Chargers @ Broncos
Final Score: LAC 23 – DEN 16
Writer: Raymi Chavez
A perfect crisp fall afternoon in Denver was the setting for a low-stress beatdown by the Chargers. The final score does not do it justice. The game started very bumpy for both teams. On the Broncos’ first drive, Bo Nix threw an interception on a deflected overthrown pass deep down the middle. The Chargers’ first play from scrimmage was an incompletion to Ladd McConkey that resulted in Pat Surtain II going back to the locker room with a concussion. At the same time, head coach Jim Harbaugh went back to the locker room with an illness he was battling, though he would thankfully return for the next drive. Two snaps later, Quentin Johnston was limping off the field after a 5-yard reception, and the drive ended with McConkey shaken up and being checked out for a concussion. Hayden Hurst would even leave for the locker room toward the end of the Chargers’ second drive. In between all the injuries, one of these teams came to play football. Coming off a bye week, the Chargers came in with a mindset to throw the ball more, passing on 10 of their first 11 plays from scrimmage. Moving the ball through the air was made a lot easier with Surtain’s injury. The Chargers would cruise to a 20-0 halftime lead.
The Chargers came out playing a lot safer, with looser coverages on defense, and went back to their “run first, second, and third” offense the league has grown accustomed to. This allowed Bo Nix and the Broncos to mount an attempted comeback. Nix started 4/14 for 27 yards and an interception, but with the looser coverage, he was able to finish strong, going 15/19 with 191 yards and two touchdowns. The game was never in question, and the Chargers were never threatened or seemed worried. The Chargers got healthier over the bye and returned to the form they showed early in the season, while the Broncos offense took a step back after riding the high of beating down their rival Raiders last week.
Let’s break down the numbers.
Two Up
- J.K. Dobbins – Dobbins went into the bye week trending down and came out of it looking a lot closer to early season Dobbins. A critical component of the offense, he almost popped a couple of big plays.
- Justin Herbert – Herbert popped early on Sunday. That extra time to get healthy was noticeable, and his talent was on display. Herbert is still moving a little gingerly, but the arm talent jumps off the screen.
Two Down
- Javonte Williams – In the grand scheme of things, Williams’ poor numbers were a result of the game script, but he had a massive fumble in the first half that ended any chance the Broncos had at not letting the game get out of hand early.
- Jaleel McLaughlin – Jaleel has been played out of his barely viable fantasy role, losing snaps to rookie Audric Estime.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: 21/34, 237 Yards, TD | 4 Carries, 2 Yards, 1 Fumble (Recovered)
Heading into this game, Herbert’s season-high passing yards was 179, but today, he had 184 in the first half alone. The Chargers came out in the first half, throwing the ball noticeably more. Harbaugh confirmed that with his in-game interview, mentioning that the team was focused on becoming more balanced with their run/pass plays. If this continues, Herbert will be back to having a passable QB2 floor. Coming into this one, it was looking more like he could be dropped.
Running Back
J.K. Dobbins: 25 Carries, 96 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards
Gus Edwards going on IR is great news for Dobbins, as he dominated the carries in Sunday’s victory. His yards per carry aren’t jumping off the page like they were to start the season, but he has been playing tough defenses and had set an unrealistic bar to start. Dobbins is the most important skill position player on the Chargers, and he’ll continue to be a must-start thanks to his volume in a run-first offense.
Kimani Vidal: 4 Carries, 11 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 40 Yards, TD
Vidal impressed early in 2024; positive quotes were coming out about him in training camp, and some of us (me) in deep leagues had drafted him thinking he could play himself into a role. It’s uncertain if he can play himself into a bigger role than a pure backup for now, but he was used in the passing game regularly, and that is why he got very few snaps in the second half. His 38-yard receiving touchdown was a fantastic wheel route.
kimani vidal's first nfl touch is a td
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/D8GD2ZOroo
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 13, 2024
Hassan Haskins: 2 Carries, 5 Yards
Haskins looked like a Gus Edwards FB/HB lite. He is not fantasy-relevant.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Ladd McConkey: 8 Targets, 4 Receptions, 43 Yards
McConkey was visibly dealing with injuries throughout the game. He toughed it out on multiple occasions and was Herbert’s most trusted target throughout the game. Intermediate and possession throws found their way into Ladd’s hands often.
Quentin Johnston: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 22 Yards | 1 Carry
Johnston got a handful of touches during the first drive. Greg Roman has been using Johnston in his game plan often throughout the season, giving him a high ceiling, and if it wasn’t for him getting his ankle banged up early in the game, I imagine we would’ve seen a lot more of him than we did.
Will Dissly: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 26 Yards
Dissly showed his talents as a pass-catching TE on a few occasions. He’s got a floor of around five points in PPR, so as a low-end streaming option, he could pop with a TD.
Simi Fehoko: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 44 Yards
A fifth-round draft pick from 2021, Fehoko showed real promise today. He only recorded two receptions, but they were great catches for chunk plays, and Herbert went back to the well a couple of times while he was covered. In a passing game where the ball gets sprayed around, I think he’s earned himself more routes.
Joshua Palmer: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 38 Yards
Palmer’s disappointing season continues as the only receiver with any real chemistry with Herbert seems to be plummeting down the depth chart.
Derius Davis: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 8 Yards | 2 Carries, 14 Yards
Stone Smartt: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 10 Yards
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Bo Nix: 19/33, 216 Yards, 2 TDs, INT | 6 Carries, 61 Yards
Stats-wise, this game looks solid and was solid for fantasy. Watching the game, you know that literally 95% of this production came in the second half against a soft shell defense that was giving up chunk play after chunk play underneath. His mobility was truly exciting, however, and he did show true poise in the pocket, even during his rough first half. Nix needs better weapons, and he’ll become a viable QB2.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: 6 Carries, 23 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost) | 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 13 Yards
Williams is the workhorse in this running back room. Starting the season in a timeshare was thought to be the reality, but Javonte has firmly taken the reins. This week’s game was disappointing for him, and his fumble was not only costly to fantasy managers but for his team’s chances of winning the game. His pass protection is fantastic, however, and he’ll continue to grossly out-snap the rest of the RB room, even when games get out of hand, he could see opportunity in the passing game.
Jaleel McLaughlin: 3 Carries, 8 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards
McLaughlin had another underwhelming game and continues to lose snaps weekly. Anyone stashing him hoping for a breakout should start looking elsewhere.
Audric Estime: 2 Carries, 13 Yards
Speaking of elsewhere, that could be right below McLaughlin on the depth chart. Estime only got out there a couple of times and outgained McLaughlin in one run. The rookie could be moving up the depth chart behind the scenes at practice.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Courtland Sutton: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 53 Yards, TD
A solid game for Sutton that is, unfortunately, at the upper end of his ceiling. You can expect this kind of production every week and just have to hope for the TD to make it viable. What a catch that TD was today, though.
Courtland Sutton with one of the catches of the year. pic.twitter.com/CWWjieLV0m
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 13, 2024
Devaughn Vele: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 78 Yards
Vele Caught chunk play after chunk play in the second half while the Chargers were giving up everything underneath. To be fair to him, he did what he was asked to and made the most of the opportunity he got.
Troy Franklin: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 31 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, 5 Yards
A great TD catch by Franklin bolstered his performance. Nix speaks highly of Franklin, so I imagine he’ll continue to get shots as long as he continues to catch them.
Lucas Krull: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards
Greg Dulcich’s replacement hasn’t done much more than Dulcich did, but he also doesn’t have the drops that Dulcich had.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
A disappointing result. On the depth chart as a starting receiver, Humphrey was invisible on the field.
Nate Adkins: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards