Tag: Josh Palmer

Studs and duds from Chargers’ loss to Raiders

Here’s who showed up and who was disappointing in the Chargers’ loss to the Raiders.

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The Chargers fell to .500 with a loss to the Raiders, sealed away with a series of Josh Jacobs runs the same way the matchup last season was.

Los Angeles’ playoff hopes continue to slip with the loss, although a Jets’ loss means they remain just one game outside the postseason.

Here’s who stepped up and who faded into the background in the rivalry contest.

Stud: Josh Palmer

After a shaky first half of the season where Palmer’s chemistry with Justin Herbert seemed off, injuries to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams forced the second-year receiver to get on the same page with his quarterback. Those game reps have pretty clearly paid dividends lately, and Palmer continued that momentum with 7 catches for 60 yards on 11 targets, the most of anyone not named Keenan Allen. Palmer was consistently the go-to guy on third down, with four of his receptions coming on third down. Three of those went for first downs, with the fourth setting up a 4th-and-1 that was converted.

Dud: Pass Protection

Herbert was under duress all day, enduring five sacks and fourteen hits from Raiders defenders who seemed to be in his face all afternoon. Of course, it’s always going to be hard to produce when you’re missing three starters and facing a defensive front like Las Vegas’, but the Chargers looked like they fielded an offensive line essentially only because they were required to on Sunday. Will Clapp could not get the line moved to counter the blitz the same way Corey Linsley (concussion) does. Foster Sarell and Jamaree Salyer were baptized by Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby all day in relief of Rashawn Slater (bicep) and Trey Pipkins (knee). Brenden Jaimes also intermittently entered the game for Zion Johnson, further disrupting the chemistry of an already patchwork group.

Stud: Joshua Kelley

Kelley is clearly the second-best back on this roster, and the way the offense has functioned with and without him makes that evident. The third-year player’s effectiveness today kept Sony Michel in street clothes and Isaiah Spiller off the field on offense while Kelley took seven carries for 30 yards. Kelley’s play style is just more effective with an offensive line that’s struggling as much as it was today because the bigger back has the ability to drive through tackles and get tough first downs. Going forward, there’s no reason we need to see Michel on the field again, although Spiller should probably receive a couple of touches per game to continue to work him into the offense.

Dud: Austin Ekeler

On the flip side, Ekeler struggled today. With only fifteen touches, it was a light day for the back, who grinded out a 3.5 per carry average and had 67 receiving yards on five catches. His fumble to open the second half was a critical momentum swing that the Chargers seemingly could not recover from for the rest of the game. Again, with the way the offensive line was playing, I get only drawing up 17 non-quarterback runs in the game. But Ekeler is an elite receiving back, and that he only received six targets tells me that, for some reason, the Chargers elected to call other numbers on Sunday. Hopefully, they go back through the tape and find ways to get him in more effective situations to succeed.

Stud: Justin Herbert

You heard it on CBS’ commentary all game: Justin Herbert was going to need to be Superman for the Chargers to have a chance. Superman he nearly was, throwing for 335 yards and a touchdown despite being hurried nearly every time he dropped back to pass. Remember that this is a player whose rib cartilage is still fractured! Herbert consistently hung in the pocket and delivered tight throws, showcasing his best skill: making smart decisions with the ball. Then, on plays like the 4th-and-12 touchdown to Keenan Allen, we still saw glimpses of what Justin Herbert can be if everything goes right. The problems with this offense do not start, end, or intertwine at any other point with the man behind center, but he is hamstrung by what he’s being given. On Sunday, it nearly didn’t matter.

Dud: Defensive Line

First, big picture: the Chargers allowed Josh Jacobs to run for 144 yards on 5.5 per carry despite holding him to just 57 yards in Week 1. LA also failed to sack Derek Carr, hitting him only twice after a six-sack and nine-hit performance in the opener. Now, the Raiders offensive line has hit a stride in recent weeks, and the Chargers had several key contributors who were still healthy in Week 1, but the overarching disappointment still rings true.

Now, a few one on one evaluations. Khalil Mack consistently got pushed off the line of scrimmage as a run defender and only got to Carr on prolonged rushers. Chris Rumph missed a tackle on Jacobs that would’ve brought him down behind the line, instead giving up a nine-yard gain. Sebastian Joseph-Day made a few plays early but left late in the game with a knee injury he could not put weight on. It was a miserable day for what’s consistently been a gloomy unit. There was, however, one exception.

Stud: Morgan Fox

Fox continued his strong season on Sunday, consistently being the player to penetrate the backfield and stop Jacobs at or near the line of scrimmage. He also had a beautifully executed stunt with Khalil Mack in the first quarter that forced a Raiders throwaway on third down and led to a punt. On a line full of injury replacements, disappointments, and general malaise, Fox has consistently been a bright spot. I have to imagine his name is high on the Chargers’ list of players to re-sign this offseason so he can continue to build on this progress.

Dud: Conservation of momentum

Like every Chargers game, this contest began with a successful first quarter of LA-branded football. The Raiders went three and out on their first drive because of that Morgan Fox stunt pressure. LA immediately tossed that momentum by getting strip-sacked on their first play of the game. No problem, though, because Kenneth Murray just forced a fumble on the Raiders’ 25. The offense responds by gaining 9 yards and then failing to convert on fourth down. Even with all of this starting and stopping and sputtering, it’s 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 13-10 by halftime.

Then, Ekeler fumbles and Davante Adams scores on the Raiders’ first play of the second half. Cameron Dicker misses his first field goal as a professional and the Raiders respond with an Adams flea flicker to extend their lead. And then, save for Herbert’s heroic touchdown heave to bring it back within one possession, it just felt like the rest of the game was deflated for LA. The energy the defense brought in the first quarter was gone, replaced with hands on knees and shaking heads as Adams hauled in circus catches and Jacobs ground the defense into a pulp. The offense was fighting to keep their heads above water, forging through physical, confident coverage and a pass rush that knew they’d get anything they wanted. It’s been this story for the entire season, and at some point, the narrative needs to shift from starting games strong to finishing them. The Chargers haven’t finished a game all season; even last week at Arizona, it felt like they escaped, thieving a victory they had not earned. It shouldn’t require Herbert to become a folk hero. Yet here we are, Herbert’s heroics later, left with nothing else but another loss and building questions about this team’s constitutional fortitude.

