When fantasy football managers invested an early first-round pick in Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler back on draft day, one had to imagine they would never be asking themselves if they should start him heading into Week 15.
However, with recent injuries to QB Justin Herbert and WR Keenen Allen, Ekeler may see a limited amount of scoring opportunities against the Las Vegas Raiders, especially while Easton Stick makes his starting debut.
Can you trust Ekeler in your fantasy lineup this week?
Should You Start Austin Ekeler in Week 15?
The recent struggles of the Chargers offense have had a huge impact on the fantasy production of Ekeler in recent weeks.
He has just one double-digit fantasy outing in PPR formats over the last four games and had two games where he finished with fewer than 35 yards rushing — while averaging 3.3 yards per carry in that span.
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The one saving grace for Ekeler’s fantasy outlook this week is that Stick peppered him with five targets in the second half once Herbert exited the game. One could certainly make an argument that Ekeler is the most reliable pass catcher Stick has available to him.
If Ekeler can see that type of volume as a checkdown option in the passing game, he still has the RB1 ceiling in PPR formats because of his pass-catching prowess alone. Not to mention, the Raiders rank 27th against opposing RBs this season.
Trending Start/Sit Searches for Ekeler
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use and it allows you to enter in up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity!
Should You Start Ekeler or Kyren Williams?
Kyren Williams has simply been too good recently to overlook his production against the elite defensive units of the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. He has finished with 14+ in three straight games in PPR formats after returning from injured reserve.
Right now, Williams is the better fantasy option heading into Week 15.
Should You Start Ekeler or Saquon Barkley?
Ekeler and New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley now find themselves in oddly similar situations — dynamic running backs stuck in a talent-depleted offense with a backup quarterback under center.
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The thing is … we’ve seen that Barkley can still be a fantasy producer in those tough circumstances, while Ekeler has struggled recently, regardless of who was under center.
Even with the tougher matchup, I’m going to roll with Barkley in Week 15.
Derek Tate’s Week 15 RB Rankings
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (at ARI)
2) Alvin Kamara | NO (vs. NYG)
3) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. WAS)
4) Bijan Robinson | ATL (at CAR)
5) Saquon Barkley | NYG (at NO)
6) Tony Pollard | DAL (at BUF)
7) Josh Jacobs | LV (vs. LAC)
8) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (vs. DEN)
9) Austin Ekeler | LAC (at LV)
10) Rachaad White | TB (at GB)
11) Zack Moss | IND (vs. PIT)
12) Derrick Henry | TEN (vs. HOU)
13) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (vs. BAL)
14) Breece Hall | NYJ (at MIA)
15) David Montgomery | DET (vs. DEN)
16) James Cook | BUF (vs. DAL)
17) Joe Mixon | CIN (vs. MIN)
18) Isiah Pacheco | KC (at NE)
19) Javonte Williams | DEN (at DET)
20) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. NYJ)
21) De’Von Achane | MIA (vs. NYJ)
22) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (at LAR)
23) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (vs. KC)
24) D’Andre Swift | PHI (at SEA)
25) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (vs. ATL)
26) Aaron Jones | GB (vs. TB)
27) Jerome Ford | CLE (vs. CHI)
28) James Conner | ARI (vs. SF)
29) Najee Harris | PIT (at IND)
30) Alexander Mattison | MIN (at CIN)
31) Jaylen Warren | PIT (at IND)
32) Keaton Mitchell | BAL (at JAX)
33) Antonio Gibson | WAS (at LAR)
34) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (vs. PHI)
35) AJ Dillon | GB (vs. TB)
36) Gus Edwards | BAL (at JAX)
37) Chase Brown | CIN (vs. MIN)
38) Devin Singletary | HOU (at TEN)
39) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC (at NE)
40) Tyjae Spears | TEN (vs. HOU)
41) Jerick McKinnon | KC (at NE)
42) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at TEN)
43) Jamaal Williams | NO (vs. NYG)
44) Joshua Kelley | LAC (at LV)
45) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (vs. PHI)
46) Roschon Johnson | CHI (at CLE)
47) Khalil Herbert | CHI (at CLE)
48) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (at SEA)
49) Ameer Abdullah | LV (vs. LAC)
50) Rico Dowdle | DAL (at BUF)
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
