The Touchback is launching a preview series for fantasy football this season. Today, we’re providing you with the Los Angeles Chargers 2020 Fantasy Football Overview. Click here to read our other previews.
There isn’t much to get excited about when it comes to the Los Angeles Chargers this season. Philip Rivers has left town only to be replaced by Tyrod Taylor, the fantasy football quarterback equivalent to a shoulder shrug. Melvin Gordon and his sub-4.0 yards per carry average also won’t be joining the Chargers in their new home.
LA’s other team looks like a seven-win outfit at best. From a fantasy football standpoint, the Chargers offense will be revamped, but probably not improved. Rivers threw for 4,615 yards which was the fourth highest total in 2019. As a starter in Buffalo, Taylor could barely clear 3,000 yards. And banking on rushing upside from a 31-year old quarterback may not be the best bet.
This makes it hard to get excited about Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and…well…that’s all Los Angeles has at wide receiver. However, the Chargers aren’t a total fantasy wasteland heading into 2020.
Related: Fantasy studs and duds for the LA Rams in 2020
Los Angeles Chargers 2020 Fantasy Football Overview: Players to watch
Stud – Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler had a crazy impressive season catching the ball and was the team’s second-best receiver. That probably won’t change in 2020. More importantly, Gordon leaving may free up some more rushing work for him. It’s not crazy to think he could see as many as 200 carries this season. Anyone claiming to fade Ekeler this season is probably doing so only to depress his value for their own benefit.
Dud – Mike Williams
Do you want to hear the Taylor isn’t a good quarterback for wide receivers argument? Or would you be interested in the Mike Williams is consistently inconsistent argument? We cover them both in our wide receivers you should avoid this season article which you can conveniently click here to read.
Sleeper – Justin Jackson
People want Joshua Kelley to be a thing despite the fact he looked incredibly average at UCLA. If we are taking rookie PAC-12 running backs, I would much rather have Eno Benjamin with the Arizona Cardinals than Kelley despite the former Sun Devil going undrafted.
This is a longwinded way of saying don’t sleep on Justin Jackson. He had some health issues last season but looked electric in short spurts while Melvin Gordon held out. His ceiling is likely to be 10 carries per game, but his track record proves he can make the most of them. Also, Jackson will make a sweet Cameo video for your fantasy football league.
Wildcard – Hunter Henry
Is Hunter Henry going to play more than 12 games this season? It is a real question. Even if he does, is there enough volume in the Chargers passing offense to make him viable? The talent is there, but it comes with some significant risk in 2020.
Los Angeles Chargers 2020 Fantasy Football Overview final thoughts
Much like the Los Angeles Chargers’ scenes in the new season of Hard Knocks, there isn’t much interesting going on here when it comes to fantasy. Ekeler is legit and Justin Jackson is intriguing. But that passing game looks like a hot mess unless Taylor has put it all together after nine seasons in the league or Justin Herbert is better than advertised.
