Austin Ekeler

Week 12 vs Baltimore Ravens

Austin Ekeler will want to forget his Week 11 game in a hurry. He did manage 64 yards on 10 rushing attempts, but he also fumbled the ball on the goal line, killing a Chargers drive in the process. Ekeler was also strangely uninvolved in the passing game, seeing just three targets and posting two grabs for six yards. Ekeler only managed 6.0 Half PPR points and finished as the RB33, both marks a long way below his usual high standard.

It's not going to get easier for Ekeler against the Ravens in Week 12. They rank ninth in aFPA to running backs this season. Reputationally we should expect something of a bounceback, especially as a receiver, and it is this reputation that keeps him projected as a high-end RB1 option, despite the matchup.

Week 10 vs. Detroit Lions

Another week, another dominant performance in fantasy football for Austin Ekeler. Ekeler scored 20 Half-PPR points against the Jets in Week 9, just a tick above his seasonal per-game average of 19.38, on his way to finishing as the RB4 for the week. Ekeler continues to benefit from an elite opportunity share, commanding 54% of the Chargers' rushes and 17% of the targets.

Ekeler's Week 10 matchup does not look appealing on paper. The Lions rank 5th in aFPA to running backs this season, but you just cannot overlook the amount of work that Ekeler gets on a weekly basis. If he's healthy, which thankfully he seems to be at the moment, then he is a set-and-forget RB1 option.

Week 8 vs. Chicago Bears

It hasn't really all come together yet for Austin Ekeler since his return from injury. The old magic has yet to truly reappear, although if it is going to come back then this would seem to be the week for it.

The Bears rank 30th in aFPA to running backs in 2023, which makes them a prime team to start your running backs against in fantasy football. It would not come as a surprise to anyone if Ekeler was sitting atop the running back fantasy world when Week 8 is done and dusted.