3 months agoAccording to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (foot) has been ruled out for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. Palmer sat out last weekend with the same injury and will now miss his second-straight game. Palmer could not practice all week, which suggests he may have trouble suiting up next weekend if the Chargers were to defeat the Texans on Saturday afternoon. Over his previous four games, Palmer has seen six targets per game and averaged 42.5 yards per game. Wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) is also listed as questionable, which could leave rookie
Ladd McConkey as the lone pass catcher in the wide receiver room available against a struggling Houston secondary that has allowed the 11th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (thigh, illness) was downgraded to a non-participant in practice on Wednesday after he was listed as limited in the first practice of the week on Tuesday. Hopefully for the Chargers, Johnston's absence on Wednesday was because he wasn't feeling well and not because of his thigh injury. The 23-year-old's practice status on Thursday will go a long way towards determining whether he'll be able to play on Saturday against the hosting Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs. With
Joshua Palmer (foot) missing the Week 18 regular-season finale and not practicing yet this week, the Chargers' receiving corps behind rookie
Ladd McConkey could be down to
DJ Chark and
Derius Davis. If Johnston ends up playing, he will have considerable upside as a WR2 in fantasy against a porous Texans secondary.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Chargers
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers running backs
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) and
Gus Edwards (ankle) were both limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Wednesday. Barring a setback on Thursday, Dobbins should be active for Saturday's wild-card playoff tilt in Houston against the Texans as the Chargers' lead back. Edwards, meanwhile, might need to upgrade to a full practice on Thursday to avoid a questionable tag going into Saturday after he missed the final two games of the regular season. Both backs have dealt with injuries in 2024, but the 26-year-old Dobbins has been much more productive as LA's primary backfield option when they've both been healthy at the same time. Against a Texans defense that has allowed the third-fewest half-PPR points per game to RBs this year, Dobbins checks in as a low-end RB1 for fantasy managers in the first week of the postseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Chargers
3 months agoThe Los Angeles Chargers designated cornerback Eli Apple (hamstring) to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday by opening his 21-day practice window. Apple was put on IR back on Nov. 27 but is now eligible to return to practice with the team this week. Despite Apple's return to practice for the Bolts, the 29-year-old isn't guaranteed to play this Saturday against the Houston Texans to get wild-card weekend kicked off. Before injuring his hamstring and landing on IR, the former first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2016 out of Ohio State played in only four games for LA and had two solo tackles and one pass breakup. If Apple is active this weekend, he'll most likely operate in a reserve role for the Chargers' secondary. The Chargers defense allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL in 2024 and will be a popular fantasy play on Saturday against a struggling Texans offense.
UPDATE: Apple was a full-go in Wednesday's practice.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (heel) remained out of the team's practice session on Wednesday. The Chargers kept Palmer out of the Week 18 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in the season finale, and after two missed practices already this week, it's not looking good for his availability on Saturday in Houston against the Texans for the wild-card playoff round. If the 25-year-old pass-catcher misses a second straight game, look for
DJ Chark and
Derius Davis to get more snaps on offense behind wideouts
Ladd McConkey and
Quentin Johnston. If active against the Texans, Palmer will be a touchdown-dependent, low-upside fantasy flex, at best. In his fourth year in the NFL in 2024, Palmer had only 39 receptions on 65 targets for 584 yards and a career-low one touchdown. Check back for his final injury status on Thursday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) was a limited participant during Tuesday's practice session. The Chargers are hopeful to get Perryman healthy in time for Saturday's playoff matchup against the Houston Texans. Perryman missed a ton of time down the stretch of the season and only played in 11 games during the regular season. Despite that, Perryman still finished with 55 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack with the Chargers this season. Troy Dye has been seeing an increase in playing time lately with Perryman sidelined. Dye has been a viable option, including a 14-tackle game earlier in the season, but having Perryman available would be a nice boost for this defense.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: chargers.com
3 months agoAccording to the team, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (thigh) was a limited participant on Tuesday. Johnston is coming off a career-day where he tallied 186 yards on 13 receptions. This was only the second time this season he eclipsed 100 yards in a single game and first time he brought in double-digit receptions. Fantasy managers should not be overly concerned with his status during Tuesday's practice as he did not show any signs of an injury during Sunday's game. However, fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Since Week 14, Johnston has become a top option in Los Angeles passing attack as he has seen an impressive nine targets per game and averaged 69.0 yards per game. Johnston should be viewed as a solid option in DFS formats on Saturday facing a struggling Houston secondary.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Chargers
3 months agoAccording to the team, Los Angeles Chargers running back
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) was a limited participant during Tuesday's practice. Dobbins missed four games earlier this season due to an MCL sprain but now appears to have a minor ankle injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week. However, seeing him open the week as a limited participant is a positive sign. Since returning in Week 17, Ekeler has averaged 18.5 attempts per game and tallied 69.5 rushing and 9.5 receiving yards per game over this stretch. Before his knee injury, Dobbins averaged a similar 69.6 rushing yards per game and found the back of the end zone eight times over his first 11 games. If he can take on his typical workload, the 26-year-old should be viewed as an elite running back option in all playoff competitions.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Chargers
3 months agoAccording to Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, running back
Gus Edwards (ankle) is expected to return to practice on Wednesday as the team begins preparing to face the Houston Texans on Saturday in the wild-card playoff round. An ankle injury kept Edwards out for the final two regular-season games, but a return to practice early in the week is a good sign that he'll have a chance to be active this weekend for the start of the postseason. The 29-year-old was a big fantasy disappointment in 2024 in his first year in LA after he scored a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns in Baltimore in 2023. He ran for a career-low 365 yards and four touchdowns on 101 carries in 11 games (six starts). If Edwards is active against the Texans, he'll be a low-volume, touchdown-dependent flex play, at best, while working as the clear backup to
J.K. Dobbins in the Chargers' backfield.
UPDATE: Edwards was limited in Tuesday's practice.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
3 months agoAccording to Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (heel) is not expected to take part in the first practice of the week on Tuesday. Palmer suffered a heel injury in the Week 17 win over the New England Patriots and sat out of the victory of the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in the Week 18 regular-season finale. If the 25-year-old doesn't return to practice in the next two days, he'll be headed for a second straight absence when the Bolts face the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs this Saturday. With the 25-year-old out last weekend,
DJ Chark caught his first touchdown pass of the year. Regardless of whether Palmer returns this Saturday, rookie
Ladd McConkey should continue to draw most of the aerial targets from quarterback
Justin Herbert and will be a popular DFS play this weekend versus Houston on the road.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
3 months agoThe Los Angeles Chargers released wide receiver
Laviska Shenault Jr. from the practice squad on Tuesday to make room for the signing of veteran running back
Ezekiel Elliott. Shenault was released by the Seattle Seahawks in the middle of the regular season and was picked up by Los Angeles. The 2020 second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars appeared in just one game for the Chargers but did not log a touch. Shenault has totaled 163 receptions for 1,587 and six touchdowns to go along with 253 rushing yards and a score across 63 career games with four organizations. Needless to say, he's unlikely to be a key contributor anytime soon for any team.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Chargers
3 months agoThe Los Angeles Chargers have signed running back
Ezekiel Elliott on Monday. The former first-round pick will get a chance to compete for a Super Bowl this season. The Chargers are lacking depth at the running back spot, so the addition of Elliott does make sense. The three-time Pro Bowl back might play a minimal role during Saturday's Wild-Card game against the Houston Texans. This season, Elliott rushed for 226 yards on 74 carries with three touchdowns in 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys. The 29-year-old brings knowledge and leadership, but he hasn't rushed for over 1,000 yards since 2021. This is a depth move that gives the 29-year-old a chance to win a Super Bowl.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
3 months agoThe Los Angeles Chargers defense put up a solid performance in a Week 18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. They allowed 20 points and recorded one interception. They ended up without a sack but were still solid up front and in the secondary. The Bolts allowed two touchdowns and two field goals in this game, one of each in each quarter. While it wasn't their best performance of the season, allowing just one score per quarter is certainly a solid way to wrap up the regular season. They will take on the Texans on Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers kicker
Cameron Dicker made six of his seven kicks in a Week 18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Dicker made both of his extra point tries and four of his five field goal attempts. He made field goals from 33, 32, 49, and 20 yards away. His miss was on a 51-yard try in the first quarter. Dicker ends the regular season as one of the best and most consistent kickers, both in fantasy and on the "real life" field. He'll be one of the best options at the position in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, when the Bolts face off against the Houston Texans.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
3 months agoLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Derius Davis got just two touches in a Week 18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Davis ran the ball once, losing one yard on the play. He was also targeted once in the passing game, making a catch for a five-yard gain. Davis had been making a little noise over the past couple of games, but he fell back into a support role in this one, which is likely the role he'll play in the playoffs, starting on Saturday in the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans.
--David A Marcillo - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
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