Studs and duds from Chargers’ 30-27 loss to Chiefs

Here’s who showed up and who disappointed in the Chargers’ loss to the Chiefs.

The Chargers proved once again that they have been forsaken by the football gods on Sunday night, dropping a heartbreaking 30-27 loss to the Chiefs.

The result essentially knocks Los Angeles out of division contention, but a playoff spot is still within reach if the powers that be find it within themselves to be merciful to the powder blues.

Here’s who showed signs of encouraging development and who struggled in the loss.

Stud: Joshua Palmer

Everyone and their parents knew Keenan Allen and Mike Williams would be back in the lineup this week, but that left us with the question of Palmer. His contributions in this offense with Allen and Williams out went beyond what the box score was capable of showing. With Allen on a pitch count and Williams leaving in the first quarter after aggravating his ankle injury, the onus was again on Palmer to perform like a WR1. He did an admirable job on Sunday, hauling in 8 receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. It’s the deep touchdown in the first quarter that shows the most promise: it came with Allen and Williams on the defense’s mind. Palmer now has a taste of what it’s like to be the No. 1 option, but he’s running downfield with little to no attention on him while defenses key in on 13 and 81. On Sunday, No. 5 proved he’s not to be ignored either.

Dud: Run defense

The Chiefs, before Sunday night, had not had an individual player run for over 100 yards in 413 days. That was Week 4 of the 2021 season. This is a team virtually allergic to running the ball – even in the first half, Andy Reid continued to avoid the ground game even as Isiah Pacheco continued to gash the Chargers depleted defensive line. In the second half, Reid adjusted and Los Angeles did not – Pacheco finished with 107 rushing yards on just 15 carries, a 7.1 yards per carry average. I get that injuries have impacted the defense – Joey Bosa, Austin Johnson, Otito Ogbonnia, and Christian Covington all missed this game and Kenneth Murray left early with a neck injury. But at some point, you have to make do with what you have, and the Chargers couldn’t do that on Sunday night.

Stud: Justin Herbert

It pains me that this game ended with a Herbert interception, which his detractors will point to as proof that he’s simply an interception thrower, despite the, well…everything else that says otherwise. Herbert looked comfortable and healthy for the majority of this game, flashing some of those downfield eye-poppers that we haven’t seen for weeks. Having Allen and Williams helped, certainly. But the deep shot to Palmer to open the game was picture-perfect. The sideline bomb to Keenan Allen to keep LA in the game in the fourth quarter was a throw fitting of an All-Pro quarterback. Herbert was his stellar self on Sunday, and the return of his playmakers, if only partially and in name, did wonders for his confidence.

Dud: Pass protection

What did not help Herbert was the pass protection this week. Coming into the game, the Chargers had only allowed 13 sacks, the fewest in the NFL. Part of that was an offensive line that’s played well above expectation, and part was Herbert’s uncanny ability to navigate the pocket and avoid negative plays. On Sunday, the collapse of the former put more bearing on the latter, and Herbert could only do so much to avoid the rush. Los Angeles allowed five sacks in just about every way imaginable. Jamaree Salyer and Matt Feiler failed to pass off a stunt correctly, resulting in a Mike Danna sack. The line shifted away from a blitzing Willie Gay to give him an untouched sack. Herbert tried to scramble and was swallowed by a hyper-aware Chris Jones. It’ll be a rough week of tape study.

Stud: Troy Reeder

Reeder was forced to come in off the bench after Kenneth Murray left with a neck injury, and he immediately made his presence felt with a pass breakup late in the third quarter that put Kansas City behind the sticks. In the fourth quarter, Reeder forced the Jerick McKinnon fumble to give the Chargers the ball back after Keenan Allen’s fumble seemed like it would be the ballgame for LA. It’s nearly impossible to play better in relief than Reeder did, and he deserves his flowers for keeping the Chargers in it.

Dud: Second-half execution

Yet again, the Chargers could not put together a full 60-minute performance. After jumping out to a 20-13 lead in a first half where Los Angeles scored ten points in each of the first two frames, they were outscored 17-7 in the second half. The third quarter especially was ugly for LA, who could not move the ball on offense nor stop the run on defense. A sack of Herbert killed the opening drive after penalties mortally wounded it. Pacheco ran wild to get the Chiefs into field goal range for the only points of the quarter. Herbert missed a wide-open Josh Palmer on a crossing route and threw it to an open patch of grass to avoid incoming pressure. Brandon Staley punted on fourth and inches. It was a huge letdown after a thrilling first half that had you believing the Chargers could hang with anyone now that their health was up and up.

Stud: Morgan Fox

Everybody knows this defensive line is shorthanded after losing Otito Ogbonnia, Christian Covington, and Jerry Tillery over the last week. Everybody knew that Sebastian Joseph-Day and Fox, the two remaining players of the six on LA’s roster heading into the bye, would have to play a huge role. Everybody, including the Chiefs, did everything they could to make someone else beat them. And time after time, it was Joseph-Day and Fox who were making plays for the Chargers. Fox, in particular, seemed to always be in the backfield, whether it was pressuring Patrick Mahomes into throwaways or penetrating rushing lanes to shut down short-yardage opportunities.

Dud: Coaching

Circling back to the second-half execution, at some point, you can’t hide behind injuries as an excuse for why this team suddenly loses steam at any given point in a game. LA hasn’t put together a complete game the entire year, but Sunday’s first half was the best they’ve looked in ages. The defense was battling, forcing Kansas City into field goal after a field goal by stiffening up in critical situations. The offense was flowing – Austin Ekeler was feasting, Isaiah Spiller had a few nice plays to keep him fresh, Justin Herbert looked like the Justin Herbert we remember from his dazzling 2021 season. And then, in the second half, they just…stopped. The defense couldn’t find answers for Travis Kelce. The run game stopped generating yards. Herbert was forced to shoulder more and more of the weight as pass concepts failed to get open.

