What We Saw: Week 1

Raiders @ Chargers

Final Score: LAC 22 – LV 10

Writer: Raymi Chavez

A blistering sunny day in Los Angeles seemed like the perfect setting for some good football. Unfortunately, that wasn’t exactly what we got today. Jim Harbaugh debuted as Chargers Head Coach against Antonio Pierce, fresh off shedding his interim title, and the Raiders. Surprisingly it was the more experienced coach’s side that started the game off real sloppy, with four penalties on tight ends in the first quarter. Neither side was able to get the ball moving with any consistency and both were especially brutal in the run game.

The Raiders went into halftime sporting a narrow 7-6 lead, although they failed to take advantage of the Chargers’ struggles. In typical Harbaugh fashion, the Chargers kept plowing away at the run game and eventually, the cracks began to show as they took control of the contest in the second half with JK Dobbins leading the way. Justin Herbert played a clean turnover-free game and the Chargers won the game handily but didn’t impress as much as fans may have hoped. Welcome to Jim Harbaugh football Chargers nation!

Let’s take a look at what we saw fantasy-wise with this game.

Three Up

• JK Dobbins – A tough first half was quickly forgotten as Dobbins managed to break off chunk play after chunk play in the second half, highlighted by a 61-yard back-breaking run late in the fourth quarter and topped off by a 12-yard touchdown run.
• Brock Bowers – Any concerns over how Bowers would be utilized in a TE-heavy offense with a mediocre QB were quickly dashed as he saw targets early and often. Especially exciting to see when the offense got into hurry-up or obvious passing situations Bowers was the main TE seeing snaps.
• Ladd McConkey – A crowded unproven Chargers WR room was cause for concern and McConkey seemed to separate himself from the pack. Herbert’s favorite and most consistent target could be the WR to own, especially in PPR despite the Chargers run-first offense.

Three Down

• Zamir White – White, like all RBs, looked brutal in the first half and almost seemed to lose trust rather quickly as Mattison saw a heavier-than-anticipated workload immediately in the first half and was far more productive with them. When he did finally seem to get something going in the second half he lost a fumble.
• Joshua Palmer – Lots of optimism for Palmer was buoyed by the fact that he had the most chemistry and experience with Justin Herbert, but he was still out-targeted by a rookie and second-year player and in this run-first offense there may not be a lot of fantasy-relevant WR outside of the top one.
• Gus Edwards – While every RB struggled in the first half Edwards struggled throughout the game. Consistently only gaining 1 or 2 yards, Gus lost the tug of war for snaps in this RB room today.

Las Vegas Raiders

Quarterback

Gardner Minshew: 25/33, 257 Yards, TD 1 INT | 3 Carries, 5 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)

While there wasn’t a ton of optimism for Minshew heading into the season this game was a bit of a rollercoaster for him. He looked poised and sure of himself running the offense, going through his progressions well, and making the right plays consistently he just had two unfortunate plays that dragged his point total from passable to below average. He seems to have backup/streamer QB potential.

Positives

• Spreading the ball out Minshew completed passes to 8 different receivers. He was dependable and made smart accurate throws throughout the game. He took his chances when he had them and took his safe checkdowns when he didn’t
• Minshew held in that pocket and allowed his receivers to get open on every play and did a great job of moving around the pocket to give himself room to pass as opposed to breaking into a scramble immediately. Lots to be optimistic about.

Negatives

• His fumble was a result of what was supposed to be an immediate pass to the flat off the snap, but the receiver was not on the same page. As Minshew was halfway through the pass he realized and attempted to pump instead, unfortunately, the ball still slipped out and went backward leading to the fumble.
• His interception at the end of the game was off a great deflection play by Khalil Mack as Minshew was attempting to orchestrate a hurry-up miracle comeback late.

Running Back

Zamir White: 13 Carries, 44 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 2 Yards | 1 Fumble (Lost)

A lot of optimism with Zamir White after his successful end to last season. He was a massive disappointment. Unable to get anything going in the run game and being essentially a net zero in the passing game, he lost out on more snaps than expected to Mattison. In the second half, he had about a four-carry stretch that was positive gaining 5-8 yards an attempt. Unfortunately one of them came back due to a hold and the next ended in him fumbling the ball. He found himself on the bench as soon as the game script called for more passing offense. Surely he’ll be given plenty of opportunity to correct this performance, hopefully, he will take advantage.

Alexander Mattison: 5 Carries, 19 Yards | 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 43 Yards, TD

Mattison’s 31-yard receiving touchdown in the first quarter was the highlight of the Raiders offense, and he was very effective in the carries he gained slowly wrestling away snaps from Zamir White. Became the go-to back as soon as the Raiders leaned on their passing game. Mattison figures to be a great stash currently and a low-end streaming option.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Davante Adams: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 59 Yards

Davante Adams was his usually dependable self, gaining chunk plays and first downs throughout the game. Minshew spread the ball around which resulted in Adams having a more pedestrian target count and production. There were a couple of times that Adams was left untargeted when open as Minshew doesn’t figure to be tunneling on Adams as he may be used to. This is still most likely his floor for the season and since the Raiders didn’t move the ball into the red zone once we aren’t sure what his usage will be like there.

