Week 3 Fantasy Preview: Panthers vs. Chargers

Week 3 Fantasy Preview
Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver Mike Williams. Photo Credit: Ryan Dyrud | LAFB Network

Week 3 Fantasy Preview: Panthers vs. Chargers

Week 3 the Carolina Panthers will travel west to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are a 6.5 point favorite and 43.5 over/under total score.

Chargers Injuries

QUARTERBACK, TYROD TAYLOR, PUNCTURED LUNG, OUT

SAFETY, RAYSHAWN JENKINS, GROIN, QUESTIONABLE

LINEBACKER, NICK VIGIL, GROIN, QUESTIONABLE

LINEBACKER, ASMAR BILAL, CALF, QUESTIONABLE

DEFENSIVE TACKLE, JUSTIN JONES, SHOULDER, QUESTIONABLE

So It Begins…

The Justin Herbert era begins or rather continues. Herbert was a surprise start last week against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. He finished the game 22-of-33 for 311 yards, two touchdowns (one rushing), one interception, two sacks, and four rushes for 18 yards. All this while taking the Chiefs to overtime only to lose 23-20.

Fantasy Preview

QUARTERBACK, JUSTIN HERBERT | SIT REDRAFT | PLAY DFS ($,5900 DK): Would it surprise you to know that Herbert is coming in ahead of Carson Wentz, Mitchell Trubisky, Jared Goff, and Baker Mayfield in Draft Kings?

He is playing against a pretty bad secondary that ranks 25th against the pass. The only downfall is that Carolina is worse against the run, and the Chargers lead the league in rushing attempts (85).

RUNNING BACK, AUSTIN EKELER | START REDRAFT | START DFS ($6,800 DK): Ekeler is still the number one running back in the backfield but it’s pretty close. Last week he was on the field for 57-percent of the offensive snaps. He is averaging 5.1 yards per carry, and to the happiness of almost everyone involved, he increased his targets from one in week one to four targets and four receptions in week two for 55 yards. The Panthers are giving up 127.5 rushing yards per game.

RUNNING BACK, JOSHUA KELLEY | START REDRAFT | START DFS ($5,000 DK): Here is where it gets interesting. Kelley was on the field for 53-percent of the offensive snaps last week.  He finished with 23 rushing attempts, three targets, and two receptions for 49 yards.

Kelley is going below average on Draft Kings for his position (5,000 DK). Not only are the Panthers giving up 127.5 rushing yards per game, but they are allowing the most fantasy points to the rushing position yielding six rushing touchdowns so far this season. Kelley has the eighth-most red-zone rushing attempts in the NFL after two games.

TIGHT END, HUNTER HENRY | START REDRAFT | START DFS ($4,800 DK): The only thing stopping Henry from being mentioned in elite tight end conversations is injuries. But he is healthy right now and through two games he is second in the NFL in receiving yards for his position.

Last week he was second on the team in targets (8) and finished the game with six receptions for 83 yards. If Herbert continues his form from last week, the middle will see its fair share of passes which will mean targets to Henry and targets to running backs in check-down.

WIDE RECEIVER, KEENAN ALLEN | START REDRAFT | FADE DFS ($6,000): Allen was targeted 10 times last week. He finished the day with seven receptions for 96 yards and appears to have some chemistry with Herbert.

He is a fade option on DFS though. If paying down for the running back position (Kelley), there are other games where paying up for wide receivers will have a bigger benefit (Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints). Allen is currently the 12th ranked wide receiver option on Pay Mayo’s DraftKingsNation.com.

WIDE RECEIVER, MIKE WILLIAMS | SIT REDRAFT | FADE DFS ($4,300 DK): Herbert only had eyes for Allen in Week 2. Williams was the recipient of two targets, one was a deep shot in the end zone, but they didn’t connect. With only one week as a guide, it’s too early to tell if this is a trend or an aberration.

Williams could be a contrarian play in tournament games on DFS, but in redraft hold on to see Herbert’s tendencies.

Good luck with all the Week 3 fantasy games.

As always come talk at me on Twitter @neverenoughglt.