There is a no bigger condemnation of this than Staley’s decision to punt on fourth and inches with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. The defense had just gotten off the field after an exhausting nine-play, 56-yard drive that they had managed to stop at just a Harrison Butker field goal. The offense, while struggling in the second half, showed at multiple points all game that they could get half a yard against Kansas City’s defense. Being aggressive on fourth down is supposed to be Staley’s calling card. Yes, the offense was a grind. Yes, the defense was playing well. Yes, injuries are mounting up. But I do not think you can make that call to punt and not have your players feel like you’re losing faith after the way you’ve called plays like that your entire head coaching career.

You can see it in the drive chart that follows: LA punts and Kansas City immediately goes on a 10-play, 86-yard drive that results in the touchdown to give them the lead in 4 minutes, 55 seconds. LA comes back out and fumbles on an excruciating drive whose yardage is buoyed by two gains of 11 yards each on its final two plays. It’s not until Reeder forces the fumble to turn the momentum back in the Chargers’ favor that things turn around.

Kansas City is a good team, one of the best. But this has been a season-long issue. If the first half isn’t flat, then the second half is. Is that a preparation issue, a scheme issue, or a coaching issue? We’ve proved it’s not a player issue. Replacements have come in and done their jobs as well as you can possibly ask for this season all over this roster. That should be a rallying cry, not an excuse. And through ten games, it feels like Brandon Staley and his staff are using it as an excuse.

Chargers’ reasons for optimism vs. Chiefs

Highlighting the reasons why the Los Angeles Chargers should beat the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chargers face off with the Chiefs in primetime for the second time this season, this time on Sunday Night Football for the second week in a row.

Los Angeles is coming off a loss to the 49ers, while Kansas City is fresh off a 27-17 win against the Jaguars.

Here are four reasons to be optimistic that LA will split the season series.

Justin Herbert’s talent elevation

I wrote this week that Herbert’s improving health has done wonders for this offense, and I expect that to only continue on Sunday night. The San Francisco game was the most often Herbert’s receivers were finding open space down the field all season, partially because the 49ers were so keyed in on the short passing game that had been a staple of Joe Lombardi’s offense before the bye when Herbert’s ribs limited his ability to push the ball downfield. The result last week was a strong performance from the face of the franchise despite playing without his top two targets and several other key contributors.

Return of key targets

Speaking of Herbert’s top two targets, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams returned to practice on Wednesday, a good sign that at least one of them will be available on Sunday. Williams in particular, seemed to be in good spirits, smiling and laughing through a “maybe” when asked if he’ll play on Sunday. Allen said he “hope[s]” to play as well. The Chargers haven’t played a game with both players at full strength all season, primarily because Allen hasn’t been 100% since injuring his hamstring in Week 1. While he played in Week 7 against Seattle, he was on a pitch count. If both players return and LA gets right tackle Trey Pipkins back with the way Herbert’s trajectory has been, an explosive day from the offense against the 22nd-best pass defense by DVOA is not out of the question.

Run game tendencies

The Chargers are undeniably thin on the defensive line – Breiden Fehoko is likely in line to start next to Sebastian Joseph-Day and Morgan Fox after being signed from the practice squad last Wednesday. Joe Gaziano, freshly signed from the practice squad, and Tyeler Davison, who’s been on the team for less than a week, will likely be asked to play big roles. Luckily for them, though, the Chiefs don’t seem to want to run the ball much. Kansas City averages 23.7 rushing attempts per game so far in 2022, 25th in the league by volume. It’s not like it isn’t working for them, either: they’re middle of the road in per carry numbers. Against LA in Week 2, Clyde Edwards-Helaire averaged 9.3 yards per carry but only received eight opportunities. This offense (rightfully) runs through Patrick Mahomes, even if the matchup dictates that running the ball will be more effective. For the Chargers, who have defended the pass astronomically better than the run this season, that tendency plays into their hands. Sort of. It’s still Patrick Mahomes.

Turnover equality

The Chargers and Chiefs have thrown interceptions in two-thirds of their games this season: Herbert has six, and Mahomes has seven. What’s interesting about this is how both quarterbacks are throwing said interceptions. For the most part, Herbert throws picks when defenders recognize his near-robotic progression timeline and break on the ball as it’s delivered. In other words, it’s defenses turning his greatest strength into a weakness: Herbert moves through progressions like few quarterbacks his age do but sometimes comes off a read too early and forces a throw to a tertiary player because his internal clock screams that he needs to be throwing the ball somewhere. Similarly, defenses have turned Mahomes’ biggest strength into a weakness this season to force his interceptions. The Chiefs QB is at his best when extending plays and creating out of structure. Still, with his mind melded with Tyreek Hill no longer a factor, those same plays are increasingly turning into turnovers as they bounce off receivers’ hands or fly by unsuspecting targets’ heads. So, for both defenses, it’s a bit of a catch-22. You have to let the superstar QB on the other side get into their preferred situations and trust you can execute. In some ways, that puts them on level playing fields, and that’s a very rare thing to say when you’re on the team playing against Patrick Mahomes.

Film room: Chargers QB Justin Herbert is getting healthy

The bye week seems to have done Chargers QB Justin Herbert a lot of good.

The bye week seems to have done Justin Herbert a lot of good.

Good timing, too, because the Chargers have needed him to elevate his supporting cast to even be competitive these past two weeks. With Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Jalen Guyton all out with injuries, L.A. is seemingly on the brink of holding a fan raffle to determine its next starting receiver.

And yet, against one of the best defenses in the league, the Bolts hung tough, eventually losing 22-16 on Sunday Night Football. Herbert was a big reason why spending all game making plays that few others in the league could.

Let’s get into the film.

