored more than 20.00 fantasy points. Here are the top five wide receivers by scoring average in PPR formats after nine weeks:

• Tyreek Hill (25.03)
• A.J. Brown (22.61)
• Stefon Diggs (21.82)
• Keenan Allen (20.63)
• CeeDee Lamb (19.96)

Also, before we get into the Week 9 DFS: Wide Receiver Report, check out the QB Report, RB Report, and TE Report.

Top Tier Options

Keenan Allen, LAC (DK – $8,800/FD – $9,000)

Since posting two impact games in Week 2 (8/111/2) and Week 3 (18/215), Allen averaged 14.76 fantasy points (30/318/2 on 44 targets). He remains on an elite pace (132/1,530/9 on 176 targets). The Chargers’ wideout had 66 catches for 768 yards and four touchdowns on 88 targets over the first three games, followed by 60 catches for 744 yards and two touchdowns on 95 targets over their last five matchups.

The Lions rank 14th vs. wide receivers (98/1,174/7 on 163 targets). Seattle (20/171/2), GB (15/210/1), and CAR (19/197/2) had the most success. Wideouts have a low catch rate (60.1) while gaining 12.0 yards per catch. CB Brian Branch (17/133/3 on 24 targets – per PFF) allows short yards per catch (7.8). 

Allen has the edge in experience in his WR/CB matchup, and he is the Chargers’ top target by a wide margin. His salary requires more than 34.00 fantasy points, so Allen needs a high-scoring game with multiple touchdowns to be viable in Week 10. I view him as overpriced, and Los Angeles hasn’t shown the passing for him pay off in this matchup.

Ja’Marr Chase, CIN (DK – $8,600/FD – $9,300)

The Bills held Chase to four catches for 41 yards on eight targets while playing through a back issue after landing awkwardly on an incomplete pass. Cincinnati lists him as questionable for this week’s game. He was on the field for 90% of their snaps last week, suggesting that Chase should play on Sunday. His best value this year came in Week 3 (12/141), Week 5 (15/192/3), and Week 8 (10/100/1). Over his other five starts (5/39, 5/31, 7/73, 6/80, and 4/41), he failed to score more than 15.00 fantasy points.

Houston has the fourth-best…

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2023 Los Angeles Chargers Outlook

The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview of all 32 teams from football legend Shawn Childs.

Also, check out Jody Smith’s NFL offensive line rankings and exclusive 2023 Strength of Schedule analysis.

Up next in our extensive NFL and fantasy football preview series is Shawn’s deep dive into the 2023 Los Angeles Chargers Outlook.

— Quarterback —

Justin Herbert

In 2021, Herbert finished with an impressive 5,316 combined yards with 41 touchdowns. His floor was high in scoring in his first two years in the run game (55/234/5 and 63/302/3). Herbert averaged 39.5 pass attempts while gaining over 300 yards in nine matchups (337/1, 338/1, 398/4, 356/2, 382/3, 303/2, 317/3, 336/1, and 383/3). He ranked second in fantasy scoring (447.00) in four-point passing touchdown leagues with four impact games (33.65, 46.80, 35.20, 39.10, and 32.25 fantasy points).

Last season, Herbert threw the ball well over his first two starts (279/3 and 334/3), but a hit late in Week 2 led to a rib injury that appeared to effort his play over the next few weeks. His running value (54/147) sharply declined from his two previous seasons, especially in scoring (no rushing touchdowns). On the positive side, Herbert set a career-high in completions (477), pass attempts (699), and completion rate (68.2). He threw two touchdowns or fewer in 15 of his final 16 starts, with only one game (Week 12 – 312/3). Herbert passed for more than 300 yards five times on the year.

Fantasy Outlook: Despite a down season, Herbert played through an injury, and his top two wideouts missed about 14 games (including two quick exits). He finished the season ranked eighth in fantasy points (343.25) in four-point passing touchdown leagues. The Chargers upgraded his receiving depth in this year’s draft, and his passing window should be much longer in 2023. Herbert now has six live receiving options to work with, inviting a return to the greatness he showed in 2022. Trending toward 5,500 combined yards with a push over 40 touchdowns. But Los Angeles must stay healthy on the offensive side of the ball.

Max Duggan

Duggan had a quiet start to his college career over 32 games at TCU (7,353 combined yards with 60 touchdowns and 20 interceptions). He gained only 7.3 yards per pass attempt, with weakness in his completion rate (58.9). His floor was helped by his ability to move the ball on the ground (351/1,433/19). 

