Fantasy football managers were devastated to learn that Austin Ekeler would be sidelined going into Week 2 after a dominant performance to begin the season.
It’s now been two games since the veteran RB was on the field, but is that set to change heading into Week 4? What’s the latest news regarding the Los Angeles Chargers RB, and should fantasy managers expect to have him in their fantasy lineups this week?
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Latest News Surrounding Austin Ekeler
Ekeler has missed multiple weeks with an ankle injury he suffered during the Chargers’ Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. He’s yet to be seen at practice since then, but that changed this week as he was spotted Wednesday.
Austin Ekeler jumping up and down and with his helmet in hand. The most we've seen him do since the injury. pic.twitter.com/1p0bxANonx
— Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) September 27, 2023
We have yet to fully see what Ekeler will do at practice today and what exactly his full range of motion is on that ankle, but it’s certainly a positive sign for Ekeler’s Week 4 status.
Will Ekeler Play This Week?
It’s simply too early to truly discern whether Ekeler’s presence at practice on Wednesday is enough to declare him ready to return for game action in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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The factor at play here is that the Chargers have a very early bye week in 2023 (Week 5), and they could choose to rest the veteran RB one more week before letting him have another full week of rest to get fully ready for the long stretch until the end of the season.
We’ll be continuously updating as we learn more about Ekeler’s status, so make sure to check back frequently for the latest news and the fantasy football impact.
What Does This Mean for Ekeler’s Fantasy Ranking?
If Ekeler is put back into the starting lineup in Week 4, he’s obviously in your fantasy football starting lineup. He’s one of the best RBs out there, and the Chargers desperately need him, with Joshua Kelley failing to step up and make a positive impact in his absence.
If Ekeler cannot play in Week 4 and the Chargers choose to rest him through the bye week, Kelley is still on the fantasy radar simply because of the matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kelley lands at RB37 in our PFN Consensus Rankings for the time being, but that may move up as the week progresses if Ekeler is not returning to full practices leading up to Sunday’s matchup.