RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Consider in 12+ Team Leagues
POSITIONAL VALUE: DST2
ANALYSIS: Fantasy managers who rode the stack of Justin Herbert (QB10) and Keenan Allen (WR3) to the playoffs are being rewarded with the loss of not one, but both of the Chargers' stars. Fantasy football is an unforgiving game.
But the door closing on Allen and Herbert opens the door for the Las Vegas Raiders' defense. Easton Stick and Joshua Palmer now take over as the leaders of the Los Angeles passing game. Austin Ekeler remains on the field, but he's been a shell of what he once was. That's not a lot of firepower to worry about for interim coach Antonio Pierce.
The Raiders' defense has played much better under the tutelage of Pierce, allowing just over 14 points since he was given control of the franchise ahead of Week 9. Hopefully armed with Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby (knee), the defense will likely make things uncomfortable for the 28-year-old Stick, who is making his first career start in the NFL. In just over one half of football against Denver, he took two sacks and fumbled twice, losing one.
The Raiders are just outside the bottom five in takeaways and below average in sacks. It's not a defense that managers would usually target on any other week. Without the two best players on an already struggling Los Angeles offense, it's worth the risk, especially in formats that reward defenses for forcing three-and-outs.
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