Last year, Duggan helped his team play for a National Championship by starting the season with 12 consecutive wins. His inspired play vs. Michigan (282 combined yards and four scores) led to TCU facing Georgia on January 9th, where he was overmatched by the Bulldogs’ defense. On the year, Duggan gained 4,101 yards with 41 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Defenses did catch up to him late in the year in pass coverage (212 yards per game with eight passing touchdowns and six interceptions over seven starts). 

Fantasy Outlook: Duggan must improve his accuracy and arm strength to earn a starting job in the NFL. He’ll compete for the backup quarterback job for the Chargers this season.

Other Options: Easton Stick

— Running Backs —

The Chargers’ running backs led the league in catches (140) and targets (179), but they finished with a minimal game in receiving yards (911). A downgrade in LA’s offensive line was highlighted by their backs yards per catch (6.5). They ended the year with a drop off in rushing yards (1,373) for the second consecutive season and weakness in yards per rush (3.9) despite only nine fewer rushing attempts (349). The Chargers’ running backs combined for 2,284 yards with 22 touchdowns and 140 catches (29.44 FPPG).

Austin Ekeler

In 2021, Ekeler gained 1,558 combined yards with 20 touchdowns and 70 catches. The Chargers had him on the field for only 61.1% of their plays. He produced better stats at home (955 combined yards with 14 scores and 41 catches – 24.50 FPPG in PPR leagues). Ekeler posted two impact games (33.90 and 41.50 fantasy points) while having a floor of 20.00 fantasy points in nine matchups. He finished second in fantasy scoring (346.80) with one missed game with Covid-19.

Los Angeles gave him almost the same opportunity in the run game (204/915/13), with nearly the identical role in snaps (61.8%). Ekeler set a new top in catches (107) and targets (127), but he gained only 6.7 yards per catch, well below his 2021 (9.2) and his career average (9.7). 

Over the past two seasons. Ekeler has 25 rushing and 13 receiving touchdowns. He gained more than 100 rushing yards in two matchups (16/173/1 and 10/122/2) and five other outcomes with 100 combined yards or more. 

Fantasy Outlook: Over the past four seasons, Ekeler has been an exceptional player for the Chargers. He works hard and grinds out yards when there is minimal space. Unfortunately, his window for a payday is closing, and Ekeler has one year left on his contract. Los Angeles bumped up some incentives in 2023, but he’ll never get paid what he is worth or should have earned over the past two seasons (3,195 combined yards with 38 touchdowns and 177 catches). Ekeler is the second running back drafted this year after ranking 2nd and 1st in fantasy points in 2021 and 2022. His pass-catching sets a high floor while his growth in scoring leads to more impactful days (Ekeler scored over 30.00 fantasy points four times last season – 34.90, 35.90, 36.70, and 32.10), three of which came over the first seven games.

Joshua Kelley

Kelley had two productive seasons at UCLA (225/1243/12 and 229/1060/12), with his best value coming in the passing game (27/193) in 2018. His path in college started at the University of California at Davis. 

His career at UCLA began as a walk-on player with minimal value in his first two games (6/20 and 5/7). Kelley rushed for over 100 yards over his next four contests while ending the year with a touchdown in each of his final eight games, highlighted by a monster showing vs. rival USC (40/289/2). In 2019, he had four games with over 100 yards rushing (27/127/1, 18/176/1, 34/164/4, and 23/126/2), but Kelley also had multiple games (6) with fewer than 80 yards on the ground.

Kelley looks good inside the five-yard line and in short-yardage situations where he is willing to drop and drive to create yards in tight quarters. He runs with power with the ability to break tackles against trash when seeing minimal daylight. Kelley projects as a north/south runner, but I see more dimensions to his game. He offers some head and shoulder fakes when breaking into space while not losing all of his momentum. His hands grade well, and I expect him to make plays in the passing game.

In his rookie season, Kelley gained 502 combined yards with two touchdowns and 23 catches. His best opportunity came over the first two weeks (173 combined yards with one score and two catches). On the year, he gained only 3.2 yards per rush and 6.4 yards per catch.

Despite an empty 2021 (33/102/0 with five catches for 38 yards over 10 games), Kelley had the second-most running back snaps (286) for Los Angeles last season. He held his own in the run game (69/297/2) while picking up 14 catches for 101 yards. Kelley missed five weeks midseason with a knee injury.

Fantasy Outlook: Kelley remains the favorite to win

 

 

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF THE CHARGERS IN 2023?

To finish reading Shawn’s in-depth 2023 team outlook, with in-depth offseason reports, projections, and fantasy outlooks for all players

 

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