Early on, many of Herbert’s throws were keyed in on 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, a breakout star who’s made his money as an aggressive ballhawk and tackler. Here, Hufanga is the read – if he carries Michael Bandy upfield, Herbert hits DeAndre Carter on the crossing route. If Hufanga stays home, as he does, it gives Herbert the option of launching the go route. The only problem is Bandy doesn’t generate any separation on the corner. Knowing the routes have played out, Herbert bails from a clean pocket to generate movement downfield. Tight end Gerald Everett drifts towards the sideline, where Bandy has cleared the field for him and makes a nice catch outside his frame to pick up the first down.

I love everything about this play. I love the design to get Josh Palmer open. I love how Palmer delays his release to set up the first rub from DeAndre Carter. I love Herbert’s throw to hit Palmer and pick up another first down. Everything about this is executed perfectly, which is a credit to Palmer, Carter, and Bandy for getting their timing down. This is the kind of play you can call when you know your QB can hit throws like this. While Herbert makes it look easy, there are a lot of QBs in the league that end up trying this throw and get picked by the safety drifting over.

Tre’ McKitty must still be kicking himself about this one. Corner Charvarius Ward (the red arrow going upfield) has deep half responsibility here, which leads him to carry Richard Rodgers upfield on the seam route. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has seen this movie before from the Chargers. Half expecting Herbert to swing this out to Austin Ekeler, Greenlaw is caught just flat-footed enough for McKitty to sneak past into the open field. By the time Ward turns around, the ball is already in the air. If McKitty hauls this in, it’s, at minimum, a first down and, more likely, a touchdown. Instead, it bounces off his hands.

Luckily for McKitty, most of the Chargers fans watching live forgot about his drop immediately because this absolute seed was the very next play. Herbert is watching DeAndre Carter on this crossing route the whole way, and he has him open when he throws this ball. The only complication comes when McKitty’s underneath route coincides with the ball placement, which makes for an insanely tight window throw that teleports through the hole and hits Carter in stride. Herbert throws this while the pocket around him dissolves, and he takes a hit. This isn’t a throw he threads into that window earlier this season when the rib injury had a visible impact on his ability to drive the ball.

Similarly, this isn’t a play Herbert makes before the bye week. LA loves to get Herbert moving as an extension of their run game in doses here and there, just enough to remind defenses that their QB has wheels, too. But pre-bye week, Herbert barely ran the ball, instead opting to either take a checkdown or throw the ball away. What I find incredible here is how Herbert navigates this pocket: step up to avoid the pressure coming from both edge rushers, then immediately takes a hop step to avoid running into another oncoming defender. I do think Herbert intended to slide here but ended up being tackled behind by Fred Warner, leading to the nasty hit that put the QB in concussion protocol to end the first half. Still, hit or not, this play is a good process, showing that Herbert is confident enough in his ribs to scramble more often. That’s a great sign.

Joe Lombardi is trying to call plays deeper down the field. Sometimes, like in our first clip today, they simply don’t get open. That’ll happen when you have one of the slowest WR groups in the league. But sometimes, they are getting open, as Carter does here. On most of those occasions, the Chargers’ patchwork offensive line is giving up pressure that forces Herbert off the deep reads. This pressure design by San Francisco is beautiful: not only is their formation overloaded to the right side, but Fred Warner loops around everyone after the linemen have engaged to rush free on Herbert. That forces him to move off his first read (Carter on the deep cross) and get rid of the ball for survival purposes.

All this is to say: I don’t think this offense is broken, at least not systematically. Physically, they’re somewhere between broken and hurting bad. The game plan against San Francisco incorporated way more intermediate and deep routes as Herbert’s primary read than we’re used to from Lombardi. This fell apart once the 49ers could scheme up more pressure in the second half, yes. But it’s an encouraging sign that Lombardi at least has the plays in his arsenal. Now that Herbert is healthy enough to execute them, Lombardi has shown he’s more comfortable calling them. If/when this team gets Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Trey Pipkins back, I’d expect much more productivity and explosiveness from this unit. This is good tape, even in a loss, missing five starters (including Gerald Everett, injured on Sunday) and three skill position contributors.

In short: Justin Herbert is coming soon. Get the popcorn in the microwave.

Tunnel Vision

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
Justin Fields  123-178 4
 Josh Allen 205-86 2
 Tua Tagovailoa 302-5 3
 Geno Smith 275-38 2
 Patrick Mahomes 446-63 2
Running Backs Rush
Receive		 TD
Joe Mixon 22-153
4-58		 4
Kenneth Walker 26-109
3-20		 2
Travis Etienne 28-109
2-17		 2
Austin Ekeler 14-47
7-24		 2
Derrick Henry 17-115 2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Davante Adams 10-146 2
Tyreek Hill 7-143 1
Cooper Kupp 8-126 1
Justin Jefferson 7-115 1
Christian Kirk 8-76 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Dallas Goedert 8-100 1
Cole Kmet 5-41 2
Cade Otton 5-68 1
T.J. Hockerson 9-70 0
Travis Kelce 10-106 0
Placekickers XP FG
Nick Folk 2 4
Ryan Succop 1 3
Riley Patterson 3 2
Greg Zuerlein 2 2
Jason Myers 2 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
Patriots 9-1 1
Lions 1-3 0
Cardinals 2-1 1
Jets 5-2 0
Dolphins 2-0 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB P.J. Walker (CAR) -Benched
RB Aaron Jones (GB) – Ankle
WR Romeo Doubs (GB) – Ankle
WR Christian Watson (GB) – Concussion
TE Evan Engram (JAC) – Back

Chasing Ambulances

There were six teams on their bye, but like last week, the list is delightfully small. They say that by midseason, you’ve either been injured already or learned to play through it.

RB Aaron Jones (GB) – Left the loss to the Lions with an ankle injury and wore a boot after the game. Jones jogged back to the locker room and said that he was “a little sore” and did not think it was serious. X-rays were negative, so the hope is that he’ll be able to play this week against the Cowboys.

