What We Saw: Week 3

Houston Texans vs Los Angeles Chargers

 

Los Angeles Chargers

 

Quarterback

 

• Philip Rivers: 31/46, 318 yards, 2 TDs | 2 carries, 9 yards

 

Philip Rivers battled a poor performance from his offensive line to post a strong fantasy outing. Rivers relied on short, quick throws to accumulate his yards and was very effective particularly on hitting Keenan Allen’s out routes. Rivers looked fine under pressure, but the pass rush prevented him from succeeding on his downfield shots. Unfortunately, his offensive line’s limitations will probably remain going forward, but Rivers remains a low-end starting quarterback for fantasy going forward,

 

Running Backs

 

• Austin Ekeler: 9 carries, 36 yards | 7 targets, 7 receptions, 45 yards
• Justin Jackson: 5 carries, 26 yards | 4 targets, 4 receptions, 4 yards

 

Austin Ekeler looked good on his touches, showing off the elusiveness that has made him one of the best PPR running backs to start the season. With the offensive line struggling, the Chargers dialed up several screens for Ekeler, and he was successful on most of them. Ekeler will continue to be a must-start fantasy running back for as long as he’s the starter for the Chargers. Justin Jackson wasn’t as effective in the passing game but looked good as a runner. Jackson is fast and shifty in space, making a few defenders miss what should have been easy tackles. Jackson isn’t seeing enough volume to be counted on for fantasy, but he is one of the more valuable handcuffs to own.

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

 

• Keenan Allen: 17 targets, 13 receptions, 183 yards, 2 TDs | 1 carry, 3 yards
• Mike Williams: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 45 yards
• Dontrelle Inman: 3 targets, 1 reception, 23 yards
• Travis Benjamin: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 5 yards
• Lance Kendricks: 2 targets, 1 reception, 13 yards

 

Keenan Allen had a monster game today, essentially carrying the Chargers passing game by himself. Allen routinely burned defensive backs with routes breaking to the outside, but he put his entire route running repertoire on display today. Mike Williams saw a few deep targets and Philip Rivers looked his way whenever the Texans were showing single coverage on him, but Williams wasn’t able to come down with most of the looks he got. Williams should get more involved the further removed he gets from the injury that slowed him the last two weeks, but for now, it’s hard to trust him as anything more than a touchdown-dependent flex option. This passing attack will continue to revolve around Allen and Austin Ekeler, with some deep shots and red zone looks to Williams mixed in.

 

Houston Texans

 

Quarterback

 

• Deshaun Watson: 25/34, 351 yards, 3 TDs | 7 carries, 18 yards

 

Deshaun Watson was awesome today, consistently breaking away from sacks and extending plays to find receivers open downfield. On one of his touchdowns to Jordan Akins Watson appeared to be sacked, before breaking away from the defenders and finding a wide-open Akins for an easy touchdown. Without Watson’s mobility, this game would not have been close, as the Texans offensive line continues to struggle. Watson took several big hits, and his durability going forward has to be a concern with his willingness to take a hit to make the play. For as long as he is healthy, Watson will remain among the elite fantasy quarterbacks.

 

Running Backs

 

• Carlos Hyde: 10 carries, 19 yards, 1 TD
• Duke Johnson: 2 carries, 2 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards

 

The Texans did not utilize other running back much today, but it seems clear that Carlos Hyde is the primary back here. Hyde was the back they called on to convert short-yardage plays, as well as once the Texans got near the goal line. Duke Johnson seems to be an afterthought in the passing game and non-existent in the running game. Johnson is too talented to be dropped for now, but if the Texans do not plan to use him as a receiver then he does not offer much value. Hyde is useable as a flex option, but the Texans have not run the ball effectively enough for him to be started with confidence.

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

 

• DeAndre Hopkins: 7 targets, 6 receptions, 67 yards
• Will Fuller: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 51 yards
• Kenny Stills: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 89 yards
• Jordan Akins: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs
• Darren Fells: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD

 

On a day when both DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller were kept in check, the Texans were still able to move the ball through the air, relying on their tight ends and a few long completions to Kenny Stills to get the job done. Jordan Akins scored on a 15-yard route straight up the seam, and on a short pass that was able to turn and run 53 yards for the score after Watson evaded a sack. Darren Fells scored on a beautiful throw from Watson that found the tight end barely open in the back of the end zone. Both tight ends producing was probably a result of the Chargers focusing their defensive efforts on the receivers, and neither one is someone to prioritize on the waiver wire this week. Of the two, Akins seems more athletic and would make for the more interesting addition, but I would continue to avoid both for now.

 

 — Dan Adams