3 months agoESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Los Angeles Chargers running back
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) is expected to play on Saturday in Houston against the Texans on wild-card weekend, barring a setback during pre-game warmups. Dobbins was limited in practice all week and was listed as questionable for Saturday on Thursday's final injury report. It means that Dobbins should be LA's primary backfield option versus Houston after he led the team with 195 carries, 905 rushing yards (4.6 yards per tote) and nine rushing touchdowns in 13 games in 2024 in his first year with the team.
Gus Edwards, who missed the last two regular-season games with an ankle injury of his own, will also return and be the primary backup for Dobbins. The Texans D was stingy against RBs this year, allowing the third-fewest half-PPR points per game, making Dobbins a low-end RB1 for playoff fantasy lineups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers defensive back Eli Apple (hamstring) was activated from Injured Reserve on Friday in anticipation of their road tilt with the Houston Texans on Saturday. He is officially questionable. The former Ohio State Buckeye hadn't garnered his first snap this season until Week 9 but was placed on IR after suffering a hamstring injury in the team's 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12. Though he would miss more than the minimum stay, Apple's practice window was only just opened this past Wednesday -- suggesting he's poised to contribute immediately if necessary. With fellow DB Ja'Sir Taylor (ribs) transitioning to injured reserve on Friday, the 29-year-old may be thrust into action sooner than initially anticipated. The Chargers are three-point road favorites in a meeting with a 42-point over/under.
--Alex CiullaSource: Los Angeles Chargers
3 months agoAccording to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) is "good to go" for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. Johnston was listed as questionable on Thursday's final injury report. The 23-year-old is coming off a career day where he tallied 186 yards on 13 receptions. This was the second time he eclipsed the century mark this season and the first time he brought in double-digit receptions. Over his previous five games, Johnston averaged nine targets with 69.0 yards per game. Fantasy managers should view Johnston as a solid flex option in DFS formats as he is facing a Houston secondary that has allowed the 11th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeremy Fowler
3 months agoThe Los Angeles Chargers defense is a solid bet for playoff fantasy lineups in the Wild Card Weekend against the Houston Texans. The Bolts defense was strong all year, finishing at the top of the chart for fewest points allowed. Fantasy-wise, they wrapped up the season with a few up-and-down performances, but still ended up as a top-15 fantasy option in 10 different matchups. Facing a Texans offense that has seen some challenges of late, the Los Angeles defense could be one of the better options for the first playoff weekend.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers kicker
Cameron Dicker is an excellent fantasy option on Wild Card Weekend against the Houston Texans. Dicker was one of the most reliable and consistent kickers throughout the regular season, and he ended the season with a pair of top-five kicking performances in Weeks 17 and 18. In what should be a close game, Dicker can be expected to be given several chances to put up points. The regular season's third-ranked fantasy kicker should remain in the top tier for the playoffs.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers tight end
Will Dissly has a high floor and some projectable ceiling when the Chargers take on the Houston Texans on Saturday of Wild Card Weekend. Dissly figures to operate as a safety outlet for quarterback
Justin Herbert in a game where
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) and
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) may be limited or unable to play. Rookie wide receiver
Ladd McConkey will surely be the focus of the passing game, but Dissly could be the second read on many plays if other Chargers are forced to miss the contest. Dissly only scored two touchdowns in the regular season, but after Week 6, he averaged five targets per game and could be needed more in the red zone because of the injuries to the offense.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Derius Davis could find himself with an expanded role in a Wild Card Round matchup against the Houston Texans on Saturday. Davis went on a solid hot streak near the end of the season, scoring touchdowns in Weeks 16 and 17. With
Joshua Palmer (foot) ruled out and
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) questionable, Davis could be needed to work alongside
Ladd McConkey and
D.J. Chark. Davis hasn't seen more than 37% of the team's offensive snaps in any game this season, and he averaged somewhere around 16%, so even with the injuries ahead of him, he shouldn't be expected to take on an enormous role. Still, he could be a value pick in playoff fantasy contests who happens to find himself in the end zone.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver
D.J. Chark could be looking at an increased role in the passing game when the Chargers open up their playoff campaign against the Houston Texans on Wild Card Weekend. Chark barely saw the field this season due to a combination of injury and depth chart issues, but with fellow wide receivers Quentin Johnson (thigh/illness) questionable and
Joshua Palmer (foot) out, it could fall on Chark to work alongside rookie
