Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 8th, 2024, 4:05 PM ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Network: CBS
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew: Sit, QB3
Minshew falls outside my top 30 Quarterbacks. There’s no fixing the Raiders in 2024.
Running Back
Zamir White: FLEX Option
White should lead the early touches for the Raiders, which can provide him with some deep FLEX appeal. The issue is that in Week 1, he faces a stout defense and doesn’t have the added benefit of being involved in passing downs much. The Sharps are adding Dylan Laube to the end of their bench or their watch list. Laube may not be a needle mover right now, but he should have the inside track at the passing down work and may just be better than White outright by season’s end.
Wide Receiver
Davante Adams: Start, WR2
Adams just misses my top 12 wide receivers. He should dominate targets with Brock Bowers still being slightly banged up. The question for Adams is what Minshew can provide for fantasy managers. In full PPR leagues, it should be enough to help you contend, but I wouldn’t expect an end-zone visit in Week 1.
Tight End
Brock Bowers: FLEX Option
Bowers is more of a TE2 in his first NFL game. He is still dealing with some lingering injury concerns, but nothing that should hamper him too much. In a tough matchup and with a limited Quarterback, Bowers’ talent should be able to flirt with FLEX 2 appeal in 12-person leagues.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: Sit, QB2
It feels weird to say Herbert is not a QB1, but here we are. In Week 1, Herbert has a decent matchup against the Raiders, even with an impressive pass rush. That being said, unless we see evidence that Herbert is going to use his legs more, reminiscent of what we saw in college, he may be stuck outside the top tier of Quarterbacks.
Running Back
JK Dobbins: FLEX Option
Gus Edwards: FLEX Option
The running game for the Chargers has been talked about all off-season. As we head into Week 1, we are left with the top two options: Dobbins and Edwards. Both have their respective concerns, but there is a fair chance they each see somewhere between 12-15 touches, and that is enough to provide FLEX appeal for fantasy managers. If you drafted both players, I prefer Dobbins, who is the younger and more explosive player. When he is healthy, he has been one of the more efficient rushers in the league.
Wide Receiver
Ladd McConkey: FLEX Option
Joshua Palmer: Sit
Both McConkey and Palmer should be involved in Week 1 for the Chargers. That being said, in an unclear system and distribution of targets, I would not be confident putting either player in my lineup or my starting wide receiver positions. Ladd can be an excellent FLEX play with some increased risk due to his inexperience and struggles with injury. As for Palmer, we have never seen quite enough to trust, and I don’t see that changing in Week 1.
Tight End
Will Dissly: Sit
Looking at tight ends, Will Dissly is not a name you want to start in the first week of the season, if at all, in 2024. It is safe to assume that if there are pass catchers on the Chargers’ roster who can help you get a win in Week 1, they are at wide receiver, not tight end.
Will Dustin be back to this column this season? I love his creative ways of insulting poor performances.