WR Romeo Doubs (GB) – Injured his ankle and was ruled out of the loss to the Lions. He wore a walking boot and used crutches after the game. There is concern that it may be serious enough that he misses more playing time. Monday tests will confirm the diagnosis. The Packers can ill-afford to lose any of their receivers.

TE Evan Engram (JAC) – Injured his back during the win over the Raiders and did not return to the game. He’ll be evaluated on Monday. Dan Arnold would move up to the starting spot if Engram misses any time.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Josh Palmer (LAC) – The Chargers were without Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, so Palmer (8-106) took the primary role  and delivered against the Falcons. His ten targets led the Chargers.

WR Cole Kmet (CHI) – While he was a disappointment through Week 7, the talented tight end scored on his two catches for 11 yards in Week 8. Against the Dolphins, Kmet had a career-best game with five catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns. He was second only to Darnell Mooney in targets.

WR Chase Claypool (CHI) – His first game with the Bears only resulted in two catches for 13 yards, but he was thrown six passes in his debut. The Bears are intent on getting him involved.

QB Baker Mayfield (CAR) – P.J. Walker got the hook at halftime when he only totaled nine yards and two interceptions as a passer. Mayfield entered the game and threw for 155 yards and two scores but the Bengals already led 35-0 and may have let up in the second half. Mayfield threw scores to Terrace Marshall (3-52) and Tommy Tremble (2-11, TD), but D.J. Moore only managed two catches for 24 yards. But he kept his helmet on after both receptions. No word yet on of the change was game-situation or something more.

WR Garrett Wilson (NYJ) – The rookie’s production took a nosedive with Zach Wilson under center, but he caught six passes for 115 yards in Week 8 versus the Pats. On Sunday, he led the Jets with eight catches for 92 yards. He’s not only connecting now with Wilson, but no other Jet gained more than 16 receiving yards in the win over the Bills. Wilson is dominating the receivers.

RB Jeff Wilson (MIA) – He already knew the offense, so Wilson’s first game after being traded saw him lead the backfield with nine runs for 51 yards and he added three catches for 12 yards and a touchdown. The move is already proving a fortunate career move. Raheem Mostert ran for 26 yards and a score on his nine rushes but had no receptions. The Dolphins now have the same committee the 49ers used two years ago.

TE T.J. Hockenson (MIN) – In his first game as a Viking, Hockenson caught all nine targets for 70 yards in the win over the Commanders.  That was the second-highest catch total of his career. He was second only to Justin Jefferson in catches and yards. His nine catches led the team. Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook had marginal games as receivers, so Hockenson’s workload will be interesting for the next few weeks.

TE Noah Fant (SEA) – He was part of the trade that sent Russell Wilson to the Broncos, and Fant played a minor role for the first half of the season. Against the Cardinals, he led the team with five receptions for 96 yards that included a 51-yard reception.

WR Ronald Moore (ARI) – The second-year wideout looks to be making a move towards breaking out with 92 yards and a score in Week 8, and then a team-high eight receptions for 69 yards in the loss to the Seahawks.  Moore’s ten targets paced the team and were double the five DeAndre Hopkins received.

Rams backfield – Cam Akers returned to the field and that meant that the Rams would rely on a three-man committee to produce their mediocre output. Darrell Henderson (12-56) was the only effective runner while Akers (5-3) and Malcolm Brown (2-9) added nothing.

TE Cade Otton (TB) – The promising rookie already had a couple of games with four catches or more. In the win over the Rams, he led the Buccaneers with five catches for 68 yards and caught the game-winning touchdown with only nine seconds left to play.

RB Raheem Blackshear (CAR) – The Panthers were badly beaten by the Bengals and D’Onta Foreman was limited to only 21 total yards.  Blackshear is the kick returner, but they let him play in the second half. He ended up second on the team with four catches for 40 yards and he ran in a fourth-quarter touchdown on his five carries for 13 yards. It was almost entirely during trash time, but these Panthers appear likely to be trailing badly in future games as well. He’s not worth grabbing, but worth tracking in case Foreman is injured. Blackshear was the No. 10 fantasy back for Week 10.

WR Kadarius Toney (KC) – The ex-Giant caught the first pass that Patrick Mahomes threw in the Sunday night game. But he only fielded one more pass and ended with 12 yards. He never saw any more action after the first quarter. It was a small step but at least Toney was able to play and looked healthy.

QB Justin Fields (CHI) – The passing yardage may remain pedestrian and limited, but Fields ended Week 9 as the highest-scoring fantasy quarterback. He passed for 123 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 178 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushes in the loss to the Seahawks. It was a career mark in rushing yards and the third time in the last four weeks that he gained at least 80 yards as a runner.  It was just as encouraging about his development that he threw scores to Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet. And this week, the Bears host the Lions.

Huddle player of the week

Joe Mixon – He’s disappointed fantasy drafters who hoped to latch on to the scoring machine of 2021. And now they have, it just all came in one game instead of being spread out. Mixon was simply unstoppable with 22 runs for 153 yards and four touchdowns, plus four receptions for 58 yards and a fifth score in the win over the Panthers. That’s 51.1 fantasy points and a career game for Mixon.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Geno Smith 303 2 QB Matthew Stafford 163 1
RB Jeff Wilson 72 1 RB D’Onta Foreman 21 0
RB Raheem Blackshear 53 1 RB Aaron Jones 45 0
WR Chris Moore 45 1 WR DeVonta Smith 22 0
WR Terrace Marshall 53 1 WR Michael Pittman 22 0
WR Rondale Moore 69 0 WR Mike Evans 40 0
TE Noah Fant 96 0 TE Tyler Higbee 0 0
PK Nick Folk   2 XP  4 FG PK Mike Badgley   1 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 125 Huddle Fantasy Points = 29

Now get back to work…

Studs and duds from Chargers’ victory over Falcons

Here’s who came through and who disappointed in the Chargers’ victory over the Falcons.