Brock Bowers: 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 58 Yards

Bowers had a great debut game. Running great routes, having great hands, and consistently finding himself open. Even early on when the Raiders were running the ball he saw a healthy snap count, Brock led the team in targets and figures to be one of Minshew’s favorite targets. On a team that figures to be playing from behind more often than not, he could find himself finishing as a top 10 TE this year.

Jakobi Meyers: 1 Carry, 3 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 61 Yards

Jakobi didn’t see a lot of targets, but he made the most of them consistently gaining big chunks, including the longest pass play of the game for the Raiders. He would be a TD-dependent streaming option at best.

Michael Mayer: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 3 Yards

Mayer had high hopes as a highly drafted rookie TE last year and showed promise, but the arrival of Bowers has stopped any of that progress. Mayer had a larger share of snaps when the Raiders were attempting to run the ball more, but as soon as the Raiders turned to a pass-first offense he was demoted to the backup TE role with Bowers eating up targets. Based on this performance I would be pessimistic about his fantasy relevance this season.

Tre Tucker: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 22 Yards

There was some smoke with Tucker’s performance this training camp and preseason, he was used out of the flat and had a couple of strong plays. Not dependable as a fantasy option.

DJ Turner: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards

Los Angeles Chargers

Quarterback

Justin Herbert: 17/26, 144 Yards, TD | 4 Carries, 6 Yards

The Chargers’ trend toward a run-first offense was expected when Jim Harbaugh was hired on as head coach. This proved to be true. Herbert’s role seems to be to play a clean, turnover-free game that takes advantage of any edge gained from the Chargers’ relentless run game. He mostly filled that role admirably but left a little to be desired still. A game like this will most likely be his floor, but in this offense, his ceiling doesn’t project to be very high this season.

Notes

• Herbert hit his receiver for short to medium gains with confidence and his incompletions mostly consisted of throwaways and drops by his inexperienced receiver room.

Missed Opportunities

• Although he did a good job of making safe smart throws and reads he had 2-3 deep incompletions that were forced and unnecessary, on one missing a wide open TE in the middle of the field for a sure first down to try and push the ball down the field.

Running Back

J.K. Dobbins: 10 Carries, 135 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 4 Yards

Dobbins had a fantastic game, seemed to be the go-to running back in passing formations, and peeled off chunk play after chunk play in the second half. Someone available in the last couple rounds of the majority of drafts figures to be a main component in a relentless run first offense. If he’s available I would go looking for him, even if just to stash for now.

Gus Edwards: 11 Carries, 26 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards

Edwards got the first bite at the apple as the 1A RB in the room and completely fumbled it, pun intended. Edwards was stuffed constantly and mostly gained 1-2 yards. Very quickly Dobbins was able to take advantage. Greg Roman and Edwards have a great relationship so he’ll certainly get plenty of opportunities, but the Chargers RB room is filled with young RBs that Harbaugh could give a shot if Edwards continues with these types of performances.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Ladd McConkey: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 39 Yards, TD

The bright spot in the Chargers receiving room. Ladd made some tough catches and was targeted often by Herbert in the short to medium range. He seems to be the WR1 of what will be a low-ceiling passing offense.

Quentin Johnston: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 38 Yards

After an incredibly disappointing rookie season that had some people already calling him a bust, Johnston was surprisingly far more involved in the offense than most would have thought. He had some great run-after-catch moments, but those were balanced out by a couple of drops. It looks like he’s made some progress and could be a low-end streaming option.

Joshua Palmer: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards

Lots, including myself, anticipated Palmer leading the way in this receiving room and although he was targeted a couple of times in the red zone, seeming to be Herbert’s go-to option in the endzone he didn’t factor in much otherwise, and while the upside of his chemistry with Herbert is tantalizing it looks to be far more TD dependent than anticipated. Hold a little longer, but Palmer could have a FLEX or streaming ceiling.

Hayden Hurst: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 33 Yards

The main TE targeted by Herbert, most of his production came off a 27-yard catch that was the longest pass play the Chargers completed. He had one target in the red zone. I think this could be his floor, as the Chargers will be thriving in the short- to medium-pass play. We’ll need some more evidence of his usage in the red zone, but I would be comfortable streaming Hurst in optimal matchups.

Will Dissly: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 13 Yards

Dissly’s biggest impact was three pre-snap penalties in the first quarter, a surefire way to wind up on the bench in Harbaugh’s offense.

Scott Matlock: 1 Target