Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 25th at 3:25 PM ET
Location: SoFI Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Betting Odds: LAC -7, 51.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew (Start, QB1)
Gardner Minshew continues to surprise with three straight weekly QB1 finishes, and four of the last five weeks. Minshew has just one game when he scored less than 22.5 fantasy points, a Week 3 stinker in Miami (13.9 points). At some point, we just need to trust what we see and realize Minshew Mania is in full effect. The Chargers have allowed three 300+ yard passers and given up 12 total touchdowns to the position in just five weeks. Minshew is a must-start in SuperFlex and 2Qb leagues. He is an excellent streaming option and a low-end starter in standard leagues this week.
Running Backs
James Robinson (Start, RB2)
A slow Week 6 should not sour fantasy managers on James Robinson. Robinson carried the ball just 12 times, the third time in four weeks that he’s had less than 13 carries, but his passing game work makes him a reliable RB2, especially with position scarcity. Robinson did manage to haul in four receptions and scored which salvaged his day. The Chargers present a difficult matchup for Robinson, they have yet to allow a rushing touchdown. However, teams have been able to move the ball to receivers out of the backfield. If you have a better option at RB2 then sit Robinson but he should return low-end RB2 numbers this week if needed.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
D.J. Chark (Start, WR2), Laviska Shenault (Start, Flex), Keelan Cole (Sit, Low-end Flex), James O’Shaugnessy (Sit), Tyler Eifert (Sit, Neck)
The best news fantasy managers could have hoped for was no news on D.J. Chark‘s ankle injury after Week 6. Chark struggled in his return but another week of rehab and no setbacks could land Chark back at the top of this Jags passing attack. Chark is an easy start this week, despite the difficult Chargers matchup. Start your studs and by all accounts, Chark certainly is one. If you have a manager n your league who has soured on Chark, try and acquire him before his second-half explosion. Rookie Laviska Shenault had his worst game as a pro, but with just five games under his belt that isn’t saying much. Shenault still had seven targets and one carry so it’s clear that the team wants to keep him involved. The Chargers are very tough against receivers are he can only be used if you are in need of a flex play.
The Jaguars have three receivers with more than 250 receiving yards on the season but you may be surprised to know that Keelan Cole leads the team with 362, one more yard than he had in all of 2019. Cole also has three early touchdowns but despite all the early production, we are recommending a sit or at the very least a speculative flex play. Before last week’s 143 yard explosion, Cole has not topped 100-yards since 2018. With a healthy Chark and an emerging Shenault, Cole will be game script and touchdown dependant and both are hard to forecast.
The Jaguars’ tight ends have been disappointing and unproductive but not surprising. We hoped Tyler Eifert could find some of the magic of his past and be a usable fantasy asset, but injuries have slowed him yet again. James O’Shaugnessy will see the majority of the passing routes and primary snaps but he does not belong on fantasy rosters.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert (Start, QB1)
Since being inserted into the starting lineup before Week 2 Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been the fantasy QB7 in points per game. Herbert has four straight 20 point games, three 25+ point games, and scored 30 points in Week 5 against New Orleans. Coming out of his bye week Herbert should be even more prepared to lead this Chargers offensive attack. The Jaguars are a neutral matchup but they have allowed multiple touchdown passes in three of six games, including four in Week 2. Herbert is an easy QB1 start this week and managers should also check waivers to see if he may have been dropped during his bye.
Running Backs
Joshua Kelley (Sit, Flex), Justin Jackson (Start, Flex)
All eyes will be on this Chargers backfield to see how they split this backfield. In Week 5 Justin Jackson dominated snaps and took 15 carries to Joshua Kelley‘s 11. Jackson was also on the field in nearly all passing situations but Kelley took plenty of early-down work and served as the goalline back. Jackson and Kelley appear to be splitting the backfield exactly as we would have expected with a healthy Austin Ekeler in the lineup. Both should see enough opportunity this week to warrant flex starts. The Jags have been awful defending the position, allowing 115 yards on the ground and nine total touchdowns.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Keenan Allen (Start, WR2, Back), Mike Williams (Start, Flex, WR2 without Allen), Hunter Henry (Start, TE1)
Pay close attention to injury reports later this week on Keenan Allen, who has been dealing with a back injury for part of the season. Allen has been limited in practice this week, which should be concerning considering the Chargers have been off since October 13th. Allen should play, and perhaps Anthony Lynn‘s comments are just coach-speak but we should know more on Friday afternoon. If playing Allen should have little trouble producing against this soft Jaguars pass defense. Allen is not a top option this week because of his uncertainty but coming out of this game healthy would be encouraging. Regardless of Allen’s status, Mike Williams is a solid start this week, a flex play but with an enormous upside. Williams relies on deep targets to be productive, which are generally less efficient, and that makes him tough to trust week to week. Williams is catching just 50% of his targets but he is coming off of a two-touchdown, 109-yard game. Without Allen, Williams is an excellent WR2 option but he should still be in your flex regardless because of his boom potential this week. Hunter Henry should also be in all lineups this week. The Jaguars have allowed five touchdowns to tight ends and should have their hands full defending the Chargers’ offensive weapons.
-Marc Salazar (@dingwog on Twitter)