The Chargers escaped with a 20-17 victory over the Falcons on Sunday following a game-winning field goal by rookie Cameron Dicker.

Here’s who pulled through for the victory and who needed help from their teammates to pull it out.

Stud: Drue Tranquill

Tranquill’s breakout season continued Sunday morning with another stellar performance. The linebacker has excelled as a blitzer this season, a trend that carried through the bye week as Tranquill added another sack by dominating Falcons guard Matt Hennessy on his way to the quarterback. Cordarrelle Patterson did truck Tranquill on his second TD of the game, but for the most part he got into position as a defender and got the job done. With ten total tackles and two for loss, Tranquill continued to show why he deserves a contract extension.

Dud: Drops

This was mostly a third-quarter issue, but drops killed multiple drives for the Chargers that made this game closer than it needed to be. Gerald Everett dropped a pass up the seam on the first play of the second half, causing them to go three and out. On the following drive, Josh Palmer dropped a pass directly at his chest, leading to a Justin Herbert interception off the tip. Everett and Palmer have had drop issues all season, and they’re lucky their mistakes this week did not cost Los Angeles the game.

Stud: Michael Davis

Davis performed very well after being reinserted in the starting lineup after J.C. Jackson’s patellar tendon injury, and it’s clear that this defense is more frequently on the same page assignment-wise when Davis is on the field. Davis was at his best when he was able to jam Drake London at the line of scrimmage, as he did when the Falcons ran London on a fade in the end zone in the second half. The corner was also in position to make tackles when playing as a zone defender and was one of the few defenders who did not noticeably miss any tackles.

Dud: Sony Michel

With Joshua Kelley on injured reserve, the past few weeks have been Michel’s opportunity to cement himself as the clear RB2 option, at least until Kelley returns. Instead, the veteran was phased out in favor of rookie Isaiah Spiller, who out-touched Michel seven to one in this game. Michel was another victim of a costly drop on a second down play and was barely visible in the game after this. Spiller, meanwhile, took seven carries for a pedestrian 29 yards but showed flashes of brilliance as a pass protector. Even if Michel and Spiller are equals at this point, there’s no reason not to play Spiller over the veteran to continue to develop the rookie.

Stud: Run blocking

Trey Pipkins looked healthier in this game until leaving late in the fourth quarter, and it showed in the run game against Atlanta. Pipkins and Zion Johnson moved the Falcons off the line of scrimmage, opening lanes for Ekeler and Spiller to at least get a few yards. Hopefully, Pipkins’ injury is not serious because the Chargers finally looked like they had their rest-of-season offensive line at something resembling 100% in this game. Between Jamaree Salyer, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Johnson, and Pipkins, L.A has the potential to at least keep the run game afloat to keep defenses honest.

Dud: Run fits

Defensively, the trenches have work to do. The Chargers continue to struggle to fit the run even with their free-agent additions, largely because their second-level defenders are simply not performing at a high level. Kyle Van Noy played better than Chris Rumph has in the past few weeks, but he still doesn’t quite have the mass to set the edge on the outside. If Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson, who left the game with a knee injury, do not play every play perfectly, it’s guaranteed to be a seven to ten-yard gain. It’s hard to say what the issue is at this point. The team is dealing with injuries, Joey Bosa chief amongst them. It shouldn’t be a talent problem, given the additions. Whatever it is, something needs to be adjusted.

Stud: Khalil Mack

The stat-sheet doesn’t show that Mack had a huge impact on this game, but he’s on here primarily for one play only. Taking the ball away from an NFL receiver as Mack did is a grown-man play. There’s no other way to say it. The situation that play came in is an important factor to consider: the Chargers were leading 14-10 when Mack forced this fumble. Atlanta would have been inside the five-yard line if London went down, and the way their run game was working, they would’ve almost certainly scored a touchdown. Instead, Mack preserved the lead going into halftime and retained LA’s momentum.

Dud: Defensive gameplan

I don’t think the Chargers’ defense played this Falcons’ offense as well as they could have, but they were bailed out on numerous occasions by Marcus Mariota simply missing throws. In their defense, Los Angeles was forced into making some of the decisions I specifically thought they should try to mitigate because of the game state. But Atlanta found success on play-action readily as defenders crashed down to defend against the run, and Mariota frequently put flat defenders into conflict by getting outside the pocket with a short route over the top. Yes, L.A. held Atlanta to 17 points, which should be credited accordingly. But they allowed 201 rushing yards and would’ve given up two or three huge passing plays if Mariota was able to hit a few of the throws that he missed today.

Chargers’ keys to victory over Falcons in Week 9

Here is how the Chargers beat the Falcons on Sunday.

The Chargers return from the bye on Sunday to face the Falcons, an unlikely first-place team through eight weeks of the season.

Los Angeles’ injury luck has not turned even with an extra rest week, making Sunday’s contest feel much closer than it should, given the preseason expectations of these two teams.

Here’s what L.A. needs to do to come away with a victory.

Find offensive contributors

We know Mike Williams and Joshua Kelley will miss this game. Keenan Allen aggravated his hamstring injury during the bye week, despite contrasting reports from Brandon Staley. Donald Parham Jr. looked set to come back from a concussion, only to be added to the injury report Thursday with a hamstring issue. Even kicker Dustin Hopkins and backup kicker Taylor Bertolet are on the injury report. Someone for Los Angeles has to step up beyond just Justin Herbert and Austin Ekeler. Maybe that’s Josh Palmer putting together his best game of the season as he returns from a Week 7 concussion. But more likely, it’ll need to be an unheralded name. Isaiah Spiller as RB2 behind Ekeler. Michael Bandy or a practice squad receiver like Keelan Doss, who was promoted. Whoever it is, the Chargers need someone to step up and produce because we’ve seen what this offense looks like without Allen. Now without Williams, there’s little reason to be optimistic about moving the ball if nobody answers the call.

