Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Matchup Breakdown For Week 2 Fantasy Football

• Spread: Chargers -7
• O/U: 45.5
• Score Prediction (from the Fantasy Life NFL Betting Model): LAC 26, LV 16

Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Preview

Prayer circles up. Talk about a one-month turnaround for second-year RB Ashton Jeanty. From panic tearing through the Twitter streets, to achieving a ridiculous 99 UR (29 touches; +78% of total backfield opportunity share) for 147 scrimmage yards in just about a month … wow. Has to be one of the crazier narrative roundtrips in recent memory. Jenaty’s clearly healthy — and appearing very much deserving of those picks spent at the 1-2 turn before going down in practice.

Despite scoring 27 in a definitive win, it’s not all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows for the black and silver — the Dolphins could just be that bad. Averaging a putrid 4.3 yards/play, on a combined 3.5 yards/rush and 5.3 yards/pass attempt, will not get the job done over the long haul. Simply put, it wasn’t as if one phase carried the other. Vegas still has a long way to go to show bona fide improvement.

Old man Kirk Cousins exemplified the consummate game manager, completing 21-30 for only 160 yards, without taking a sack or completing a single +20-yard completion. Yawn. Michael Mayer’s an obvious beneficiary of Brock Bowers going down (73 UR; 7 targets, +29% target/route), but outside that, volume’s going to be a concern given the way Cousins spreads it out. 

Tre Tucker ran all the routes but didn’t earn the volume of targets I hoped for in the play-action game, though it was responsible for an explosive. Jalen Nailor posted a comparably vanilla box score with little fantasy appeal attached — I’d bench the entire grouping until something changes. Even in a negative game script as a touchdown underdog, not sure there’s enough here to reliably sink our teeth into. 

• Start: Ashton Jeanty (RB7), Michael Mayer (TE12)
• Sit: Tre Tucker (WR55), Jalen Nailor (WR71)

Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview

No team fell flatter in regard to expectations than the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend. What started as unbridled excitement for the NFL’s next great offensive unit under Mike McDaniel, failed to impress against a Cardinal defense that frankly didn’t play all that well. The Bolts committed the mishap trifecta — penalties, turnovers, and special teams miscues. Not to make excuses, but my gut says they’ll be just fine.

What’s not fine however, are injury concerns for Ladd McConkey, who left the contest amidst a monster game brewing (5-82-1) in an absurd featured role (82 UR; 38.9% target/route, 4.56 yards/route). Like all good things, it came to an end. Reports on McConkey remain murky, though the Chargers did respond by signing Marquez Valdez-Scantling (gulp).  McConkey’s currently carrying a questionable tag in what I assume will end in a game-time decision, though things look bleak given the fact that he hasn't practiced all week. Get ready to fire up QJ and Tre Harris (more on them soon).

Had fantasy GMs known beforehand that only two Charger RBs would command a touch versus the Cardinals, both Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell would’ve topped DFS ownership lists. But as always we plan, only for fantasy football to laugh in our faces and smack us back to reality. The Chargers’ duo somehow combined for just 9.2 points … including a TD! Huh?!? (Don’t worry, Hampton at least will correct course)

The Bolts made costly mistakes from the get-go, which I’m willing to attribute to Week 1 weirdness in a new system. Remember just last season, both the Seahawks and Patriots looked awful in opening losses, only to appear in the Super Bowl. It’s early, people. 

One surprise however, was the emergence of late-round pick Tre Harris into a featured role. Not only did he equal Quentin Johnston’s routes (27) and targets (6), he stepped into the slot role and a 100% route participation rate in the fourth quarter. Interesting combo of short and long term value with Harris, especially if Ladd sits.

• Start: Omarion Hampton (RB13), Ladd McConkey (if active) (WR33), Quentin Johnston (WR34), Justin Herbert (QB8)
• Sit: Oronde Gadsden (TE38)
• Sleeper: Tre Harris (WR69)

Next Week’s Bold Headlines, Today

• Small-sample doors swing both ways. Los Angeles destroys Las Vegas in the board’s most obvious Week 2 correction.
• Omarion Hampton builds off another 75% opportunity share, except this time he catches passes to finish as a top-5 RB.
• How soon Raiders fans forget about beating the Dolphins down, as the social media calls for Fernando Mendoza start early and often.