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Los Angeles Chargers running serve Austin Ekeler will like a lightning crawl on his helmet, however fantasy soccer managers might without considerations mistake that logo for a incandescent giant title in a breakout 2021 season.
After Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook reach off the board at the head of fantasy drafts, Ekeler suits into the Tier 2 category among twin-probability running backs.
Per Fable Soccer Calculator, he has a 1.11 moderate draft save (ADP), which provides managers with gradual first-spherical picks a shot at a high-upside participant who has the aptitude to attain high-three in scoring at his save in elements-per-reception leagues.
In 2019, Ekeler racked up 1,550 yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage, scoring the fourth-most fantasy elements among running backs in PPR settings. All the draw through that season, he served as a backup to Melvin Gordon III however attach his circulation-catching ability on elephantine display, recording 92 receptions for 993 yards and eight touchdowns.
Closing year, the Chargers let Gordon scuttle in free agency and signed Ekeler to a four-year, $24.5 million extension. Hamstring and knee injuries sign Ekeler six video games in 2020, though, and he’ll derive out about to jump serve at some level of the upcoming marketing campaign.
Despite the Chargers hiring Brandon Staley to change Anthony Lynn as head coach, Ekeler seems primed to contend with a majority of the workload among the many club’s running backs. That’s a solid certain for his fantasy outlook.
Los Angeles Chargers running serve Austin EkelerIcon Sportswire/Getty Photos
With Ekeler’s contract and past production, he is now not going to tumble at the serve of 2nd-year running serve Joshua Kelley, Justin Jackson (who has battled injuries at some level of his three-year career) or rookie sixth-rounder Larry Rountree III. Though Ekeler has by no draw handled the bulk of the Chargers’ speeding makes an strive in his career, inquire him to touch the ball 15-20 times per time out on account of his ability role in the passing sport.
Quarterback Justin Herbert will like wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams on the perimeter, however he can additionally derive out about to Ekeler, one of the league’s supreme receivers out of the backfield.
Per Pro Soccer Focus, Ekeler leads running backs in yards after the purchase (1,432) and forced skipped over tackles (36) on receptions since 2019:
The analytics dwelling additionally nicely-known Ekeler used to be the correct running serve to log 10-plus catches in two contests in 2020:
Staley took demonstrate of Ekeler’s upward push during the ranks and feels like he trusts him in every aspect of the offense.
“He’s a total participant. That’s why he made it. He used to be a total special groups participant originally. He’s a total serve. He can scuttle the ball. He can scuttle the route tree. He can circulation give protection to. He’s an intense competitor. He comes out right here and does his job at a high level repeatedly and that instance is now not uncommon to running backs.”
Ekeler seems assured he’ll like a giant role and spoke right away to fantasy soccer managers at some level of a media presser.
“Hiya, I will derive the ball, I will manufacture issues occur,” Ekeler acknowledged. “They’ll throw me the ball; I will manufacture issues occur. Whereas you wish derive fantasy elements, you better like me to your crew. So, that’s all I obtained to pronounce. If I am healthy, I will score you elements.”
Here is the final share to the puzzle that foreshadows Ekeler’s role. Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi when put next his lead serve to some running backs whom he knows nicely.
“I do know that Ekeler has one of the most talent space that I am aged to seeing in New Orleans, whether or now not it used to be Reggie [Bush], Darren Sproles or A.Ok. [Alvin Kamara],” Lombardi acknowledged on a Zoom name with reporters (starts at 9: 03).
Two years in the past, when Ekeler ranked ninth in scrimmage yards (1,550), he supreme performed 57 p.c of the offensive snaps at the serve of Gordon. As the Chargers’ featured running serve in an every-down role, he might carry the discipline for about two-thirds of the snaps, which can pause in a monster season.
We know about Ekeler’s particular palms out of the backfield, however as the determined-nick No. 1 ball-carrier in Los Angeles, he’ll doubtless eclipse his career high in speeding yards (557).
Akin to Kamara in three of his four campaigns, Ekeler might earn 700 yards both on the floor and as a receiver even with complementary running backs taking a share of the snaps. Be conscious, Kamara recorded these numbers while sharing touches with Charge Ingram II and Latavius Murray.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (left) and running serve Austin Ekeler (lawful)John McCoy/Getty Photos
If the comparability between Kamara and Ekeler would not motivate you to rob Ekeler stock, carry a derive out about at his supporting solid.
Ekeler has a rapport with Herbert, who gained 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year. This offseason, the Chargers revamped their offensive line, adding versatile guard Matt Feiler, All-Pro middle Corey Linsley and rookie first-rounder Rashawn Slater, who has grew to change into heads at some level of coaching camp. If Bryan Bulaga bounces serve from an wound-riddled 2020 marketing campaign, Los Angeles’ front line can pay dividends on the floor and in the passing sport.
Within the serve of an improved offensive line, Ekeler will doubtless watch wider running lanes. On passing downs, Herbert might carry motivate of overtime in the pocket, finding his dynamic twin-probability running serve who has an 81.2 p.c purchase rate for his career.
For managers alive to by Ekeler’s durability, he is definitely price the effort. The 26-year-archaic supreme skipped over two video games in his first three seasons. Yet, the Chargers might feed him 12-14 carries per time out to love him for the total marketing campaign.
With that acknowledged, Ekeler would not must log 200-plus carries to change into a fantasy soccer giant title. Closing season, Kamara led all running backs in PPR scoring with ethical 187 flee makes an strive. The Saints serve had a renowned role in the passing sport, recording 83 receptions for 756 yards and five touchdowns. Per feedback from Staley and Lombardi, Ekeler might publish an identical receiving numbers in 2021.
Ekeler would not like Kamara’s established resume, however his talent space, ability usage and save on the depth chart might yield similar fantasy results. With that ceiling, the Chargers running serve is a high-eight carry in drafts this year.
Fable soccer elements and scoring courtesy of FantasyPros.