Run the ball effectively

Speaking of moving the ball, one of the biggest reasons the Chargers haven’t been able to do so is that the running game is not functioning well. The blame is easy to place on offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi (more on that in a bit), but I think Lombardi’s run game calls have been the most creative and effective part of this offense. The issue is the blocking, especially on the interior. As Daniel Popper of The Athletic pointed out in this week’s mailbag, the Chargers have been at their most effective running the ball when center Corey Linsley has been 100%. That’s been a rarity, but it should be true on Sunday. Combine health, relatively speaking, with the creativity Lombardi has shown as a play-caller, and it should result in a big game on the ground. With the injuries at wide receiver, that’s exactly what the Chargers need.

Call a complete game

Okay, back to Lombardi and the blame game. Multiple things about this offense are true. Lombardi has shied away from dialing up the deep shots we’ve come to expect from Justin Herbert. That’s partly on Lombardi, of course, but it’s also that the Chargers find themselves in a lot of second or third and longs due to their poor run game. It’s also partly because Herbert’s rib injury has affected his ability as a passer. Herbert just wrapped up the worst five game stretch of his career by EPA/play, and not all of that can be waved away by playcalling or injuries to other personnel. He’s fighting every week, and credit to him, but the rib is clearly bothering him.

This, again, brings us back to the offensive coordinator because what is also true about this offense is that it’s falling flat for reasons beyond the injuries. With Herbert’s injury, Lombardi’s playsheet feels like it’s shrunk to just Stick, Hank, and the occasional Austin Ekeler screen. He has to do better, and he’s had the bye week to cook up some new variations. If LA is going to pull this one out even with all the talent missing on offense, it has to be because Lombardi reaches into his bag and produces something new.

Keep Marcus Mariota in the pocket

Atlanta has one M.O. on offense: get Mariota on the move. One of their most effective plays has been running crossers to the right side as Mariota rolls that way off of play action, primarily because it puts any zone defender in that half of the field in conflict as they follow Mariota’s eyes. If that defender crashes down to protect against a scramble, Mariota throws it over their head. If they stay home, Mariota can tuck and run, where he’s proven to be dangerous as well. The Chargers have to protect against this outcome, especially because of how poor the tackling has been this season, by playing outside contain. This has its risks, namely that Atlanta will use Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley as battering rams on the inside as a counter. But it’s a risk worth taking because if Mariota has to shorten his bootleg to remain inside the tackle box, things get much harder. Every single one of his six interceptions this season has come between the numbers.

Limit the explosive play

The Chargers are 31st in plays of 35 or more yards allowed this season with 13, per TruMedia. Again, there are multiple reasons for this, in my opinion. Joey Bosa’s absence has decimated this run defense, especially on the outside. Running backs can direct plays behind the tackle blocking a Chargers defender not named Khalil Mack, at which point defenders in the second and third levels have struggled to make tackles. Kenneth Murray in particular has struggled, logging a 28.4 PFF grade as a run defender on 113 snaps thus far. But the pass defense has given up 8 of these 13 plays as well. Maybe it’s as simple as chalking that up to JC Jackson losing track of his zone responsibilities, and we can close that case. But if it’s not, and I don’t think it is, LA had plenty of time to get their defensive miscommunications ironed out. On Sunday, they need to show their work if the Chargers will come away with the victory.

Generate momentum plays

LA is 4-3 coming into this game and will drop to .500 if they lose, with clashes against the 49ers and Chiefs next up on the schedule. PFF says the Chargers have the 4th hardest remaining schedule in the league. Although they still have a 47% chance to make the playoffs, per PFF, coming away from this game with something to feel positive about is paramount. The offense needs to find some sort of rhythm. The defense could use a turnover or two, especially ones that lead directly to points. A special teams splash play could flip the momentum of this game just as easily as an offensive or defensive one. This will likely be a one-possession game, but it needs to be one that the Chargers a) win and b) feel good about. They’re 3-1 in one-possession games this season, but all three wins came with growing pains. Against the Raiders, the game shouldn’t have been one possession in the first place. The Cleveland game was mired in controversy over Brandon Staley’s decision to go for it on fourth and two and felt more like an escape than a victory. Ditto for the Broncos game, in which the offense could only muster 19 points in an overtime contest. The best possible path to victory, on Sunday and beyond, is for LA to convert on big plays of their own and feel like they went out and took a game for perhaps the first time this season.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen suffers another injury setback

The Chargers’ wide receiver room is thin heading into Week 9.

The bye week was a good time for Chargers players to rest and recover, especially the ones who had injuries.

However, that was not the case for Keenan Allen.

Allen said his hamstring worsened during the bye week when training.

He did not practice Monday or Wednesday, and it’s possible he will miss Sunday’s game against the Falcons, according to Brandon Staley.

After missing five games following the season opener, Allen returned to the lineup in the Week 7 loss against the Seahawks. He only played in the first half.

Allen said he felt great going into Week 7, but not 100%.

Nothing happened in the game,” Allen said on the injury setback. “Taking my time with it and just going through it how we planned it and just through the bye week, kind of hit it again.

“I don’t think it was a restrain or anything. It is just some more scar tissue that is trying to break off and whenever it is ready to heal, just got to let it do its own thing.”

If Allen does not play, the Chargers could be without their top three receivers. Mike Williams is out for weeks with a high ankle sprain. Joshua Palmer is out of concussion protocol, but Staley did not say if he will play.

That would leave DeAndre Carter, Michael Bandy and Jason Moore as the active receivers. Joe Reed or John Hightower would likely be promoted from the practice squad.

Studs and duds from Chargers’ victory over Broncos

Here’s who came through and who disappointed in the Chargers’ victory over the Broncos.

The Chargers moved to 4-2 on Monday night, grinding out a 19-16 overtime win in one of the ugliest games in the NFL this season.

Neither offense could move the ball effectively, turning the game into a slopfest mercifully. It ended only with Ja’Sir Taylor’s heads-up play on punt coverage leading to a muffed punt and Los Angeles recovery.

Dustin Hopkins was able to nail a 39-yarder to lift the team over the Broncos for just the third time in seven tries and win a game for the fourth time in 12 tries on Monday Night Football.

