Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 6 at 4:25 PM ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Betting Odds: LAC -1, 47 Total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Cam Newton (Sit)
Patriots quarterback Cam Newton went from draft day steal to waiver wire fodder very quickly this season and hasn’t returned. He had some middling QB2 numbers from weeks 8-11 but was back down to the dumpster with an 84/0/2 outing against Arizona. Cam is washed up with his current array of weapons, and we now see the brilliance of Tom Brady even further for what he was able to accomplish in this offense every year. Super Market Cam is not worth owning right now, much less starting, even in what should have the potential for a shootout.
Running Backs
Damien Harris (Start, Flex), James White (Start, Flex)
Damien Harris fell just short of the goal line last week but has been putting up consistent flex numbers when active as he is getting a heavy volume of work as this offense has switched to more of a short-yardage attack. The Chargers are vulnerable to the run and if Harris gets anywhere from the 12-20+ touches he has seen over the past several weeks, he should deliver solid flex appeal. James White is the same old guy that he has always been for the Patriots it seems as he is back to being involved in great situational football, seeing two short scores last week and 9 targets the week before. He had a rough stretch through the middle part of his schedule, but he looks to continue to be involved ahead of a date with the Chargers. Should he only see the six touches he saw last week again, however, we can begin to wonder about his effectiveness moving forward.
Wide Receivers
N’Keal Harry (Sit), Damiere Byrd (Sit), Jakobi Meyers (Start, Flex)
This wide receiver group has been hard to figure out in recent weeks as it looked like Jakobi Meyers as he had 4 straight weeks of double-digit points from Weeks 7-10. He had a single-digit week in Week 11 but rebounded last week that shows some life as a viable flex play. I can understand if there is pause given the matchup, but the Pats will have to pass some, which will lead to a hopeful 6+ targets again. N’Keal Harry and Damiere Byrd are not viable starts as they have shown no consistency, even though Byrd had a flash in the pan with a big Week 11 against Houston. If I am choosing any out of this group, it would be Meyers, but even that doesn’t give me a lot of confidence given the matchup and quarterback play.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert (Start, QB1)
Last week was a down week for Justin Herbert with only one passing touchdown, albeit with over 300 yards yet again. Before last week, we saw multiple touchdowns in seven straight weeks as well as plenty of 300+ yards games. Even against tough defenses, Herbert has shined, so you should consider last week a blip on the radar as far as Herbert’s high octane season keeps rolling on. The Patriots could show some resistance, but Herbert now has his full arsenal of weapons that Austin Ekeler is back, while also sporting one of the best route runners in the league on the outside. Look for Herbert to have a get right game here and put up another multi-touchdown game.
Running Backs
Austin Ekeler (Start, RB1), All other Chargers RBs (Sit)
Finally, owners (that survived) rejoice! Austin Ekeler is back and looking like a solidified RB1 yet again. He actually ran the most passing routes last week and ended up with a beefy 16 targets that he turned into 11/85 through the air. Even if Ek gets half of that, you are happy. After talk of being eased back in, that wasn’t the case as the Chargers realize Ekeler is the best they have. Fire him up as a high-end RB1 for the rest of the season as a potential league winner for those that survived his absence, traded for him, or miraculously grabbed him off waivers. None of the other backs here are worth owning.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Keenan Allen (Start, WR1), Mike Williams (Sit), Hunter Henry (Start, TE1)
Keenan Allen is the best route runner in the league possibly and has been putting on a show with his new quarterback. Even in a “down week” by his standards, he scored 16 points in PPR. He is solidified every week WR1 and should rebound to his 20 point floor starting next week against an overrated New England pass defense that is still riding the wave of last year’s hype. Mike Williams has been up and down and has been a decent flex play, but I am afraid that those days may be over with the involvement of Ekeler back into the offense. We will see, but his opportunity to share last week has to be concerning. Hunter Henry is another reason why Mike Williams is not as appealing as even with Ek back, he still saw a hefty target share at 10 last week. Having a seemingly double-digit floor in recent weeks, Henry is a haven for those that have been playing tight end roulette this year. Fire him up as a TE1.
-Matt Dean (@MattDeanQBList on Twitter, mdean8 on Reddit)