Team news: Los Angeles Chargers | Page 2

Justin Herbert will be listed on today's injury report with an ankle injury. Practice status TBD.

Related Players: Easton Stick, Taylor Heinicke

Herbert has been on the injury report a couple of times as we head into the third game of the season, yet has taken all 51 dropbacks for the 2-0 Chargers. Their offense has been very efficient, though most of that has come through the run game, rendering Herbert un-startable in fantasy.

Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle have carried the load at running back, but the Cowboys signed Dalvin Cook to their practice squad in August so they could turn in his direction in an effort to find a spark. Team owner Jerry Jones threw cold water on that idea during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, however.

Jones said he is “pleased” with how the backs have performed and that he doesn’t expect the team will call Cook’s number.

The Cowboys are averaging less than four yards per carry through the first two weeks of the season, the story pointed out. But Jones was quoted in the story saying, "I don't see a change that could involved Dalvin Cook this week."

Chargers QB Justin Herbert (plantar fascia) is off the injury report -- for real this time -- and good to go for Sunday's opener vs. the Raiders.

WR D.J. Chark (hip) is out.

Related Players: Easton Stick, Taylor Heinicke

Good news for Herbert and the Chargers in general, but we don't want to touch this passing attack as we head into what could be a slog against the Raiders. Leave the QB on your bench or waiver wire until we find him in a better spot.

Rico Dowdle was Dallas’ most explosive back and showcased an ability in the passing game to be a complete back.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook

The positive news about Dowdle continues to pour in leading up to Week 1. The story said, the expectation for Dowdle at first was to be in the mix with Elliott for some carries. The author said Dowdle made the most of his opportunities in camp and looks to at least have the ability to be a full-time RB. Elliott should still be in the mix though, but Dowdle could end up giving owners more value than they thought. We'll likely need a week or two to fully see how the Cowboys plan to split up the workload.

Rico Dowdle should be the favorite to lead the Cowboys in rushing attempts and rushing yards this season.

Related players: Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn

The expectation going into camp was that Dowdle would be in position to have a larger role with Tony Pollard leaving in free agency. But the story said the fifth-year back looked to make the most of his opportunities. It went on to say he was Dallas’ most explosive back and showcased an ability in the passing game to be a complete back. Elliott will likely still be a factor but it's good news for those who took a chance on Dowdle or had secured him from last season.

Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is signing with the Cowboys.

Cook was waiting for the right opportunity and always felt it was Dallas. A marquee addition in Big D.

Related Players: Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn

Vaughn was a surprising "keep" on roster cut days, but this all but eradicates him from the touch share.

Cook figures to rotate in enough to make none of the top three options serviceable in fantasy, including Cook himself. In his 2023 stint with the Jets, he averaged 3.2 yards per carry and 2.21 yards after contact, a harbinger of what he brings to the table in Dallas.

The Cowboys cut RBs Royce Freeman and Malik Davis.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn

For about a week this summer, Freeman seemed to be the darling of the Cowboys backfield, but that quickly changed and those who follow the team pointed to Dowdle as the back who stood out the most at times in camp. Both Freeman and Davis could resign on the practice squad, however. While we don't know how the workload will be split, it looks like the Cowboys are going with Elliott and Dowdle. We do rank Elliott 34th and Dowdle 51st on our RB list.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that running back Dalvin Cook is heading to Dallas on Monday night to meet with the team.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn.

As the story said, Cook was coming off shoulder surgery last year, so the Cowboys may be hoping he can rediscover his form and bolster their running back group. The Cowboys were expected to make moves at RBs long before now, but instead opted to bring back Elliott and Dowdle. For the most part, those who follow the team lean toward a split between the two as far as workload goes, which isn't all that exciting from a fantasy perspective. This news could cause a lot of owners to pickup Cook off the wire, but it remains to be seen if the Cowboys sign him, and if they do, what's left in his tank. Keep in mind, Cook hasn't drawn a lot of interest up to this point.

Justin Herbert practicing for the first time since July.

Last week reports said Herbert was out of his walking boot and today there was a video of him throwing in warmups. Herbert is dealing with plantar fascia, but hopefully looks to be back on track to play in Week 1. We'll likely know more based on his activity in practices going forward, but for now seems to be heading in the right direction.

I left Kimani Vidal off my 53-man roster projection after Week 1 of the preseason. My grade at that stage was “incomplete.” He had missed a week of practice, including the joint session with the Rams, before not playing in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. You have to earn your spot in the NFL, and that will especially be the case under Harbaugh. Vidal had a strong week of practice last week. He followed that up with a solid performance in his first game action. I have moved him ahead of Isaiah Spiller and onto the 53-man in my running projection.

Related players: Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson

If you remember, we reported on this a few weeks ago when this writer left Vidal off the team's 53-man roster. Vidal was at least a popular dynasty selection up to this point, given the Chargers state at RB. However, Vidal looks to be making a move up the depth chart with solid, recent practices and preseason game showing. Edwards and Dobbins appear to be leading the way at the position with Patterson also having a nice camp. Vidal looks like he still has a lot of work to do to at least be the team's RB3.