FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 1
The start-or-sit dilemma is part of managing a fantasy football teamSEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN EKELER #30 - RUNNING BACK - WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
333 YDS •
65 ATT •
4 TD
333 YDS
65 ATT
4 TD
Staley, Herbert looking to get Chargers back into contention
Heading into last season's opener, Brandon Staley was preparing for his first game as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, while Justin Herbert was taking second-string...SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dealing with hamstring issue Ekeler was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice due to a hamstring injury, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Impact While an absence from practice with a new injury isn't an optimal way for the Chargers' top back to start the week, he still has two more chances to return to field in advance of Sunday's game versus Washington. If Ekeler is out or limited this weekend, more work would be available for Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Working out on side at practice Ekeler worked off to the side with trainers during the open portion of Wednesday's practice, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Impact Further context with regard to the extent of Ekeler's activity will arrive once the Chargers submit their official injury report later Wednesday. Added reps will be available for fellow running backs Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree for any amount of practice time Ekeler misses.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
ADP outliers: Investing in Sam Darnold to Dan Arnold, fading Austin Ekeler and Brandon Aiyuk, and more Michael Salfino highlights the players who he's valuing significantly higher or lower than the ADP market, including a pair of Panthers.
AUGUST 27, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Austin Ekeler Fantasy Outlook Includes Top-5 Upside in 2021 Austin Ekeler was supposed to have a breakout year in 2020, but injuries limited him to 10 games and an RB26 finish in fantasy football (PPR...
AUGUST 17, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Sitting out preseason Coach Brandon Staley said Ekeler and other key starters won't play this preseason, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact Among those named on the offensive side of the ball were Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen, meaning we won't see the Chargers' first-team offense intact until Week 1. The decision is an interesting one, as Staley clearly isn't comfortable getting to the regular season with one of the trio in street clothes. When it comes to Ekeler in particular, he missed six games during the 2020 campaign due to lower-body injuries, but he still accumulated 933 yards from scrimmage and three TDs on 170 touches in 10 appearances.
AUGUST 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Austin Ekeler named Bleacher Report's Biggest Breakout Fantasy Football Star of 2021 Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report named Austin Ekeler the Biggest Breakout Fantasy Football Star of 2021.
AUGUST 12, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM
Austin Ekeler, Michael Davis 'In the Same League' With Giorgio Armani, Chargers LUX "I actually heard a lot about Giorgio Armani, but I always thought it was kind of out of my league. And I guess we're all in the same league...
AUGUST 9, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM
Herbert, James excel in Chargers' scrimmage in front of fans
Los Angeles Chargers fans got to see a little bit of everything during their first opportunity to view a practice at SoFi StadiumAUGUST 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chargers RB Kelley stays positive after struggling as rookie
Los Angeles Chargers running back Joshua Kelley never lost his smile and positive outlook even during a difficult rookie seasonAUGUST 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Offensive line metrics: A retooled Chargers 'powerhouse' will help Austin Ekeler; downgrade the Bears' David Montgomery and more KC Joyner breaks down six NFL offensive lines, and explains whether they belong in fantasy manager's circle of trust or not.
AUGUST 6, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Injury watch: Draft Joe Mixon, exercise caution with Austin Ekeler, avoid JuJu Smith-Schuster and more Inside Injuries' Virginia Zakas offers her insights for seven elevated injury risks for 2021, including a red flag for JuJu Smith-Schuster.
AUGUST 5, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
What is Austin Ekeler Looking to Prove In Fifth Training Camp? "He comes out here and does his job at a high level consistently and that example is not exclusive to running backs."
JULY 30, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM
Herbert excited to see fans as Chargers begin training camp
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was so excited to see fans that he forgot about social distancing mandatesJULY 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fantasy Football: Chargers' Austin Ekeler is a top-five fantasy running back ' Fantasy Football News, Rankings and Projections ' PFF Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is being overlooked amid the 2021 fantasy football running back options and deserves to come...
JULY 15, 2021 • PFF.COM
Why Austin Ekeler Could 'Be a Top Two or Three' Fantasy Running Back in 2021 Only three running backs have more receptions than Ekeler since 2017.
JULY 8, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM
Austin Ekeler shares early impression of Chargers' new coaching staff Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler joins
JUNE 21, 2021 • NFL.COM
From the Podium: What RB Austin Ekeler Thinks About the Chargers' New Offense Ten quotes from the Chargers' two-day minicamp this week at Hoag Performance Center.
JUNE 17, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM
Fantasy Football: Just how high is Austin Ekeler's ceiling in 2021? | Fantasy Football News, Rankings and Projections | PFF Breaking down just how good Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler has been as a PPR asset and what to make of him for 2021 fantasy...
JUNE 14, 2021 • PFF.COM
AFC West Coaching Breakdown: Joe Lombardi Has Big Plans for Austin Ekeler The Chargers have a new coaching staff which has fantasy football players asking how the team plans on using running back Austin Ekeler. If...
JUNE 9, 2021 • SI.COM
Set up for career year? Ekeler could in position for a massive season in offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's system, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Impact Considering the type of player Alvin Kamara developed into under coach Lombardi's system in New Orleans, it's entirely possible the ultra-versatile Ekeler could be an even more prominent weapon, especially if the team opts to motion the running back out wide more often (Kamara finished the 2020 season with the second-most outside WR snaps of any RB, and fourth-most slot snaps). A Grade 2 hamstring strain ultimately cost Ekeler six games last season, but even before the injury, Ekeler was far short of the pass-catching pace he set the year prior with Philip Rivers under center. Should Ekeler stay healthy for a full season, it's entirely possible the 26-year-old could threaten current receiving records for running backs, making him an extremely valuable high-upside selection, particularly in PPR formats.
MAY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Chargers hoping to get the most out of running back Austin Ekeler A series of factors have kept Austin Ekeler from posting huge numbers, but there's no denying his importance to the Chargers' offense.
APRIL 25, 2021 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Chargers hoping to get the most out of running back Austin Ekeler A series of factors have kept Austin Ekeler from posting huge numbers, but there's no denying his importance to the Chargers' offense.
APRIL 25, 2021 • LATIMES.COM
Chargers: Austin Ekeler shares hilarious memory about Philip Rivers’ kids It is well documented that former LA Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has a big family. Rivers has nine children, seven girls and two boys...
APRIL 20, 2021 • BOLTBEAT.COM
