Los Angeles Chargers - Fantasy News

Should I Start Austin Ekeler in Week 12?

by Derek Norton

11/22/17

NFL

Los Angeles Chargers

Austin Ekeler

Not only has Austin Ekeler taken over Branden Oliver’s role as Melvin Gordon’s backup with the Chargers, but he’s getting some decent usage, too.

Ekeler scored a touchdown in the team’s 54-24 win over the Bills just one week after getting 15 touches against the Jaguars. Now the rookie out of Western State will get a piece of the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

This is a good time for a running back to play the Cowboys, but Ekeler doesn’t have much of a track record.

Why Should I Start Austin Ekeler?

We can’t ignore what Ekeler has done lately. He has scored five times in his last seven games, including three trips to the end zone the last two weeks. He has reached double-digit touches twice in his last four games and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 9.4 yards per reception on the season. He has surpassed his Week 12 projection (six Dober points) in three of the last four weeks.

Ekeler is a backup, but the way things are going in Dallas he could see plenty of touches before it’s all said and done. The Cowboys were outscored 64-16 in their last two games, and there’s little reason to think they’ll be any better this week. Ezekiel Elliott is still suspended and Sean Lee has already been ruled out. Dallas could very well receive another beating, in which case Ekeler would get some extra work.

In its last game, Dallas proved that its defense is capable of letting more than one running back put up decent numbers. Three of Philadelphia’s backs (Corey Clement, Jay Ajayi and Kenjon Barner) exceeded six Dober points. If the Cowboys are going to allow that kind of production from running backs, Ekeler may not even need a blowout to be effective.

Why Should I Bench Austin Ekeler?

As you might expect, Ekeler’s fantasy production against the Bills came in the fourth quarter of a 30-point blowout. He only got two touches in the first half even though it was 37-7 after 30 minutes. He certainly didn’t have the role some expected after his 15-touch game in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars game looks more and more like an outlier considering the other ones in which he saw significant action. He had 11 touches and a touchdown against the Broncos, but that was a 21-0 blowout. Then he had eight touches in the aforementioned Bills blowout, seven against the Giants and three or fewer in every other game. It appears Ekeler is much more likely to be an afterthought than a legitimate part of the game plan.

The Cowboys have allowed some big performances to running backs, and they allowed three Eagles rushers to eclipse six Dober points on Sunday night. But the big games went to the opposing team’s starting running back, and the Philly contest was only the second of the season in which Dallas allowed an opposing team’s second running back to eclipse six Dober points.

The first was when Chris Thompson put up 11.4 Dober points in Week 8, though he was in more of a 50-50 split with Rob Kelley at the time. Tevin Coleman also succeeded, but Devonta Freeman left the game early with a concussion. Ekeler isn’t getting the ball at nearly the same level as Thompson or Coleman. It would be a surprise to see Dallas fail to stop a complimentary back two weeks in a row after not having any trouble with them all year.

Should I Make Austin Ekeler a Week 12 Fantasy Starter?

Yes. Ekeler is shifty and can score from anywhere on the field. He’s also fresher than Gordon and could see some extra looks since the Chargers are traveling on a short week. Add in the newfound propensity for Dallas to get blown out and Ekeler has just enough in his favor to make him worth using.

Week 12 Fantasy Prediction: Austin Ekeler Over 6 DFPs