Ladd McConkey as the top two LA wide receivers. Chark was able to catch his first touchdown of the season in last week's Week 18 win, so he's on the closest thing to a hot streak that he'd had in a Chargers uniform. If Johnston plays, Chark is unlikely to make much noise, but he'd be a value pick with some upside if he's the second wide receiver on the depth chart for the game.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Simi Fehoko (elbow) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Saturday's Wild-Card game against the Houston Texans. Fehoko is on the injured reserve, but he had his 21-day practice window opened on Tuesday. He has practiced in full each of the last two days, which is good news ahead of Saturday's game. If active, Fehoko might see a bigger role than normal with
Joshua Palmer (foot) ruled out and
Quentin Johnston (thigh, illness) questionable for this game. He's too risky of an option to be trusted in DFS lineups.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: chargers.com
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver
Ladd McConkey could have an even bigger role than usual in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Texans. McConkey quickly became the focal point of the LA passing game and thrived there in his rookie season. In the regular season finale, he took a backseat to
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness), but with Johnston questionable and
Joshua Palmer (foot) ruled out, McConkey could end up being the only remotely reliable option for quarterback
Justin Herbert to throw to. The rookie wide receiver is an unquestioned WR1 option in the Wild Card Round regardless, but he enters the absolute top tier if Johnston is unable to play.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers rookie running back
Kimani Vidal could see his role increase in the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans. With starting running back
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) questionable to play and
Gus Edwards (ankle) returning from a two-game absence, Vidal could be needed as the next guy up. He showed some positive signs in his rookie year, but struggled to see the field near the end of the season, appearing on 11% of the team's offensive snaps in Week 17 and on only one snap total in Week 18. Still, if Dobbins is unable to suit up, Vidal figures to have a role in the backfield, especially since the presumed starter Edwards is usually a non-factor in the passing game. Vidal would not be worth fantasy consideration if Dobbins plays, however.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert could find himself missing some key weapons in the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans. The Chargers have listed starting wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) and starting running back
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) as questionable for Saturday's game. Both have been critical parts of the Chargers offense this season, but Herbert could find himself with
Gus Edwards in the backfield and essentially only
Ladd McConkey catching passes. Still, Herbert finished the season off well, putting up top-10 fantasy performances at his position for the past three weeks in a row. He's a strong option for playoff leagues made stronger if "QJ" and Dobbins are able to suit up.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers running back
Gus Edwards (ankle) upgraded to a full practice on Friday and has been cleared from the injury report for wild-card weekend and will be active on Saturday against the Texans in Houston. With fellow RB
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) questionable to play, there's a chance Edwards could lead LA's backfield in touches this weekend despite missing the final two games of the regular season due to his ankle injury. Edwards made the start in his last game in the Week 16 win over the division-rival Denver Broncos when Dobbins was out and had 14 carries for 68 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He'll only be worth considering as a fantasy flex in playoff lineups if Dobbins is ruled out. Edwards had only four rushing scores in 2024 in his first year in LA as the backup to Dobbins, and the Texans allowed the third-fewest half-PPR points per game to RBs this season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chargers.com
3 months agoAccording to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) is listed as questionable for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. Johnston opened the week as a limited participant but was then downgraded to a non-participant on Wednesday. He returned to limited capacity on Thursday but still carries a questionable tag. In Week 18, Johnston enjoyed a career game, bringing in 13 passes for 186 yards. This was the second time he tallied at least 100 yards this season and the first time he caught double-digit passes. No.3 wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (foot) has already been ruled out for this game. As a result, this could leave rookie
Ladd McConkey as the lone wideout for
Justin Herbert. If Johnston were to sit out, McConkey would carry high-end WR1 upside in DFS formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
3 months agoAccording to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Los Angeles Chargers running back
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild card game against the Houston Texans. Dobbins sustained this injury during last weekend's victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Dobbins logged three straight limited practice sessions this week but could not avoid a questionable tag on Thursday's final injury report. No.2 running back
Gus Edwards (ankle) was limited to open the week but is off the final injury report. Dobbins missed time earlier this season with a knee injury but looked sharp in his return in Week 17 as he tallied 76 yards and a score against the New England Patriots. If Dobbins were to sit out on Saturday afternoon, Edwards would lead the backfield and be viewed as a low-end RB1 in DFS, given his projected volume.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
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