Kickoff: Sunday, December 26th at 1 PM ET
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Tx
Betting Odds: LAC, -8.5, 45.5 Total on Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert (Start, QB1)
The call of Justin Herbert’s TD from this Spanish broadcast is phenomenal. pic.twitter.com/duOI1v44h9
— PFF NFL Podcast (@PFFNFLPod) December 14, 2021
Justin Herbert may be in for a big game with Austin Ekeler being u put on the COVID-19 list. Herbert has been playing “MVP” level football this year. The Chargers QB has been having a season this year with 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns through 14 games. I expect Herbert to be a guaranteed QB1 this week with a little extra on top without his RB1 this week. Don’t be cute and keep the guy that got you to the playoffs in this week.
Running Backs
Justin Jackson (Start, RB2), Joshua Kelley (Sit)
Justin Jackson up the middle for 22 yards! #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/KDAWJDSc9h
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) December 17, 2021
Justin Jackson will get a chance to show out this week against the abysmal run defense of the Houston Texans. The Texans have allowed the most yards (1,752) and second-most TDs (16) to RBs. Last week Jackson got 13 carries and 99 scrimmage yards. Jackson should be a good RB2 this week against one of the worst run defenses. Joshua Kelley is not worth looking at in this game, don’t do it.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Keenan Allen (Start, WR1), Mike Williams (Start, WR2), Jared Cook (Sit), Josh Palmer (Sit)
Keenan Allen has been beasting out these past two weeks, snagging three touchdowns. Plug Allen into your WR1 slot and don’t worry about anything. Mike Williams has averaged seven targets a game since Week 12. Williams has been very boom/bust since returning from an early year injury, but I think this week is a good time to start him as a WR2. Jared Cook has been touchdown-dependent this year, and even then isn’t a good start, just keep him on your bench. Josh Palmer may see a bigger role with Jalen Guyton out on COVID-IR, but I still don’t see him as a startable player.
Houston Texans
Quarterback
Davis Mills (Sit)
https://twitter.com/Matt__Weston/status/1473704689480970254
Davis Mills has been good in his last two starts, throwing for 540 yards and 3 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Mills will be without Brandin Cooks who has received 203 yards and 2 TDs. It’ll be interesting to see how this offense plays without its best option. Outside of last week’s performance where the Chargers gave up 400 yards, and 3 TDs. That defense had been pretty good against the passing game, and I think this will continue against Mills. Look for Mills to provide upside in garbage time, but I’m not banking on him being a QB2 this game.
Running Backs
Rex Burkhead (Sit), David Johnson (Sit)
Get yourself someone who protects their QB like Sony Michel 😯#RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/XT7nAWcnKN
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 16, 2021
The Chargers have given up the fourth-most rushing yards (1,605) and the second-most TDs (16). Even though this matchup is favorable for the Texan’s RBs, I don’t think any of them are good plays. Rex Burkhead is the lead back in this stable, as he’s had back-to-back 40-yard rushing games, along with getting targeted seven times in the last two games. Royce Freeman had eight yards last week and David Johnson has only gotten 50 or more yards three times this year. Everyone sits in this game.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Nico Collins (Sit), Philip Dorsett (Sit), Chris Conley (Sit)
Nico Collins is nice pic.twitter.com/RfmX0cuCb6
— matty (@5StarMatty) December 14, 2021
Brandin Cooks is on COVID-IR, so this will be a game to see what Nico Collins can do with the extra targets. Collins is averaging seven targets in the past two games and should be given a healthy dose of targets in this game. I think he could get his first touchdown this year on Sunday, but I still don’t trust Collins enough to start him. Philip Dorsett and Chris Conley might have upside but I’m not going to flip a coin on any of them in the playoffs.