Week 17 at Denver Broncos
Austin Ekeler played up to his 2023 standards against the Bills in Week 16, which is to say he wasn't a complete non-factor nor was he the reason you won your matchup. Ekeler rushed 15 times for 65 yards and added another 21 yards on three receptions on his way to 10.1 Half PPR points, RB23 numbers for the week. Ekeler is the RB21 in points per game this season. Ekeler's 65 yards were the second most he has managed on the ground since Week 1, but he has only scored one touchdown in his last six games.
Ekeler should be able to put up mid-tier RB2 numbers against the Broncos in Week 17. While the Broncos have bounced back considerably since their early season whooping against the Dolphins, they still rank 21st in aFPA to running backs in 2023.
Week 16 vs. Buffalo Bills
Like most of the Chargers, Austin Ekeler will want to forget Week 15 in a hurry. Ekeler saw only five rush attempts, bringing him just nine yards, and his four receptions saw him amass another 29 scoreless yards on his way to the RB39 for the week with 5.8 Half-PPR points.
Ekeler has not looked right for some time, and if he is carrying a lingering injury this, combined with Easton Stick at quarterback and a Bills team ranking 15th in aFPA to running backs, makes starting him in Week 16 a dicey prospect. You should probably look to Ekeler for low-end RB2 numbers, and treat anything more than that as a bonus.
Week 15 at Las Vegas Raiders
Austin Ekeler managed an Austin Ekeler-type performance for what see,Ed like the first time in months last week, with 51 rushing yards and a score coupled with five grabs for 49 yards on his way to 18.5 Half-PPR points. Ekeler finished as the RB8, but is only RB14 in points per game this season.
The Raiders have bled fantasy points to running backs this season, ranking 27th in aFPA to the position. The loss of Justin Herbert should seriously affect the efficiency of the Chargers passing attack, but it might lead to more rushing work for Ekeler. Also no Keenan Allen should lead to a healthy workload through the air for Ekeler. With volume always trumping efficiency, Ekeler can probably be looked at as a low end RB1 in Week 15.
Week 14 vs. Denver Broncos
Austin Ekeler endured a ghastly outing in Week 13 against the Patriots, finishing with just 3.7 Half-PPR points as the RB34 for the week. Ekeler rushed 14 times for just 18 yards, while his two receptions brought another nine. He just doesn't look healthy either.
Ekeler should be able to bounce back this week, against a Broncos team ranking 23rd in aFPA to running backs in 2023. He can be projected for RB1 numbers, but if he doesn't produce this week, then his rest-of-season outlook becomes a serious concern.
Week 13 at New England Patriots
Week 12 was not one of Austin Ekeler's better days in fantasy football, as he finished as the RB34 in Half-PPR scoring. Ekeler's 10 rushing attempts brought him just 32 yards, while his five catches brought another 32 for 6.9 total points. Ekeler's seasonal average is closer to 14.
Ekeler's matchup in Week 13 is not great on paper, with the Patriots ranking ninth in aFPA to running backs this season. But Ekeler continues to command a large opportunity share, and even if he is playing at less than 100% we continue to chase volume in fantasy football. He's an RB1 option this week.
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 11 at Green Bay Packers
Austin Ekeler continues to be a player that fantasy managers can pretty much hang their hats on in 2023. He managed 19.5 Half-PPR points in Week 10, the fourth most at the position last week, and he ranks as the RB8 in fantasy points per game this season with 16.2. You just have to love him.
You certainly have to love him this week as he goes up against one of the friendliest defenses to fantasy running backs in the league. The Packers rank 25th in aFPA to the position this season, but even if they ranked higher if you have Ekeler on your roster, you are starting him. Simples.
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 9 at New York Jets
Austin Ekeler looked a lot like his old self in Week 8, as he posted top five fantasy numbers against the Bears. The bulk of Ekeler’s production came through the air, with seven receptions on eight targets bringing forth 94 yards and a first receiving score of the season. He only managed 29 yards on 15 rushing attempts and has yet to eclipse 45 yards on the ground since his return from injury. Ekeler currently ranks as the RB11 in Half-PPR points per game.
Ekeler should remain an elite option in Week 9 against a New York Jets team that is far more generous to tailbacks than passing game operators. The Jets rank 25th in aPFA to running backs in 2023. Assuming Ekeler is healthy, he’s a high-end RB1 in any given week.
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.