Here’s who contributed to the win and who could’ve done more.

Stud: Dustin Hopkins

After injuring his quad on his first kick of the night, it looked like Hopkins might be down for the count. We all know the narrative around Brandon Staley’s fourth-down decision-making. JK Scott, while lacking NFL kicking experience, kicked four field goals and ten extra points collegiately at Alabama. Scott also proved he had the leg to handle kickoff duty throughout the second quarter and second half. And yet, there was Hopkins, trotting out there for a 37-yard field goal with less than a minute in the first half. He fell to one knee, grimacing in pain while making the kick, but he did make it. Still, it looked like the second half would be field goalless.

And then Hopkins kicked two more, looking like he was in more and more pain each time. The broadcast showed him wearing a device on his quad whenever he wasn’t on the field. But every time, Hopkins went out there and nailed his kick.

Oh, and he hit the game-winner, too. It was one of the grittiest performances by a Charger in recent memory.

Dud: JC Jackson

Something isn’t right about Jackson’s fit in this defense. Maybe it’s his ankle preventing him from turning and running with KJ Hamler down the sideline late in the first half. Maybe it’s the adjustment to a heavy dose of zone coverage, leading to the mistake that left rookie Greg Dulcich wide-open for Denver’s only touchdown of the game. Whatever it is, it’s not working, and the Chargers know it. Jackson was benched in favor of Michael Davis to open the second half, after which the defense seemed to instantly be on the same page on every play. Luckily for Jackson, there’s only one more game before the bye week, which should give him extra time to recover (if it’s injury-related) or grind film (if it’s mental-related).

Stud: Austin Johnson

Both Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day had their best games of the season as run defenders against a Denver interior that had all three of their regular starters in the game with the return of Quinn Meinerz. Denver leaned away from the rushing attack for most of the game, running 23 times for 98 yards, good for a per carry average of 4.3. That’s down from the Chargers’ league-worst mark of 5.8 yards per carry coming into this game. I give the stud nod to Johnson over Joseph-Day tonight because he seemed to be in the backfield the most consistently late in the game. Make no mistake, though, both players did a fantastic job directing Latavius Murray and Melvin Gordon back into the teeth of the defense.

Dud: Zion Johnson

The Chargers’ first-round pick had a tough matchup with DJ Jones across from him, but we’d seen him stonewall Chris Jones to the point that the Chief flipped to the left side to find success in Week 2. The Broncos’ Jones had no such issue, baiting Johnson into three holding penalties and overall causing problems for the Chargers’ offense. Without the benefit of the All-22 tape, it’s hard to say if Johnson’s struggles were due to having a new center in the game and a less-than-healthy Trey Pipkins to his outside shoulder. Regardless, the offensive line as a whole failed to protect Herbert to the level we’d come to expect from the ragtag unit after the Rashawn Slater injury. Johnson was the public face of that struggle tonight as the one drawing penalties. 

Stud: Joshua Palmer

Credit to Palmer, whose hype was rapidly fading after five weeks of drops and timing issues with Justin Herbert. But with Mike Williams shut down against Patrick Surtain II, LA needed another receiver to step up and move the ball in this game. Palmer answered that call, turning a season-high twelve targets into nine receptions for 57 yards, two of which went for first downs and another two of which brought the team within a yard of one. The former Tennessee product also drew three pass interference flags down the field, a key factor in LA’s field position in the first half. Palmer’s performance tonight is an encouraging sign that he and Herbert have worked out their issues, and a drop-free game will only endear him further to his quarterback.

Dud: Justin Herbert

When the lights are brightest, you need your franchise quarterback to step into that spotlight and win you the game. Essentially without your top two receivers, you need your franchise quarterback to elevate other talent and keep the offense humming. Tonight, Herbert simply didn’t have it. He missed throws high, rotated his eyes late, and failed to feel pressure. Maybe the pressure got to him more than usual with Will Clapp in the lineup and Zion Johnson struggling. Maybe it’s the playcalling. Maybe the ribs are bothering him more than he’d ever let on. Whatever the case, Justin Herbert theoretically is on this planet to generate explosive football plays, yet he was 1-of-7 on passes of 15 or more yards. Credit to Denver’s defense, which we knew was a strong one.

Stud: Drue Tranquill

Tranquill had just about the game of his life, logging two sacks in critical situations. With 9 minutes left in the game, tied 13-13, Tranquill found his way home to bring Wilson down and force a Denver field goal. On the next drive, Tranquill came unblocked on a blitz and brought Wilson down in 2.25 seconds, the fourth-quickest sack in the league this season. Nobody on Denver’s offense could stop Tranquill from getting to the QB, as he also logged a third QB hit immediately before Derwin James’ big third-down sack that got the Chargers moving in the right direction. Tranquill was also second on the team in tackles with eight total, completing a standout performance.

Dud: Stick

Joe Lombardi has to diversify his go-to playbook. Credit to him, the Chargers overall called a more creative and effective game than usual, especially on the ground, where Austin Ekeler and Sony Michel got things going for the third straight week. They even took a deep shot on the first play of the game, drawing a pass interference penalty! And then they hardly ever did it again, returning to the bread and butter of stick, spot, and Hank for the rest of the game. Denver’s corners knew it was coming, too, consistently triggering on routes fast enough to cause PBUs and tipped balls, leading to interceptions. It’s one thing to like a play, another to run it frequently enough to be a staple. But to come back to it time after time, to the point that everyone knows it’s coming as soon as Herbert drops into shotgun, is entirely different. Hopefully, the bye week brings some extra installs.

Fantasy Football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 4

Here’s a look at some tough start/sit decisions in Week 4 of fantasy football.

Entering the fourth week of fantasy football, managers can begin separating from their leagues while others look to gain ground in the race. Much of this will be determined by the start/sit decisions.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

You also can check out our start and sit bench list for Week 4.

Here is a look at some of the tough start and sit decisions in fantasy football for Week 4: