I have interest in the Chargers’ running backs. Not only Austin Ekeler, but Justin Jackson. They could both outperform where they’re drafted.
With Ekeler, receiving production is key. Not that he’ll catch 92 passes again (with Tyrod Taylor replacing Philip Rivers at quarterback, I don’t think dumpoff passes will be as widely used). But Ekeler is a pass-catching threat, with 80 catches a possibility. And with Melvin Gordon gone, they’ll use Ekeler more as a ball carrier.
The offensive line for this team, I think, will be better. They traded for Trai Turner, who’s one of the best guards in the game. And they signed Bryan Bulaga, who’ll be an upgrade at right tackle. They also have Taylor at quarterback now. With defenses having to respect his mobility, that might help to open things up for the running game.
Ekeler is a smaller back and will be used heavily as a pass catcher, so they’ll need to get another running back heavily involved as a ball carrier. That should be Jackson, making him look like a good candidate to be one of the 10 best No. 2 running backs in the league.
This team got a lot of production out of running backs last year. Using PPR scoring, in fact, the Chargers’ running backs last year outperformed every other team.
Different year, and with plenty of changes, but Ekeler and Jackson should be one everyone’s radar.
RUNNING BACKS, TEAM PRODUCTION | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Rec | Rec Yd | Run Yd | Tot Yd | TD | PPR |
LA Chargers | 148 | 1,357 | 1,399 | 2,756 | 22 | 555.6 |
New England | 121 | 1,134 | 1,560 | 2,694 | 20 | 510.4 |
Carolina | 124 | 1,068 | 1,525 | 2,593 | 21 | 509.3 |
San Francisco | 77 | 753 | 2,051 | 2,804 | 25 | 507.4 |
Minnesota | 98 | 855 | 2,002 | 2,857 | 19 | 497.7 |
Green Bay | 101 | 853 | 1,582 | 2,435 | 25 | 494.5 |
Philadelphia | 90 | 806 | 1,684 | 2,490 | 18 | 447.0 |
New Orleans | 124 | 824 | 1,515 | 2,339 | 12 | 429.9 |
Oakland | 98 | 825 | 1,699 | 2,524 | 11 | 416.4 |
Cleveland | 91 | 726 | 1,743 | 2,469 | 13 | 415.9 |
Baltimore | 49 | 409 | 1,954 | 2,363 | 20 | 405.3 |
Dallas | 69 | 527 | 1,812 | 2,339 | 17 | 404.9 |
Seattle | 68 | 504 | 1,820 | 2,324 | 16 | 396.4 |
Denver | 98 | 641 | 1,520 | 2,161 | 13 | 392.1 |
Arizona | 77 | 659 | 1,292 | 1,951 | 19 | 386.1 |
Kansas City | 89 | 648 | 1,292 | 1,940 | 17 | 385.0 |
Indianapolis | 70 | 504 | 1,832 | 2,336 | 13 | 381.6 |
Tennessee | 47 | 424 | 1,775 | 2,199 | 19 | 380.9 |
Tampa Bay | 84 | 723 | 1,221 | 1,944 | 15 | 368.4 |
Pittsburgh | 93 | 640 | 1,286 | 1,926 | 11 | 351.6 |
Chicago | 111 | 663 | 1,135 | 1,798 | 10 | 350.8 |
Atlanta | 88 | 608 | 1,171 | 1,779 | 14 | 349.9 |
Washington | 75 | 663 | 1,371 | 2,034 | 8 | 326.4 |
NY Giants | 69 | 559 | 1,279 | 1,838 | 12 | 324.8 |
Jacksonville | 93 | 689 | 1,287 | 1,976 | 5 | 320.6 |
Houston | 55 | 461 | 1,530 | 1,991 | 11 | 320.1 |
Detroit | 76 | 501 | 1,385 | 1,886 | 8 | 312.6 |
Cincinnati | 67 | 534 | 1,307 | 1,841 | 9 | 305.1 |
LA Rams | 37 | 260 | 1,268 | 1,528 | 19 | 303.8 |
Buffalo | 61 | 460 | 1,447 | 1,907 | 6 | 287.7 |
NY Jets | 86 | 584 | 1,133 | 1,717 | 4 | 281.7 |
Miami | 81 | 581 | 833 | 1,414 | 5 | 252.4 |
—Ian Allan